Gents:

How would you teach a woman to shoot a 9,3? Powered down loads with light bullets to start? Thanks.

Assuming the rifle fits her properly - I would do what I did when working up to my 458. Just use so-called youth loads, such as Hodgdon suggests on their web site, using H4895 powder. They say you can load down to 60% of max with that powder, and the 9.3x62 likes H4895 anyway. IMR 4895 would probably give similar results.

Using light bullets is OK but not necessary. Less speed = less recoil. I see no need to use bullets lighter than 250 gr.

Another thing or idea - shooting sticks. Shooting off the bench may increase the probablility of the scope hitting her eyebrow, which could be a drastic mistake, affecting her will to continue with that rifle. Shooting offhand with the rifle supported by the sticks gets that scope full eye relief, and she can concentrate at first on holding the rifle properly without actually supporting its weight.

Depending on her skill or previous experience with smaller calibers, it could be a good idea to use iron sights only at first and graduate to the scope after technique and skills and confidence is developed.

Hope that helps.

I remember that I started to enjoy shooting that 458 with 400 gr bullets loaded to about 2100fps only after I took the scope off. That was a big relief at that time to not worry about the scope, and the rifle carried better without it anyway.

KB

Can she handle a 30.06 with normal 180 grain loads? My 9.3x62 Model 70 with 250s feels about like my Model 700 30.06 with 180s. Stock shape and weight will have a major input on perceived recoil.

I would start her out with light loads with the 270 Speer [they are dirt cheap compared to most 9,3 bullets] going about 2100fps or so.

Start with the light 232grn bullets. again downloaded. Plastic points are cheap - (but not as cheap as Speer I'll admit)!

I really see no need for downloading.
The 9,3 x 62 is soft enough for girls,
ok not for my girlfriend she is too stupid to hold a rifle.

Burkhard

thanks for the input so far. would folks recommend the CZ as a platform? the stock could be worked voer appropriately for fit.

My GF shot mine back when she was relatively healthy and liked it with regular loads. But then she shot full house loads in her 41 Mag and loved it.
She was 5'4" and 110# in her 50's

Long eye-relief scope. 286gr. Prvi's loaded to 2000fps or less. NO BENCH, shoot off sticks. Pretty much sums it up. The long eye-relief scope is a big help with heavy recoiling rifles.

Jsl - I like the CZ's as a general rule. They are working rifles that usualy work. The safety catch has gone through so many versions though it is hard to keep up! (mauser wing, 2 position up-down on left side, roller back-to-fire on cocking shroud, action mounted back-to-fire, action mounted forward-to-fire) Make sure you get one with the same safety operation as what ever other rifle she owns/uses.

Also, the CZ's are often poorley beded. Nothing that you cannot sort out yourself, and not an urgent requirement in the 9,3 but worth doing.

lastly, CZ 9,3's have been built on two differnet action sizes. Standard (30-06 length) and magnum. Do not get one in the magnum length. The excess space in the mag casues feeding trouble (as it does in .458 win) and it is just unnessary legnth and weight.

A parting thought...why does Norma sell so much 232grn 9,3 ammo in europe? Because many men find the recoil of the 286grn load over their comfort level!! Start with light loads!!!!Some people can absorb tremendous ammounts of recoil and not be bothered by it- I, for one, cannot.

I tried the 232 gr Norma stuff once, and found the accuracy was terrible in my rifle, which has 1 in 12" twist. They were accurate enough for hunting, but made the rifle look bad, when I know it is very accurate with heavier bullets. Maybe the 232 grs are more accurate in the 14" Euro twist - I dunno. but I had good accuracy with 250 gr bullets. Not much difference in weight - big difference in accuracy.

KB

are factory CZs all a 1:12 twist?

Someone mentioned the 286 Privi load at 2,000 fps. It is sold as Highland Ammo here in oz and is the mildest factory ammo I have shot.

Make sure the stock fits her properly and is not too light. (Add weight to the butt if you have to and take it out later)under a good (kick-eze) recoil pad.

I shot an early model Ruger 77 factory 375H&H in Africa which I found quite heavy and it was very comfortable to shoot compared to my lightweight custom 9.3x62 FN Mauser.

I'm fairly sure the CZ is not 1:12 twist, but I have never been able to confirm exactly what it is. I've heard 1:10 and 1:14. I would like to know what it actually is too.
KB

Not sure if gender or caliber has anything to do with learning how to shoot...no matter what the size, age or gender of the person...it is reasonable to start on the low end of the scale and work up, teaching/re-teaching all the fundamentals of breath and trigger control, sight alignment, grip, etc.

I've been shooting little and big shooters all my life...but I DON'T start with a max load for ANY new rifle-to-me no matter what the caliber.

Start with a load that is already comfortable for a shooter more advanced than a beginner, then work up slowly.

When I finished my 12GaFH and loaded up the first loads...they were on the low side...

I started the load development by cranking off a few rounds each...starting with my 308 W, I then picked a few rifles whose ammo I needed to shoot up and fired off a couple rounds each... 180 and 200 gr 300 WM's, some 235 gr, 270 gr and 300 gr 375 H&H, a couple heavy 525 gr 45-120 loads and a few 12ga heavy max slug loads, to start reminding myself of what to expect and what the different 6.5 to 12 lb rifles were doing as compared to the then 10 lb NEF. The first 12GaFH from the NEF loads were pussycats compared the some of the last rounds and I my muscle memory had been awakened...after the load workup session I set up the 17FB on the bench as shot a few squirrels just to settle the nerves.

This is pretty much my normal procedure when I'm working up loads for ANY heavy hitter from 375 cal up.

No matter what your physical nature, the body, after absorbing a lot of abuse - no matter what type - needs to settle down. I find that shooting a light rifle a few times after shooting a lot of heavy recoiling rounds during load workup removes some of the recoil anticipation, gets things working normally again and doesn't leave me as "twitchy" afterwards or the next time I start working on some "riproaring" heavy caliber.

I shoot 286gr bullets in my 8.75 lb loaded Mauser 98,9.3x62 at normal established velocities. I don't know any women that uses that caliber, but none of the younger crowd that comes around seem to have any trouble shooting it...boys or girls...and one very stout 6'3" neighbor lady thinks it shoots nice, but likes her 338 WM much better.

It all depends on the person and their level of experience.

Luck with your quest.