All,
I am looking for recommendations concerning the proper bullet for my CZ 550 in 9.3x62 for an upcoming (Sept can't wait!) hunt in KZN. My wish list includes plains game up to zebra and eland. I will have a with me as a second rifle a 7x57 shooting 150gr or 160 Nosler Partitions. I currently am loading 270 grain Speers, 250 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip and 285 gr PRVI. All shoot fairly well (under 1.25") Would any of these be suitable?...or is there something better? Your thoughts are greatly appreciated.

I used the 250-grain North Fork softs in my 9.3x62 in Namibia in 2005 for some of my animals. I would use them again unless the size of the game indicated a heavier North Fork.

I have had great success in my 9,3x74R double rifle with 286gr Woodleigh Softs, and 286 Nosler Partitions.

I think the 286gr North Fork SXofts would be a good choice as well.

I would also take a few 286 Solids, either Woodleigh or North Fork, if you rifle will feed them.

They come in handy on follow ups, especially zebra or eland.

Barnes 250 TSX. They shoot great in my Winchester. I used them on my first safari to take zebra, kudu, oryx, and hartebeast.

The 286 gr Nosler Partition has been my projectile of choice in the 9,3x62. Has given me DRTs on thing from Impala, Reedbuck, piggies and whitetails to Blue Wildebeast and Zebra. Never recovered a bullet as they all passed through.

Right now I'm shooting the Nosler 250 grain accubond.....it's a fine shooting bullet and very sleek. It'd be my choice in a plains game bullet!

There are quite a few good choices today - but the "old" 286-grain Nosler Partition worked great for me on the same plains game you are targeting. Accuracy in my CZ550 is excellent.


Phil

quote:

Originally posted by BigBullet:
All,
I am looking for recommendations concerning the proper bullet for my CZ 550 in 9.3x62 for an upcoming (Sept can't wait!) hunt in KZN. My wish list includes plains game up to zebra and eland. I will have a with me as a second rifle a 7x57 shooting 150gr or 160 Nosler Partitions. I currently am loading 270 grain Speers, 250 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip and 285 gr PRVI. All shoot fairly well (under 1.25") Would any of these be suitable?...or is there something better? Your thoughts are greatly appreciated.

PM me with your email id if you need bullet test info. I have heaps of it on the 9.3X62. On the nitorexpress.com forum there was extended testing done a bout 2 years ago & I contributed to that with Nosler 250 BT as well as some other info.

All 3 of your bullets should be adequate for plains game as they will all hold together on animals up to eland. The Privi Patizan was the surprise in those tests as they held up very well though they are very inexpensive in the US. The Nosler BT ahs now been replaced by the very similar Accubond. The 250gr Barnes TSX would also be a great choice.

What loads do you use? I would try Varget & look for 2400 fps for the 286gr & 2550 fps for 250 gr. I also get 2250 with Woodleigh 320 gr RN bullets.

I've had great success with 285grs. Lapua Megas on top of 55grs. of Varget set to a COL of 3,230".

I used the 250 gr X on my 2002 trip on the full range of plains game with complete satisfaction. My load was running 2650 fps. When I run out of the X's I will go to the 250 gr TSX.

Wow! Seems like a lot of good choices out there and very few, I didn't read any, bad choices. I thank you for your recommendations and sharing your experiences with this cartridge. In the past, I have taken my 35 Whelen to Namibia and RSA and have been very pleased with Barnes X and TSX in the 225gr bullet weight.

What loads do you use? I have been using Varget and Reloader 15 thus far and have been happy with the results, especially the R-15. With the 270 grain Speer, under 1" 3 shot groups and 2400 fps.

Ramshot Big Game powder works really well in the 9.3x62. Mine shoots very accurate with the 270 grain Speer and the 285 gr. PRVI and the Norma Alaskan 286 gr. Small groups (under 1") and 2350 fps from a 20" barrel.
I am loading 62.5 grains of powder with all the above bullet weights.
If you were pleased with the Barnes performance in your Whelen you may have answered your own question.

quote:

On the nitorexpress.com forum there was extended testing done a bout 2 years ago & I contributed to that with Nosler 250 BT as well as some other info.

Nakihunter,

Having never been to the NE forum, might you point us in the right direction to that link?

