I just got back from Hawaii, where a friend who manages coffee farms is having trouble with feral hogs and cattle. This was not sporting--maybe one of our Africans or someone with more experience can name it precisely. For my part, it was the work of hunting without much of the enjoyment. The coffee pickers took the meat—about 1,100 lb. of beef and another 20 or so for the pig, and let nothing go to waste. I’ve hunted big game for nearly 30 years, but I just can’t get excited about shooting cows. Too many years of trying not to shoot them, I guess.

I expected a few rangy old bulls but eight head had escaped from a neighboring ranch and were grazing on the thick grass that grows between the rows of coffee trees. They were in fine shape but were spooky like deer. Each one can wreck many thousands of dollars worth of coffee trees very quickly, and the grower had permission to shoot them. (Hogs do similar damage through sheer numbers).

Around ten in the morning, I jumped the cattle in the jungle just above the fields. Several hot, sweaty hours of cat and mouse ensued. Early in the afternoon, I caught them in a bedding area and killed a young bull about 30 meters away as he got up to run.

I shot from standing and hit him with a 270 gr. Speer loaded to 2,300 fps. The bullet hit about 3 inches aft of the right shoulder and 5 inches below the spine, then left a nickle-sized exit hole at about the same spot on the left side. He ran about 15 feet, fell and died. A guy on the crew that took the carcass said it weighed 350 pounds without the head after they dressed and skinned it. (If there are cattlemen among us, I’d be curious as to how much he might have weighed on the hoof.)

Then I killed a cow as she fed in a coffee field about 70 meters away and slightly downhill from me. I knelt down, looped up with a Latigo-type sling and shot her with a 286 gr. Nosler at 2,350 fps. I had about twice as long to make the shot as it takes to read the last sentence. The bullet hit six inches below her withers and broke her shoulders. The exit hole was the size of a dime. She fell in her tracks and died quickly.

The third animal was a bull about 150m away. I had a bit more time for this shot, but the result was the same. Kneeling, sling, 286 Nosler @ 2,350, shoulder hit, dime-sized exit hole, quick death.

Walking back to the Jeep at nightfall, I jumped a herd of feral pigs and shot a smallish one at about 20m. This was not quite a snap shot, but was pretty quick. The Partition hit just aft of the right shoulder and exited just below the left ear--another quick end.

All three cows were about the same size. All bullets exited, and I did no post mortems aside from pressing on the wounds to check for bone damage. From the exit wounds, the Speer appeared to have expanded more than the Noslers though it had hit only ribs and lungs. It seems soft, but the bull died from a single shot. The Noslers broke big bones and exited. The animals I shot with them died in their tracks, each from a single bullet.

Overall I like how the 9.3x62 round performed--no surprises there, as it was designed for exactly this task. My CZ 550 also worked well. The sling gave me a lot of confidence in the orchards, but next time I want to try a Ching. The 4x Leupold has a 4a reticle from Premiere, and was zeroed at 150m. I have described the mount and iron sights several times in this forum, and I’ll get out a thread on the how they worked and the pre-hunt training I did when I’ve gotten more sleep.

Like I said, I have a hard time calling this hunting. I’m posting information about it here for any insight you care to take from it.

Okie John

okie john
Sounds like a fun time to me. Any time you are walking the woods with a high power rifle, and getting to shoot it can't be a bad day.
Thanks for the information on the bullet performance. I have used those same bullets in my 9,3x74R. It is hard to beat the Nosler Partition.

Based on my experience with the 270 gr. Speer, you got very lucky, I have blown them up on deer and Springbuck and what not...however I was running them a couple of hundred FPS faster than you were, but I had one explode on a Mule Deer at 250 yards, killed him instantly but blew up inside him on a near broadside shot...

I have had wonderfull luck with the 286 gr. Noslers on every thing I have shot with it. It will blow through a Cape buffalo most of the time and if not it always comes to rest on the off side skin..

With the Nosler,if the front end blows off it will exit, if it expands into one of those beatifull mushrooms it will stop on the off side skin, at least that has been my experience..I still don't know which is best as the end results is the same either way.

I'm extremely fond of the 9.3x62 these days. It is definatly the best of the non magnum calibers by a long shot but only if one omits the 9.3x64....Now that 9.3x64 brass may become readily available, that may change the picture, but at the expense of more recoil..

Ray, How do the 286 Woodleigh SP perform on Cape Buff compaired to the Nosler Partition's?
Do you recommend a soft for the first shot on buff in the 9.3x62/9.3x74R or would you go with solids all the way [because my 9.3 is a double I would use the 286 Woodleigh Solid]?

Ray, I loaded the Speer down to keep it together, and I suspect it was at the edge of its ability. The Noslers acted like, well, Noslers. I only shot the one Speer, and the magazine was always filled with Partitions.

