I seem to go through phases when it comes to cartridges/firearms (belted mags, rimmed cases, wildcats, etc), and my latest phase are the Mauser cartridges.
I've got a 7x57 Ruger #1, and an 8x57 VZ-24 being made as I type this.
I have a spare Mauser action, and will likely have a 9.3x57 made up as a scout rifle (the 8Mauser is also scout rifle-type).
I'd like to hear about any personal experiences on this one, heck, I'll take opinions, too. Share pics, if you don't mind.
(Please spare me the 9.3x62 posts, I'm settled on the "x57" series during this phase, thank you.) ~~~Suluuq

[ 04-18-2003, 14:13: Message edited by: Rusty Gunn ]

I�ve owned an old 9,3x57 Husqvarna 640, made on a Fn 98 action.
The cartridge is quite powerful, but has a very mild recoil.
I used the 286 grains woodleigh weldcores, loaded to 2070f/s.
Factory ammo is still loaded by Norma.
Some complaints about the trajectory, but out to 150 yards it is not handicapped, even if compared to a 7mm Rem mag. If you plan to shoot beyond that range, You should probably consider another caliber.

I don't have any personal experience with it, but I do have experience with another round in the same category. You should be in the same league ballistically as a .358 Winchester, which is an excellent woods rifle which hammers deer if you realise the limitations, I think a 9.3x57 would be a great hunting round for all manner of big game.

I have an old Husqvarna 96 actioned 9.3 X 57. Old style European sporting stock, barrel sling swivel (for a 7/8" sling yet), round grip, slender fore-end. I'll take some pictures later and see if I can post them. I've used mine as a swamp donkey (moose) rifle for years. It has three holes on the left side of the receiver (that were filled at one time) for a scope mount, which I'm told isn't uncommon on this rifle in Scandinavian countries. I think you'll like the cartridge, it's sort of a 358 Win on steroids. I paid $200 CDN for it some years back. One of my few good gun deals. - Dan

I shot my first big game with this old round. It is a perfect calibre for our moose where ranges seldom are over 100 m. I have used mine extensively for close up work with the dog and wounded moose. (Swedish collegues:hur s�ger man st�llande hund?) It has never failed me.

Its an old german gentleman with no other marks than "18,3 Gr St.m.geschoss". I have tried 231 grs Norma bullets to get more velocity, but they did not group at all. I guess that mark about 18,3 gr / 286grs is there for the simple reason that it was made for it; 18,3 grams bullets group perfectly, I will not disclose how good, you will not believe me. The full rib is of some advantage when you have to be quick, and it is special.

This is a very lightweight rifle, the stock is perfect for fast handling. The sidemount is my favourite, it always returns to zero, and you can check it with the open sight.

I have not done much handloading for the round except for the 231 grs mentioned. A box of 20 usually last a couple of years

Boha

[ 04-18-2003, 19:58: Message edited by: boha ]

Rusty,the closest I can come to one is my 9.5x57 M&S,its an old African rifle that has the wrist reinforced with brass plate, pop up tang peep sight and the Griffon& Howe side scope mount it is a real joy to hunt with its balance is just right and not to heavy to carry all day it works great with the 270 grain slugs on deer and hogs, the old german gentleman that gave it to me said he shot several head of "light" plains game with it when he lived in the Belgian Congo

Boha, are those scope mounts available in Finland? Those mounting holse/screws look like they would line up exactly with the holes drilled into the side of my 9.3 X 57. If they are available, any idea what they cost? I'd be very interested in buying one. - Dan

