Should probably go under African Hunting, but here goes:
If one needs to choose a bullet for lion and he intends to use the 9,3x62, which bullet should be chosen:
- Barnes TSX 250grs (not tipped but the regular kind, Sako load)
- Nosler Partition 250grs (Sako load)
- Norma Oryx 286grs or 320grs (the lighter 232grs probably being the poorest of the Oryx bullets and thus outruled)
- Norma Alaska 285grs
- Norma Swift A-Frame 250grs
- Lapua Naturalis 269grs
- RWS T-Mantel 225grs
- RWS TUG 293grs

All above factory loads by Sako, Norma, Lapua, or RWS.

There might be better options but those are the ones to choose from, sorry.

- Lars/Finland

Didn't find it on your list:

I'd recommend the 286 Nosler Partition.

I have no experience with the various European makes, but I have heard good things about many of them. Thus, limiting my choices only to the American-made bullets I would have to choose the tried and true Nosler Partition. It's a bullet that has such a low failure rate as to be virtually non-existant. Any monometal bullet may simply "decide" not to expand at all at the most inconvenient of times, thus I would put the Barnes low on my list.

People should remember that (male) lions are usually 350 to 450 pound animals and are not "thick-skinned" game. Ample bullet expansion is more important than extra-deep penetration in putting them down surely and quickly. About a jillion of them have been killed with .303 Lee Enfields.

TSX would be my choice, maybe the 286 grainer, but without testing the two, hard to say

I have never hunted lion but would confidently say that you could safely use any of those you mention to successfully drop a lion. Choose the one that makes you happy.

Lou

Cross post to the Euro forum mate, I'm sure Gerry, Arlid, Mho, Dom or any of the other mittel-europa crowd will have either used them or know half a dozen folk who have.

FWIW my Swedish mate says that anything you would shoot a bear with will work for lion.

Since I have no first hand experience with lion hunting.....I'm going to email my PH and ask him for advice....

If I must choose based on what I know now.....I'm going with the heavy bullet...Norma Oryx 320grs.

I don't think Lions are shot at long distances and I want to have the greatest penetration available. It's my guess that this is the one!

From what I am told velocity is not a bad thing with cats, I must confess I was leaning towards the A-frames, TSX, Naturalis and partition on that basis.

quote:

Originally posted by Schauckis:
Should probably go under African Hunting, but here goes:
If one needs to choose a bullet for lion and he intends to use the 9,3x62, which bullet should be chosen:
- Barnes TSX 250grs (not tipped but the regular kind, Sako load)
- Nosler Partition 250grs (Sako load)
- Norma Oryx 286grs or 320grs (the lighter 232grs probably being the poorest of the Oryx bullets and thus outruled)
- Norma Alaska 285grs
- Norma Swift A-Frame 250grs
- Lapua Naturalis 269grs
- RWS T-Mantel 225grs
- RWS TUG 293grs

All above factory loads by Sako, Norma, Lapua, or RWS.

There might be better options but those are the ones to choose from, sorry.

- Lars/Finland

I don't think Nosler has made a 9.3mm, 250 grain "partition", so i'm not sure that load on your list is available.

No matter, i'd choose the 286 Partition anyway...

DM

Lions are neither heavy nor armor plated. Vapo, that 320 may not be the best bet especially up close. They have big muscles yes, but they aren't as dense as a buff or hippo. A super tough pachyderm quality bullet may just zip through with very minimal damage to any organs and may creat very little "shock".

I think so many of us are North Americans, so I thinka comparison of bullet types might put it in perspective.....think stronger then FL white tail, but maybe not as strong as 1000lbs bull elk from any angle. Meaning, penetration but plenty of expansion.

My 1st choice, which unfortunately is not listed by the OP as available to him, would be the 250gr Nosler Accubond. With what he listed, I think I would be looking at the Norma Oryx or Alaskan in the 250-260gr weight range. Speed for shock, expansion, but bonded so it won't blow up on a bone.

quote:

Originally posted by DM:

I don't think Nosler has made a 9.3mm, 250 grain "partition", so i'm not sure that load on your list is available.

No matter, i'd choose the 286 Partition anyway...

The dealer's website said "250grs Nosler" - I assumed Partition but it might be AccuBond (or, worse, knowing Sako's range of ammo, the Ballistic Tip!).

- Lars/Finland

Nosler lists a 250gr Accubond, but not Partition. Norma is showing a 250gr Swift A Frame...might work out well, might be just on the tough side as well. But, I think it would work out well

quote:

Originally posted by Schauckis:
Should probably go under African Hunting, but here goes:
If one needs to choose a bullet for lion and he intends to use the 9,3x62, which bullet should be chosen:
- Barnes TSX 250grs (not tipped but the regular kind, Sako load)
- Nosler Partition 250grs (Sako load)
- Norma Oryx 286grs or 320grs (the lighter 232grs probably being the poorest of the Oryx bullets and thus outruled)
- Norma Alaska 285grs
- Norma Swift A-Frame 250grs
- Lapua Naturalis 269grs
- RWS T-Mantel 225grs
- RWS TUG 293grs

All above factory loads by Sako, Norma, Lapua, or RWS.

There might be better options but those are the ones to choose from, sorry.

- Lars/Finland

OK, assuming that you want to live up to your A.K.A. "Bwana One-Shot" , here's what I think about it, limited to the choices offered.

My limited experience is coming from being concerned about big bears, and I think about the same bullet selection would apply.

Include in consideration: Barnes TSX 250gr, Norma Oryx 286gr, Norma Swift A-Frame 250 gr, Lapua Naturalis 269gr.

Exclude the rest - because: I don't know anything about RWS ammo, it may be good. Nosler 250 gr for reasons stated by others, and the Accubond sheds too much weight for my tastes. Norma Alaska is not bonded as I remember.

Additional info: I would choose a Swift for expansion, pentration, and weight retention anytime/everytime over any partition or AB ever made. Oryx are soft but bonded. Lapua Naturalis based on excellent rep of Lapua - count on it having been tested. Used to be able to get the 285gr Mega in factory ammo, which is excellent ammo. I would trust the 250gr TSX to do what it's supposed to do.

Hopefully that narrows your choice a bit. Among the ones listed in the above paragraph, I can't decide on a preference, without extensive testing/experience. The one brown bear that I've shot was with the Lapua Mega, and it did a good job, and complete pass through.
KB

i used the 300 gr swift a frame, didn't hit the lion perfectly but still was a 1 shot kill thanks to bullet performance. i think the nosler would be right behind the swift

For me either the TSX or Swift. My first choice would be North Forks.

While a lion may not be the toughest, there is nothing that can put a hurting on you faster.

Good bullet (great caliber choice BTW) with good shot placement, no problem.

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
i used the 300 gr swift a frame, didn't hit the lion perfectly but still was a 1 shot kill thanks to bullet performance. i think the nosler would be right behind the swift

BTW....from a guy that's been there and done that!

Thanks butchloc!

I'd vote 250 Accubond, TSX or A-Frame. I believe the 250s would have plenty of penetration and would probably open better. I'd want something that opens fast.

quote:

Originally posted by Kabluewy:
OK, assuming that you want to live up to your A.K.A. "Bwana One-Shot"

But, of course!

quote:

My limited experience is coming from being concerned about big bears, and I think about the same bullet selection would apply.

Agree. Although lion might be a tad softer in bone structure and for sure is thinner-skinned.

quote:

Used to be able to get the 285gr Mega in factory ammo, which is excellent ammo.

Still can - but it's such a damn soft bullet! And not bonded.
Good for lighter game up to whitetail; thereon up I would not advocate it (although I know of no-one that has used it or uses it and would complain!).

quote:

The one brown bear that I've shot was with the Lapua Mega, and it did a good job, and complete pass through.
KB

Lucky you - I sure wouldn't have the guts to try the Mega on bear. My choice there would most probably be the Naturalis.

- Lars/Finland

Bwana One-Shot,

We are so fortunate to have an excellent selection of factory ammo to choose from. It's really amazing with the 9.3x62. Just a few years ago, it was a different story. I'm thinking it is a reflection of the growth in the popularity of the cartridge.

It's even more amazing considering that so few factory rifles are offered in 9.3x62. We can be thankful for the great CZ 550 for making such a fine rifle and caliber easily available to us to enjoy.

Just reading all or most of the reviews here is interesting. http://www.midwayusa.com/brows...String=653***690***&

BTW, I think the Mega is a good bullet. The Prvi clone shoots to the same place, and that's my deer load - or one of them.

KB

The Lapua Mega is a excellent bullet for moose and bear, and will certainly do a good job on lion.
The 286 Oryx will also expand and work well in short range

M

quote:

Originally posted by Schauckis:

quote:

Originally posted by DM:

I don't think Nosler has made a 9.3mm, 250 grain "partition", so i'm not sure that load on your list is available.

No matter, i'd choose the 286 Partition anyway...

The dealer's website said "250grs Nosler" - I assumed Partition but it might be AccuBond (or, worse, knowing Sako's range of ammo, the Ballistic Tip!).

- Lars/Finland

I'm betting it's the 250 Accubond...

Anyway, i've shot several brown bears, although not with the 286NP, but the 286NP is a proven bullet and it's what i'd use next time. It's taken much big game in the 9.3x62 and 9.3x74R, and works VERY good. It will expand fast, and penetrate deep, just what you are looking for!

DM

Arm chair bwana here....

My 9.3X62 loads were done with the hope of one day using them on buffalo in Australia and Africa. The 320 gr Woodleigh is definitely for buffalo though it would work on lions (Norma as well). My choice on lion would be 250 gr TSX or Swift A-frame. Ganyana should be the man to ask. His experience with the 9.3 on buffalo is amazing.

have had good results on Lion with 9.3 and 435 Woodleigh round nose softs.

one on right was devastating on a Lion.

Although the likes of the hard Swift A Frame, North Fork, TUG or similar would be great for lion, I prefer the softer Woodleighs due to the amount of internal damage they make.

Thanks to everyone for your input!
Some of you might have guessed that I was hoping to grab a good deal on lion.
Alas, there is no chance for me to take two weeks off on such short notice (the ad is wrong: the hunt needs to be concluded by 22nd Dec, not commenced) so no need for lion bullets right now.

Final word on the Lapua Mega: Considering the fact that it's been on the market for a good long time and is (still) used by many, perhaps it's better than I give it credit for!

- Lars/Finland

quote:

Originally posted by Nakihunter:
Ganyana should be the man to ask. His experience with the 9.3 on buffalo is amazing.

Ganyana is chasing Lion in Zim as we speak, however you can see his thoughts here (scroll down to last page):

http://www.norma.cc/assets/rifle.jan09.pdf

If I had to choose from what you offer I would go with the 286 gr. Oryx or the 320 gr Oryx. I am sure the bullet is tough enough to break any bone in lion's corpus.
However my personal choice for lion would be 404 Jeffery 450gr soft point bullet.
CZ