Okie John

Okie John great story the speer 9.3's would work well on hogs I suspect. I have a cz 9.3x62 on order (I picked 100 cases of lapua 9.3x62 brass today). The speer 270 gr or the woodleigh 250 gr are bullets I am considering trying. I have a .375 H&H loaded with 300 gr Hornadies so I want to split the wieght diff between my 30/06 with 180 gr and the .375 with 300's so any news on the speers will be welcome.

Have you tried the Nosler BT's ??

PC I have killed a few deer and a 300lb Hog with the 270 Speer in my 9.3x74R double. Velocity was 2390fps. I recovered the bullet from the hog. He was hit at 27 yards. He had a very thick gristle plate and was running away at an angle. The bullet went through about 3 inches of gristle plate, through the shoulder broke his neck and was found in the rear of the jaw. The bullet showed a picture perfect mushroom. Retained weight was 221.4gr. [82%], max expansion was .925, minimum expansion .708. The bullet was still .655" long. The hog went right down, rolled on to his side and flopped. A 44 mag through the head just made him flop faster. A second 44 in the top of the head slowed the flopping down a little. In a few seconds he was done. Then the work began, as we had to pack him out, one piece at a time. He sure did taste good, well worth the work.
I have also used the 286 gr Norma Alaska [factory load] and I would prefer the Speer bullet, as it seems to be the tougher bullet, and gives better penetration.

Okie John, stalking wary bulls through the jungle? It sounds like hunting to me.

PC, as odd as it may sound, I'm waiting for you to get that 9.3x62 almost as anxiously as you are. I'm glad to have been made aware of this round and I like seeing others get it too.

Since you have a 375 it might not be as exciting to you as it was to me, but I love it - it inspires great confidence. A 286 gr. bullet at velocities ideal for penetration without using one grain more of powder than necessary to have gotten it there. But I realise I'm preaching to the choir around here.

No Wismon I am still very exicited, it will be a lighter trimmer package than my .375 and will be like a powerful 30/06 (attepmt at justification for purchase ). I just love getting new rifles, it's better than sex

Another contender for the bullet I amthinking of loading is the 9.3 232 gr Norma Vulcan. From the little bit if imfo I have gathered as far as hardness goes it would lie between the speer 270 gr and the woodleigh 250 gr bullets.

NE 450 No2, I feel the speer would be good for any application short of buff due to the 9.3 giving the "perfect velocity" for proper bullet performance.

Wismon what 9.3x62 do you shoot ?? what are your favourite bullets to use for this.

Sounds like a lot of fun. How would the 338 Winnie with 250 grain partition's compare with your setup? About the same in field results?

My rifle is the CZ550 American and I shoot the 286 gr. Norma Alaskan bullet.

I have yet to kill anything with it but I likely will this season. I could have this past year but I couldn't justify it as my freezer was already full before I got . I'm in between scopes right now but when I put the new one on I plan to zero the rifle at 200 yds. I figure that with that I can get to 300 yds. easily and out to 400 yds. if I choose to.

Back in the fall I *almost* took a shot at a deer at about 400 yds. but I didn't for several reasons, one of which was that I couldn't see any visible antlers and the season was for bucks only at the time. I would have loved to report back with a tale of a long range shot with a 9.3x62.

With a 200 yd. zero, to hit at 400 yds with a 30-06 requires holding two feet high. With a 9.3x62 it requires holding three feet high. I don't consider holding 3' high any more difficult than holding 2' high. All of that's to say that I consider the 9.3x62 to be more versatile than some might give it credit for being.

In the mean time I'll practice some of those long shots duing the off season.

Wismon,

have you tried some lighter style bullets in your 9.3 ??

I will try and tag a few grassy's at + 200 yards with mine when I get it and head North with it to see how versatile it can be. I think I am v now viewing this cartridge as a cross between a 45/70 and a 30/06 you have some of the heavy smashing ability as well as some of the trajectory advatges of the 30/06. I am putting a 2-7x33 leupold Vari X 11 on mine that I have kicking around. I have a set of cz 550 mounts which I hope will fit. I have had them retapped to fit slightly bigger screws that have torx heads (they are the ones used on leupold mounts I think).

I load the 250 gr Barnes X to a bit over 2600 fps in my 9.3x62's (an FN and a Husky). Shoots pretty flat and hits hard. Worked like a champ on gemsbuck, kudu, eland, etc. Recovered a couple of bullets that could have been used in a Barnes ad. They are also the most accurate bullet in my rifles which is a first for as my other rifles have refused to shoot the X's very well at all.

PC, I have not yet tried the 250 gr. bullets, though I plan to at some point, along with 225 gr. ones. I want to put that rifle through its paces as opportunity allows.

I think the 9.3x62 shooters are sort of a secret society, however, the word seems to be getting out.

