I am about to get a 9.3x62mm rifle. Th only question is which one? The new Ruger African is the obvious frontrunner but there are other choices. I am also considering the Mauser M12 and the Sako Black Bear. One more has caught my eye and with the help of JES, the Mannlicher-Schoenauer MCA in the common .30-06 chambering could easily be rebored and rechambered. The only question is will the rotor work without modification?

quote:

Originally posted by pacecars:
I am about to get a 9.3x62mm rifle. Th only question is which one? The new Ruger African is the obvious frontrunner but there are other choices. I am also considering the Mauser M12 and the Sako Black Bear. One more has caught my eye and with the help of JES, the Mannlicher-Schoenauer MCA in the common .30-06 chambering could easily be rebored and rechambered. The only question is will the rotor work without modification?

What you plan to use the rifle for ?

If it is to go to Africa - just get the ruger.

I got a left hand sako 85. I sent it to Wayne at ahr to customize and give it a traditional African look - iron sights barrel band ect.

Gun shoots sub Moa. I have not hunted with it.

I would not get a A+ grade gun and barrel like a mannlicher and reborn it.

Mike

For whatever it’s worth, I highly recommend the new Ruger African.

It has all the bells & whistles, holds (4) in the magazine, and mine weighs 6 lbs.,15 oz.

Cost was $1,000.

They only made 250 of them, so if you want one...

The Sako Bavarian, made in both Mannlicher and regular rifle versions would good choices, IMHO. I am heavily biased because the iron sights line up for me quite well, and a small, low mounted, scope would work out great. However, the full size version seems to be rare as hens teeth, and on continuous back order.

I have a Sako Bavarian in .270 WSM and really enjoy the rifle. Haven't had it very long but have taken 2 whitetails and 2 aoudad with it. I am sure it would be nice in 9.3x62 also.

I have two rifles in 9.3x62. One is a Ruger #1 and the other is a Ruger M77 that was made a few years ago - not the one Ruger just released. The #1 is one of my favorite rifles. It is extremely accurate and has made 3 trips to Africa plus shot 7 whitetails. The biggest animal I have taken with it was an eland. I don't think you would go wrong with a #1 if you can find one.

I second the motion on the Ruger African, I believe them to be the finest rifle out there since the pre 64 mod. 70 and that is high praise in my book..Actually a better rifle than the pre 64 wouldn't be too far out of line.

Great advice from all. I had a Brno 21 8x57 that JES rebored to 9.3x62, had a forend tip in the British style added and had a Dakota 3 position safety to install but had to sell it before finishing it due to needing the money. The New African is probably the way I should go but the thought of turning this into a 9.3 makes me giddy

Love the MS full-stock carbines. I just picked up another one, this one in 7x57.

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Originally posted by pacecars:
. . . the thought of turning this into a 9.3 makes me giddy

Me, too! I don't blame you one bit. Given the similarity of the .30-06 and 9.3x62mm rounds, I would bet that a good gunsmith could tune that rotor to work without too much trouble.

An option might be to find a CZ 550 in 9.3X62 and tweak it to your liking. They are controlled round feed and usually shoot very well.

Mark

I have a old Husqvarna (FN action) in 9.3
It is a bit rough but I took it to RSA on a hunt. Best $200 I ever spent.
The old man who managed the ranch ask what rifle I had, I told him. He said, "That is what I have." I was his new friend.

Also have a CZ 550

Mine is a 100+ year old Simson M98 with octagon to round barrel and full length rib. Shoots very well too.

Very nice. Also thanks for the articles

Would agree with Mark Young on the CZ 550. Mine is a 550 American with kevlar stock and is a real shooter. I've reloaded using 286gr. Nosler Partitions, and 250gr Barnes TTSX and I've also tried factory loaded in 286gr. Norma Oryx and 285gr Privi Partizan. All were more than accurate enough for hunting at distances I normally take shots (under 250 yards). When time permits, I will be trying 250gr. Nosler Accubonds that I finally found a few months ago.

I really like the rifle and the way it handles. It is a bit on the heavy side but that is much appreciated especially off the bench. I originally bought the 9.3 for elk hunting in timber in CO.

pacecars, you can try some 9.3 cartridges in the magazine to see if they'll function properly. Let me know if you decide have it rebored as I have one and may go that route too.

Will do. That was what Jes suggested

pacecars, I just tried a .35 Whelen in my M-S and only 1 round will function in the magazine. Unless you know a smith who is good at altering the M-S magazine, better devise another plan.

Thanks. If it doesn’t work I will have a nice ‘06 and a Ruger then

After talking to several gunsmiths, if it doesn't feed the 9.3 as is it will probably be an expensive project that will require a lot of work to the magazine. It looks like I will have a very nice .30-06, which I don't have any rifles chambered for it. Of course a .338-06 might work also. As soon as I find a nice gloss scope I will take it out and if it is accurate it will be a .30-06

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After talking to several gunsmiths, if it doesn't feed the 9.3 as is it will probably be an expensive project that will require a lot of work to the magazine.

Yes.

