I have an M70 in 06 that just might become a 9.3. It feeds well but I noticed that the rim of the 9,3 (graf brass) is slightly smaller than the 06 so there is a teeny bit more cleareance around th rim. Is the 06 boltface 'within spec' generally speaking to make this an easy swap? What say you?

Don't know your exact bolt and brass measurments But I've had 06 brass that only measured .465. More often than not my 06 or 280 brass is less than .473. On paper isn't the difference only .003?

My 9.3 is built on a Zastava action with an '06 bolt face. Mine works absolutely flawlessly.
I too use the Graf 9.3 brass.

Thanks for the replies. I am very surprised how well the 06 feeds the 9,3 with no mods at all. With 5 rounds down the top round is a teeny bit tight at the very end of the stroke but on the next 4 you cant even feel the thing pick up the round from the mag, just slicker than snot. And you'd only notice the tight spot because I told you ... ;-)

I have a M70 SS Classic that started life as a 270 Win and was rebarreled to 9.3x62. Works great!

For those of you who used a wood stock, did you put cross bolts in?

If the rifle is properly bedded you don't need a cross bolt for the 9.3x62

My 358 Norma started out as a 270 win and the wood stock held up fine for the 15 yrs it was on the rifle. Heavier than hell though!

B-B,

My L/H'd Zastava started life as a '06 Sprg. (.473" case head) and we simply screwed on a 9.3x62 barrel, made sure the headspace was correct, (O.K. Step #2, sent it to the Proof House - it passed with Flying Colors) wiped it off and took it to the range. Shoots & Feeds perfect - easy conversion, can't guarantee yours is gonna as simple but it oughta be unless there's something else totally outa Whack.

Like waterrat says, crossbolts in a 9.3x62? Nah, not techincally, but they sure get plus points for style.

Thanks again for the replies. Given that the thing feeds and ejects so well as-is I am hoping its a rebarrel and go. Also think the cross bolts are classy, might just get a set and see how I feel when I actually drop the thing off...now for a barrel....geez the wait is loong these days! AM looking at PAcNor that will finish at 24 with about a .645 muzzle. What contours did you guys go with?

I rebarreled a .270 Classic SM. Used a takeoff wood stock and a Lothar Walther barrel. It is very accurate and easy to load for. Roger Ferrell did the work, including rust blueing. I would consider selling it, dies, brass and bullets when I return home from Afghanistan in June. I do not have pics available.

I asked my German gunsmith for a Medium weight 50 cm (19.6") Walther Lothar.

When I saw it he had already installed a great looking barrel band front sight and the tube appeared, well, substantial, but not "Chunky", I think it turned out Cool, I mean a .366" hole isn't exactly minute as barrel tube holes go ..... and you do need some metal around the hole.

I've built probably a dozen or so 9.3x62s and 9.3x64s...So far I have used the 06 bolt face and not a problem, but if the problem croped up it can be fixed at a reasonable price..

I do cross bolt the 9.3s, and I add a barrel recoil lug, and a paint coat of glass over hand inletting, its good insurance on a high dollar safari..and not expensive.

I do not recommend using 30-06 brass to make 9.3x62 cases as you will get a bulge in the case forward of the case head..It is practiced by some however...9.3x62 brass is not expensive brass and if cost is an issue then go with Graff, its cheaper than most o6 brass..

Great caliber, and I know you will like it in that mod. 70..

My one gun safari rifle is a switch barrel custom stocked Brno mod 21 with a 7x57 barrel and a 9.3x62 barrel..How can you beat that.

quote:

Originally posted by BaxterB:
Thanks again for the replies. Given that the thing feeds and ejects so well as-is I am hoping its a rebarrel and go. Also think the cross bolts are classy, might just get a set and see how I feel when I actually drop the thing off...now for a barrel....geez the wait is loong these days! AM looking at PAcNor that will finish at 24 with about a .645 muzzle. What contours did you guys go with?

I used a very light contour, 20" barrel for mine, measures .595" at the muzzle
It is made for fast handling, shoots great sub MOA, whole package with a 2.5-8 Leupold weighs 7 pounds 10 ounces.

I'd dump the whole rig and go 223AI....

Ah yes...sounds like a plan coming together... Ray , I like the 7x57 switch idea...that was one rifle I had and sold that I shouldn't have...


16Bore...don't know what the hell i'm gonna do with you...

No mistake with the Model 70 & the 9.3x62.
Perfect union. The best 9.3x62 brass is Lapua.
It lasts for many reloads. Don't get RCBS Dies
for the 9.3x62 as they are too tight & work the brass too much. Redding Deluxe dies in that calibre are perfect. The 250gr Accubond is very good for this cartridge & the North Fork SS is probably the very best. I use RL17 now as I get better velocity than RL15 or Varget. I love the 9.3x62 in CZ550 American. It really is a 10 as is the Model 70.

Rather than rebarrel, why not consider a rebore/rechamber? I've had 2 '06s rebored/rechambered to 9.3x62 by JES Reboring on OR. IIRC cost was ~$250 including return shipping and each was turned around in 10-12 business days - and they shoot.

