I'm trying to work up a load for an upcoming hunt in July in South Africa for plains game up to Eland size.

This will be my first time using the 9.3x62 and in looking at the Barnes and Hornady manuals there is quite a discrepancy in the data with the TSX 286 gr bullets and the Interlok 286 gr bullets using RL-15. The starting load for one bullet is several grains above Max for the other in these manuals. I know that the Barnes will be a little faster but this seemed excessive.

I guess my question is, does anyone have a pet load for the Barnes 286 TSX?

Thanks!

Bob,

I have been very happy with 58 +/- gr RL-15 with the 286 TSX. Moves about 2400 fps. Start a few grains lower and work up. Might be able to go as high as 60 grains with the TSX, just watch for high pressure signs. If you don't want to use the TSX, 286 Nosler Partitions work wonders.

Have fun "testing" aka practice.

Don

Thanks. That's what I needed to hear.

A lot of folks use RL-15 for 286 Gr bullets which I may try at some point. I've selected Nosler Partitions and I'm getting good accuracy using Ramshot Big Game. My rifle is a CZ 550 American with 23.6" barrel. I use Lapua brass and Winchester WLR primers with just under 65gr of Big Game. The typical safety disclosure apply... work up to this load.

Do a search here on AR but Ramshot Big Game is "the" powder for accuracy and velocity in the 9.3x62.
You can start at 60 grains and work up to and beyond 64 grains (using some sense).
Mine likes 64 grains of Ramshot Big Game in Graf brass and CCI or WW primers and a 270 grain Speer and it shoots 286 grain projectiles very well with 62.5 grains of same
Good luck with yours.

Ram Shot Big Game with 286 Gr bullets 2500 FPS

RL 15 with 250 Gr bullets 2650 FPS in my 22" 9.3 X 62 both loads extremely accurate.

Was at my range on Wed. this week and checked out the following 9.3 X 62 loads.

My go to load has always been 53.6 grains of Varget with the .286gr. TSX or Privi 285gr (practice loads). Did a one grain bump up, 54.6, 55.6, 56.6. All shot really well with the 55.6 being the best of the bunch. No groups were over an inch. No pressure signs on anything. I also shot a Barnes solid into each group with same powder amount and was well within an inch of the TSX grouping. Shot the 286gr. Partition 53.6 gr Varget and the group was less than 1/2 inch. Best group but a little leery on the Nosler for Cape Buff, when the TSX has a proven record. For Plains game I would have no problem with the Nosler, might even be my first choice.

RamshotBG sounds interesting as per conversation with Snellstrom, but don't know if accuracy can be improved over what Varget is doing for me. I will try it a bit if I get the chance and report back. Seems Ramshot might give a few more fps, will see.

Larry Sellers

Larry:

You might check out this load data:

http://www.realguns.com/loads/93x62mm.htm

Here's some more....

I use Varget (AR 2208) for Lapua Mega 286 gr bullets and get around 2430 fps with 59 gr of powder.

I think Re15 is better for the 250 gr bullets.

Rob,

I've used the Barnes X and Nosler Partition in RSA on game up to kudu. I've also taken a couple white tail with the Hornady Interlock. All over Varget. So far the Hornady is the most accurate and well behaved bullet. If I ever take the 9.3 on a hunt where anything larger than kudu is involved I'll try out one of Woodleigh's Weldcore offerings otherwise I'll use the Hornady.

Have a good time this year!

quote:

Originally posted by Rob Haught:
I'm trying to work up a load for an upcoming hunt in July in South Africa for plains game up to Eland size.

This will be my first time using the 9.3x62 and in looking at the Barnes and Hornady manuals there is quite a discrepancy in the data with the TSX 286 gr bullets and the Interlok 286 gr bullets using RL-15. The starting load for one bullet is several grains above Max for the other in these manuals. I know that the Barnes will be a little faster but this seemed excessive.

I guess my question is, does anyone have a pet load for the Barnes 286 TSX?

Thanks!

Rob,

I shot the maximum RL15 load from the Barnes manual and got very low velocities (like 2000 FPS). I emailed them and they said "chambers are different" and to slowly work my loads up from their max. I used other manual's numbers above the max Barnes load and saw no pressure signs.

Yes, their load numbers were very low.

I'm a big fan of the Barnes 286 in the 9.3x62. It did a great job for me on Zebra, Kudu, Oryx and Warthog (which flew through the air when struck!).

quote:

Originally posted by A7Dave:
I shot the maximum RL15 load from the Barnes manual and got very low velocities (like 2000 FPS). I emailed them and they said "chambers are different" and to slowly work my loads up from their max. I used other manual's numbers above the max Barnes load and saw no pressure signs.

Yes, their load numbers were very low.

Loads listed listed for the 9.3x62 and 7x57 (as well as others I'm guessing) in the Barnes manual are anemic. From what I can tell Barnes is using the SAAMI pressures, where as others have stepped up and developed loads that fall within the CIP specs.

As others have stated or seen, in modern (read - late 20th century) rifles loads in the 9.3x62 and 7x57 can exceed those listed by Barnes by 10% in some cases.