I know this could have been posted under gunsmithing or the medium bore forum, but figured I'd get more responses here.

I traded into another VZ-24 mauser, and have been thinking about what to turn this into. Until recently, the thoughts were 6.5-06, 300 win mag, 35 whelen, and now, 9.3X62.

I figure for the cost of barreling, I can pick up a used 300 win mag, so it doesn't hold that much fasination. The 35 whelen makes alot of sense, as I already have dies, componet bullets, and a bullet mold. That said, the 9.3X62 is beconing as something somewhat different, and, I just checked NEI and found out they have a nice 300 gr mold.

So, now I'm debating how to configure this thing. I don't have a full stocked manlicher style rifle, and was thinking a 20" tubed 9.3 would be nice. The opposite side of the coin has me considering an english style iron sighted rifle w/ 26" barrel, barrel band front sight, sling swivel, and I'm not sure about whether an island rear sight, or some sort of ghost ring appeture.

What would the learned students of the 9.3X62 recomend?

Why not the 9.3x64 instead of the 9.3x62?

I have had both configurations and I like the 26" barrel in English fashion best and that is what I now have....I love it and it handles like a English double in 410 gage....I have the old Winchester shallow V screw gizzie 375 Island rear sight ( Precise Metals ) and a New England Arms adjustable front sight...I used a Lothar Walther barrel....velocity and performance is considerably better than the short barrel version, particularly with the 320 gr. Woodleighs..

I, personally am much more impressed with the 9.3x62 balistics than I was with the 338-06 or the 35 Whelen...You will lose a little by using 06 brass over 9.3 x 62 brass....I get 9.3x62 brass from several outlets in the US..I like the Lapua brass best and it is about $40. per hundred as I recall.

I like the 9,3x62 round and the availability of cannibalized brass makes it even more likeable. My buddy just got back from the RSA and used a 9,3 Blaser with great success. I wouldn't mind owning one!

Regards,

JohnTheGreek

Paul-The 9.3X64 is much more gun and you can open the bolt up with a dremel tool and foot Lathe! Brass is available from Buffalo Arms or you can make it youself from 458 win mag. Ptent cartridge!-Rob

Paul... if you go with the longer 26 inch barrel, another option may be the 350 Howell, based on a lengthened '06 case, which beats the 35 Whn AI, if I understand it right.

Had I known of the 380 Howell, I'd have gone with it, rather then the 375 WhnAI I have now, but I learned of it a month too late. ~~~Suluuq

Good choice Paul!
9.3x64 need a long action, 9.3x62 doesn't.
Ray (welcome back) prefers a 26" barrel, I like it in a short one, around 20" with a removable muzzle brake, 22" total. But probably this is because my main hunts are made in the Italian thick bush.

bye

Paul,

Anyone who has a 350 Rigby and 500 Jeffrey is a gun fiddler.

A such, I think a full stocked manlicher is too permanent a fixture as compared to your 26 inch barrel option.

If 20inch barrel has some appeal and I guess in some ways that is 9.3 C 62 territory, then I would not have the full stocked manlicher.

In addition the full stocked manlicher is going to introduce some problems with bedding which would be all OK if you were not a fiddler with calibers.

Remember this 9.3 X 62 will be like the phases of the moon. It will pass by in time

The 26 inch barrel normal stock option allows you to travel down 9.3 X 64 avenue a bit later on.

Mike

The 9.3x64 can be built on a standard length action. I used a CZ 550 originally in 9.3x62 requiring only slight boltface work and rechambering. Cobalt

As mentioned, I already have a 350 Rigby, which perfectly suites what I want in a medium bore, and already using the beltless ~.520" case head round.

That said, I'm looking for something based on the .473" case head, and in medium bores, all I'd be interested in are the 35 whelen and the 9.3X62.

Well, whichever way you choose you won't be far off, all are pretty much equal...

I like the 9.3x62 especially for the 320 gr. Woodleigh at 2400 plus as that equals any load the great old 375 H&H can muster...

The 9.3x64 is a real dandy, but brass is a pain to get and not worth the trouble for a couple of hundred FPS, from my standpoint..It is however, argueably the finest caliber available from the "all around rifle" catagory, actually bettering the 375 IMHO...

But in the end it is all sumation.

The CZ 550 Medium FS (Full Stock) in 9.3X62 Mauser is a beautiful little gun, that weighs about 7.75 pounds empty and iron sighted from the factory. A friendly dealer can order these from CZ USA for $499. I saw one with good wood the other day, and it's factory target showed three shots into 1.5" at 100 meters, not bad for a full stock, eh? That is the third CZ with good wood that I know of.

9.3x62!
You defiantly will not be disappointed in this truly amazing round.

Pete
Fraternal Order of the 9.3x62

DaggaRon - It seems they use their better blanks for the full stock versions. I saw a real nice one too. It had me thinkin'....

My new CZ 550 American has good contrast in the grain, with subtle tiger striping from end to end. The more I look at this rifle, the more I think I'd have to pay through the nose to get something similar from the Remchester custom shop. Okie John

A 20" manlicher in 9.3x62??? Hmmmmmmm now there is a winter project for an old man who has a distinct distaste for the cold...but I have a 9.3x62..I don't have a 9.3x64 however....Hmmmmm.

I really need another rifle!

Ray,
Would you be happy with a barrel that's not at least 26" long?

Rich Elliott

Rich....I think the need for 26" barrels comes under the category of "compensating".

Rich and DB,
It helps on long shots, remember I'm 6"'s closer to the target!