9.3x62 ~V~ .375H&H for the occasional Buff hunter...

07 March 2002, 23:31

Pete E

Still trying to decide between these two calibres. I'm looking for a good medium bore which will be used for deer and wild boar here in the UK, a limited amount of plainsgame and *possibly* a leopard or buff sometime in the future...I have settled on a CZ550 and would really like a .375H&H in an American style stock, but they are not available. So its either the .375H&H in the standard stock or the 9.3x62 in the American.

In the real world, does the .375H&H perform that much better on buff than the 9.3x62?
Is the 9.3x62 even legal for buff and leopard in most African countries?

regards,

Pete

08 March 2002, 01:49

500grains

I know for a fact that you can use a 9.3 x 62 in Zimbabwe for all dangerous game. With good handloads using top quality bullets, like the 320 grain Woodleigh for example, I think that the 9.3 would be just a step behind the .375.

I don't mean to speak out of turn, but my limited understanding of UK law is that it is difficult to get permission to own a big bore like a .375. Maybe it is easier to get permission to own a 9.3?

08 March 2002, 02:01

Pete E

500 grains,

Thanks for the info.

With regards the "law" in the UK, the situation is not all that clear cut, it's full of grey areas's and is open to different interpretation from one Police Force to another.

Owning a big bore for use on Safari is not a problem...getting a medium/big bore on your ticket for deer stalking can be if your local Force is "anti". However, in my case I have contacted my local Firearms Licensing Dept and they see no problem with either calibre...

Just another question...assuming similar weight rifles can any one tell me if the .375H&H has noticibly more recoil than the 9.3x62??

Regards

Pete

[This message has been edited by Pete E (edited 03-07-2002).]

08 March 2002, 02:08

NitroX

I was just having a chat with a South African PH friend and we were discussing what rifle he is getting next.

Two discussed were the 375 H&H and the 9.3 x 62.

I asked the same question. Is the 9.3 legal for buff in SAf, and the answer was OK except in one province. Cant remember which as I am not familiar with all the new names. I will post a message and see if I can get the answer.

To me the advantages/disadvantages are:
375 is a little bit bigger and legal in a few more jurisdictions. Excellent calibre and well proven. Ammunition is probably more easily available except in Continental Europe. I have a 375.

9.3 x 62 is lesser powered (the 9.3x64 is very similar though) but can be had in a lighter rifle and shorter action. Also very popular European calibre. Wish I had one.

Good hunting

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Nitro@NitroExpress.com
NitroExpress.com

08 March 2002, 02:27

NitroX

Regarding recoil if you have bullet weight, powder weight, velocity and rifle weight there is a calculator for recoil at http://beartoothbullets.com/resources/index.htm

Say a ten pound rifle 293 gr bullet at 2400 fps - 9.3x62 - recoil energy of 28 foot pounds and recoil velocity of 13 ft per second

Same for 375 - 300 gr at 2600 fps - 38 ft lbs and 16 feet per second

Depending on the load and velocity, similar recoil can result

Nitro

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Nitro@NitroExpress.com
NitroExpress.com

08 March 2002, 02:53

Softlead

Dear sir

One important aspect is the shooting skill you can (aford to)aquire with your rifle.
In this respect, I would lean towards the 9,3.
The reason, at least here in sweden, is that one can by Norma jakt match training ammo for less than you can reload the corsponding ammo. Take a look at the cost of shooting
XXX number of rounds a year.

I am sure that it is possible to get Norma Jakt match in the UK.
Take a look at:
http://www.norma.cc
In the end, the only important factor
is that you can place your bullet with confidence.
Chose the 9,3 and shoot it a lot!

Ps
I am picking up my 6,3x62 tomorrow
Ds

Regards
Softlead

08 March 2002, 03:04

b.martins

Peter,

The ideal would be to have both
But if you have to decide between the two then you should go for the 9.3x62. You will be using it more often as it is (at least on my humble opinion) one of the best calibres we have in Europe for most of our wild game.
I have both but when hunting african DG I am using a .416 Rigby

B.Martins

08 March 2002, 04:08

500nitro

I have shot both, the 375 does recoil more and rifles were about 8oz apart.
It is the minimum legal cal for Zim. Disadvantage is ammo on the 9.3. If your airline happens to lose your ammo for the 9.3 you are pretty much sunk. 375 can be obtained almost anywhere. It has a nice variety of bullet weights which make it a good alround choice.
Both calibres have a certain mystique and inherent nostalgia.
IMO go 375.

