I think the next rifle will be a 9.3. Why? It's cool, "trending," and I don't have one. Question is how should it come about.

I know there are now factory offerings but I've also got a surplus M98, unaltered, Obendorf build, 1933 manufacture with a non-matching bolt but very nice barrel, polishing and bluing on the receiver. It functions and shoots well. I've got $200 in it.

Good candidate? Or keep it as it is and consider other alternatives?

Thanks. -WSJ

If I was to build a 9.3 (which I am not going to do) it would be a 9.3x64. Brass may be a little more difficult to find, but once you have 300-400 cases who cares. Significant improvement over the 9.3x62 IMHO.

Barstooler

9.3x62 has Mauser written all over it.

Use the 98!

quote:

If I was to build a 9.3 (which I am not going to do) it would be a 9.3x64. Brass may be a little more difficult to find, but once you have 300-400 cases who cares. Significant improvement over the 9.3x62 IMHO.

Ahh, but I don't want a 9.3x64. I'm not interestred in improving the 9.3x62, just owning one.

Yes use your Mauser for the build.
Now all you have to do is barrel, trigger, 3 position safety, over priced bottom metal, express sights that you will never use, trapdoor buttplate for holding toilet paper, double squared bridges and on and on.

Or keep it simple.......

The better question is how soon do you want a 9.3x62?

I agree the mauser has 9.3x62 written all over it. But add the expense and the time to acquire and build......
Or you could buy a CZ or Ruger African and be out shooting in a couple weeks or sooner.

So what is the nostalgia worth to you? What do you want your 9.3x62 to be?

quote:

Yes use your Mauser for the build.
Now all you have to do is barrel, trigger, 3 position safety, over priced bottom metal, express sights that you will never use, trapdoor buttplate for holding toilet paper, double squared bridges and on and on.

Or keep it simple.......

Ha! Excellent! Hadn't thought of the TP or express sights!

Actually, I want a functional hunting rifle with a classic action and caliber, clean barrel, scoped (I can't see iron sights anyway), and walnut stock with cheek piece (no monte carlo, probably along the lines of Rem CDL or Win 70 style).

I've got nothing against Ruger or CZ rifles either (got both, although only a 17 HMR in CZ), nor other commercial factory rifle (Husqvarna, whatever, if one wanders by).

What I do have is the surplus Mauser rifle. What I'm looking for are your opinions on its suitability/practicality vs other alternatives. And I'm not in a hurry - this is next year's rifle and I'm certainly not lacking other rifles to shoot in the mean time.

Thanks again. -WSJ

In the past two weeks I have seen two Husqvarna 9,3x62's sell. The first for nearly $1,100, the second, was around $600.

The 9,3x62 has been hands down the most requested build I get orders for.

You have a very desirable 98 action in hand. it would be the perfect start to a nice custom rifle.

Rebarrel a M70 and be done with it. I picked up a stainless Classic that had been rebarreld to 9.3x62 from MADDOG and it's a definite keeper!

These guys carry a bunch of sporterizing stuff and will order a 9.3x62 barrel:

http://www.sporterexpress.com/...x-62-Rifle-Barrel-42

I bought one of these from this guy. I had the barrel turned down to a normal contour. The barrel is a pretty darn accurate:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Aucti...x?Item=271947281#PIC

Is your gun a military or commercial gun? If commercial, you might get one of the re-boring guys to make your (most likely a 8mm) barrel a 9.3.

It isn't going to be cheap. One place you might call is New England Custom Gun in New Hampshire. They will do a fist class job for you. Tell them what you want and ask what it would cost.

This is a picture of a mates custom M98 9.3x64. I will be having my Huskvarna 9.3x62 redone similar to this;

I bought a CZ 550 American on the recommendation for the chambering by Rick Rose years ago. Good a wonderful deal on it in the classifieds here.

Took the rifle to Africa and it performed flawlessly!

Liked the chambering so well that I decided to build a very practical on a 1938 BRNO VZ.24 in a synthetic stock on the cheap. Had a friend at Douglas put a barrel in the action. The fella that did the drilling and tapping screwed it up, so I did a set of custom mounts for it. Used a Timney trigger and Buehler style safety.

Bedded it into a Fajen's synthetic stock.

Required no feed work at all.

Does sub MOA with the same loads I use for the CZ 550.

Probably put $350 into it ... and got a wonderful rifle that I use in lousy weather and won't worry about hurting at all. It too has been to Africa and worked its magic!

Builds don't have to be top drawer to be wonderfully useful, although pretty is terrific if you can afford it.

A build need not be that expensive; depends how fancy you want to go.

