In process of building some Mauser actions into sporters and curious if the subject caliber deserves all the praise I keep hearing about??
Those w/ actual experience and use of the caliber would be of help if you would comment on your thoughts, experience, etc. of the round. Understand it is used widely in Africa for all size of game. Any and all comments would be appreciated.

I have used one very extensively since 1985 on buffalo erradication, problem elephant and problem lion. I have never needed a second shot on any of the big game. I started with an issue Bruno (CZ of 1950's vintage) and later got my own Model A mauser.

I like the rifle and caliber because
a) It has (for me) a standard length throw with no danger of me short stroking the bolt.
b) Holds 5 in the mag and can be reloaded with stripper clips - a feature I have used on both culls and impromtue contacts with poachers.
c) it weighs under 8lbs
d) It is pleasant to shoot, without excess muzzel blast.
e) It works well on impala, kudu and will sort out anything up to elephant. In my line of work, I am seldom hunting (unless it is PAC) but rather working in the field. A handy, fast rifle that solves all problems is far more welcome than an 11lb double. (- Same reason I just got a Scandium .44).
f) There is nowhere I hunt or carry out ecological work where there is not a realistic danger from at least one member of the big five or poachers.
g) Even if I am guiding a client after impala- I want a rifle capable of stopping that old dagga boy buff we suprised in the reeds.
h) I used to do alot of impala culling. Meat damage with appropriate bullets was often less than with 7.62 ball.

The down side. It isn't as flat shooting as a .375. There isn't the bullet choice (although there is more than enough for my needs in the 9,3 viz: Woodleigh Solids, Stuart softs and Speer 270grn softs). If you are a born tinkerer like me, you can make a .375 do things that Messers Holland and Holland haven't dreampt of!

Personal opinion- you building a rifle over 8lbs and don't mind the longer action? Build a .375. Like to shoot alot with cheep bullets, cheep brass in Africa- the 9,3 wins every time (Use surplus military brass 30-06 necked up for plainsgame loads and practice- holds less powder than Norma factory brass which I use for full pressure loads for dangerous game)

I burn 500-1000rnds of 9,3 a year.

Ganyana pretty much said it all....it's legal as a DG cartridge and the others such as 35 Whelen are not. Other than that the 35 whelen offers all the power one may want for big game as well as the 338-06.

The 9.3 X 62 has a grandfathers clause in most African countries for DG........and that is it's main advantage. If you're an elk hunter or moose you might be as well served with something more popular.

...climbing from 7x57, 7x64, 7,62 Russian, 8x68S to 9,3x62 here in EU - shooting game from 7 kg roe cubs to reds, boars and brown bears - sold everything else but 9,3 and never looked back...I dont get that hammer effect like with 8x68S, but well hit critter is rarely more than 30 m away...shooting app. 150/year

Here's my experience: : : I got a moose and buffalo (bison bison) with one of these rifles. I like the penetration you get.

The guides liked the 5-round capacity for moose. They told me to keep shooting until the moose is down. I got off 3 quick and controlled shots while the moose moved about 30 yards. I couldn't trace the bullet paths through the mountain of meat we were dealing with. But, we found one 286 Nosler Partition under the far-side skin. It was mushroomed like in the advertising pictures and weighed 262 grains.

The bison shot was to the neck bone with the Speer 270 grain bullet and the bullet went right on through.

If you plan to shoot much over 200 yards, the trajectory is a little steep. And, with these light rifles, 10 shots off the bench is enough for one session. I used light loads for offhand, sitting, and off-the-sticks practice. I found that owning one cost a fortune. The rifles are reasonable and the ammunition is cheap if you reload. But, it made me want to hunt something big ---- and the trips were expensive.

I have had my old 9.3x62 Husqvarna for about a year. I found it at a gun shop in Mesa, AZ where it had been sitting for a long time. i asked some questions about it here on AR and was suprised & happy with the info I was provided (as you can see by the info provided on this thread).