Thanks,

Alan

I am just finishing the fourth and fifth custom(ized) rifles in this fine old round that I have had in the past four years. I have settled on the 286NP and the 286 Hornady over 65-66 grs. of Big Game in either Graf's, Norma or Lapua brass and while I found RE-15 pretty good, this seems optimal.

My 20" P-64-.375H&H Grizzly defence rifle, gives me 2400 with 76.5-H-4350 under the 300NP, about the real original H&H ballistics and these 9.3 loads run a hair under 2500 in my rifles, thus far, so are a level of "power" that decades of field use have demonstrated work on big, softskinned game and dangerous carnivores, as well.

I find the 9.3x62 and my Merkel drilling in 9,3x74R-12Ga. to be just about ideal for my uses and am not surprised by it's rapid rise to popularity. I think the Ramshot Big Game is as good as it gets.

The 9,3x62 works best with 285gr/18,5 gram bullets. The Nosler, Woodleigh RN and PP, Norma Oryx and Lapua Mega are all great choices. At 2300-2400 f/s they all work fine.

M

I too love Ramshot Big Game in my old 9.3 w/ the 286 PT. Took it to Alaska for my Grizzly hunt. Comfortably hit 2500 in Lapua brass in my CZ 550.

Alan

A 286grn bullet like Nosler Partition, Woodleigh or Swift A Frame would be my pick.

I use woodleigh 286 protected points in mine and it killed like lighting in Zim

quote:

Originally posted by GSSP:

quote:

On the nitorexpress.com forum there was extended testing done a bout 2 years ago & I contributed to that with Nosler 250 BT as well as some other info.

Nakihunter,

Having never been to the NE forum, might you point us in the right direction to that link?

Thanks,

Alan

This is THE definitive Post on 9.3 Projectile construction. The Scandinavian report on P.2 is very interesting.

http://forums.nitroexpress.com...&page=0&fpart=1&vc=1

I even did a search for you:

http://forums.nitroexpress.com/dosearch.php

Code4,

You're awesome. You Aussie's are great folks!

Alan

The tests are definitive. My personal choice has always been Nosler Partition 286gr. It has never failed me. The Barnes TSX is a remarkable bullet. My son used it in Africa on plains game and had one shot kills on everything from blesbuck to Kudu. I have shot eland and kudu with one shot kills with the Nosler.
I admit I'm biased after all these years. I love the Nosler. I'd use the Barnes or North Fork though. I've tried the North Fork but haven't found the right load for accuracy. I have a great 450 Dakota load for the North Fork but haven't managed to find the 9.3 load. At a dollar+ a shot it gets pricey to test.

tsx
http://forums.accuratereloadin...481025331#6481025331

My 9,3x62 has never seen a factory load. I worked up my reloads using the 285 PPs. Switched to the 286 NPT and have never looked back. In the process I got some 300 Swift"A"s but have not shot them as I haven't found a beast that can stop the NPT yet! My reload uses IMR-4320 for right at 2,400 FPS from a 24" barrel.

With respect to McFox and metric I certainly would not advocate the Lapua Megas. The Lapua Naturalis, however, is a different kettle of fish altogether. The heavier ones are the best; the 250grs does not penetrate all that well.

Norma Oryx is popular, indeed, amongst European 9,3x62 shooters, and with good reason.

Haven't ever heard any complaints in using the Barnes TSX in 9,3mm.

- Lars/Finland

I'm taking Oryxs, in factory trim, in October. Expect to hear the report on how they did (on up to 14 animals!) around October 26 or so.

Sure did a number on my moose. 3ft plus of penetration without fragmentation, bloodshot meat or a recovered bullet.

I opted for the Barnes TSX in 286 grainers in Moz last September. Took hippo, croc and sable with that bullet. Switched to the Nosler Partition in 286 gr for my Leopard. Both of these shot within one inch of each other at 100 yds, so didn't even need to move the scope when switching. I used Varget and got less than 1" groups with both bullet combinations in a CZ550FS. I shoot a lot of PRVI for practice, but don't have the confidence to hunt Africa game with it.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

The Nitroexpress site tests of Privi Patizan in 9.3 showed very good performance with good retained weight & penetration.

quote:

My 9,3x62 has never seen a factory load.