The Lothar Walther prefit barrels A7Dave mentions have been used on a lot of 9.3's over here, and have proved very accurate.
There are four contours available; http://www.lothar-walther.com/268.php

The way LW make these, with a long chamber, no reamer is needed to fit them. Just a lathe and headspace gauges, and your smith can rent the gauges from Elk Ridge Reamer Rentals, http://www.reamerrentals.com/P...ProductCode=9.3x62.g


An alternative well worth considering, if you're not in a tearing rush to get one, is the Zastava M70. A commercial Mauser action in a sporting stock, these have been selling well here, and have been producing very good hunting accuracy.

http://www.zastava-arms.rs/cms/index.php?id=231 walnut stock
http://www.zastava-arms.rs/cms/index.php?id=333 synthetic stock

The stock we have been getting is the Monte Carlo version, and works well, some have good figure too. The stock finish is not great, but some fine steel wool and a few coats of Tru-Oil fixes that. The actions are a little rough to start with, but soon smooth out. These have a good adjustable trigger fitted.

There's a Zastava group buy going via the Lefties forum here, closing February 10th, expected in warehouse May 10th.

Right hand rifles can be included in the buy; price for the 9.3x62 will be in the $550-600 bracket, plus freight to your FFL. Maybe a little less for the synthetic stock version.
$100 deposit, all details are in this thread: http://forums.accuratereloadin...194/m/4791073961/p/1

Don't hesitate.
Build a 9.3x62 now and use your Mauser action

I got one done about 10 years ago and it didn't cost much money at all as I only wanted a well working, good shooting gun.
Fitted a S&L barrel and put a new safety and trigger on it and bedded it in a strong and cheap walnut stock.

That gun shot great and it still does for my friend that owns it now.

He loves the gun and the cartridge and it has become the only gun he uses for all his hunting.
From Roe deer to Moose.
All his other guns are gathering dust in his gun safe.

quote:

Originally posted by wsj:
I think the next rifle will be a 9.3. Why? It's cool, "trending," and I don't have one. Question is how should it come about.

I know there are now factory offerings but I've also got a surplus M98, unaltered, Obendorf build, 1933 manufacture with a non-matching bolt but very nice barrel, polishing and bluing on the receiver. It functions and shoots well. I've got $200 in it.

Good candidate? Or keep it as it is and consider other alternatives?

Thanks. -WSJ

Get a cheap .30-06 Mauser '98 and your 9.3x62 is just a rebarrel away. Improvements can then be done at leisure.

I would rebarrell your Mauser. I did precisely that when I decided I wanted a .35 Whelen. After I sold the take off parts (barrel, stock, sights, trigger), I think I have around $400 bucks in the gun. My buddy is a hobby gunsmith (AKA "bubba") and he already had many of the tools.

I would definitely choose a Mauser for that caliber. Your 1933 "postal" Oberndorf would be great but could run into some money.
Less expensive would be an FN HVA, either 9.3x62 or 9.3x57 which could be rechambered.

quote:

Originally posted by z1r:
The 9,3x62 has been hands down the most requested build I get orders for.

Mike built my pair of 9,3x62s (known as Ginger and Maryann) off a pair of what used to be Husky 9,3x57s. I LOVE THEM !

just checked and a right hand 9.3x62 with a Monte Carlo walnut stock is $600 and $10 more if you want the double-set triggers. $100 deposit and need to order by Feb 10 with the rifles coming in 90 days later

quote:

Mike built my pair of 9,3x62s (known as Ginger and Maryann) off a pair of what used to be Husky 9,3x57s. I LOVE THEM !

Pictures?!

I was at the gunsmith's today for other things and we talked about the 9.3 project. He said sort of what I've been hearing here, more or less along the lines of "Stumble on a commercial Mauser or even an M70 Classic and then rebarrel and it'll be cheaper. But that mil-surplus rifle & action would be very cool."

At this point, unless I simply bump into the right rifle, either FN HVA in 9.3 or a steal on an 70 30-06 or 270, I'm still looking at a grand. And if I can get one done with the pre-war military Mauser as a starting point, done to my taste for the same $$, that's the way I''m leaning.

The new or slightly used CZ or Ruger 77 African probably makes the most sense but as usual, that's not the sole controlling factor.

Thanks all for the input. -WSJ

quote:

Originally posted by wsj:

quote:

Mike built my pair of 9,3x62s (known as Ginger and Maryann) off a pair of what used to be Husky 9,3x57s. I LOVE THEM !

Pictures?!

I was at the gunsmith's today for other things and we talked about the 9.3 project. He said sort of what I've been hearing here, more or less along the lines of "Stumble on a commercial Mauser or even an M70 Classic and then rebarrel and it'll be cheaper. But that mil-surplus rifle & action would be very cool."

At this point, unless I simply bump into the right rifle, either FN HVA in 9.3 or a steal on an 70 30-06 or 270, I'm still looking at a grand. And if I can get one done with the pre-war military Mauser as a starting point, done to my taste for the same $$, that's the way I''m leaning.