450 No.2
The Nosler or woodleigh works just fine on Buff but don't try to break the shoulders, get both lungs on the Buffalo and he won't usually make a lot of tracks...Don't take frontal shots or going away shots with softs in these calibers, at least on the first shot....

Mostly I have simply used solids with the 9.3's and like with the 375, I can then take the shots as they come from any angle...

Using a light for Buffalo rifle like a 375 or a 9.3 is a little different ballgame. the light guns are plenty fine and very effective when properly used...

For a buff looking at you always shoot him with a solid, going away do the same..With softs don't take the famous triangle shot, shoot him close behind the shoulder...or just use a solid and be done with it.

At least that is the way I see it..If I want to break old Nyati down with shoulder shots then give me my 404 or 416 Rem...I'm not declaring a 9.3 or 375 won't break one or even both shoulders on ocassion, but I will say I have seen them both fail to do that on more than one ocassions...and I have seen softs drift to the side on frontal shots and slide down the outside of the rib cage, then you really have a mess to sort out, he is healthy, hurt and pissed, a bad combination to deal with....

Ray
Thanks for the first hand info. That is one of the nice things about a double, the ability to have a soft and a solid "up the spout" at the same time.[in a big bore] However if I have to use the 9.3 on a buff I will load a solid in both bbls.

Ray
How do the 320 gr. Woodleigh soft and solid in the 9.3x62 behave on large game? I have some ordered to try with the load you emailed me. Or anyone else that has tried these on game.
Thanks
Jim Williams

Wismon I have narrowed down my bullet choices to either the 250 gr woodleigh or the Norma 232 gr Vulcan which I am looking for a little more input on it's perfromance. It may be a better pig bullet (quicker expander) than the woodleigh.

Limping,
the 320 Woodligh normally will go to the offside expanded to about 75 caliber against the hide with an ocassional exit hole, even if it breaks a shoulder, at least most of the time, but to be safe keep the bullet off the shoulder and double lung shoot Buffalo....Let the 320 gr. solid do the dirty work, it will break both shoulders and it cannot be stopped short of Mt. Kenya or Mozambique...Also the 286 gr. Woodliegh softs and solids work quite well in the 9.3x62 on Buffalo.

Also don't over look the wonderfull 300 gr. Swift bullet, it is a real winner for Buffalo. It may be easier to regulate to zero with a solid also...

For a solid I would definatly recommend GS Customs or Bridger bullets flat nose solids, they kill so much better.

As of now I am sold on the Woodleigh 320 gr. soft and the GS Custom flat nose solids..if they shoot close together as they do in my rifle..

Hopefully North Fork will come out with a good SP bullet of heavy weight.

One of the reasons the 9.3x62 has such a wonderful track record is it is a bit slow and that safeguards the integrity of most bullets and proper bullet performance makes up for more than most can imagine...the only bullet it will destroy is the basically worthless 270 gr. Speer.

Ray can you comment on the Norma Vulcan 232 gr 9.3 bullet ?? Is it a copper or steel Jacket. I am thinking of either the 250 woodleigh or the 232 gr Vulcan for roo's and pigs.

Thanks PC.

PC,

You should not have any problems with either of those projectiles on roos and pigs.

I have developed a load for the 250 grain Nosler Ballistics tip for up to Red Deer. My Sako shoots really well with 54grains Ar2206 so work a load up to that and see how you go. I tried 2208 but got extraction problems with it as the group tightened and suspect that 2208 is a little slow for the 250 grain projectile.

When do you expect to get your CZ 550? I spoke to Winchester about the 9.3 in the CZ 550 and they told me they are getting another 4 with your order but I have decided to refrain from buying one at this stage. My wife would probably flog me if I bought another rifle this year!

Dingo,

I do not know when it will be here it sounds as if you have more idea than me !! How many 9.3's CZ's did they order all up ?? Did they increase the order by 4 more ?? Apparently the few they have improted have pretty well been all snapped up. It has been such a drama to get a cz 9.3x62 I just settled for the Lux version which was what they have chosen to import. I am happy with that anyway. I have paid $300 deposit on it. People who reserved them had to place firm orders, I wonder wether it proved a little more popular than they (Winchester Australia) thought They might be hard to get in the future so I thought I would take my oppurtunity while I have the chance, cz's are the best valur for money in my opinion.

I got 100 pieces of lapua 9.3x62 brass the other day looks like good quality stuff. What cases do you run Dingo.

Hey I know about the missus putting the clamp down I am about to start living it mate

Is the Norma 232 gr Vulcan a copper plated projectile ?? I do not want steel jackets. Have you tried these bullets ?? Rebel sport in QLD will sell Norma 232 gr Vulcans for $85 per 100.

