I am building a rifle for my dad. He doesn't want anything that is much heavier than a 30-06 in recoil. The 30-06 would be the practical choice but I have been wanting to mess with the 9.3x62 for a long time. Ammo availability isn't a problem as I will keep him well supplied.

As to recoil, 232 grain loads will be more than adequate for east Texas whitetails and elk. How does the recoil of factory 232 grain 9.3 ammo compare to 180 grain 30-06 loads?

Probably too close to call. The 9.3 will be a little slower recoil. Guessing at velocity the 9.3 was 1-2# more.
http://sst.benchrest.com/recoil.html

Not exactly what you're looking for, but my 9.3x62 using 286 grainers at 2350 fps feels just a bit slower and harder than my 06 using 200 grainers at 2650 fps. My 9.3 is a little lighter because my 9.3 used to be my 06 before it was rebored and rechambered. With the 232's it should be a pussycat.

With lighter bullets it's about even. The 286 grain bullets have a little more punch.

The 9.3mm has significant power over the .30-06, and has much lighter sensed recoil than the 06. IMHO, the 9.3x62 has more of a push than a whap from the .30-06, BUT, tht only applies if your rifle has a significant castoff in the stock. If the stock is a straight one, the 9.3mm still has a significant punch.

LLS

I have to agree with all of the above.

9.3x62's tend to get build on .30/06 Sprg. actions/barrels and the completed rifles aren't much heavier/lighter either than a standard .30/06 Sprg. BUT the recoil appears to me IMO to be not as abrupt & sharp as other more intense (psi) cartridges; but in the above mentioned bullet weights, similar.

Now you'll have to ask someone with the real weight of the rifle vs. fps vs. bullet grains of recoil figures but with the 323 grainers you might make it about equal to the 200/220 grainers in a .30/06 Sprg.

I use both catridges extensively and the 9.3x62 with the lighter bullets appears to my shoulder to be about equal to the .30/06 Sprg. 200/220 grainers.

Peronally at thr range I'd encourage alot of shooting to familiarize and getting used to the cartridge/bullet and when that's all done it's pretty much a Done Deal!

You'll probably be close to the same powder charge in grains weight as you'd use w/ a 165 gr bullet in the 06, but you're now talking about using a bullet that weighs 232gr. No matter how you cut it, the recoil will be about that of a 220gr 06 bare minimum plus a bit.

Factors being weight of rifle, powder charge in grains and velocity of bullet. This will get you a rough estimate and approximation of felt recoil in energy/ft-lbs and velocity/fps. This will also give you a rough estimate in playing w/ rifle weight and/or load velocity to alter the recoil as well.

GVA

I can shoot 165gr 30-06 at 2,800fps without issue. 3 rounds of 232gr 9l3 at 2,600fps is more than enough. The 286s require a PAST pad to check zero and don't get used other than on game.

Don't see how the velocity of the recoil can be less in a similar weight gun shooting the same or more propellant of a faster burn rate and a heavier bullet...

I don't know what friggin' planet you guys are living on but with full power loads the recoil with a 9.3 is a lot more than any 30-06.

Every day this comes up! There is always somebody that says there is no difference.

I guess it depends on your definition of "no."

The 30/06 shooting the 180gr bullet has about 24
Ft LBs of recoil witch isn't bad

quote:

I don't know what friggin' planet you guys are living on but with full power loads the recoil with a 9.3 is a lot more than any 30-06.

I definitly agree with you on full power loads. Just ran the followng through the calculator
286@2450=29
236@2650=26
180@2750=21

Same weight rifle. Depending on powder and velocity they might move some. The 236 is a 24% increase over the 06 and the 286 is a 38% over the 06.

quote:

Originally posted by Will:
I don't know what friggin' planet you guys are living on but with full power loads the recoil with a 9.3 is a lot more than any 30-06.

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I would have to concur. I dont have a 9.3 but I do have a Whelen and the difference between 200 gn and 250 gn loads is significant..

With the 200 gn loads the recoil is quite comparable to an 06, with full powered 250 gn loads it will easily rival a 300 WM in recoil.

Will,

Like most people my 9,3 began life as my 30-06 and to me it doesn't seem to recoil as bad. But like most folks I didn't rebarrel to 9,3 till after shooting/buying rifles over .4" so maybe brain damage plays into recoil sensitivity.

When I first built my 9,3x62 the only ammo I could find was some Norma 232gr and the recoil with it was a letdown. I now shoot the 286gr Partition or Barnes X at around 2,400fps and don't really notice it from an 8# rifle.

hth

Haven't shot a 9.3x62, but have shot a 35 whelen a fair amount. On the whelen, with full power 250 grains recoil isn't bad, but it is definitely quite a bit more than a 30-06. More like a heavy (weight) 300 mag but doesn't seem to come back as quickly. My whelen is just at 8lbs all up. I intend to load some 200-20 grains down somewhat when practising with the rifle and leave the full power stuff for hunting moose, etc.