My Husky has a 98 action and what I have done so far is restock it, add a Timney trigger & safety, had a gunsmith drill & tap for a scope, bend the bolt handle, and tweek the bolt to feed smoother.

This caliber is for hunter who reloads and/or enjoys shopping on the internet. You have to reload to get good hunting loads IMHO. There are some great values on ammo on the internet if you look - Check out Graf & Sons - but it is more for target ammo and a way to get cheap brass.

The 9.3x62 is quickly becoming one of my favorite calibers. It has shown great accuracy at the range (the 300 yd gong is no problem) and kicks quite a bit less than my 300 wby. I added an old 4x Weaver scope to complete the rifle. It goes hunting with me for the first time this season. I have no doubt it will perform well for me.

Get a 9.3x62 - You will enjoy it.

Well now, seems like the stories I have been told heretofore were all true about the 9.3x62!!
Had been considering the 338 Win. Mag. but used to shoot one a lot in Alaska several years ago and the thing had a pretty good thump to it and believe this 9.3 would serve my purposes but with less punishment.
Like the idea of using 30-06 brass of which I have a drum full of from years of shooting matches (did not know one could make the brass from the 06.) Thanks for the valuable input from actual users and the 9.3x62 is what it will be. Now that the caliber is determined, go for barrel, stock, triggers, and so on and so on.

I won't bore the regulars by repeating my stories of hunting with a 9.3x62 in Hawaii. Search for my posts - there's a lot there.

Or just build one and write your own stories. It's that easy.


Okie John

driver,

An article from African Hunter magazine that you may enjoy:
The 9.3x62

Here's a thread with my results using the 9.3x62 on my trip to RSA last August (2005):
Back from RSA - photos

-Bob F.

I've not owned a 9.3x62 but have had a 9.3x57 and a 9.3x64. Both these are good calibres.
The x57 has a limited range the x64 shoots as flat and carries as much energy as the great 375 H&H. The 9.3 is one of the best calibres to be had.
Build a x62, you won't regret it.

I bought a new CZ 550 in 9.3x62 for my 2002 Zimbabwe plains game trip. Loaded with 286-gr Nosler Partitions it worked perfectly on game from bushbuck up through eland. Pretty much the same performace that other owners have historically reported here.

It's a great caliber, fun to reload for and just flat works. Build one - you will be pleased.

Phil

My dad had a p17 enfield built up for me in this caliber last year. I used it on meat bull last year. THe shot was 280 yards across a large swampy area. Hit it with two quick shots both complete penetration. The 286gr nosler partition is a great bullet and I wouldn't think twice about shooting anything with it. I'm still in a toss up between it and my 375 H&H on my upcoming brown bear hunt next month.

Both with a 9,3x62. A pleasure to shoot...





The 9,3x62 is the scoped one.


L

I have used the 9.3x62 for several years now, mostly on large deer (Sambar), with the occasional trip for scrub bull and pigs. Thus far, it has never failed to do the job, on critters up to 1800lbs live weight.

I feel that Ganyana pretty well hit the nail on the head, in my admittedly limited experience, the 9.3x62 will do everything you might need, provided you are careful with shot placement on larger critters. It's a bit much for Impala, a bit light for Elephant, but is legal, and will do the job on either. Plus, a well made, reliable rifle for it will weigh in around the 8lb mark, scoped, vs 11-12lb for a double, and is far more versatile.
JMHO.

Driver, the system I have used with some success in making 30-06 brass into 9.3x62 is to first expand the neck out to .416 (just happened to have a set of .416 Rem dies) then neck to 9.3, and trim to length. This will provide enough shoulder to safely fireform the cases without worrying about head seperation.

I have used the Woodleigh 286gr (both SP and FMJ) to good effect over the years, but these projectiles can be pricey. the Speer 270gr SP is also a good projectile, but a tad 'softer' than the Woodleighs. This is the one I usually used to fireform and practice with, as well as use on pigs, since you can shoot many rounds on a pig culling trip here in OZ, and they work just fine.

