Dear Friends,

Please check out my request for input from those of you who have used the 286gr 9.3mm Lapua Mega, the 286gr Woodleighs-solid and soft point-, and the 286 Nosler Partitions on big game. I am particularly interested in experiences with buffalo and large cats. Thanks. Ku-dude

Sorry I don�t have any feedback on African animals using the Mega but I�ve shot plenty of European elk (30 kal) with it -and several whitetail- without any problems. Good expansion/penetration. Woodleighs I used in .416 last year in Africa, shot three animals with it and all were one shot kills a)bushbuck, quatering shot at max 50 meters, found the bullet in the neck, good expansion b) zebra in the neck c) lungshot on a gemsbuck, ran 70 meters, bullet not recovered.

Not what you asked for but something. The woodleighs feel a bit on the soft side for anything but plainsgame.

Hi Ku-dude



Make sure you are can legally use the 9.3 in the area where you are going to hunt as most areas stipulate the 375 as the min cal for dangerous game.



Wimpie

A bad day in the bush is better than a good day in the office

I used Partitions at 2,350 fps in a 9.3x62 on feral cattle and a small hog. Ranges were 20-120m and results were dramatic. Nosler says this bullet will not expand at velocities under 2,000 fps. With my loads, that made their effective range about 200m. I have no idea about buffalo or the large cats, but in my experience on soft-skinned game both the 9.3x62 and the Partition it lived up to their reputations. Hope this helps, Okie John.

KuDude,
I have used the Woodlieghs in 286 and 320 gr. in both solids and softs on buffalo. I had a long throated 9.3x62 with a 26" barrel back then, and I load her up to max, so I can get considerable more velocity than most..My present gun is a 24" gun with a long throat and its right up there, but a tad shorter on velocity.

The 286 Woodleigh softs expand to the size of a quarter at 2520 FPS perform perfectly and stop on the off side skin, the solids pass through and have all the penetration you need lenghthwise...The 320 Woodleighs just take you up to another caliber and the 9.3 performs like a 375 I guess..I like the 320s if you can drive them...

The 286 Nosler is a real killer in my fast gun, and it is very meat distructive and a bomb inside, but in Nosler fashion it does not tear up the skin, so it should be a real Leopard killer. The 286 Nosler works on Buffalo on broadside shots very well, as I have had several lady clients use it and gave good reports on it, but they shot it at a little under 2400 FPS...I would be a bit suspecious in my gun as I drive it faster than recommended and it would most likely blow the front end off and make a small exit hole, I just have not tried it at those velocities on Buffalo, only on plainsgame and its a hammer on elk.