Where are you in Texas? Perhaps you can find someone with a 9.3x62 to let you give it a try. Of course rifle weight and stock shape will have an effect.

Mine is fairly light and recoil is noticeable off the bench, the more so because I have a comb pad to counter the drop in the stock and let you see the scope. The edge of the pad tries to remove your ear muffs with each shot! In the field it is not a problem. I shot 250-grain North Fork softs.

How old is your Dad?
I'm 62 years old and shoot a 7.5lb open sighted 9.3x64 with 286 grain bullets @ 2500 fps, it's great and kills like lightnin'. I can hear the bullets sing as they fly away, it realy is the most wonderful sound.
Unless your father has turned 75yrs of age build him the 9.3x62 it's a grand wee round.

That was $0.02 well spent

I think most who are saying there isn't much or any difference really mean that neither one kicks very hard, not that there's no perceptible difference.

You're not really talking recoil as long as you're below thirty or forty foot pounds.

My experience has been that with the same weight bullets, the recoil is also the same. (with similar weight rifles) A 180 grain 30-06 does "not" have as much recoil as a 232 grain 9.3...

I can say the exact when compareing the 35 Whelen and the .338-06 to a 30-06 too...

DM

My 30-06 and my 9.3x62 weigh essentially the same amount. I don't shoot 232gr bullets but 250's. I'd rate the 30-06 with 180's the same as 250's in the 9.3 (at 2600fps) or 286's (at 2400fps). In rifles weighing the same, the recoil is not significantly different. Kudude

quote:

Originally posted by kudude:
My 30-06 and my 9.3x62 weigh essentially the same amount. I don't shoot 232gr bullets but 250's. I'd rate the 30-06 with 180's the same as 250's in the 9.3 (at 2600fps) or 286's (at 2400fps). In rifles weighing the same, the recoil is not significantly different. Kudude

See, I told you guys!!

I was out shooting both my '06 Winch and my CZ550 in 9.3 just today. The '06 with 180grs is a pussycat...I notice the difference, especially off the bench. I actually can shoot the CZ better off hand as its about a pound or so heavier. Figure that the 232's are going about 2550fps and a '06 with 220s starts out about 2400fps. You can feel the difference. Big thing here is get a scope (if you're gonna use one) that has at least a 3.5" eye relief. No problems if you get this...BobG in VA

Was out shooting a .270 and my 9.3x62mm yesterday (20 rounds each, then 40 rounds of Hornet). Sure, the 9.3 recoils more than a .270, but with 232 grain slugs it isn't bad, and I've got arthritis in my neck, no disk between the 5th and 6th vertabrae. It took the chiropractor nearly 3 years to fix my neck so I can shoot the 9.3 again, but now I can. I've learned to draw the line on using 286 grain slugs, but 258 grain bullets are okay, and 232s a lot easier. Biggest thing I can counsel for those building or restocking a 9.3mm is to be sure that your stock has a generous amount of cast off. I think that is the one thing, besides all that chiro work, that has me back in the game again. I still believe the 9.3mm has more of a shove to its recoil than a sharp bite.

LLS

All I can tell you is after shootin' my 12 ga. sxs with turkey loads at the range to check pattern, shootin my 9.3x62 felt like a .22 LR.

Yes, the 9.3x62 will kick more than a 30.06.

But the 9.3x62 recoil seems to be less than my 300 Wby.

My 9.3 kicks less than the Win XTR in 30-06 that I once had (the Win was a piece of junk)! It´s all in the fit of the stock.

Have not shot the 9.3 but I do have an 06 and 35 Whelen. Recoil pad type can make a big difference. My Whelen is in a poly stock and actually weighs a few ounces less than my 06. Both are 1917 actions, 06 has a 24 inch tube and the whelen a 22 inch. The 225 grain is more recoil than the 06 180 but slower and more of a push. I shoot mostly the 250's in the Whelen and it will get your attention, but nothing like a 300 mag. Would rather shoot it than my HR 20ga ultra slug hunter. Keep in mind I am pushing the 250's toward max (best accuracy in this rifle).

My 9.3x64 sure lets you know you pulled the trigger. But it's more of a long push. Not an abrupt shoulder snapper. For the hitting power gain the recoil is a modest increase, really.

I'm another one with a 35 Whelen and a 30-06, no 9.3.
My 30-06 is a 1903 Springfield with a steel buttplate. I shoot H4350 and 165g bullets.

My 35 is a vz-24 in a plastic stock, with a Sims LimbSaver slip on pad. I shoot 250 and 180 grain bullets, with wc846 and Reloader 15.

I find the 35 Whelen kicks much more, even with 180 grain bullets.