Anyone have any experience with the 9,3X66 Sako cartridge and, if so, what can you tell me about it?

Dave

WE have

https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/...=166100935#166100935

Or do a search for 9.3x66 and there are several pages of threads.

The 9.3x66 brings two key issues. It is 4 mm longer than the 9.3x62. In an 06 length magazine this doesn't gain you much net capacity. The operating pressure for the 66 is higher than the 62 which was set up for older rifles.

Loaded to the same pressure in an 06 magazine I would bet you would see 50-60fps gain. