Has anyone tried the 220gr Naturalis 'LR' in 9.3x62, more specifically have you loaded it with Varget (AR2208)?

I have some to test but can't find 'offical' Varget data. There are some internet loads that go up to 60gr. I am currently shooting 235gr Rhino solid shanks over 56.5gr Varget and CCI250's which appears to be fairly mild/middle of the road load at a little over 2400fps in the CZ FS (Rhinos are moly coated which would affect pressures).

Any experience? I am thinking 55gr Varget would be a safe start.

I show in African Dangerous Game cartridges by Pierre van der Walt the 232 gr. bullet is best with 64 grs. of Rl-15 for 2716 in a 23.6" barrel;

This has been my favorite load with the 230 gr. GS Customs bullets. IMR-3031 with 60.3 grs gives 2648.

I suspect that you could start with the minimum load of 52 grs of Varget and work up 1/2 gr. at a time to your rifles max if your an experienced reloader which you may not be or you wouldn't be seeking our advise, so cut my above load a grain, to play it safe and see if it shoots for you. You should get better than 2600 FPS, and that's deadly in the 9.3x62, a round that does not kill by velocity but rather good bullet performance at reasonable velocity.

Thanks Ray,

I am a fairly experienced reloader (a dozen or so cartridges over 20+ years) but like to triangulate unpublished loads with what others are doing with my intended component combos.

You are likely well aware that sometimes a combination of European (or South African) bullets and a US propellant can make published data a little scarcer, especially when compounded by being for a less-than-common cartridge. I was hoping that Pierre's book had data for me. I had to experiment cautiously with the 235gr Rhino as well (it killed a moose with alacrity last week...)

I would use RE 15 but it is essentially unobtainable in Canada and I have a good supply of Varget!

Cheers

The 9.3x62 is very similar to my 35 Whelen A.I., and I found Varget to be superior to RL15 for both accuracy and consistent velocities. It is just a tick faster than RL15. My fired case capacity is 74.5 grains of water level with the top of the neck, and 56 gr. of Varget gives me 2560 with a Hornady 250 SP out of a 24" barrel with no pressure signs.

I load 58 gr Varget for 286 gr Lapua Mega bullets and get around 2420 fps.

So you load is very mild.

I suspect that for a 220 gr bullet you will need a faster powder line VV N135 or N140 or similar.

However I would not want to drive it too fast on deer. Big & slow bullets work well!

Thanks,
Most published loads seem to head close to 60gr for the 285/6gr lead cores.

I played safe for the 235gr Rhinos as they are solid shanks with no relief grooves and despite the moly, I wasn't sure how they affected pressure.

I think that it might be difficult to get enough Varget into a 9.3x62 case to really generate unsafe pressures? The 58gr load with 285gr must be close to 100%?

I have gone to 60 gr of Varget & it still looked safe. I am not sure if I miced the primers after firing to see how flat they got.

In this caliber I would not bother using mono metal premium bullets unless hunting DG.

The standard cup & core plain vanilla bullets have killed many lions for over 100 years!

quote:

Originally posted by kayaker:
Has anyone tried the 220gr Naturalis 'LR' in 9.3x62, more specifically have you loaded it with Varget (AR2208)?

I have some to test but can't find 'offical' Varget data. There are some internet loads that go up to 60gr. I am currently shooting 235gr Rhino solid shanks over 56.5gr Varget and CCI250's which appears to be fairly mild/middle of the road load at a little over 2400fps in the CZ FS (Rhinos are moly coated which would affect pressures).

Any experience? I am thinking 55gr Varget would be a safe start.

Bought 80 Factorycartridges of this type. Shot ten animals from fox to boar and sold 65 Cartridges. Extremely accurate put of my R8. That was the positive aspect...

From 10 animals only the Fox stayed in its tracks.

Unbelieveable. I never saw such bad "stopping power" (i know it does not exist) but my point of impact is always hard on the shoulder. So i changed to MJG and now i have results you expect when using thumper like 9,3x62

Lapua are listing 59.9 grains of N140 with the 220 Naturalis. As you are aware the two powders are virtually interchangeable. Knock the load back a few grains and give it a try.

I have loaded the the Naturalis in 338 RUM, 300 H&H and 6.5X55 all with spectacular results, both accuracy wise and terminal ballistic effect.

A mild load out of my 300 H&H dropped a zebra stallion DRT at 350 yards and penetrated both shoulders.....

I use the 220grs Naturalis in the 9,3x74R (Heym-Double 88)in front off 58grs N 135 and in the 9,3x62 (Sauer 202 and Merkel Helix)in front off 57,5grs N 135 with great succes on red stags and wild boars.
Now I got the new 250grs Naturalis and I will put it in my Mauser 66 in 9,3x64 Brenneke in front off 72,0grs N 550.

Have reloaded a number of bullets for the 9.3x62 ...does anyone have experience with these
http://www.jaguar-geschosse.de/

I got a few on my last trip to Germany. The data from the company using Vithav. N130 - 56,0 grs
gives a MV of about 2830 for a 188gr. copper solid.

I used the Jaguar in the 8x64S - because we have to use only leadless-bullets I am always looking for the perfect leadless-bullet. The Jaguar is a very light one in all calibers and I prefer the heavier bullets.

I shoot some red deer with it, the results have been ok, the precision was excellent.

If your looking for instant kills, then the 9.3x62 is not for you..You need a hi velocity caliber for that...If you can live with a positive kill, good blood trail easy to follow for 30 to 75 yards, then the old girll is perfect, she was designed to provide positive killing power on big tough animals, that seldom die instantly with any caliber. The same old story, big slow bullets vs. smaller faster bullets..That old campfire conversation has been around for ions, the gunscribes have beat it to death..

I can't think of a better "light recoiling" caliber for hunting anything up to and including Cape Buffalo or a better bushveld caliber, the only difference in the 9.3x62 and the 375 is the 375 is a longer range caliber.