THE 9,3X66 is a kind of 9,3x62 with more muscle and can be loaded with 286 gr at around 780 m/S instead of 720 M/S usually acheived from 9,3x62. does anyone tried this round in Africa?.
regards
yes

Hello!

Went to a nice trip to Namibia in April. Took along my custom M98 in 9,3*64 Brenneke.
Used the Woodleigh WG 286 RN at exactly 780 m/s
Worked wonderfully, maybe a tad soft, but on my 2 Blue Wildebeest, an Oryx, A Kudu and a nice Red Hartebeest it was perfect. Good effect on game, clearly marking the impact, weigt ret. around 80-85%
Would use something a bit tougher on the larger ones, though..

M

hi
9,3x64 is a wonderful round . recently sako in finland introduced 9,3x66 wich duplicate 9,3x64 preformance. it is very easy to rechamber 9,3x62 to 9,3x66 which has a prolonged 9,3x62 case with the same base dimension unlike 9,3x64 which has a larger base .
regards
yes

I think it is being called the .370 Sako in the US. 286 grains at around 2400 - 2500 fps if memory serves me correctly.

I have ALWAYS been intriguied by this cartridge. (I know, for all practical purposes, it really doesn't offer a noticeable improvement over the 9.3x62. However, since I don't have a 9.3 anything yet, I would choose the Sako over the Mauser when the time came.) Now that Sako and Federal have introduced the Imperial version of this cartridge - 370 Sako Mag. and Beretta has started to import the Sako 85 rifles in this chambering, you may begin to see this used in Africa with more frequency.

Last year, Craig Boddington (along with 2-3 other hunters) used this cartridge in Zim. on Buff, Tuskless Ele, and various PG. In the end, he seemed to have formed a favorable opinion of it.

Biggest problem is that Sako had a few problems and rifles have only started to appear recently. Ammo has been out for more than a year, but until a cople of months ago there were apparently only three Sako 'test' rifles in the USA!

Actually what is needed is an official +P version of the 9,3x62. If you load the 9,3 up to .308 Win pressures you can drive a 286grn bullet at 2500fps (760m/s) from a 24" barrel quite easily using some of the newer powders.

That's the thing, Ganyana. In a good CZ or other strong rifle, a handloader can get so close to the new .370 Sako by carefully loading the 9,3X62 that it begs the need for the new round. But we'll see. For a non-handloader wanting the relatively mild manners of the 9,3X62 with the wonderful performance of the long 9,3 bullets, the new Sako would be an excellent choice.

no doubt 9,3x62 can be loaded to higher preformance. nowday woodleigh makes if i recall well 320 grain both solid and soft and they will penetrate really well , but it seems a barrel with1/12 TWIST IS NEEDED TO STABILISE THEM . NORMALLY OLD HUSKIES HAVE A 1/14 INCH TWIST.

The 370 Sako Super Whacker Special Magnum.

Intriguing indeed.

Just what was needed to fill a gap in the hunting magazines.

Unfortunately the Sako's also use a 1:14 twist...As a manufacturing shortcut it is a nice one. exactly same case head as a 30-06. (9,3x62) is actually .2 mm fatter than a 30-06 and the 9,3x64 nearly another mm fatter still. Greatly simlifies the manufactur of rifles. Can use 30-06 magazine boxes, standard bolt face etc...

Given my preference for short actions the .376 Steyr appeals to me more (but I think it has pretty much died)

To answer the question posed-I used my custom mauser 98 in 9.3x66 last year in Zim.It is a great round delivering 375 like performance in a 30 06 sized rifle with modest recoil.I have just returned-tonight-from taking 6 Buf. in the Australian Northern Territory.The 500 double did 4 and the 9.3 two.It is an excellent cartridge and serves the purpose of a versitile light African rifle well.I use 286gn Partitions and 320gn Woody solids.Both excellent.

hi wombat
how many fps you can get with 320 woody out of your rifle without excesive pressure?

62gns of Vihtavuori N550 gave a velocity of 2330fps 12' from the muzzle.Please note that mine is a custom rifle and may behave differently to other rifles

I have hunted in RSA with my 9,3x66. It´s a custom rifle built around a HVA/FN M-98 action with a Sako barrel. I used 250 gr A-frames for Black W, Kudu, Impala and Springbook.

Use it here in Sweden for moose and like it. I useally have bullets in the 270-286 gr range here at home and got good results with Nosler Part, Blaser CDP, Norma Oryx and Lapua Naturalis. The situation with brass could be a problem and the 9,3x62 is the "logical choise"

hi
if the gain in velocity is negligable , then 9.3 x62 is a good choice due to abondance of casees. i saw norma is loading 9,3x62 with rather heavy bullets 320 oryx or some thing like that @ 2300 fps. anyway everything a 9,3x62 do 9,3x66 can do and even more.
regards
yes

Dear Christ, Yes, it's going to work wherever the 9.3s are accepted. Can't we figure out an easier way to get on safari, rather than what rifle to bring? Haven't we nailed this shut? I'm a rifle nut and it's getting boring. Pick your sweetheart and let's go hunting! Any bullet from 270 grains to 500 grains @ 2,000 to 2,500 fps and we're done. I'll buy the first drink at the Sea Cliff...

quote:

Originally posted by metric:
Hello!

Went to a nice trip to Namibia in April. Took along my custom M98 in 9,3*64 Brenneke.
Used the Woodleigh WG 286 RN at exactly 780 m/s
Worked wonderfully, maybe a tad soft, but on my 2 Blue Wildebeest, an Oryx, A Kudu and a nice Red Hartebeest it was perfect. Good effect on game, clearly marking the impact, weigt ret. around 80-85%
Would use something a bit tougher on the larger ones, though..

M

Have use this bullet quite a bit with the 9.3x62 as well as 300grn Swift A Frames and the 320grn Woodleighs.
I would recommend the 320grn Woodleighs or 300grn Swift A's for the 9.3x64 or66.

Some will have seen them before but here are pics of my 9.3x66
http://forums.nitroexpress.com...89dfcdadf#Post100395

Just wanted to point out to you guys who own the Sako....Midway has the NP and BBS on clearance, the barnes banded are half off per box.

Nice rifle, Wombat!!
I'm in the middle of the process building a Oberndorf M98 in 8*68S. It will be very much like your rifle! There's nothing like the classics

ozhunter: like I said, the 286 Weldcore was a tad soft at 2600-2650 f/s. I'm switching to the 320 grain next season. Seems like 2400 f/s with a heawier bullet would be better.

M