My Santa Barbara Mauser came back from my barrel guy all fitted up and ready to play:



Choate stock, Douglas 24" CM barrel 12" twist, Ruger front sight, Williams receiver rear. I added one pound of #8 birdshot mixed with epoxy into the grip area of the stock, bringing the total weight up to 7 lb 9 oz. Sprayed the barreled action with Brownell's molly spray and baked one hour at 300 degrees F.

Groups with Norma 232gr factory and Speer 270gr/59.0gr Varget reloads are 1 1/2" at 100yds.

Any suggestions on which premium hunting bullets to feed this puppy when I take it hunting? It'll probably go deer or black bear hunting this fall and to RSA with me for plains game next spring.

TIA
Rick

[ 06-13-2003, 14:43: Message edited by: Rick R ]

Rick,

my own 9.3x62 is not far away and I have ordered a couple of packs of 250 gr woodleigh's to try. They also make a 286 gr and 320 gr offering.

So far, I've run the Speer 270's and Nosler 250 Ballistic Tips through mine (CZ-550), and they both shoot at least as well as I can with iron sights (1.25" @ 100 yards). I've also run some paper-patched Lyman #358430's through it, and have some 265 grain cast/GC loads awaiting test drives.

For bad critters, I'm leaning toward the Nosler 286 Partition. Pretty readily available, proven design, and "affordable"--for a premium bullet at least.

Deputy Al

PC,

I'd like to try the Woodliegh's except they're twice as expensive as the Barnes X or Nosler Partition and four times as expensive as the Speer

DEPUTY AL,

I'm leaning towards the partition myself mainly because they've got to be easier to clean up after using than the Barnes bullets.

RICK

Edited to remove the Cap Lock, sorry guys.

[ 06-14-2003, 07:00: Message edited by: Rick R ]

The 250 gr Barnes X is super accurate in both my FN and Husqvarna and proved absolutely deadly on game ranging from springbuck to eland last summer. We observed that one well placed shot and it was lights out right now with about zero movement after the hit. Both myself and the PH's were impressed.

Ed,

Did you get complete penetration with the 250 gr's on the big stuff?

Rick

Rick ..... is the 9.3X62 going shooting with us tomorrow ? There'll be another one out there tomorrow. FRANK

Frank,
Unfortunately, I'm working tomorrow. I may stop by and watch you all shoot, but I can't stay and play.

Duty calls

Rick

PS~ Are you going to Kanawha State Forest?

Rick,
Nice set-up with the 9.3x62 and welcome to the "club". I used a CZ550 on plains game in Zimbabwe last year with excellent results. Here's a link to my post on recovered 286-gr Nosler Partitions.

Recovered Bullets

I really don't think you could go wrong with any of the 9.3mm bullets. There are really quite a few options when you start looking around. Northfork has one which would be woth looking into as well.

Rick R
Research my previous posts on the 9.3x74R. I have used quite a few different bullets on deer and wild pigs.
The short story is: The Speer will work on all game smaller than elk with no problems.
On bigger stuff [and really on everything] you can never go wrong with a Nosler Partition. The 286gr Nosler Partition is the only bullet I have not recovered in the 9.3.
I would use Woodleigh solids on Cape Buff and Hippo.

Rick ....... Tom's farm ....... Jackson County.

Nosler Partitions did not shoot in my 9.3X74R. but the woodleighs shoot like cloned missiles.
And for killing, the TUG by Brenneke is THE WAY TO GO.
Go figure, no cheap dates for me.

Jameister

[ 06-14-2003, 07:54: Message edited by: Jameister ]

Phil,

Nice write up and photography, I think I'll try the partitions first thing.

N E 450 No 2,

I look forward to digging around through your stuff tomorrow. (that doesn't quite sound right )

Frank,

Alas, I can't stray that far afield and still manage my pack of minions. Y'all enjoy the day without me and bash that buff target once for me.

Rick

Phil,

What load are you using (powder, brass, primer, etc) with the 286 grain Nosler in the 9.3x62?

Tim

Shumba,
The load I use with the 286-gr Partitions is 59.0 grains of RL15 in Norma cases and WLR primers loaded to a overall length of 3.345". It shoots consistently sub-moa in my CZ550.