That's an interesting idea....hadn't reallu considered it. Were you able to use the full length of the barrel or was it too thin after the rebore and you had to shorten it? My barrel is .5945 at the muzzle. That'll leave .114 or so wall thickness...that enough?

quote:

Originally posted by BaxterB:
That'll leave .114 or so wall thickness...that enough?

Plenty. I wouldn't own a 9.3x62 with a larger muzzle diameter.

quote:

Originally posted by BaxterB:
That's an interesting idea....hadn't reallu considered it. Were you able to use the full length of the barrel or was it too thin after the rebore and you had to shorten it? My barrel is .5945 at the muzzle. That'll leave .114 or so wall thickness...that enough?

In both cases I was able to use the fulllenght of the barrel - no cutting. The M700 I had done started with a .645-655" muzzle; the Interarms was about .560 IIRC, which left about .095-.097". Seemed a little thin, but after measuring a Zastava 9.3x62 and finding the same muzzle dia, I pressed on. No issues , and as mentioned earlier, it shoots.

BUEA375,

Thanks for that advice...had for sure considered RCBS but will re-consider...

I agree when it comes to the dies.
Stay away from the RCBS ones for the 9.3x62.

The Redding dies are much better.

quote:

Originally posted by Norwegianwoods:
I agree when it comes to the dies.
Stay away from the RCBS ones for the 9.3x62.

The Redding dies are much better.

Interesting. I've been using a set of RCBS dies for years and have never noticed excess resizing of the brass. Maybe I got lucky?

RCBS dies are cut to specs, if one is having trouble with them I suggest you have an oversize chamber or sloppy gunsmithing..Perhaps European specs differ from US specs, I have seen this in other calibers..but the bottom line is I have been using RCBS dies in all calibers for over 60 or so years and never had a bad set?? I have two sets of RCBS 9.3x62 dies, one set it custom to the cases and the other is just a standard across the table set of dies, both have worked on every 9.3x62 I have built and test fired..

I recently received a gift of Pierre van der Walts book, African Dangerous Game Cartridges and it has a chapter on the 9.3x62 that is very informative..He states PMP, Lapua and Norma as the best brass and surprisingly enough PMP has a water capacity of 76.1 grs and was the best brass followed by Norma, RWS, and Lapua in that order. He was under the opinnion that PMP made these days lasted longer and gave additional velocity..After reading this I did some tests of my own and arrived at the same conclusion, but they all were pretty close, but I got my best with Norma in those tests..Not saying my test are all that accurate but they certainly worked out that way in the one rifle I used..

At any rate that is one of the most informative books I have ever read on the subject, maybe I didn't completly agree with everything in it but for the most part I did..A great read.

I've been shooting a 9.3 now for several years and the RCBS dies are working flawlessly for me. I've been using Graf brass with excellent results, no complaints whatsoever.
With Ramshot Big Game powder and a wide range of bullets I'm able to consistently shoot groups well under an inch, thats good enough for me but I'm not picky....

quote:

Originally posted by z1r:

quote:

Originally posted by Norwegianwoods:
I agree when it comes to the dies.
Stay away from the RCBS ones for the 9.3x62.

The Redding dies are much better.

Interesting. I've been using a set of RCBS dies for years and have never noticed excess resizing of the brass. Maybe I got lucky?

The RCBS dies I got for my 9.3x62 resized my Norma brass to much.
I tested 1 time shot brass from 5-6 different guns that I got at the shooting range to check if my chamber was to big.
The same happened with those brass too.

I had ordered the dies from US, and I didn't care about sending them back with the shipping and then the taxes for getting it back into Norway again.

I bought dies from Redding instead and was very happy with them till I sold the 9.3x62 and the dies to a friend.

The same happened with my 6.5-06 dies from RCBS and I decided to just buy some neck sizing Bench Rest dies from Forster instead.

Today almost all my dies are Bench Rest dies from Forster. I am very happy with them.

Why wouldn't you just use 35 Whelen brass necked up guys?

quote:

Originally posted by MuskegMan:
Why wouldn't you just use 35 Whelen brass necked up guys?

Because I bought Graf brass at 60% the cost of 35 Whelen brass and it has correct headstamp and runs perfectly in my dies and rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by MuskegMan:
Why wouldn't you just use 35 Whelen brass necked up guys?

Because the 9.3x62 case measures .476" at the casehead. While many people do neck up '06 brass, it leaves you with a case that is smaller than it should be. With as easy as proper brass is to get, why?

If your RCBS dies are sizing your cases to much in one or a dozen rifle, all you need to do is back the die off a turn or two..blacken the necks and stop at the shoulder of fireformed brass..Its knowing how to adjust a set of dies.

If one uses 06 or 35 Whelan brass or any 06 based case in a 9.3x62 you will get a bulged case near the case head because the 9.3x62 chamber is larger..It has been done and it fires but it is not a safe practice IMO..A well stated article is in Pierre Van der Walts book African Big Game Cartriges. In fact it is a very informative chapter about the 9.3x62 and many other African cartridges with tons of load data for each of them..