Norma now provide a new range of 9.3x62 loaded ammunition including 286grn Swift A Frames and 275grn FMJ bullets.
As far as I'm aware these will be the first factory ammunition with Solids in 9.3 since RWS dropped their range.
A good option for someone after Buffalo and the sort.
http://www.norma.cc/en/Products/Hunting/93x62/

Thanks for the info.

The A-frame load sound great. However, I would not try 9.3 solids on buffalo purely from a hypothertical point (not having shot any buffalo of any kind). I still keep reading Ganyana's articles on the 9.3 on bufaflo and I always remember the 375 solid through the heart not dropping the animal and after half an hour it charged!

My 9.3 is stil waiting for my dream hunt in Africa with 320 gr Woodleigh RN and 286 gr Lapua Megas. I also have some TSX loads that work well.

More power to the 9.3X62!

Solid is a monometal not an FMJ. Still it shoots very well and penetrates extremely well for those who feel like hunting elephant with it. In terms of trajectory the Swift and the new solid shoot together at 100m from a couple of different makes of rifles we have here at the factory.

Don,

Why did Norma chose to use a RN solid rather than a FN solid?

465H&H

For the same reason that Barnes have switched to a RN solid in their new big bore line of ammo...the FN will not feed in all calibres. Heck Even D'Arcy Echols couldn't get the old FN to feed in one particular cartridge. So, Do you have F.N. for some cartridges where feeding isn't much of a problem and R.N. for others? Or do you go with as blunt a nose as possible that will still give you reliable feeding? We chose the latter

Provided the bullet will give straight line penetration on elephant (they do) reliability is the most important consideration. If somebody experiences jambs with factory ammo - the ammo will get the blame not the cheap or poorly built rifle. Secondly, A jambed rifle is more lickly to get you killed than a bullet that may (or may not) produce slightly less penetration. As you know, the straight on frontal on an elephant is quite easy on the bullet. It is the quatering on shot that offers the greatest obstacles

The RN approach is smart. Hopefully the new 9,3 ammo is not loaded as mild as the PH cartridges.

I've had great results from Woodleigh 286grn Fmjs in 9.3x62 on a few Buffalo and considering Norma often use Woodleighs its surprising they didn't just use them.

Oz- we load woodleighs as standard in our PH line. The solids come in brass cases and standard bullet weights (ish) for the bolt action calibers.

frank - They are loaded to maximum legal pressures, unlike the PH line which were designed around a concept of ideal velocity for performance. Some of the rounds in the PH line are loaded to about max pressures. (.505, 500.NE, .470 NE & .375FL) the others are all well under max pressure as Kevin Robertson intended them to be.

Thanks Don, very helpful! Indeed my experience is largely based on the 416 Remington. No doubt BTW that they will perform but I appreciate that the new 9,3 is designed as you describe.

Don,

As you are probably aware, there has been a lot of different opinions here on why Barnes changed to the RN design. I thought getting the info from the horses mouth might be instructive. Thank you for the response.

465H&H

Had great success using the Woodleigh 286 RN in my 9,3x64(at 2650 fps)in Namibia a couple of years ago. Ranges from 60 to 180 meters.
About 80-85 % weight retention and good penetration.

That bullet would be great in the x62 at 2350-2400 fps!


M

I appreciaze Norma new loadings. Does someone has already field experience with the 275 grain solid or the 325 grain Oryx? On buffalo? Please share, many thanks.

My 9.3x62 is a 1930s Huskvarna on a mod. 98 action, and I have tweeked it to feed both GS Customs flat nose solids and North fork cup points..

My favorite buffalo bullet in the 9.3 or 375 is the North Fork cup point but only if your gun will feed them 110 percent..

My gun also feeds the 320 woodleighs and every bullet I have tried so far..It has been my experience if that guns will feed the flat nose solids then most of them will feed any bullet, however there was one exception to that rule, and I never did find out why, so I sold it. It shot RN fine. I have had simulair experiences with the Colt 1911 with wadcutters and ball ammo, some will feed and some just cannot be made to feed it seems..

Whatever gun or load you use, be sure it functions 110%, test it throughly, I would prefer a functioning 7x57 to a jamming 505 Gibbs, for any DG animal.