08 March 2002, 06:26

Flip

I would choose the 9.3x62 over the 375, it recoils less and you don't see any better killing with an 375, ammo can be a problem over here, but I always where able to get hold of them, am not sure how popular it is in Zimbabwe, but in Namibia ammo is not a problem, but it can be expensive, luckily we have a local manufacturer, calls PMP who make ammo in 9.3x62, they work well on the larger game like Eland and Kudu, don't know how they will perform on game like Buff.

08 March 2002, 18:23

aHunter

I have a 9.3x62. I like it. I also want a long barreld .375. But for Buff I would think about .404 or .416 or .450 NE. Especially for the casual hunter. The real experienced ones, who have shot Buff and know where to aim may rather get away with the 9.3 ...

Good shooting! Hermann

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08 March 2002, 22:53

1894

Pete,

You can guess what I'll say. Seriously, apart from my concern over walkers I would have no hesitation in stalking with my 9.3x62. Of course I am sadly lacking in personal experience on the big stuff.

For me it seems a better compromise than the 375 if you're biased towards deer, boar, moose with an occasional exotic trip. There is an ERA meet 30th March at Minsterly which I am toying with attending, would you like a go if I can get past the wife?

[This message has been edited by 1894 (edited 03-08-2002).]

09 March 2002, 00:41

<Riaan>

Hi Pete!

I love the 9,3's for that's the honourable thing for a Boer to do, but in practice I'd recommend a .375.

Recoil is not that much more, ammo is more available down this way, and a wider range of components are sold for the .375.

The 9,3's are sweet, but the .375 has a well earned reputation.

09 March 2002, 03:35

ALF

09 March 2002, 06:22

Wachtel

I was in your situation a few months ago and finally decided on the 375. The factor that finally convinced me in favor of the 375 was the fact that I could get a good rifle with enough weight for my liking (I prefer my rifles to be in the 9-10 pound range) and with overall good (classic "african") construction. I could also make a good deal on a CZ 550 and afford to spend some money to get the rough edges smoothed out.

09 March 2002, 13:23

Oldsarge

Couldn't find .375 . . . in Dallas?! Now that's a sad commentary, indeed. I can buy boxes just by hopping down to my local Turner's Outdoorsman though since I reload everything I shoot I just buy the components at dealer's discount ('cause Ah got me a cruffle!) from Midway. I don't know what bwanas from small towns (like Dallas?) do.

Sarge

09 March 2002, 13:41

Paul H

quote:
Originally posted by ALF:
Riaan:
What can I say? Ditto and all that.
If simplicity and ease of use, availability of ammo and components as well as being well within the margin of safety in terms of legislation etc is at issue then there can only be one choice...... 375H&H.
Some 3 weeks ago I was in Dallas TX and as per my usual looked up some gunshops in the yellow pages, than did the rounds.
It is as we say in africa.....It lies "wide" in that city!.... man! did the taxi fees set me back as the gunshops are far apart! with the micky mouse canadian currency in hand the trips became major expences in themselves and looking back I would have done well to simply rent a CAR.
Well not surprising and as per my usual experience you dont find ammo or the kind of rifles we like touting on this board in any of the stores I have visited. Bar the Beretta gallery there was not much to get excited about.
Metrics are virtually unknown and even 375 H&H or 458 ammo cannot be bought from the majority of shops I visited.
I was wondering whether our american friends do their shopping thru mail order speciality stores like Huntingtons or how do they get a hold of the stuff they write about here?

Alf,

Rifle and ammo availability is very regional in the US. In Alaska, you can get 375 H&H rifles and ammo at Wal-mart and K-mart. There is also a gun store in town that has a suprisingly large selection of brass and components for most of the big bores.

10 March 2002, 02:21

D Hunter

Paul is right. Availability is where you find it. In NC, at least where I am, 375 ammo is not available outside a major city. Certainly 9.3 is less so. Components are easy from mail order and you can find them on sale for plinking. I found 375 270 gr Hornaday RN on sale for about 100 bucks a thousand. I don't know how cheap that military 9.3 is but you have to go a ways to beat that price. Both are great rounds. If you can't buy both check out a Winchester mod 70 classic. I got mine for under 600 bucks. Cz is about that same price here. They all take a bit of tricking out to make them usable for buff IMHO. I like the 9.3 but my vote is for the 375. It is just "The" do anything cartridge. Have a great time shopping. Let us know how the final decision and outcome goes. "D"

10 March 2002, 06:20

<Mike Dettorre>

Pete E,

I'll answer your question. If you are looking for a medium bore that will occasionally take a buff and have access to 9.3x62 ammo and components.