Ray,



Big-B,

Great advice above.

For European game I've always preferred the 250 gr. NBT's (supply now sadly depleted) and currently using the 286 gr. Hornadys. Just color me Old-Fashioned as I prefer a bullet with a cannelure so I can use my Lee Factory Crimp Die (yes, I'm aware it can be used w/o a cannelure).

For the game you're after in Africa I'd select the 286 gr. Nosler Partion.

Also appears that Ramshot Big Game & RL-15 are the top-pick powders for this cartridge stateside - I use VVN-140.

Have fun with your load development & in Africa, too!

I thank you all for the great info and links to information concerning the bullet choice in the 9.3x62 for an upcoming plains game hunt. I am anxious to start. Just need my rifle back from the smithy as it getting a set of open sights installed.

I believe from all reports, I am going to start with the 250 gr Barnes TSX and the 286gr Nosler
Partition and utilize the PRVI 286gr for lots of pracitce. With my 35 Whelen, I had excellent results with the Barnes 225gr TSX, so I am not really venturing out too far on the limb by trying the 9.3 250TSX.

As far as reloading powder, I have had good success(and a good supply) thus far with Reloader 15 and Hodgdon Varget, so I believe I will start with these with the new bullets.

As anyone had any hunting experience with the newer Hornadys? My hunting experience with Hornady bullets was with my 338 WM and 225 gr Interlock. I was not happy with the results and am hesitent now to hunt with them on anything larger then whitetail.

Again, thanks for all the great comments.

In Africa I've used the Swift A Frames of the 250 grain variety on game from impala to eland.

Perfect bullet performance on everything.

Shots ranged from 45 yards to 287 yards on an oryx in hill country.

I also used the old 250 ballistic tip bullets in it on game here with fantastic results. I'm sure the AccuBond would work well in the 9.3x62. I use them in my 9.3x64 for a longer range, higher BC bullet with excellent results.

Good luck. The 9.3s are a ton of fun.

quote:

As anyone had any hunting experience with the newer Hornadys?

quote:

and currently using the 286 gr. Hornadys

I use alot of Hornady bullets; I especially like the .308" 180 RN Interlocks (Old-Fashioned again!) on Wild Boar and Red Deer out of a .30/06 Sprg. but this is all stand shooting and there is virtually no consideration given to having to shoot past 80 paces or so in the forest.

The 286 gr. .366" Hornadys are performing well in both 9.3x62 & 9.3x74R (European game, Red, Fallow Roe Deer & Wild Boar). I'm not much of an envelope pusher in this regard and as soon as the clover leaves get clustered right I stop the load development and go hunting. In both cartridges that's been right @ 2300 fps. That's where these two 9.3's do their best work.

At 2300-2400 fps, shouldn't most any bullet for the 9.3 work well on anything but DG?

Last year I used the Woodleigh 286 Grain Round Nose Soft Points. I could not been happier with the way they preformed. I would not hesitate to use these again. From Warthog to Kudu they worked great.

I used the 250 grain Accubond on a 900lb bison here in Montana 2 years ago. The bullet did not exit but was not recovered. I used my CZ 9.3x62 and enough Varget to get 2500 fps. One shot through the lungs was all I needed. I also have collected a bunch of Hornady 286, Lapua Mega 285, and Barnes TSX 250 grain bullets to try. Still looking for an elk to try my 9.3 on.

I'm sure had you asked the question: what 9.3mm bullets would you NOT recommend, the list would be rather short. At least that's been my experience, since I've found all that I've tried to be very good, which is most of those mentioned. Although the great majority of my shooting has been at the range, the kills I have made with the 9.3 have been spectaculor, and the accuracy of all bullets tested has been great. The reputation of the various mfgs also tells me I can trust the bullets to perform. the only reservation that I can think of is I wouldn't use the prvi bullets for brown bear.

KB

I use 286 gr Nosler partition mostly. Expands quickly, and the long shank penetrates through.

The load is 57.5 gr RL-15, Lapua cases, and whatever regular large rifle primer I have.

With the Nosler factory mishap day before yesterday I ordered 6 boxes of the 250 AB for my soon to be built Rem 700 in 9.3x62.

Alan

Look no further than a 250 grain TSX!