I'd like to put together an all-around rifle in 9.3x62mm with a barrel around 20" pr maybe 21".

Something handy and compact for use in elevated shooting houses, tree stands, and hopefully someday soon on a driven boar shoot in Europe.

Depending on the action used will probably stick it in a suitable McMillan stock.

The question is - how much velocity would I lose with a 20" barrel as opposed to a 24" or 22" barrel?

It would be rare for me to take a shot past 200 yards.

I'm sure there are ballistic calculators that would give you a pretty good idea, but I would wager 100fps-150fps would be a safe bet.

If I had to make a hard number bet I would say 110fps.

On Realguns.com they did a couple articles and load testing with a CZ 9,3x62 mannlicher, those have a twenty inch barrel. Give you a little idea of the velocities with different bullet weights and powders. Not all inclusive, but a decent little sampler.

As long as you are over 15-16 you will be fine, but you may lose some pointability and balance and get more recoil. The european stock design is better for highseats and driven hunt than the strait american.

I shortened  the barrel on my 9.3X62 by 3.75" to a length of 21" from the bolt face.

The data is organized by gr/vel before/vel after/difference/loss per inch

RL15 270 Speer
59/2448/2363/85/23
60/2504/2361/143/38
61/2569/2417/152/40

RL15 285 Prvi Partizan
58/2378/2303/75/20
59/2405/2348/57/15

Varget 285 Prvi Partizan
58/2421/2347/73/19

100fps is what my 358 Norma lost going from 24" to 20", it's not at all noticeable in the field with about the same trajectory as before.

I've got two 9.3x62s; a standard Blaser R93 with a 22.6" tube and a semi-custom L/H Zastava which I elected to have a 20" (medium weight) Lothar Walther barrel installed; for all the resons you've already mentioned, Drive Hunting, close-quarters, especially in the confined spaces of High Seats, quick handling and balance. Couldn't be more pleased and No, I haven't put any bullets thru the Chrony screens yet but none have bounced off any animals, either. Personally I could care less what fps I'm getting; this short rifle works wonderfully just the way it is.

I woulda cut the Blaser R93 barrel, too 'cept it already came (used) Magna-Ported and to clean that up woulda left me at @ 18". It shoots great too and since the Blaser action is a tad shorter than most anyway, leaves me @ where I wanna be.

Thanks to you all -- especially Mauser 98.

I get 2300fps from RL15 (a Nosler book load) and 286NP out of 20.5in barrel.

quote:

Originally posted by DB Bill:
Thanks to you all -- especially Mauser 98.

CZ makes a full stock 550 in 9.3 with a short barrel and they also sell a model with a battue sight (perfect for driven game). Check out their website for the particulars;

www.cz-usa.com

A couple inches might make very little difference. its not a long range cartride anyway.
I would use a surplus military mauser. To save money find a well done sporter already set up for a scope.
then a barrel stock and bluing is all you need.
Make sure the mag box is long enough for the round. A vz 24 is good. a yougo is bad...tj3006

very interesting.

I use that exact varget load but with lapua megas & get very similar velocity in my 24" Simson M98.

I guess the deer, pig or elk will not know the differnce.

quote:

Originally posted by Mauser98:
I shortened  the barrel on my 9.3X62 by 3.75" to a length of 21" from the bolt face.

The data is organized by gr/vel before/vel after/difference/loss per inch

RL15 270 Speer
59/2448/2363/85/23
60/2504/2361/143/38
61/2569/2417/152/40

RL15 285 Prvi Partizan
58/2378/2303/75/20
59/2405/2348/57/15

Varget 285 Prvi Partizan
58/2421/2347/73/19

just buy a new tikka t3 battue in 9.3x62, already has a 20" bbl, ready to go from the box. designed for thr typr of hunting you desire.......works for me

I haven't played too much with mine which has a 20.5" barrel but comparing it with what others claim for velocity in a 24" barrel, I lose about 100-125 fps. About the max load I've recorded from a 250 Accubond is about 2550 fps. The BC on the Accubond is a pretty damn good. I've shot less 285 loads like the Mega but it seems to run about 2250 to 2300 fps.

quote:

Originally posted by tjroberts:
its not a long range cartride anyway

NOTHING could be further from the truth!!

Loaded right in a MODERN rifle with 22 - 23-inch barrel, it's EASILY a 400 meter rifle for big game!

It's nonsense like the above quote that turns some hunters away from this excellent cartridge in a good rifle.

Bob

www.bigbores.ca

well. bob, maybe i should say its not an ideal long range round., I am sure it will work the bc,s are quite good.
But its at its best out to about 250.
I am sure you can take game at 400 yards with a 45/70, and i bet its done every year.
But my point was ,go ahead and shorten the barrel. you will not lose much trajectory wise. its not a flat shooting cartridge.
i like the round myself , but if im hunting open country, i would prefer many faster cartridges.
...tj3006,