I have just received a box of 250 grain TSX bullets and loaded some for my 9.3X62. I noticed that Barnes also makes a banded solid in that weight as well. I am thinking that they made the 250 grain bullets for the 9.3X62. The 250 grain Barnes bullets are longer than the 300 grain Swifts I have in the same caliber and, while I haven't tried them, I think the 286 grain TSX's would be to long to work im my 9.3. Sako loads the 250 TSX bullets in their 9.3X62 ammo and they show this load as appropriate for buffalo. In my rifle, sixty grains of Varget will push a 250 grain TSX at 2525 fps.

I have always been of the opinion that on heavy game that a bullet that was heavy for caliber at more modest velocity was the way to go. However, some recent posts got me thinking.... On game like a buffalo, which would you pick, a 250 grain TSX at 2525 fps or a 286 grain Woodleigh PP at 2360 fps. Do you think the lighter Barnes monometals would penetrate as well or perhaps better than the heavier Woodleighs of more conventional design?

Dave

Dave,

I also read with peaked interest the velocities some folks are getting from their 9.3's; in whatever flavor x62, x64, x66 or whatever. Admittedly, some are with longish barrels, too but they're becoming the new Whizz-Bangs. Apparently alot of folks like their 9.3's like that; with 24-26" barrels; mine's a 20"er, Color-Me-Short.

The 9,3x62's original effectivenss & success was (and continues to be IMO) based on a 286 gr. bullet (of reasonable construction) at +/- @ 2360 fps. That worked in 1905 and ought to remain a good load today; granted, can certainly be improved with "new" technology, maybe even approaching .378-416XX+ Wby. Mag. too, but what for? Degrees of Dead?

Lots of press about the 9.3's on Buffalo or anything else similar in size to a Smart-Car, great stuff but the vanilla-flavored .375H&H is minimum (read: marginal), O.K., gotta go re-consider, although who books a Buffalo Hunt at current booking rates and takes a 9.3? O.K. gotta admit some take a 45/70.....

There's quite a few cartridges that appear to have the same Aura and mystique around them and seem to have worked for most like 6.5's with 140 grainers, 7mm's with 175 grainers and similar speeds with the 9.3x62. Personally, I think you're on the right track with the heavier than weight concept at slow-w-w-er velocity - I wouldn't deviate too awful much from the orginal concept.

Have Fun.

Hey Dave,

I used the 250g TSX on one moose up here and was quite impressed.

It'd be tempting to use the 9.3 loaded with solids and softs on an African hunt.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Bush:
...I noticed that Barnes also makes a banded solid in that weight as well.

... I think the 286 grain TSX's would be to long to work im my 9.3.

Dave

Dave, I have loaded both the 250 grs TSX and 250 grs Banded Solids in my 9.3x62. They both shoot pretty much to the same POI - the Banded Solid is just about zeroed at 100m (100 yds) when the TSX is sighted in 1.5" high at the same distance. So I can use both bullets without resighting my scope - the Banded Solid at close range. I load both bullets with the same charge of RL15 (don't have my reference material at hand, so I don't remember the exact charge off-hand, probably 62 or 63 grs??). I measured my muzzle velocity just above freezing temperature (1-2 degree Celcius - possibly about 37-40 degree Fahrenheit?), and got 2500+ fps for the TSX and a tad less for the Banded Solid. A 250 grs Nosler Accubond ran at 2600 fps with the same load at the same temperature - indicating yet again, that TSXs actually produce fairly low chamber pressures.

As you, I have also found the 286 TSX to be a tad long for the 9.3x62, so if you have your heart set on using a TSX (as I do), the 250 seems a good choice. If you search here, you'll also see Ganyana (I believe it was) who had had problems getting a 286 grs (original) X to expand at 9.3x62 velocities.

Now onto the question whether the 250 grs TSX (possibly combined with the Banded Solid) would be a good choice for heavy or even dangerous game?? I can't answer this question for you, although I intend to try it out this coming September. If I have second thoughts about the TSX penetrating deeply enough, the Banded Solid should take care of that part.

Fortunately for us, actual experience on Cape Buffalo with the 250 grs TSX at 9.3x62 speeds (actually fired from a 9.3x74R, but there is not much difference there) has already been posted on AR courtesy of JudgeG:

https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/...=775103547#775103547

In addition, we had the following thread discussing the use of the 250 grs TSX on heavy game, although no actual Cape Buff experience was cited in this thread:

https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/...=852104886#852104886

One of the conclusions of that tread for me, was that a 250 grs X would actually penetrate deeper than a Nosler Partition 286 grs. The Woodleighs are good bullets, no doubt about it, but in my limited experience they don't necessarily provide the deepest penetration. They tend to expand just a tad much for that, IMHO.

- mike

Thanks Mike. I should have done a search before my post.

As I indicated, Sako shows their 250 TSX load as suitable for buff but then again they show the 185 grain TSX in the .338 Federal as suitable for buff too!

