I haven't used the S&B in 9.3 but I do shoot their 173 Gr. SPCE load in my 7x57. I had one three shot group yesterday that was .84" at 100 yds. from a sitting position. It normally shoots right around 1" for me +- 1/8".

I'm picking up a Japanese Sika mount tomorrow that I took with this load in December. 165 yard shot, went through both shoulders and the deer took one big leap and piled up. I've also got some 8x57 loads with the SPCE but haven't had a chance to hunt with it yet.

Anybody ever use this stuff and is it any good? David Gentry is building a 1909 Mauser for me in this caliber. I got an email from him last night saying he'd finished the rifle and needed some FACTORY ammo to test fire it. Now I'd planned on reloading for this rifle, but I can also understand why he would prefer to use factory ammo as opposed to someone's reloads he doesn't really know personally on a new rifle.

Anyway, anybody ever use this stuff? Can it be reloaded? Natchez has it for $18.40 a box right now. Seems very reasonable to me.

Thanks,
Terry

Based on a small test my friend did with the S&B 286-grain load in his Husqvarna, the ammo is acceptably accurate but velocities were just over 2000 fps in his rifle's 60cm barrel. Ditto for Norma ammo with the same bullet weight.

Since I suspect you'd want something closer to the nominal velocity of 2350 fps, you might be better off contacting a custom ammo outfit like Superior Ammo for a hotter load, then either stick with them or handload to match later.

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I've S&B in 7x57, 8x57, 9.3x62, and, most of all, 6.5x57. I Bought a bunch of it when I stumbled across a great "deal". Joke was on me though. The stuff is crap, most all of it showed pressure signs, had some blown primers. By far the worst was the 8x57 and 6.5x57. Thick case rims, undersized primer pockets, extremely poor case life (as in separation on the second firing with starting loads), and large variations in case length. I will never buy it again. Just my experience...

9.3

I've shot a whopping two boxes of it. I have not yet tried it on game, though I probably will if I get a chance. Velocity was around 2,100 fps, and some of the cases would not fit in a RCBS shellholder, so reports of dimensional irregularity don't surprise me. Try this same question on the European Hunting board; several users there have extenisve experience with it. Hope this helps, Okie John.

I also ran two boxes of this ammo through my 9.3x62. I found it to be pretty accurate. I did not see any problems like flattened primers, etc. Seems strange that ammo clocking slow would cause overpressure signs - perhaps a bad batch of ammo / brass? Also what about the gun - tight throat, or anything like that a possibility? That's a bummer when cheap & available ammo for an uncommon chambering doesn't work for you.

I would not use it on an African hunt, wrong place to economize in my opinion, but would not hesitate to use it on deer or black bear. The day a 285 gr projectile of any sort at modest velocity won't lay down a 180# whitetail, I give up.

Todd

My experience is similar to Todd's. I have had no pressure signs and it shot very well in my CZ and less so in other 9.3x62's (worse groupings less than 2"). In my other guns Lapua ammunition shot better(<0.5"). But the CZ shot about 1". I believe the S&B load chronographed at about 2,200fps

I shot a very close 150 pound whitetail with the CZ using the S&B and it went through and through with a large exit wound. However, this is not the load that I am taking to Africa.

I've never tried it in 9.3x62 but recently bought some in 7x57. Went bang and seemed to shoot okay, but it's a new
rifle so it's not sorted out as of yet.

What I don't like about the 2 boxs I got was I'm not able to reload the stuff. It won't fit any of my 7x57 shell holders as the extractor groove is too big on the brass. None of the three shell holders I have (RCBS, Hornady, Lee) will fit. So I don't think I'll be buying any more of stuff.

The only experience I have with S&B centerfire rifle ammo is with the 7.62X54R. I've shot 4 cases of the factory ammo with no problems, acceptable accuraccy for whitetail hunting and have reloaded 100 of those cases 9 times with no problems what-so-ever. Of coarse a rimmed case is a different animal than what you all are discussing.

http://www.accuratereloading.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB44&Number=474186&fpart=&PHPSESSID=

I have had positive results with S&B ammo here and in Africa and would not hesitate to use it again. I currently am using S&B .357 SIG, .308. 30/06, and 9.3x62