I see a lot of positive discussion on the 9.3x62 here and agree it's a great cartridge from many standpoints. However I don't see that much about the 9.3x57. I agree that it probably gives up about 200 fps to the x62, but it struck me that it might be just the ticket for rebarreling one of the shorter magazine Mausers like the Yugo 48 or 24/47 on the market these days, for which the x62 is just a tad too long.

Agreed it wouldn't be as suitable as an African round, but for moose and black bear it might do the job. And it would likely be strictly a hand loading proposition too. Is it a direct "neck -up" from the 8x57? It looks like CH catalogues dies.

So what do you all think? Is it one of those old time hidden gems, or is it just another obsolete round that was eclipsed by a newer and better one? Maybe both? I suppose for the sake of discussion the 9 x 57 could be included too.

Great round but you are giving up powder space for no reason; might as well go for the 62; they will fit in the medium actions just fine. I just shoved 3 rounds in one. Yes, it is just a necked up 8x57 so go for it if you really want one. But 9.3x62 brass, dies, and ammo is easier to get. Yes, it is a hidden gem, but so is the 62; so either pick up the diamond or the topaz.
9x57? I a building one now; don't ask me why but I like the 35 caliber too.

I've read it both ways about the action length. Last week I tried some factory Prvi's in a M 48 iirc, and they were too long. Hence my thoughts...

Also re the 9 x 57. .. do we encounter bullet diameter problems as in the 9mm is .355 or .356, or do we just use .358 bullets and barrels and call it all good?

I stuffed the same Privis into a 1924 FN action and they fit fine.
I use .358 barrels and bullets and call them 9mm. can't get a .356 barrel if I wanted one, which I don't.
Also just stuffed some 62s into a 1924 Yugo; fit fine.

quote:

Originally posted by H47:
I've read it both ways about the action length. Last week I tried some factory Prvi's in a M 48 iirc, and they were too long. Hence my thoughts...

Also re the 9 x 57. .. do we encounter bullet diameter problems as in the 9mm is .355 or .356, or do we just use .358 bullets and barrels and call it all good?

I shoot the x57 and the x62 and can't say the 62 kills any deader here in Texas. But the x57 is more pleasant by some amount. And I doubt anyone could count the moose, bears and wolves killed over it's life in Sweden. All I shoot are the 286 gr Prvis which really give up more like 400 fps.

I am not saying it isn't a great round, just that with the increased popularity of the 62 in the past couple of years, brass, dies, and ammo are easier to get. As I said, if one wants a 57, by all means go for it. But just for magazine box reasons, that is not a reason that I can see.

The 9,3x57 is a most under rated round. It is very efficient. Norma factory loads will toss a 285 grain pill at 2050 fps vs 2360 for a 9,3x62.

The 9,3x57 is loaded to very mild pressures. Due to the low operating pressures I really like it in pre-98 Mauser actions. In a 98 action the 9,3x57 when loaded to pressures equal to the 9,3x62 comes within 100 fps.

I have em both, and to be certain, the 9,3x62 can be loaded down to 57 velocities and has higher velocity making it more versatile. But, then again, if you don't NEED the extra power, the 57 is a real nice little cartridge. I built one on a SR Mexican action, it made up into a very light 6 lb rifle.

The 9x57 is also nice but, from a practical standpoint, it is much easier and less expensive to find 9,3x57 components.

I admit my knowledge of Mauser variants ranges from fuzzy to real sparse... so I believe what you say. But my single experience with x62 factory rounds being too long is just that. It did happen and I had hands and eyes on it. I've heard that some of the Yugo actions were 1/4 inch shorter?? I don't really know and it's not what I expected.

As far as magazine length being a factor... fir me it would be since I don't really want to do all that would be necessary to fit a longer round... time, expense, pita factor and All that...

The 1924 series actions are .25 shorter but the mag boxes are only .083 shorter on the Yugo 24s, 47s, and 48s. Yugoslavia rebuilt many German 98s too, and they will be standard length.
Anyway, the 24s all have a mag length of 3.232, which is long enough for a 9.3x62; Hornady and Privi bullets seated, are both 3.163 long.
So no worries.
I am not sure about the 57 length components being easier to get.

Aha!, he sez. For some reason the Prvi factory loads and my hand loads with Prvi bullets were 3.270 long. Yes that would certainly account for my results. Solution: seat deeper. Yes.

The length I gave was to the top crimp groove. Also, on the Hornady, it has only one crimp groove.

And the length I have is to the second groove. Don't have any Hornady's to compare.

I have owned 9.3X57 & 9.3X62 as well as a 358 Win.

The 9.3X57 is slightly more powerful than the 358 Win. It shoots the 286 gr bullet at 2200 fps while my 20 inch Mod 70 358 Win shot the 225 gr bullet at 2350 fps. I preferred the 358 for tight bush hunting. The Husky was 24 inch barrel and much heavier.

I personally believe that the 9.3X62 is a step up in capability - taking it close to the 375 H&H. Velocity is more like 2500 fps with 286 gr bullets with modern powders / loads. With 250 gr TSX or Nosler Accubonds it is a good 250 meter rifle with velocity of 2650 fps.

