Now that I have my CZ 550 it's ammunition time. I hope I'm not going to start a war, but here goes.

I need some advice on which factory ammo is the best. I want to handload, but I just bought the gun and I don't quite have that extra money right now. I've heard Norma and Lapua make some great products, but what about the Sellier & Bellot factory stuff. Does anybody have any experience with this brand? It's the best price I've found per box. I'm not looking for supreme accuracy just yet, I'm more looking for something to help me get a feel for the gun until I can roll my own.

Thanks for any help you can provide. You guys have a great board going here.

[ 07-08-2003, 21:54: Message edited by: Trailblazer ]

Trailblazer, I shoot handloaded 270gr.Speers on Norma or RWS brass because its relatively inexpensive, but then resite and hunt with Norma 232gr.(whitetail etc.)

Sellier & Bellot will tidy you over just fine until you can roll your own.

The S&B is quite good as I have used it in Namibia successfully against kudu and oryx. Did you see the post I have under Hunt Reports Africa (LaRochelle Namibia) ? All except jackals was shot with S&B ammo. Get some and you won't be disappointed.

I have used
A2 ammunition
RWS Ammunition
Norma Ammunition
Superior Ammunition
and Handloads.

They all seem to shoot well in my Blaser R 93, the monolithics from A2 work really well on Duiker, however I am sure any good solid would do that

Aleko

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[ 07-09-2003, 03:48: Message edited by: Orion 1 ]

Can you get RWS ammo here? I would like some 293gr TUG's for my 9.3x62!

The Norma brass is pretty hard to beat. The Nosler 250 grain Ballistic Tip matched with the Norma brass is a good combination and will work extremely well on alot of game here in North America. For a FEW bucks more and I wouldn't get in a big hurry to do it, since money might be an issue now, but Woodleigh 250 grain bullets are a notch up the totem pole. For all intents and purposes the 250 Nosler will do everything you will want because the 9.3X62 is a VERY effective caliber. Granted, it is not the flat shooter a .270 or 7MM Mag. but you probably didn't buy it for their particular qualities either. I do know one thing for sure about this caliber and what I have recommended. I absolutely love it and it is one gun that will be a "hand-me-down". Welcome to the 9.3X62 Club and good shooting!

The 286 gr. Nosler partition is pretty hard to beat for all around use, it will work wonders on anything from rabbits to Cape Buffalo and Loin...I also shoot the 230 gr. GS Custom and it is a wonder bullet..the bullet I have used most for Cape Buffalo is the 320 gr. Woodleigh at almost 2400 FPS in my 26" barrel. It works well on elk also and from any angle.

The S&B 286 stuff does 2,175 from my 22" barrel, and it's accurate. I haven't killed anything with it yet, but I'm hunting feral hogs and cattle in a few weeks and will try it then. But mostly, I want to see how well the Speer 270 holds up. It's too cheap and common to ignore. It goes 2,350 fps over 55/H4895, and the 286 Nosler goes 2,300 with the same charge. Neither load is max, which may be why re-formed 30-06 cases last so long. Hope this helps, Okie John.

Okie,

I have 2 packs of speer bullets sitting here infront of me any my 9.3 still is not here. I reckon the speers certainly look good. I am dying to give them a go on the hoppers.

Let us know how those speers go when you get back.

Ok now the question is where or from whom can one buy the RWS S&B and Lupa. In Dallas all I can find is Norma? PMP make a 9.3x62 in their Blue line (I think) does anyone know if this is brought into America??

Trailblazer, where are you finding the S&B 9.3x62 in Wisconsin? -Fred

We are slowly getting our RWS in from Germany direct. We should have all the loads by December. We are waiting for Customs clearance

Aleko

i keep hearing about S&B and other makes, but the only thing i have ever seen is Norma. it comes in only a 232 grain load and costs more than $40.00 per box.

two of you guys are from the US, Orion 1 and Okie John, where do you find the S&B?? especially you Okie John. you probably live right around the corner from me...

Does anyone know who is selling the S&B 9.3x62 in Wisconsin? I haven't seen it anywhere. -Fred

Trailblazer
Try www.superiorammo.com
They load excellent ammo and have a wide variety of bullets available. I have shot their ammo [several different bullets] in 9,3x74R and with Woodleigh softs and solids in my 450 No2.

When it comes to factory ammo, just get what you can get with a price you can live with. Don't worry about brand or bullet. All of it is loaded to accommodate any Model 95 Mauser (right, model 95, not 98) and performance is pretty low for the potential. Practice with the stuff, season the barrel, do all that stuff, then reload for serious business, working up to what your rifle will take.

Bill Smith--I grew up in Oklahoma City, but I live in Seattle. I got my S&B ammo from Ben's Loan in Renton, WA. You can call them at 425-255-3638. Also, if you search these forums for 9.3, you'll get a lot of good threads on where to find ammo. Hope this helps, Okie John.

okie john: thanks, John. i'll give 'em a call.