A 30-06 reformed case, 54gr of ADI 2209, and the Speer 270gr SP have accounted for many pigs (and I don't have to worry about losing expensive brass!), and with mild recoil, much the same as a 30-06, far less savage than a .338 Win in a similar weight rifle.

Sambar and Driver- Had a bad experience on necking up using PMP brass - Make sure you aneal the case mouth before you start.

I run a .375 neck expander into the .30-06 case and then a .458 one. Lube case well inside and run the .458 expander deep into the case. The 9,3 has marginally less body taper than the 30-06 (not that it really matters unlesss you are going for top loads!)

Am happy with the performance of the speer 270grn on all african game up to Kudu/zebra size. Yes it is a bit soft for quatering away shots on Zebra/Wildebeest/etc, but although I have had them loose up to half their weight they have always reached the vitals- even on texas heart shot on a zebra.

load the 270grn speers to 2400fps in reformed 30-06 brass ( use Somchem S355 powder). Could go faster, and in proper norma brass have had them at 2550fps with no discernable case head expansion or other pressure signs, but shoot at moderate ranges, and one sight setting then works for my woodleigh solids, and stuart softs for the bigger stuff without having to bugger about ( With rifle zeroed for Woodleigh solids at 50m. the Speer bullets land 1" high at 100.)

driver,

Just go for it, slapping a 9.3x62 barrel on a Mauser action is an easy job! Most work great without ANY other alterations!

Ganyana,

Great to hear of your Speer successes, I'm glad I finally found someone who had a decent word to say about the 9.3, 270 gr. Speers - they work just fine for me too and I shoot 'em by the hundreds in a 9.3x62. Never had a Wild Boar or Red Stag jump up after being shot with one and complain about them being too soft, either.

I had a whole bunch of RSA PMP 9.3 & .375 Round/Flat Nose bullets that worked fantastic for me as well - sad to say, they are all long gone. While everyone else was standing around, slapping themselves on the back and praising their expensive premium bullets - I was just snickering to myself...couldn't tell the difference.

Hello,
Again, really appreciate the fine information on this caliber and obviously it is an excellent cartridge for a lot of game and that is a definite plus. I am placing orders today for safeties, triggers, barrels, scope bases, etc. Fortunately my partner and I have some four or five of the CZ24's and about the same Argentines and will do different calibers on them as we proceed, but my first one will be the 9.3 and believe I will equip it with open sights to start with and do others with optics.

You could say this first one will be my utility rifle and the metal will be a matte blue or even dark grey parkerize finish and a solid straight grained walnut stock. Components will be top quality, but yet a working level rifle. Will save the claro walnut and rust blue finish for later projects. Only in America and "aint life grand...." Again thanks for the detailed input and am curious if anyone would have a suggestion as to where to get the bolt handle reshaped?? I will install more pleasing handles on the later ones, but this one would like the bolt handle bent in a functional profile.

I love the 9.3x62 and have two of them - a half stock Mannlicher Schoenhauer and a Tikka T3 S/S which is my knock about rifle. Would love a type A Mauser too.

Has anyone tried the 250gn Nosler ballistic tips an anything substantial in size? I have a couple of packets of it.

I have also just got some Woodleigh 250gn Protected points which I will be using for a Sambar hunt later this year hopefully.

quote:

Originally posted by MLG:
Has anyone tried the 250gn Nosler ballistic tips an anything substantial in size? I have a couple of packets of it.

I have used them on targets only, but.. I have used the discontinued 260 gr .375 Nosler BT bullet in my 375H&H on whitetail deer with good results. The .366 & .375 are almost identical so they should be great for thin skinned game.

MLG,

I didn't mention it in my above post but I have also loaded a many box of Nosler 250 grain BT's in my 9.3x62. I use a charge of VV N-140 with the OAL to the center of the cannelure - works pretty good from my experinece.