Rick,

I recovered a few of the X bullets. One from just under the skin of the off shoulder of my eland that was hit running at about 20 yards. This big bull (33") rolled over dead at the shot. The recovered bullet lost two petals and weighed 221 grs. The next came from a cow kudu at around 130 yards after the bullet passed through the shoulders of the bull I was shooting at. She ran by behind him at the shot unnoticed by me or my PH and the bullet was found under the skin on here off side just in front of her shoulder. It was picture perfect X-shroom and weighed 250 grs. Yes, two with one shot. The last was at the south end of a northbound bushbuck shot at 40 yards just left of the A-hole. The bullet was recovered just under the skin nearly exiting the lower throat. He just collasped at the shot. The recovered bullet weighed 250 grs and, again, was a perfect X-shroom. My loads were running around 2630 fps.

Phil, thanks for the load info. I will try some of the partitions in my rifle and see how it shoots.

Ed, I am also interested in the load you used for the 250 grain Barnes X.

Thanks.

Tim

Ed,

Sounds like the X's are no slouch in the killin' department either. "X-shroom", never saw that term before

I hope you got a "buy one get one free" deal on the Kudu, guess you can say the 250gr load you're using will penetrate to a depth of 1.9 Kudu.

I'll just have to try and see which premium bullet shoots the best and go for it, sounds like they kill pretty much to the same degree of dead. Hopefully mine won't have champagne taste like Jamester's 9.3 to go with my beer budget

Rick

[ 06-15-2003, 00:19: Message edited by: Rick R ]

Rick R --- Try the North Fork bullets. They make a 250 grain and a 286 grain. They will be your most accurate premium bullets, and you will not find a more perfect mushroom. Good shooting.

Cool rifle! I like the 9.3x62 so much I want one on a 98 Mauser for tradition's sake. In Hawaii a few months ago I shot two feral cows in the 600-lb. range and a smallish feral hog with 286 gr. Partitions in my CZ 550. I used 55 grs. of H4985 for 2,300 fps at the muzzle. I shot all 3 animals through the shoulders. The bullets exited and the animals literally died on the way to the ground. If you want one word to describe what 9.3mm Nosler Partitions do to game, I suggest "flatten."

I shot another feral cow of about 600 lbs. weight just behind the shoulder with a 270 gr. Speer at 2,350 fps. The bullet hit nothing bigger than a rib and exited; the bull went all of 15 feet.

I'm interested in this bullet. Some folks report blowups with it and feel it's too soft for game bigger than deer. Others say it's only safe to form cases and punch paper with it. The key may be to keep it below 2,400 fps, but I need to kill more game with it before I can back that claim. Either way, I suspect the 9.3 (like other classic medium bores) doesn't rely on raw speed to work. Also, the 270 gr. Speer is the cheapest and most common 9.3mm slug in the US, so I'm going to test it a lot more before I give up on it.

The 250 and 286 gr. Noslers are accurate with just about any powder--I had good luck with H414, RL-15, IMR 4320, IMR 3031 and H4895. S&B 286 gr. factory ammo is also accurate, and does 2,175 fps from my 22" barrel. Old school ballistics, but I bet it hits like a freight train.

Hope this helps, Okie John.

I ordered a 9.3 barrel from Lothar Walter last week. Now to deside which action to put it on!

I was also kind of interested in the Nosler BT's in particular for roo's but I just can not come at such a grand calibre with a plastic tipped bullet

Rich, I have had good results with woodleigh's in other cals they seem to expand as well as really hang together.

[ 06-15-2003, 16:35: Message edited by: PC ]

Has anyone tried "Graf" (? Hornady) brass? Sure can't beat the pricing..

Johan its probably going on one of my Mauser actions, VZ/24, 1935 Columbian, 1909 Arg.or a commercial FN. OR if I could find a barrel off a Rem 760 that I could rob the barrel extension from I would love to rebarrel one of these to the 9.3x62.

[ 06-16-2003, 02:39: Message edited by: D Humbarger ]

Lapua is the best brass and the cheapest and I strongly suspect Graf brass is Lapua at a bit higher price...

The 286 Nosler is as good a bullet as you can use in the 9.3's, as is the Woodleigh and the North Forks...any of these bullets will work on about anything you shoot with them..The 9.3x62 is very easy on bullet integrity thus its popularity with those who use it....I like those big RN 320 gr. softs from Woodleigh...I combine them with GS flat nose solids..

And never overlook that wonderfull 230 gr. GS HV bullet, it grinds huge holes through anything....

