Here's a range report from yesterday, testing some handloads for my newly assembled 9.3x57 on a FN action. so here's the pictures. I'm happy with the results. Looks like a shooter to me, with the handloads. The factory loads didn't do well. It's encouraging that it shot well in the Hogue stock. I was worried that it wouldn't. I'll pull the rest of the factory loads, because they just won't do, and use the bullets elsewhere. I'll load a full box of the 9.3x57s using the Nosler ballistic tips. I have a few of the 250 gr Accubonds, ane I'll try them too. Hopefully they shoot to the same point.

That's a leupold 2x7 VXII shotgun scope, with the heavy retical.

Looks good. What velocities are you getting. The 250 BT has been replaced by the 250 Accubond & so you should get similar POI / results.

You should get 2500 fps with the 250 grs & 2300 with the 286 gr. That will be about 150 fps less than the 9.3X63.

Thanks for the post.

First, I like the Heavy Duplex reticle in the Leupold scopes, I have used several of them.

I think the 9,3x57 is an excellent hunting calibre.

Baised on my use of the 9,3x74R, and considering the 9,3x57, I think the 270 Speer would be a most excellent bullet.

2500 fps would be great. I have no cronograph, but a buddy has one, so we'll get to the range together in a few weeks and see what it's doing. The barrel is 20", so I'm not expecting 2500. I've got a bunch of the 250 gr BTs, and I also have a bunch of the Speer 270 gr too. I'll try them both. Just started with the Noslers, and apparantly the rifle likes them too.

I would like to take this rifle hog hunting down south. Maybe next year. Meanwhile there's spring black bear. My 35 Whelen is real jealous. I can tell by just looking at it.

Let me explain about the stock. I spend most of the money on the metal, and when it comes to time to stock it, I grow impatient, plus I just hate to throw a bunch of money at wood, checkering and such. I just hate taking a blued rifle with walnut stock out in the rain anyway - standard conditions here. And then there's the time waiting on a gunsmith. By the time all the metal work is done, a lot of time has already passed, often years. This rifle has been 4 or maybe 5 years in the making. So, it is very satisfying to just drop it into a stock that fits and go shooting. In this case that's what I did. The stock required little modification to be a simple drop-in. It's not even bedded. This rifle is Black T coated, so the synthetic stock is appropriate IMO.

I always justify it by telling myself it will be something to do when I retire. I can make walnut stocks for all my favorite rifles.

KB

Yo KB,

Very nice looking rifle. The Gray/Black appearance makes for an attractive rifle, IMO. Excellent cartridge the 9.3x57 - a Swedish buddy has one as well. Not a handloader; he stuffs it with Norma ammo and goes hunting.

I did the same with a 9.3x62 in a Bell & Carlson stock; had to modifiy it a tad to fit the L/H action but is sure is a shooter.

I've used the 250 gr. BT's although my stash is almost expired. They were excellent bullets in both the 9.3x62 & 9.3x74R - period. In their stead have topped the same load off with Accubonds. They shoot to the same point as the BT's - worked just fine; although haven't shot any game with them yet - the newer 286 gr. Hornady's and vanilla-flavored 270 gr. Speers have covered all the bases so far.

I don't know what it is about the 9.3's; in all of their variations they simply shoot excellently; 9.3x74R & 9.3x62. The vast majority of any conceivable/reasonable load gave me similar results to your target with handloads, too. That with VVN-140, IMR-4320, IMR-4350, H-4350 & H-4895.

My 9.3x62 is also a 20" tube and can't really say I've ever missed the lopped off extra coupla inches. Not the ultimate in Speed but according to my Chrony readings - I'm only missing 50-75 fps on the various loadings. With a 9.3 hole in an animal, who cares? The vast majority of results have been either Bang-Flops or a coupla shaky steps before succumbing.

I've also tried the Speers and although some tend to Poo-Poo them they're accurate and terminal perfomance at the speeds I poke them outa the end of the tube - just fine. I've modified them a tad - the lead tips get whacked off to about 260 grains with a sorta flat hollow-point (wood drill), added a Cannelure and Moly-ied them; with a Lee Factory Crimp Die - Violá, excellent ammo.



Some of us can't just seem to leave well-enough alone .....



Have fun with your Boomer!

Larger bore rifles tend to shoot very well because its easier to make the bullets more concentric, my 35's (358win and 35 whelen) both are very accurate, what twist rate does that 9.3 have ?