It will only allow two down and feeds fine for those two. The hang up is the neck is too thick and rubs on the little bar that comes up from each side on the out side part of the mag. It looks like a little judicious filing or dremel would take care of it. I will not be attempting that until I find a spare mag assembly to try it on. It looks like a .338-06 or .35 Whelen wouldn’t have any trouble at all

Yes, both of those cartridges are based on the 30-06, which is was set up as. It should work if it's that close with the 9.3x62. Cool!

My M/S started life as a .270 and is now a 9.3X62. It holds four down and one up the spout with no trouble. I can't imagine why I would need more.

I also have a couple of pre-War Oberndorf Mauser sporters in 9.3X62, as well as a Husqvarna Mauser.

Did it require any mag mods?

The late Jim Dubell of Clearwater Reboring did both the rebore job and whatever was necessary to correct the feed.

Unfortunately I never thought to ask him what, if anything, was involved.

I contacted the Austrian company on the link you gave me on the nitro forum so hopefully will know something shortly. It may be the rotary follower that needs to be replaced and not the stegs as they call them. Bummer as the follower is 210 Euro. I could try the dremel knowing a replacement is available though

The Sauer 101, 100, and Mauser M18, can not be rebarreled, the receiver is heated up and the barrel is shoved in.

All three handle nice, and you can get a Sauer 100 for $750 new. I don't undertand the up charge on the 101. I have been handling all of them here in Europe since they launched. Not really impressed beyond what else is available.

Sako is wonderful.

Ruger is also wonderful.

I have owned the Ruger 9.3x62, and mine shot very well.

I have not owned a Sako Black Bear in 9.3x62, but I owned one in 308. Wonderful rifle and has my highest recommendation.

Roessler Titans are being imported again, and one of those would be a great Austrian made 9.3.

Wouldn't be anything wrong with a Savage, Howa, Weatherby, Remington, Winchester or Mauser 98 with a new 9.3x62 barrel on it either.

There are a lot of Husvqrna mausers in 9.3x57. Most of them can not be safely converted to 9.3x62.

Agree w Mark Young and Biggs300 on the CZ 550 American in 9.3x62. Rather decent out of the box. Shoots very well.

I liked it so much I built a beater in a VZ24 action with a Douglas barrel and a synthetic stock. Also shoot very well.

Both have been to Africa and did an outstanding job.

Was really happy that I took a 9,3 the last time. Airlines lost my ammo. The .458 Acc-Rel could not be sourced locally as it literally was the first one on the continent. 9,3x62 was easy to get. Airlines did find the ammo and delivered it a couple of days late.

I would avoid dremel.

These rifles are highly specialised and when new they cost twice as much as a Mauser 98 sporter.

Every single rifle was virtually hand made. Complex heat treatment of various parts.

I have been reading up on these rifles for 30+ years and I have never come across a major project of altering a rifle successfully. You can find thousands of articles on Mauser alterations but not a good one on a MS action. Not even on the old MS Collectors' website.

Regarding the Rotary mag spindle, how about asking a local engineering teen age apprentice to make one as a project and pay him $100. That way you do not need to ruin the original one.

Another idea is to get the spindle 3D printed. All you need is the easily available cartridge case drawing to be put into CAD. Just a thought.

quote:

Originally posted by pacecars:
I contacted the Austrian company on the link you gave me on the nitro forum so hopefully will know something shortly. It may be the rotary follower that needs to be replaced and not the stegs as they call them. Bummer as the follower is 210 Euro. I could try the dremel knowing a replacement is available though

My all time favorite 9.3x62 was built by me and Dennis Olson and Jack Belk from a totaled Brno mod 21 in 8x57 that came with another Brno mod 21 barrel that I purchased here on AR. Another gents project gun.

I had the 8x57 barrel rebored to 9.3x62 at High Plains Reboring and the 7x57 was in fine condition..then I used a special piece of Russian walnut from Bill Dowton, and copied the original Brno mod 21 stock...It shot both barrels to the same POI and both were true one inch guns..I intended to keep it forever, but a wealthy fellow with more funds than I bought it before I got to Africa for more than my safari cost...I half finished another one with two Douglas barrels in 9.3x62 and 30-06 and I did hunt with it but sold it before it was complete and before I got home..I gave up after that..those little SR Brnos sure make nice 9.3x62s or anything else without a belt on it. they are .600 at the crown so the meat is there for most rimless rifle cartridges..

Your 8x60 keeps tempting me. My first thought was it would make a nice 9.3 but it would be ashamed to rebore and rechambered since there aren’t a whole lot of the 8x60s around

I sold the 8x60 to a fellow who is on AR or got it from my add on AR..The gun will go to Ill. to his FFL, then to his store in Australia as I recall...

It would have been the perfect 9.362..I have an older Husky single C ring for sale, but been tempted to have it rebored by High Plains to a 9.3x62 or perhaps a 9.3x64, both awesome calibers..I have a lot of projects going these days, whew! where to start. but right now my priority is a Marlin lever gun in a 25-35, and with my 7/8" Leupold Alaskan scope..for whitetail this deer season in Texas.