Has anyone read the new Guns and Ammo? Boddington wrote an article on the 9.3s this is a frist from him to my knowleged. What did you think?

I love to read it so I'll be on the lookout for it.

What are some of things he says about them?

ditto. i'd be interested to find out what Boddington has to say about it as well. anybody here have a sneak peak of quote for us?

It was all pretty good it was an overview of the 9.3x62, 9.3x64, and 9.3x74. In a nut shell the 62 the best med bore non mag round. The 74 very good round for a poormans double or single, and the 64 ahead of the .375 H&H in most catoriges but for ammo avablity. "ashamed its not more popular in north america than it is." I think he would really be suprised just how manny of us there are.

I don't read Boddington anymore because I find his articles banal and lacking insight.

Shame on him for saying the 9.3X74R is a poor mans cartridge!! There are many rifle out there in 9.3X74R that are more costly then most autos. I have a R #1 in this cartridge and am quite fond of it. This is a very hansome cartridge.

Paleohunter,
Did General Boddington forget to mention the 9,3x63???


/Husky

Na he made reff to all 9.3 he just went alittle further with the 62,74, and 64.

smallfry I dont think he called the 74 a poormans cartrige but that you could get a Double in that caliber for less money than same gun in one of the big boomers, and still have a DGR.

500gr I just read it because its was about the 9.3 and if memory serves me Boddington has never wrote a article about the 9.3s.

And right you are, Smallfry. This is the handmade FN-Browning 9,3x74R I bought 20 years ago.

Tody, it costs about the same as a medium sized car...

The only thing i see wrong with Boddington's writeing is, his articles are posted in about a dozen magazines with only a little editing, and picture changes.This isn't the BODD's fault, but the powers that be at PETERSON's PUBLISHING. This is the reason I dropped Guns&Ammo, and rifle shooter, and all other Peterson's publishing's magazines except HUNTING! What a refresher that move was, now Bodd's articles look much better, since I don't have to pay fifty dollars a year to read them five times.

As to the "9.3X anything you can name" being a good diameter,That is a fact of life, as it is the most popular dia. in Europe, and in fact all countries outside the USA, and Canada, for big game!

It is a shame, as Boddington says, that it is not more popular in North America, because it is one of best group of cartridges for this continent's game, and wild western mountain woods hunting of everything from coyote to Brown bear. Companies, like Federal, need to start loading good ammo for these rounds, and especially 9.3X74R, and makers of single shots in the USA are missing a real chambering by not includeing the 9.3X74R, and the others in this diameter in their bolt rifles! Any advertizeing company that can promote thigs like 450, or 444Marlin, or the ULMs, or short mags, certainly could promote the tried and true 9.3s, If nothing else but sighting their history in the hunting fields of the world!

A double rifle with a scope in QD mounts so it can be installed,and removed easily, be it S/S, or O/U would be one of the best woods rifles one could hope for, in many hunting fields, Africa included. I have a Merkel 140E S/S double rifle chambered for 9.3X74R, that is fast becoming my favorite rifle for daily use! It handles like a little 410 S/S shotgun, and will absolutely flatten a 250 lb muledeer,or a 300 lb wild boar, or black bear!

Like double rifles, Americans are only just starting to descover the 9.3! Most who are in the know now, are those who hunt other countries, hence the number of users on AR.

Boddingtons articles are valuable in this country. Because most who do not know about the 9.3 cartridge are usually bombarded with 10,000fps, and 200,000lbs of chamber pressure, by the writers in this country,and so believe this is what is best for their little whitetail hunting, but they are, for the most part, only a waste of powder, and money. A good 9.3 would do just fine,within the ranges it is ethical to shoot at live game, with less muss, and fuss, and clownish things like muzzle brakes/BOSS and such. RONCO gadgits, all!

There are many Europian cartridges that are very well ballanced, and very effecient in the field, but if people don't know about them, they are lost to the BS put out by WBY, REM, and the rag writers!