9.3x57 has become one of my favorite rounds. I have a 1943 Husqvarna model 46b. It is a true joy to carry and shoot. I can't bring myself to drill and tap the receiver. The 150yard expess sights work fine. I started to use 285grGC lead about a year ago. IMR4064 works great with them and I still push them to 2250fps w/ no leading issues. VG hunting bullet. The 270gr speer is fine but has a habit of breaking up when hitting bone. The 286gr Hornady is king as far as accuracy and penetration.

Jpat,
How about some loads. I have one too and have not worked up a load yet. How about the 232s and 250s?

Looks like a shooter to me

quote:

Originally posted by Magnum Hunter1:
Jpat,
How about some loads. I have one too and have not worked up a load yet. How about the 232s and 250s?

+1
My dies, brass, and bullets (270 and 286gr) arrived this week and I'm ready to try some loads. Would Varget, 4895, 3031, and RE-15 be appropriate? I don't think any of my manuals have data for the 9.3x57.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...2511043/m/1821000821

http://www.chuckhawks.com/9-3x57_mauser.htm

Maybe I can be more specific tonight when I get to look at my notes.

KB

RL15 works will with the 285/6 bullets.

quote:

Originally posted by Nakihunter:
Looks good. What velocities are you getting. The 250 BT has been replaced by the 250 Accubond & so you should get similar POI / results.

You should get 2500 fps with the 250 grs & 2300 with the 286 gr. That will be about 150 fps less than the 9.3X63.

Thanks for the post.

I thought it was a 9.3x57 those speeds are actualy top end for a 9.3x62using published loads (as opposed to internet specials)

A 9.3x57 (potato chucker) is a considerably slower proposition hence the manafucture of 232s by Norma.

Great cartridge - keep it as it is!

For safe 9,3x57 loads

Hi Tordenskiold,

I got to the Ladebokken, but I cannot open it. My Norweigan is not very good.

LD

Also, the new Norma book has loads for the 9,3 x 57. The Norma powders are very similar to the Alliant series. RL-15 is equal to N-203B, N-204 equals RL-19, MRP equals RL22, and so on. There are also loads in the Ladebokken reloading book (Swedish), and the various Weiderladen books by RWS and Roland Zeitler.

You can also contact Hodgdon and pester them until they cough up some IMR and Hodgdon powder loads. I think Woodleigh makes a nice 250 grain SN bullet. You can get Norma bullets from Grafs. The Prvi Partizan (made for Grafs) 286 bullet is a good match with the 9,3 x 57.

A hard (Brinnell 20-21)250 grain gas checked lead bullet would be just about ideal as well.

I will give 4064 a harder look myself.

Good luck.

LD

My buddy Ralph and I went out the road, and set up his cronograph in the snow in a rock pit, since we couldn't get to the range. The snow plows didn't get that far out yet.

Anyway, I put two of those handloads over the graph, and got 2283 fps first shot, and 2265 the second one. I forgot to take some factory loads with me. So that's not too bad. I'll probably try some RL 15 next and see if I can top 2300 fps. I'm satisfied with what I've got using the 4064, with a 20" barrel, especially since it seemed accurate last time at the range.

It's such a mild and plesant load to shoot. Like a 30-30 on steroids. Lots of difference in it and when I touch off that 9.3x338. Even though that's a heavier rifle, I have to be careful or the scope will whack me. I should have cronographed my new load for it too, with H4895 and Hornady 286gr bullets. I'm expecting 2600 fps +. As a comparison to the 9.3x57, at 2275 +or- with 250gr Nosler BT, I cronographed the same bullet out of the 9.3x338 at over 2800 fps with RL 15. That's magnumitus.

I like them both, but that 9.3x57 is just fun, and I can relax when shooting it. I just have to take it hog hunting. It's gotta be something special for that task.

KB

Perfect results I would say!

You have 286gr velocities with your 250gr. Seeing how much better bullets are nowadays compared to 1904 you will get at least as good results with your 250s.

My last moose calf was shot with a 250gr a frame at 2,400fps (x62)it made about 3 steps. I reckon your loads will work at least as well without some of the recoil.

I am probably about to make my 9.3x62 give 9.3x57 performance by cutting it to 18" and putting a supressor on it. I hope I can get 2,500fps with 232s, 2,400fps with 250s and 2,250fps with 286s. I'll probably have to move from VVN135 to RL15 or Varget.