thanks for the responses. I figured I'd get some Swede posts, due to this cartridge being used there on moose (I read this in either Handloader or Rifle recently).
I have no intentions of shooting beyound a hundred yards, or perhaps 150 at most, so this one will be a fine choice.
Also, I do have a 358 Win Ruger carbine, and handload for it, which is one of my all-time favorites.
I like to do some research ahead of time, to collect any pertitant info, as I did before purchasing the 7x57, and before building the 8x57. Less headaches this way. Thanks for the responses and pics.
~~~Suluuq

Rusty -- you're missing one in the x57 category that is hard to find, but I think worth considering. I just acquired a 1908-vintage commercial Mauser chambered for 9x57 Mauser. The bore is theoretically .356 or so, but a dummy round with a .358 bullet drops easily into the chamber. I'm looking to build up(very carefully)to loads pushing 200/250 gr RN bullets at around 2100-2200 fps. I don't anticipate any problems squeezing the bullets down a couple of thousandths, so long as I'm careful and pay attention.

Should be a fun summer project, in between fishing jaunts.

Boha,
That is a very pretty rifle. I like the style.

Boha,
I have the same rifle listed for sale in the classified and African section of this forum..Good to know my Husky is a m-640, except mine is in 9.3x62...It is also a M-98 action and is original, not a rechamber 57....They are nice guns and sure have some nice wood.

Muledeer... i haen't forgotten of the 9x57, but did decide not to make this one, because i already have a 358 Win. I figure the 9.3 is a more better choice, being a different diameter then the 358. Perhaps someday I'll do one in 9x57, but I like the 9.3 a lot more. Thanks for the responce, though. ~~~Suluuq

Boha,
Nice gun in the above photo, if it were mine, I'd punch it out to a 9.3x62 in a heartbeat...want to sell it??

Sorry Ray, I could�t sell it. I have four sons. I�ll save it fore one of them. I can�t have them hunting with plastic or stainless. It would be an insult to the game. Thank�s anyway.
The only rifle I could sell is a 7,62x53R Winchester 1895 musket. And the separation anxiety is immense..

Boha

[ 04-28-2003, 13:14: Message edited by: boha ]

Boha,
Good way to lose your sons, they will kill each other fighting over it, better sell it to me and let them split the money...

You guys in Finland, Sweeden, get all the good stuff, and its cheap!! I suffer from this.

Ray Atkinson -

A large shipment of 9.3 x 57's and 9.3 x 62's recently came into the Tucson, AZ area from Sweden. Some are in not too great condition, and selling for about $150 or less, but some are very nice and of course sell for substantially more. They have been showing up at gun shows as far north as Roseburg, Oregon (and probably farther) already.

The importer died very shortly after their arrival, so they are being disposed of through other channels. If you can't make some sort of contact through the internet with folks from around Tucson, you might want to try a call to Charles (Chuck) Karwan. Chuck is a writer who has had some recent articles in the American Rifleman, and was a close friend of the importer. Chuck's number can be had through Directory Assistance for Umpqua, Oregon.

AC

boha,

very nice rifle !!

I had not heard of this calbire before this post. So it is a slightly shorter version of the 9.3x62 ?? sort of like the diff between the .308 & 30/06 ??

The 9,3x57 is simply the same case as 8x57 and 7x57 with the 9,3 bullet.
Slow and reliable; I have yet to recover a bullet..
Boha

Alot of hunters in Sweden consider the 9.3x57 the best moose caliber. Reasons: Small meat damage (slow bullet), good effect (big, heavy bullet), good blood track (big caliber), mild recoil (burns not so much powder, slow recoil), sighted in at 130-140 yards you don't need to hold up or down up to 200yards (probably 98 percent of the mooses in Sweden are killed within 200yards), the slow big bullets don't change direction so easy as fast small ones.

A downloaded 9.3x62 is as good as a 9.3x57. But it is more nostalgia to have a 9.3x57 and that is not least important

The 9.3x57 would be great in the surplus 98's out there these days. It fits the magazine, should feed well, and hits hard. The 270 gr. Speer seems a little soft at x62 and x64 speeds, but would be a great 9.3x57 bullet. It's common, accurate, cheap, and probably just right for x57 speeds.

If you rebored a stock 98k or M48 and added a new front sight post at the proper height, you'd have a good medium-bore rifle for very little cash. Keep us posted, Okie John.

Here is a pic of a M98 action for a Husqvarna 146 in 9,3x57:

Nice guns, and they are a real bargain here: $50. Some of them have really nice stocks.

The calibre is nice to shoot and rather efficient on moose and other big game.

Fritz