I wonder wether there a little softer than the woodleigh 250 grainers. I was thinking about the Nosler BT but some how I just can't see such an old historic round with a plastic olive green bullet

[ 05-06-2003, 15:55: Message edited by: PC ]

The Norma 232 Vulcan is a copper jkt bullet. Hand loader or Rifle magazine had an article on the 9.3x62 with the 232 Vulcan that detailed the results of tests by hunters shooting Swedish moose. Several bullets were recovered and they seemed to hold together and mushroom well.
I have some Norma factory 232 Vulcan for my 9.3x74R I will shoot a couple of pigs with them and get back to the forum.

450 Try the Vulkan with magnet they are steel copper plated , Oryx bullets are copper jacket bonded cores

Daniel

PC,

I have been using RWS cases up to now but would be real surprised if those Lapua cases did not come up real well as they are normally excellent quality and very consistent weight wise. Where did you get them - I probably would have bought them in preference to the RWS cases!

I have not personally tried the 232 Vulcans but I would imagine they would be softer than the 250 grain Woodleighs.

By the way have a look at Rebel`s Advertisement in this months SSAA journal opposite page 35 as they have a fair amount of .366 RWS projectiles and Woodleighs for sale. As for the 250 Grain Nosler BTs, I still have to use them in the field but bet they will be effective up to probably Sambar and quite flat shooting due to their good BC. Just wish I had a chronograph as I`d love to know what they are pushing along at. That will be my next investment.

With regards to the CZ 550s in 9.3, I spoke to a Winchester Rep about 3 weeks ago and he indicated that they would have another 4 CZs in 9.3 - all in the lux version which is what I would have chosen anyway. The more I talk about them the more I want one!

Let us know how you go when you get yours!

Good luck!

I had heard that some of the older Norma bullets were steel Jacketed but I heard newer ones were not. I am leaning towards the woodleigh's as I may be able to get these cheaper.

Daniel M
The Norma ammo I have is in the brown "wood grain" box. The 232 Vulcans are not "magnetic", thus not copper clad steel. I also checked some of the Norma 193gr.[12.5 gram] SPFN. They are silver colored but not "magnetic".

I would agree with Bar D on dressing percentages. He is very close. I would also say that you performed a valuble service and had a good day as well. Congratulations.

First, thanks to everyone for the information you've freely shared here. I have learned a lot about the 9.3x62 in a very short time, and I thank you all.

Ray, to be honest, your opinions are much of the reason why I didn't run the Speer as fast as it would go. Do you think it might be better in a 9.3x57 than in a 9.3x62?

PC, I got 2,535 fps and small groups with the 250 BT and RL-15 without really trying. I want 2,600 on a hot day, as it's mighty close to a 338. With that BC, they should do well at long range. The guys at Nosler say the 286P's need 2,000 fps to expand; my load starts at 2,350, so I'm good to 200 yards. That makes my rifle a 300 Savage on steroids, but that's plenty just now.

Bar D and Witness, thanks for the information and welcome aboard.

Thanks again to everyone, Okie John.

Thanks NE !!

I do not really want to shoot steel Jackets down my bore as I have heard there not good for your barrel.

Took a little road trip today and came home with 4 boxes of Norma factory 232 Vulcans in 9.3x74R. These are in the new more colorful box. I still have about a half of box of a load that I have a zero for in my Chapuis. I think I will head to the lease this weekend and try to shoot a turkey or two and a pig if I am lucky. Maybe a coyote too. And I will check the zero of the new lot of Vulcans.

232gr. velocity 2625fps energy 3543ftlbs.
15 Grams 800ms 4804joules

1" high at 100 yards,POA at 150yds,-2.85" at200
-15.02 at 300yds
or +2.47 at 100, +2.14at 150, zero at 200, -10.74 at 300

[ 05-09-2003, 04:22: Message edited by: N E 450 No2 ]

NE I hope you whop a few hogs with them so you can tell me how they go on them

One day I would love to afford a double

PC,
The only 250 gr. bullets I've used are the Nosler Balistic tip, BarnesX, and the Swift, they are fine on deer, elk etc...

One thing I like about the 9.3x62 is about any bullet will work in it as the velocity is such that bullet integrity is pretty safe..The only bullet failures I have experienced with the 9.3x62 is the Speer 270 and it is definatly too soft, but might work fine on Roos.

I also shoot Lapua brass, it is about the best brass on todays market in any caliber IMO..Then RWS followed by WW..all good stuff.

Thanks Ray,

I think your right the speers would workwell on roo's if anything they would be ideal as being a thin skined animal the speer would probably provide the right level of expansion.

I have a feeling a fully grown red roo would correspond to one of your White tail deers as far as weight and size go

Okie John,
Yes I think perhaps the 270 gr. Speer would work in the 9.3x57, perhaps that is what it was made for..