The new or slightly used CZ or Ruger 77 African probably makes the most sense but as usual, that's not the sole controlling factor.

Thanks all for the input. -WSJ

I'm not sure which one is Ginger and which is Maryann.

These are quite lively rifles packing a nice wallop in a light package. They run just under 7 lbs but recoil is very manageable..



I threw together a similar rifle with some parts I had laying around. Not much of a looker but a real tack driver. Pic isn't so good, the wood looks much better in person. Quite a bit of fiddleback that you can just see in the pics but is more apparent in person.

FN-HVA-9.3x57

Or if you prefer something really special I would complete this project (I believe it is still available):
BrnoZG47-9.3x62

9.3x62's

Brno ZG 47 and a Mauser Oberndorf Mil action build on a Lothar Walther Barrel:

I love my CZ550FS 9.3X62. Build your 9.3 on some sort of Mauser. Keep the styling fairly traditional and you can't go wrong.

quote:

Originally posted by z1r:
In the past two weeks I have seen two Husqvarna 9,3x62's sell. The first for nearly $1,100, the second, was around $600.

The 9,3x62 has been hands down the most requested build I get orders for.

You have a very desirable 98 action in hand. it would be the perfect start to a nice custom rifle.

Wow

They got popular in a few years. I got my Husqvarna about 8 - 9 years ago in a gun shop in Mesa, AZ. He had it for a long time with no interest, so I got it for just under $300 as I remember.


Nobody was writing about 9.3s in the Gun Mags back then.
It had a super ugly, beat-up stock but it was a commercial Mauser 98 with a smooth as butter action.
I knew nothing about 9.3x62s at the time but this forum helped me out. I put a new stock on it and it's been my hands down favorite rifle for years now.



Build in on a 98 - you will love it.

quote:

Originally posted by Riodot:

Build in on a 98 - you will love it.

Hard to argue with that.

+1

"9.3x62's . . . and a Mauser Oberndorf Mil action build on a Lothar Walther Barrel"

I like the look of that one!

Worst case scenario, you put more time and money into it than originaly planned. Get a gun built the way you want, decide you don,t like it, and sell the gun.
Probably have a lot of fun along the way figuring out what you want, puttin the gun together, and getting to know the beasty.

Wow. A real "Orbital Tug" thread on the 9.3x62.

Barstooler

"Wow. A real "Orbital Tug" thread on the 9.3x62."

See there? No need to improve at all!

And that's not meant to demean your earlier point that the 9.3x64 offers better high end versatility, which remains perfectly true.

Indeed, thanks all for the input, suggestions and advice. I believe I'll be shopping for components and services to do the mil-surp conversion with my 98.

Thanks again. -WSJ

quote:

Originally posted by wsj:
"Wow. A real "Orbital Tug" thread on the 9.3x62."

See there? No need to improve at all!

And that's not meant to demean your earlier point that the 9.3x64 offers better high end versatility, which remains perfectly true.

Indeed, thanks all for the input, suggestions and advice. I believe I'll be shopping for components and services to do the mil-surp conversion with my 98.

Thanks again. -WSJ

With respect I don't think you got the real innuendo of my last post which was especially cryptic to avoid getting kicked of the AR forum!

Think in terms of syllogisms such as "Richard Cranium" when I speak of "Orbital Tug."

Barstooler

Boha has a nice one for sale, beautiful finish with a veeeery nice stock. PM him, he might still have it.

I personally use the 9.3x57, x62 and x64. Love them all. the x63 is very rare and so is the x70.

Wish I had them all.

Here's mine on a 98 action:












I read many years ago that there was no strong Mauser actions prior to the model of the 1898.....I've held that advice ever sense.....

Again, nice! What length barrel on that one? Source of the bottom metal?

quote:

I don't think you got the real innuendo of my last post

Yup, you're right - missed it entirely. And you sent me to googling to figure out what's the best caliber for syllogisms, which I don't think are around here.

quote:

Originally posted by wsj:
Again, nice! What length barrel on that one? Source of the bottom metal?

Bottom metal is 1909 Argie and the barrel length is 23"

I like the 98 idea myself, mine is nothing special just a decent old Husqvarna on a commercial FN.



Shoots very well and I tote it around a lot on my woods walks. Just something about it I like.

quote:

Originally posted by BobT:
I like the 98 idea myself, mine is nothing special just a decent old Husqvarna on a commercial FN.



Shoots very well and I tote it around a lot on my woods walks. Just something about it I like.

Nothing special? I saw one sell last week for over a grand! Yours looks nicer.

Those Husqvarnas were very good working guns. Several of my 9.3x62's are built on Husqvarnas.