My first post here in a very long time and I would like to ask the members regarding a 9.3 x 62 Conversion that I am on the verge of undertaking. Base rifle is Ruger model 77(Mark I w/tang safe)in 30-06 that I have decided to get re-barreled to the 9.3 x 62 with a Stainless steel barrel.

In contacts with a couple of well known Barrel makers (Krieiger, Montana Rifle Co.) one of them has advised me that they would only produce a 9.3 x 62 barrel for my rifle using their Heavy Bull Sporter #6 contour in Stainless Steel. (This barrel would weigh somewhere in the area of 4 to 4.5 lbs depending on finish length) Can anyone tell me why such a heavy SS barrel would be needed for this project? (Just FYI the Muzzle diameter for the above contour is noted as .750 diameter at 26 inches length) My planned barrel length is 24 inches. Also...would like advise on twist rate for the above 24 inch SS barrel. I plan on loads utilizing up to and including the 9.3mm 300 grain Swifts and think that a 1-12 twist would be best. (opinions please!) Also am considering utilizing the 250 Gr. TSX Barnes in the same rifle/barrel. Any and all insight and advise is on above is very much appreciated! Thanks in advance, J.S.

Check with PacNor to see if they can match the factory contour of your 30'06 tube and save you some stock work. As for twist I'd ask the maker for something quick enough to spin up the Woodleigh 320 while I was at it...just to be on the safe side.

Jeff,

Mine's done with a Shillen barrel - Length is 24", Twist is 1-12 and Muzzle diameter is 0.700". Rifle weights 9 lbs with scope and ammo. That twist stablizes 286 NPTs and 300 Swift "A"s well.

Talk to Woody at Lothaar Walther. You can get either a 1300 or 1400 contour SS barrel that they will thread and chamber for you to have installed. Excelent quality and workmanship with
reasonable delivery time.

I second LW for mass-produced 9.3 barrels. It seems to me that American makers are so concerned about being blamed for poor accuracy that their minimum barrel OD tends to be very heavy for caliber. I can't imagine it's a safety issue because the margin is too great.

Your alternative is to find a gunsmith that (a) will turn it down to a reasonable contour and (b) has the knowledge to do so without screwing up the barrel. That shouldn't be very difficult.

If you hadn't specified stainless I would recommend reboring first. Dan at www.cutrifle.com does a lot of 9.3s. Then Half Moon Rifle Shop's 9.3 blanks would my secon choice. They are bored and rifled to original German specs for that caliber. Jim (the owner) can also recommend a choice of competent gunsmiths to contour and install it, assuming you don't already know one. He is not in that end of the business but his barrels are highly respected.

You should check out Lilja http://www.riflebarrels.com/. You might be able to get a Lilja #3 SS. Even Hart would probably do it in a #3 or #4 SS.

Thought about a re-bore?

have used all the below: (not .366 though)

http://www.cutrifle.com/reboring.html

http://www.redmansrifling.com/

http://www.randyscustomrifles.com/pricing.html

Several barrel makers will do a 9.3 mm stainless contour in medium sporter. Lilja, Shilen, Pac Nor, Douglas, Lothar Walther, and others - all except Kriegier. I suppose their stainless steel is not as safe as the other barrel makers, so they have to go with a minimum of #6 contour in SS to be on the safe side.

KB

PacNor matched perfectly the contour of my Winchester M70 FWT barrel, when I converted my 7-08 to 358 Win. Lou

More than ten years ago, I had a PacNor barrel put on an FN Action, and I've been very pleased with it. At that time, I had trouble finding a barrel maker who listed 9.3mm barrels. Now it's far more popular and much greater selection. I think they are all very good, but I still favor PacNor.
KB

I just finished building a 9.3x62 on a pre 64 M70 fwt, I went with a #3 shilen cut @ 23" with a 1-12 twist, dropped in a rimrock stock and topped with talley lwts and a 4x leupy it weighs 8lbs 2oz. balance is very nice.
I posted a picture on 24 hr.cammpfire.

I saw this on here today

http://forums.accuratereloadin...2711043/m/5971024011

Mine is a Lother Walther. I cut it to 23 inches. It is an extremely accurate barrel & the wieght balances beautifully.

Rifle barrel finished in the white for Mauser 98 action, hunting contour light #718

Available in cal. 7x64, 8x57IS, 9,3x62, 30-06 ex stock. All other hunting calibers are possible (as for Art. 722) on demand at additional costs. Shortening possible on request.

quote:

Originally posted by D Humbarger:
Mine is a Lother Walther. I cut it to 23 inches. It is an extremely accurate barrel & the wieght balances beautifully.

Rifle barrel finished in the white for Mauser 98 action, hunting contour light #718

Available in cal. 7x64, 8x57IS, 9,3x62, 30-06 ex stock. All other hunting calibers are possible (as for Art. 722) on demand at additional costs. Shortening possible on request.

Same barrel but mine is cut to 21". Extremely accurate.

Terry

Lothar barrels are accurate, the 9.3 I have too is a L/W and is as accurate as the claims made here. As Tiggertate mentions about Dan at Cutrifle and his barrels, the one I have is a 26" and turned down to a #3 in a 9.3 caliber but not SS.
Jim over at Half Moon does barrels, perhaps he has my business on the next barrel...a .423 bore. I've dealt with him on 2 occasions and a very nice and cordial fella, helped me on both occasions up front for rust bluing and products. This type of fella is rare, kind of old school and he deals in a mans word and expects just that. I will give him my business on the next barrel/blank purchase.

oh well...got to ramblin but the Lothar is a fine barrel.

I rebarreled a LH Win 70 with a 270 factory contour barrel. I had Pac-Nor exact match factory contour. And rebarrel it in 9.3 X 62 it is one of my favorite rifles. Balances perfect and just shot a .7" 3 shot group with it. Shoots
286 gr and 250 gr bullets within 1" of each other. Would not change a thing if I did it over.

I used a VZ-24 Mauser action and LW barrel to do a 9.3x62 a couple years ago. I would bet if you called LW they would do you a barrel with any contour you wanted...there isn't much difference between a Ruger and a mauser except the threads...a simple matter with CNC equipment.

ANY barrel maker can do pretty much whatever you want as far as contour and caliber are concerned as long as you want to pay the bucks and the Ruger contours are mostly standard with several barrel makers I've been to in the past several years.

A rebore may be possible but at almost the same cost as a new barrel...but something to think about.

The 9.3x62 is a well kept secret here in the USA, but a well known fact just about everywhere else.

You might also consider a 375-06 or 375 Whelen. Between the two there is only 0.009" difference for all intents and purposes and is a toss-up and a whizzing contest which is "better".

I like my 375 H&H and I like my 9.3...I get a few f/s more velocity with a 300 gr, 375 cal, but is also costs more powder...as far as killing goes...the animals didn't read the fine print BS...they just lie down and die.

Luck on your project.