Like Riodot I have also used the 260 gr. .375's as well (in a .375H&H, of course!). Both of these bullets work very well in my rifles on European Game, Roe Deer, Wild Boar, Red & Fallow Deer (and the occaisional hapless Crat).

The 9.3x62 with the Nosler BT's (among other bullets) sees almost exclusive use as a short-barreled (20") carbine w/Millet Red Dot for shooting Driven Game. I've shot a boatload of Wild Boar from 15-100 Kgs. with this cartidge/bullet combination and it works just fine. I've also shot Red Deer (Stags, Hinds & Calves) with it and while they are not nearly the size of a North American Elk, they ain't small either.

All the stuff I read a couple of years ago in the shooting journals about them being too explosive, too soft or not holding together has not turned out to be the case IMO.

I've used the 250 gr. Swift A Frame in my 9.3x62 with great success. Shots from 25-275 yards. Perfect performance, etc. I really like it as is does shoot a bit flatter than the 286s I've loaded and haven't noticed any difference in performance on game up to Eland.

The 9.3 is a great round. I just added a set of 9.3x74R barrels to my double and topped them with a Kahles 1.5-6 30mm scope. It'll go to the range here very shortly.

Make up the rifle and enjoy it.

Good luck.

Mike

Riodot & Gerry

Thanks - interesting - I will try them in my rifle and see how they go - maybe on red deer initially.

They are extremely accurate in my Tikka.


Regards

mlg

I think Ganyana covered the bases very well. I have taken a dozen or so plainsgame with the 9.3 and have absolutely zero complaints. I personally favor the 9.3 over the 375 even when DG is around. I have no reservations about it's close range power (read defense) with the right bullets and if you handload there are many premium bullets to choose from. Don't misunderstand I'm not advocating it as a DG rifle but it is as adequate as the 375 in a pinch. For Buff, elephant and hippo I prefer a 416 or more.

My last completed project was a 9,3x62 on a Pre-64 Winchester:





This was it's first 3 shot group after I finished it:




My other 9,3x62 made something like 22 1 shot kills on medium game in Africa in the hands of it's previous owner using 250gr Barnes X bullets.
I can't wait to start the hunting stories of my new favorite rifle.................DJ

DJ,



Nice elegant looking rifle - I like your taste!

I've used H-4895 with excellent results as well in the 9.3x62 also IMR-4320 (old supply, but dwindling fast) & VV N-140.

My first three shots out of my new (back then) Walter Lothar bbl. looked just like your target, too. The accuracy of mine hasn't relented one bit since then, either!

Good shooting!

DJ, I would love to have a stock like that on my Model 70s. Did you make it yourself? Where can I get one?

Hello DJ,
If you don't mind sharing info, where did you get your barrel from and do you have 'smiths in your area that does such work?? Yes, that is a very classic style rifle and well excecuted in all respects I would judge from appearance. My first one will not carry such fine walnut but later on perhaps. Thanks for sharing with us.

I´ve owned my 9.3x62 for about a year and it is a real game getter! So far it has seen action
on two trips to Africa (game from steenbok to eland) and has taken everything from crows to whitetails in Europe. Low recoil, good precision and enough bullet options.

You can´t really go wrong with a 9.3

Thanks, y'all! You're making me feel really good about the 9.3x62 I'm having built right now!

DJ The rifle is very nice the group very impressive. You can be proud of yourself.

Wink and Driver, My 9,3 was one of the typical "project guns" that passes back and forth between me and a couple of my freinds. I think (but am not positive) that Gary Shelton in Arkansas did the chambering job with either a Shilen or Douglas barrel. I did a little adjustment of the barrel countour, finished the metal work and stocked it.
It's funny to me that along with 2 other freinds there probably are about 10 or so various 9,3's at any given time. Who "owns" them at any particular moment is also often an open question.......But they aren't getting this one back...
My next project is a 7x57 to match:



..............DJ

DJ,

Wow! nice, Twins!