The 9.3x62 is the right choice. It will take the buff it has about 20% less recoil on the high end, consumes about 25% less powder.

Can be loaded down with 230 grain or so bullets.

It is more pleasant to shoot than the 375.

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MED

The sole purpose of a rifle is to please its owner

11 March 2002, 14:47

Heritage Arms

I like them both! I have witnessed lots of animals be shot with both rounds and they seem to die about the same. Given that the .375 is generally avaliable in a heavier rifle it may get the nod for a recoil shy shooter.

14 March 2002, 12:29

Pete E

Well thanks for all the input guys buy I confess I'm still no nearer making my mind up! I figure that I can load the .375H&H down a little for practice and also for some of our smaller deer, but I'm really not too keen on that LUX stock.
I think i may take my time until I can see and handle the various models/stock configurations and see which appeals the most.

1894,

I will try my best to get down to Minsterly that weekend. drop me a mail and we can sort something out,

Regards,

Peter

14 March 2002, 14:45

eric 98

Don't sell that Euro stock short until you handle one. I picked up a 550 LUX in 9.3 x62 last week and that stock feels pretty good, and not at all awkward as it looks in pictures. It handles real nice.

14 March 2002, 17:11

<Harry>

I just shot my 9.3 for the first time yesterday. I had been sighting in it and my 338 Win Mag for upcoming safari. boy..did I get an eye opener. The 338 was shooting 225 grn factory Rem Swift A Frames and the 9.3 was shooting the Norma 286 grn stuff. The 9.3 was a joy to shoot and the 338 was not much fun. The 9.3 shoot better groups too. It is going to Africa and the 338 may become the old 30/06 that has been with me before and never let me down.
Alf!
You went to the wrong shops. Those yuppies in Dallas are not allowed to have the big stuff. You have to come over to the Ft. Worth side to get the big boomer stuff. I have 470 NE, 458, 416 and 375 all in stock...not to mention all the hot 30 caliber stuff.
Come on over to where the west begins sometime.

15 March 2002, 08:31

IanF

Pete.

Have had the .375hh for some years now - its comfortable and controllable and accurate. If I do my bit I can get down to @.75" groups.

What really hurt was when my non shooting girlfriend immediately replicated that performance off a bench - Prior to this she had responded to a question about severity of the recoil....with the answer 'What recoil?' Needless to say, I married her! :0)

Use it on everything from Red to Roe with uniform success and lack of meat damage - and it works a treat on the Boar we have down here!

Reloading is a pleasure and it seems to shoot very close to same MPI with whatever weight bullet I load. Thats a lot handier than having to rezero each change of bullet weight.

I ended up with an older Brno - spent a couple pounds sorting trigger and safety to my spec - but recently turned down an offer of a Gibbs as a replacement. Like it that much!

Question, what is going on over at 'The Bog' - may well make the trip up the M5 and run into you folks.

Rgds Ian

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"Just taking my rifle for a walk!"........

15 March 2002, 13:53

Pete E

Ian,

The Express Rifle Association are having a range day on the 30th March...I'm planning on going down for a couple of hours just to take a look a the CZ's....

Peter

16 March 2002, 08:01

Atkinson

I have been shooting both for a number of years and have used them a lot on big game..

The 375 is the most practical caliber and the most powerfull at max but not by a heck of a lot...

The 9.3x62 definately recoils less, even with the heavy loads that I use. I can get 2400 fps with a 320 gr. Woodleigh. The 375 can get 2550 with a 300 gr. Woodleigh, but the cross section of the 375 is bigger and that makes a big difference on big game, not on paper as some profess but in the field I am convienced that cross section is almighty important..

My choice is the 9.3x62 but my advise is the 375 H&H is a better choice, all things considered...

People that can shoot well do wonders with the 375 H&H and thats a fact. The 375 is a star among stars...

Both grand calibers and the 416 and 404 are even better for the big stuff....

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

16 March 2002, 08:20

DB Bill

If you decide on the .375 H&H let me tell you there is a world of difference in recoil if you drop the velocity of the 300gr bullet down to the 2400 fps area....it's so soft you won't believe it and it still delivers 3800 ftlbs of muzzle energy. At 2550 fps the recoil gets my attention but the muzzle energy jumps to 4330 ftlbs..an increase of about 15%.