Nice rig
I have been toying with the idea of either a 338-06 or 9.3x62 in a very similar configuration, exception useing Ashleigh Outdoors front and rear sight and a reasonably stiff 24inch barrel.
Don't you just hate it when the bug bites.
Stay safe
JohnC

Yep & that bug bites into my wallet quite often!

D Humbarger,
Doug, I got a #5 contour 9.3 barrel from Pac-Nor in the mail yesterday. I am going to do a half round/half octagon barrel for it and either put it on a prewar Model 70 or an Argentine. I am taking Mark Stratton's octagon barrel class in Trinidad Co this July and then his class on tricking out Mausers the following week. I got 5 actions surface ground, and four barreled and a quarter rib installed in 99, in one week when I took his barreling class. That is probably a lot less than you would do but I was (and am still) a rookie with metal. This should be a fun 2 weeks.

I have a large box with a diverse bunch of 9.3 bullets, 240 and 270 grain Bear Claw, 285 gr Norma, 293 grain Tug bullets, 270 and 300 gr Barnes, 270 gr Speer and 250 and 286 gr Noslers.

Chick when in July are those classes?

Review of Phil's photos and consideration of the performances the bullets exhibited confirmed my choice of "bad/big critter bullet" as the Nosler 286 Partition for the 9.3 x 62.

I'm hoping to give the cast bullets a test drive on Friday. It's the Mountain Molds design, with .285" meplat and cast with 92/6/2 alloy. I've got them loaded with a variety of velocities/powders ranging from 1400 FPS to 2000 FPS.

Deputy Al

Doug, the first one starts on July 14th and goes for a week and the second starts on the 21st for another week. Fee is $250 for each class and a room is $60 for a week and 10 meals cost $42 at the lunch room and I thought it was very good food.

Aussie John,

get onto your local gun dealer and see if you can snap up one of the few cz 550 "Lux" 9.3x62's ther importing. The cz's are awesome value for money. They shoot great to. The 9.3 will be my Fourth cz I am thinking of trading of a couple of rifles that are not cz's for cz's in those calibers (rem 22/250 & Ruger 30/06) thats how good I feel they are.

Winchester Australia (Oz CZ importers) are only bringing in a limited number apparently, I have reserved one and it should be here at the end of the month.

Chick no pun intended but those prices are "chicken feed" compared to the knowledge to be gained in these courses.

Rick R, that is one seriously nice rifle. I'm jealous.

Thanks for the input guys This started out as a project to build a baggage handler proof rifle on the cheap and I'm quite pleased with the results.

9.3 bullet choices were non-existant in the local gun shops but last week I was off to Provo UT for a seminar and stopped in for a tour of Barnes bullets (and bought 9.3 and .411 bullets). I also got in some trout fishing after stopping at Outdoor Adventures for lures (and buying 9.3 bullets).

Luckily the lady at the ticket counter didn't say anything about my bag being a little overweight for the return flight.

I also ordered some Lapua brass from Graf's. From what I've heard the Graf's brand brass is made by Hornady so maybe there's a chance for some domestic 9.3X62 ammo.

Guess who's doing load development next week?


Rick

[ 06-23-2003, 06:03: Message edited by: Rick R ]

Rick Lapua Brass is also a good brand for the 9.3x62 that is what I have purchased for mine. All I need is for my rifle to show up

I emailed the people at Graf about who was making their brass for them. They emailed me back and said for competitions sake they didn't want to reveal their source. However they did say that is was made in Europe and it was not Norma. So who is the mystery producer? Maybe it is Lapua.

Lapua brass came in and it's nice, I like brass with the heat treat around the shoulder and neck, it's more businesslike.

Range day yesterday with the Nosler 286gr bullets and Varget (I'm addicted to that flavor). Velocity up to 2360 fps and accuracy thru the peep @2", I think it'll do better when I'm not shooting through the Chrony and trying to hit the target but worrying about hitting the Chrony at the same time as the target ( )

I did attempt a few shots at the 24" 300yds gong at with my Speer 270gr @ 2550fps load and went four for five with the first round being a sighter and a few inches high. All gong hunting rounds were fired from kneeling as I'd had just about enough fun from the bench.

So far the game plan is to make up a load using the Speer bullet and fireformed R-P 30-06 brass that matches a load using either the Nosler or Barnes 286gr bullet (or both, I'm not greedy) from Lapua brass.