Finally, I have always liked Boddington's articles, because he is basiclly a hunter first, and rifleman secondly. He has a disadvantage in being a lefty, and in the early days only Rem made rifles in decent hunting chamberings in left hand rifles. Though they are cheap PF rifles, you learn to like the only thing you have, so his long use of PF rifles made him a spokesman for what he used. Today there is no real reason one must use a PF rifle just because he is left handed, but by the time other lefties were available, Bodd was entrenched in the BIG GREEN, and the 30-06, and WBY and their over bore wonders, because they made their rifles in LH versions.

All the 9.3s except the 74R, can be made from some other case, and are easy for a handloader to use, but the 9.3X74R has a very unique case dimension, and isn't reddily available by re-forming, so somebody here needs to at least make cases for it! Maybe Boddington's article will generate enough talk to make that happen!

Gentlemen

If our dear Craig is out ratteling his sable why not do it for a good cause

I haven't been a big fan of Boddington before, but there is nothing wrong with his books or opinions
It's very easy to find gun writers who are much worse than Craig, but finding better ones are not that easy.

I'm glad that Clair Rees or Sundra hasn't written any articles about the 9,3's and I hope it will never happend

I wonder when Winchester will camber guns in the 9,3X62, next week

/ JOHAN

[ 01-11-2003, 19:43: Message edited by: JOHAN ]

Several months ago, I wrote Winchester and USRAC to ask for 9.3x62 rifles and ammo. They load 9.3 ammo overseas, and it seems like a no-brainer to barrel a stainless synthetic M-70 in 9.3x62. What a great Alaska gun, right?

Their prompt reply thanked me for my interest and tried to get me to buy a 300 WSM. I suspect we'll see nothing new from them until they recoup their investment in the WSM's.

Oh, well... Okie John.

I thought Boddington promoted to General last year,however, his name is still prefaced with either the rank of Colonel or nothing at all. What's up with that? I read the article and found it entertaining, but didn't learn anything that I had not already learned here.

It is my understanding he was selected to be promoted to Brig. Gen. He may not have been promoted yet (there needs to be a billet for him to fill at that rank). Until such time it is proper to refer to him in either way.

Bob

Craig Boddington's proper military title is Brigadier General (select) Craig Boddington, United States Marine Corps Reserve. The select part comes from being chosen for the rank by the USMC Field Officer Selection Board, but not yet confirmed by the Senate. Once that happens, probably sometime soon this year, he will officially be a Brigadier.

It is customary in the US Navy for officers all the way to Captain to assume the uniform and title upon notification that they have been selected by the Promotions Board. The actual pay raise does not go into effect until the time in grade requirement is met, usually a few months down the road.

I believe the USMC has the same custom.

MacD37 is exactly right about the 9.3X74R double. I have been using one for about 5 years. It has become one of my most favorite rifles. I too wish Federal would make some quality brass and load the 286 Nosler Partition, or maybe the combo of 286 Woodleigh Soft and Solid.

Andre', what a wonderful gun!! My 9.3X74R is simple and light on a light sporter brl ruger #1 it has a compact 4X burris and is such a delight to cary. I am interested in knowing if you have had much experiance with other bullets... I have used mostly hawks, and woodleigh softs.
MacD... isnt it a wonderful cartridge!! I am jealous you have one in a SXS as it makes for a wonderful timber/elk rifle. I hear Merk has one in a single stalking rifle is this true?

How does the General form his opinions? Does he shoot them on game or look at the tables and read articles on them etc?

Gentlemen,

I wonder how you look at people having titles, that have absolutely nothing to do with the subject at hand.

Just curious.

Saeed,

Yesterday, when writing this post, I made a couple of spelling or typographical errors. In my attempts to edit, certain portions were deleted. It got so messed up that I simply deleted it all. Unwilling to write forever this morning, I'll state my point as briefly as possible.

These references to BG Boddington's rank whether they are instigated by him or his editors serve, in the military sub-culture, two functions. First, they establish that he is accomplished at something. Second, it establishes that he has some level of authority. This is important to some people.

Being a military retiree myself, I'm am very familiar with the culture and also realize that it is as simple to ignore as the title of Dr., Mr., Mrs., or Ms.

I suspect that Boddington and/or his editors use the title as a marketing tool. So did the Askins (father and son), Whelen, Nonte and other gun writers of various levels of accomplishment. I should note that Gary Johnston (sp?) uses, at least sometimes, his police rank in his byline.

