This post also appears in the medium bore section. My apologies if the redundancy bores you.

Most bullets for the 9.3mm bore size (.366" caliber) have been designed to operate best at the sedate velocities developed by the 9.3 x 62 Mauser chambering. The 9.3 x 64 develops between 200 fps and 300 fps (100 ms) greater velocity.

The Speer 270 grain spitzer and the Lapua 285 grain Mega bullets are not the best. The Nosler 286 grain and North Fork 250 grain and 286 grain offerings are ideal. The North Fork and GSC solids should work well for those situations that demand a solid.

Here are Horneber and RWS cases loaded with the Speer bullet for the two left cartridges, and the North Fork 286 grain offering on the right side (The Speer loadings are for testing feed and function in a 9.3 x 64 barreled action put together and well worked over by Mark Stratton - Thank you Mark):



Here is a comparison of the Speer, Lapua and North Fork soft nosed bullets. You can see that the North Fork takes up a fair bit more powder space than the traditional lead cored bullets. Each case above contains 64 grains of RL-15 powder. The cases with the Speer bullets "slosh" as you shake them. The case with the North Fork bullet does not "slosh" at all:



PS There was very little dimensional difference between the Horneber and RWS cases. The head diameters were .495" and the diameters at the web were .504". As is usual for the European case manufacturers, actual case dimensions are closer to the maximum allowable than you would get from an American manufacturer.

PSS Those ridges on the side of the North Fork bullet create very little friction when they are seated in a case. If your magazine box length will allow you to do so, consider crimping on the most forward groove in the bullet. Lee will make you a factory crimp die for the 9.3 x 64 for $28.00, shipping included.

lawndart, good note. I understood that Horneber has greater capacity than RWS and seemingly preferred due to that. Read from a few threads that RWS is really good brass, so I bought 3 boxes-it is good brass for sure.

As for bullets in this caliber your observations and studies is right down my alley. I am looking at North Fork and Noslers and Barnes for use in my rifle. Am having Stuart Satterlee doing a action/barrel and chambered with the 286 Barnes, am thinking since it requires more freebore this would be ideal.

RL-15 is a good powder from my QL software in regards to propellant burnt-99% plus and this is with a COL of 3.370". Some say the QL is a bit optimistic but I am running with it as a guide post.

Why are you needing to crimp the NorthFork? Just curious.

This is a good round and quite easily overlooked and compliments a Mauser just perfectly. I am interested to see how this follows up with others here who load and shoot this round.

Thanks,

Thanks for the kind words.

I'll measure case capacities, and post that here tomorrow.

I'll crimp any bullet I use in this rifle. It is a light rifle and I don't want the bullets to get shoved down into the case from battering on the front of the magazine. Conversely, if I install recoil shoulders in the magazine I don't want the bullets to get spit out the front of the cases.

LD