Up to 100 meters I believe there is little or no difference on game between the 3 calibers. The 9.3X62 will stand out with larger game and longer ranges.

You can get 9.3X57 brass from Norma.

Thanks guys. This has been an interesting discussion. Since I've already got 2 X62 ' s (a CZ and one I built on a Montana action) maybe it's time for a 9.3x57. My buddy bit his tongue the first time he fired the Montana (hehehe) so maybe a little milder round for the next one. This is going to be a "take my time" project anyway so no telling what I will ultimately end up with. I just got a barrel from dpcd so the next step is probably going to be to get an action. And get a reamer and gauges ordered. I'm not at all fazed by the case forming either. So maybe by fall I can have things underway.

I own both a 9.3x62 and a 358 Win and not hesitate to own a 9.3x57 if the right one came along. My 358 Win is a favorite and is easy to reload. I bet the .57 would be just as easy to reload if you can find the brass.

I think I'll either just neck up some 8 x 57 brass, or perhaps trim and move the shoulder back on .30-06. I know there's high priced 9 x 57 available but I'd rather spent the extra money on tools to make my own from commonly available brass. You don't run out if you can always make more.

Woodleigh RNSN 286 grs are perfect for the 9.3x57. I have a 1930's sporter on a M98, under 7 lbs with a horn buttplate and pencil thin 24" barrel, iron sights. It's a thumper on both ends. 47 gr of IMR-4064 gives me 2,090 fps. You can stretch another 150-200 fps out of it at higher pressures (on a M98 action), but I'm building a x62 right now as well, so why bother.

I see no positive side to a 9.3x57..Its just a 35 Rem for all practical purposes, a short range no more than decent deer gun.

The 9.3x62 will fit in any 98 Mauser, small ring, med. and large, and at worst it would be an easy job to open it up from 57 to 62, hell you could do that with your fingernail!

The 9.3x62 is such a fine caliber that it would be a shame not to take advantage of its extra velocity, cheap brass, fast heavy bullets, and have the option of a much better deer, elk, moose, even Alaskan brown bear rifle..and many an elephant has gone down behind a 9.3x62, and with no more recoil than a 30-06 as far as I can tell. You can always load a 9.3x62 down to a 9.3x57 but you cant load a 9.3x57 up to a 9.3x62, go figure.

Ray, you make some very good points. Other than to just "want" one, the x57 doesn't necessarily make that much sense. Since I've already got everything for the x62 and would have to obtain all new components dies and tooling for the x57, I think I will reconsider. I really like the x62 anyway.

I agree; no reason for the 9.3x57 when we have the 62 so easily now.
I was in the Owatonna Cabelas yesterday and they have one for $499.

It would appear that the only reason to do an 9,3X57 is the most important one: "I want one".

I just fed three rounds of PRVI 9,3x62 thru the magazine box of a GEWEHR and a very low (3XX) commercial post war Yugo actions. They worked perfectly.

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
I see no positive side to a 9.3x57..Its just a 35 Rem for all practical purposes, a short range no more than decent deer gun.

The 9.3x62 will fit in any 98 Mauser, small ring, med. and large, and at worst it would be an easy job to open it up from 57 to 62, hell you could do that with your fingernail!

The 9.3x62 is such a fine caliber that it would be a shame not to take advantage of its extra velocity, cheap brass, fast heavy bullets, and have the option of a much better deer, elk, moose, even Alaskan brown bear rifle..and many an elephant has gone down behind a 9.3x62, and with no more recoil than a 30-06 as far as I can tell. You can always load a 9.3x62 down to a 9.3x57 but you cant load a 9.3x57 up to a 9.3x62, go figure.

It is true that you can't match 9,3x62 velocities with a 57. So what? Sometimes that is exactly what is wanted, a less powerful cartridge.

Your comparison to the .35 Remington is way off base. The .35 Rem launches a 200 grain bullet at 2200 fps for 2000 ft/lbs of energy. While the traditional 9,3x57 loading flings a 285 Grain bullet at 2050 fps for 2700 ft/lbs.

Downrange ballistics at 200 yds, the 9,3x57 is still travelling at 1666 fps with 1756 ft/lbs compared to the .35 Rem's 1720 fps and 1315 ft/lbs.

Ponder this, you can always build a 57 and if you find that you feel completely underwhelmed by its performance, you can rechamber to 62 with your fingernail. Hard to beat that.

I have a great fondness for the 62 and have 1/2 a dozen at the moment. I have as many 57's too. There's room for both.

Well at least the action length part of my debate has gone away. Just dropped a check in the mail for an FN. I figure I can't go wrong with that. Based on that and of course some financial considerations I will probably opt for the x62. I can always load it down like the man said.

One of the advantages of the 9.3x57, as I understand it, is that it's suitable for a M96 action versus the x62 needing a M98 action. Now, there are a lot of x57 on M98 actions as well. That is the only combo that I would load up hotter than the factory specs.

I loaded my x57 with 286 gr bullets. I actually think it would shine with 232 gr bullets and do everything that a 35 Whelen can do with 225 gr bullets.