I was very interested in JugeG's post. A through-and-through on a shoulder shot with a 9.3X74 is pretty impressive. I am going to drop him a PM.

Dave

Dave,
Like you I opted for the 250 gr. TSX so that I could get more velocity out of my 9.3x62 and that was the most available bullet..

I would prefer the 250 gr. GS Customs however and they perfomed perfectly for me on all manor of game but at the time they were hard to get, but you can get them now...

I also like the 286 gr. Nosler its one tough cookie...

The 320 gr. Woodleigh also was a favorite in my gun, but I had a 26 inch barrel and a long throat and magazine opened up so I could approach 2400 FPS with ease...

You should be pleased with the 250 Barnes TSX if you can get enough velocity to make them expand, I did in my long tube..

The 9.3x62 is very forgiving with bullet integrity as the velocities are not excessive.

quote:

which would you pick, a 250 grain TSX at 2525 fps or a 286 grain Woodleigh PP at 2360 fps.

There's not much difference between those two choices. Maybe 15% in bullet weight and less than 10% in velocity.

Remember, the all copper construction of the TSX bullets make them a far bit longer than traditional cup and core bullets. The copper is much less dense than lead---approximately 25% less dense. Therefore, a TSX of comparable weight is longer than a lead core bullet.

LWD

............Dave ,,, make up a water buffalo like RIP,s and do a comparison .......If you use 1 gallon milk jugs instead of the little buckets it will be even less expensive ,. ..7/16 OSB will work as well as plywood and be less expensive also ...

If you place the bullet just right, you can kill buff wiith a 22 LR. So what?

If you screw-up the shot with pip-squeak cartridges and bullets on buff, you'll be better off sitting in the back of the Cruiser while the PH and trackers follow up.

So Will, I take it your against using a 9.3X62 on buffalo?

He's probably bashing the idea of using lighter boolitz because Will has tried using a 9.3x74r on an ele hunt before, and had to finish the job with his 470. He's probably been a bit grumpy about the cal ever since...

Will- I think he is trying to improve the efficacy of the 9.3, as his question is, "which bullet will penetrate better?" I don't think he's trying to skim the lower limits of power effective for cape buff, rather he's trying to increase the performance of his rifle.

Here's my experience with the 250 gr X from my 9.3x62 at 2650 fps from a trip to Africa in 2002. Left to right, a gemsbuck, in behind the near shoulder and recovered under the hide of the off shoulder, a bushbuck, in next to the tail and recovered after stopping in the shoulder, two kudu, a bull in and out behind the shoulder and in a cow running by and recovered under the hide of the off shoulder and last, an eland, a bit high on the shoulder and recovered under hide on off side. Weights are all 250 grs except the eland bullet which goes 221 grs. All animals either dropped straight down (kudu's and bushbuck) or within within 5 yards of being hit (the rest).





I have read that the TSX's are designed to open up a little easier than the X. My experience with the TSX is on a bull elk taken with the 185 gr TSX from my 338-06 at 270 yards. In behind the near shoulder and recovered under the hide of the off shoulder. It lost all petals weighing 122 grs recovered but dropped the bull immediately. The recovered bullet.

Excellent performance. Loaded to 2,500 fps the bullets will not be over-stressed and less likely to lose petals. Good collection.

Deadly and dependable medicine in a 9,3x62.

When the bullet is not over-stressed at lower impact velocities is looks like this:



Warrior

People tell me that the TSX is a lot more potent that my 256 grain RWS H-Mantles. Maybe that is so. I have only killed three head of African plains game with this load, but each one was a slap down kill. I would not doubt the effectiveness of a 250 grain 9.3mm bullet!

quote:

Originally posted by Boxhead:
Here's my experience with the 250 gr X from my 9.3x62 at 2650 fps from a trip to Africa in 2002. Left to right, a gemsbuck, in behind the near shoulder and recovered under the hide of the off shoulder, a bushbuck, in next to the tail and recovered after stopping in the shoulder, two kudu, a bull in and out behind the shoulder and in a cow running by and recovered under the hide of the off shoulder and last, an eland, a bit high on the shoulder and recovered under hide on off side. Weights are all 250 grs except the eland bullet which goes 221 grs. All animals either dropped straight down (kudu's and bushbuck) or within within 5 yards of being hit (the rest).





I have read that the TSX's are designed to open up a little easier than the X. My experience with the TSX is on a bull elk taken with the 185 gr TSX from my 338-06 at 270 yards. In behind the near shoulder and recovered under the hide of the off shoulder. It lost all petals weighing 122 grs recovered but dropped the bull immediately. The recovered bullet.

.....................................Box Head, beautiful bullets .....Thanks for posting them .................The 9.3 x62 does seem to work about the complete equal to the 338 win mag if not better ........Execpt a true lomg range ....But that is what I love about the X ,TSX and GSC HP and HV bullets ...very good ballistic coefecients and