This is not an argument why a 375 or 416 is better. I want to know the pros and cons of the 286 TSX. I know it has been done with the 250 gr TSX. My question is more of the "Would you get complete penetration and would it open up properly when launched at a muzzle velocity of 2350 to 2400 fps?" Also if you had to use a 9.3, what would be your optimal bullet and weight?

I am very fond of the 9,3 and Barnes TSX. I never used the X bullet in my 9,3 becuase with South African Powders I couldn't get much above 2100fps at reasonable pressures. If you can get 2350fps from you rifle, I see no reason why it shouldn't perform very close to the .375 TSX loaded to 2450fps - ie superbly.

Thank you, Ganyana. You are one of the people that I hoped would respond.

It seems that the 9.3x62 is held in very high esteem for being an effective medium caliber on buff. Not that I am going to try it but, it makes me wonder if anyone would notice a difference shooting one with my 35 Whelen with a 250 gr. X bullet at 2500 FPS?

EDIT: I guess the question is moot as I see Barnes has discontinued 250 grain .358 bullets.

I would consider a 35 caliber rifle "close enough for government work" if it had a 275gr bullet over 2400fps. The 9,3x62 can do that with a 286gr bullet which is why most knowledgeable shooters consider it the bridge between the Whelen and the 375H&H. I came to the conclusion (after shooting Elk and Deer with mine) that any shot with a 286gr 9,3 that does not work, I would have had the same issues with a 375 caliber rifle same ballistics & 300gr bullet weight.

I really like mine, and it will be in the guncase along with a 416 Rigby or my 450 Dakota when I return to Zimgbabwe..
Off topic: I think the 450 Dakota ballistics, a 500gr bullet at 2370fps is about as good as it gets for dangerous game with a boltgun.

Rich
Buff Killer
now to return...

300grn SWIFT-A-FRAMES and 286 or 320grn Woodleigh solids are my preferred 9.3mm Buff bullet.

You may have to seat a TSX rather deeply to fit in a standard or FN length action.

If the rifle shoots well with a long jump to the leade, no problem.

I would also suggest that faster powders will need to be used. Powders like Varget/2208 loaded with a drop tube would still be heavily compressed.

I've had good success with Reloader 15 in the Whelen, it is just a hair more dense than Varget. I imagine the same would work in the very similar 9.3. I also tap the case mouths with my finger a few times to settle it in.

RAC:

I have a couple of 9.3X62 rifles, a Blaser and a CZ. While I might be wrong, I think you are going to have powder capacity problems with the 286 grain Barnes bullets unless you can really seat them out in your rifle. They are so long that I think it will be hard to get enough powder in the case to get them to 2350-2400 fps. That's exactly why I use the 250 grain TSX instead. I have done some penetration testing with the 250 grain TSX bullets at the range and them seemed to penetrate just as well as the 300 grain Swifts and better than the 286 grain Woodleighs softs. I don't think that you can drive the 286 grain TSX bullets fast enough in the 9.3X62 to insure reliabe expansion but is is fairly easy to drive the 250 grain TSX bullets at 2500 fps+.

Another poster mentioned the .35 Whelen. To be honest, with good bullets, I just don't think there is much difference in actual field performance between the Whelen, the 9.2X62, and the .375 H&H.

Dave

BTW, it is a CZ550. I can seat them out pretty far but will let you know what kind of velocity/powder issues I have.

quote:

Another poster mentioned the .35 Whelen. To be honest, with good bullets, I just don't think there is much difference in actual field performance between the Whelen, the 9.2X62, and the .375 H&H.

I'd have to agree on that as far as the 9.3 X 62 is concerned. Not so sure about the .375 H&H comparison.. It's a shame the 250 TSX has been discontinued. I wonder if there are any 275 grain solids available?
Rich Elliott

quote:

It's a shame the 250 TSX has been discontinued.

For 9.3? They show on Branes site, and I just ordered some?

It's the 250 gr .358 Cal that was discontinued.

quote:

Originally posted by RAC:
BTW, it is a CZ550. I can seat them out pretty far but will let you know what kind of velocity/powder issues I have.

I'd sure be interested to know your results as I have a CZ550 in 9.3x62 and have a good supply of the 286 TSX's...haven't done any load development with them yet, though.

Guys, I have most of a box of the old style 250 grain Barnes .35 caliber solids. If anyone is interested, send me a PM.

Dave

ACR - Here us my set up for the 286gr TSX in a CZ 550FS. By the way it is shooting legitimate .750 groups at 100 yds and is going to Moz in August with this fodder: Lapua Brass, 53.6 grains of Varget, Federal primer, COAL is 3.199 (Banes says 3.205) crimped in forward groove of the TSX. Same set up for the Barnes 286gr solids with the COAL being 3.168 on these. Both shoot to within 3/4" of each other at 100 yards, with the TSX being slightly higer impact point. Both rounds feed awesome.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by ACRecurve:

quote:

Originally posted by RAC:
BTW, it is a CZ550. I can seat them out pretty far but will let you know what kind of velocity/powder issues I have.

I'd sure be interested to know your results as I have a CZ550 in 9.3x62 and have a good supply of the 286 TSX's...haven't done any load development with them yet, though.

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Sellers:
ACR - Here us my set up for the 286gr TSX in a CZ 550FS. By the way it is shooting legitimate .750 groups at 100 yds and is going to Moz in August with this fodder: Lapua Brass, 53.6 grains of Varget, Federal primer, COAL is 3.199 (Banes says 3.205) crimped in forward groove of the TSX. Same set up for the Barnes 286gr solids with the COAL being 3.168 on these. Both shoot to within 3/4" of each other at 100 yards, with the TSX being slightly higer impact point. Both rounds feed awesome.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by ACRecurve:

quote:

Originally posted by RAC:
BTW, it is a CZ550. I can seat them out pretty far but will let you know what kind of velocity/powder issues I have.

I'd sure be interested to know your results as I have a CZ550 in 9.3x62 and have a good supply of the 286 TSX's...haven't done any load development with them yet, though.

Larry, what kind of velocity are you getting?

RAC

Here’s what I use as an optimal combination:
250gr TSX at 2450fps, with South African powders this it the most accurate load I could get out of my CZ550

I’ve been using this combination in my Plains Game backup rifle since Barnes released their TSX bullet, before the time I was using the X bullet. No real complains.

Something interesting happen last year while doing a follow up on a wounded Mountain Zebra. During the last couple of minutes of daylight we saw him running across a valley. With one of those luck shots PH’s sometimes have I managed to hit him at about 250 yard.
The bullet entered his right butt, broke his pelvic bone, traveled through its stomach and was lodged in his chest cavity. He went about another 200 yard and expired. The bullet just started to open. At that distance it basically turned into a solid. If I run the numbers the bullet was traveling at about 1900fps and should have opened up.
In any case being a solid, it still had enough penetration to do the job. I’m sure the penetration would have been enough to do the same on a Buffalo.