I currently work in a volunteer capacity with several retired MGs and BGs as well as COLs, etc. I do not often use the honorifics in personal conversation but do so when referring to these people in public. You may think that we in the U.S. are not as egalitarian as we say we are, but the truth is that any individual with sufficient drive, determination and interest, can achieve this level of professional recognition. This certainly isn't true everywhere in the world.

[ 01-10-2003, 17:41: Message edited by: Hobie ]

Saeed:

quote:

---

I wonder how you look at people having titles, that have absolutely nothing to do with the subject at hand.

---

Very suspiciously & with great scepticism.


P'S.: Hobie "Jamais Arriere" my friend.

[ 01-09-2003, 18:26: Message edited by: Bear Claw ]

Gee now I wish I had bought the damn Rag.

1894 Boddington writes that he has a 9.3x62 in a Tik and that he uses it on Hogs in The Peoples Rep of Kal. He also talks about some guy from Nosler (I cannot remember his name) that he went hunting Elk with at the NRA range in New Mex that said guy was useing a 9.3x64. If nobody else post up as haveing read the article; I will go back to the book store and buy it. I dont usally buy G&A I dont find much of value in it.

A while back I emailed Speer with a couple of suggestions for 9.3 bullets. I relayed whats been spoken of many times at AR: the 270 grain pill is considered too soft so why not a Grand Slam version? My second suggestion was a 295 grain African Grand Slam with a tungsten core. Finally, a boat-tailed 225 gr polymer-tipped number. RWS marketed a 225 for a short time but dropped it, at least in the USA.

I received a prompt courteous reply saying that they would consider them. Maybe if a few more folks spoke up...

Yes, I too am jealous of General Boddington, but I choose to express my jealousy in the form of admiration for the man and his many accomplishments, not though petty snipes directed towards him.

For those who think he writes by way of the ballistic tables, respectfully, you know not of which you speak.

I believe Gen. Boddington has hunted on all continents except Antarctica, he has killed every species of dangerous game that is legal to hunt, and with most of them, multiple kills of each.

His kills include the African big five, brown bears, grizzly bears, black bears, Marco Polo sheep, all of the North American sheep, the hard-to-get-permission-to-hunt Shira moose, many other moose, and maybe even a polar bear (I might be wrong about the polar bear; I can't remember if he's had the chance to hunt them, though I think he has.) Plus every other animal that walks, crawls, or flys.

Alright then, who among us has also acomplished the above? Don't all speak at once now...surely his detractors have done all of the above in spades in order to justify their criticism. Anyone?

{Sounds of crickets chirping....}

And, of course, while the general was doing all of the above he was able to reach the rank of Brig. Gen. in the Marine Corps, an organization that emphasises riflery above all other talents ("Every Marine a Rifleman").

Now I will concede that a title does not add to one's ability to hunt, if it will also be conceded that neither does it take away from same.

Perhaps some of you don't like his writing. Fine. I happen to but everyone has different tastes. However, I contend that the man's acomplisments speak for themselves and are worthy of our respect.

{The above is intended to be in the spirit of brotherhood among us hunters. I hope none of it is taken personally, that's not the intention behind it.)

ksduckhunter and GunnyBob, thanks for clearing that up. Lou

1894, you would be hard pressed to find someone with more practical hunting experience than Mr. Boddington.

chuck

chuck,
Not so very hard...
But he his of course not an American citizen

Try the German PH Mr J�rgen J�sch, a good friend of mine. He is now nearly 80 years old, still managing The Klipspringer Lodge outside Nelspruit, RSA. Mr J�sch started hunting as a PH in Kenya in the 1950.s. He has hunted all ower the world and written some very interesting books (sorry all in German).

Husky

ksduckhunter:

My brother-in-law is a Lt.Col. in the US Marine Corps and he can't put 3 shots in a shit-house at 25 yards.

After rereading this thread it doesn't seem that anyone was being particularly unfair to Gen. Boddington, so perhaps my comments were out of line.

Sorry, gents.

I feel well-served by the .375 H&H..........

AD

While I dont disagree with you regarding titles, isnt there some foolish titles in sweden regarding king and queen or some such? silly, silly, silly,

You only get to be General by being a very good ASS kisser!!!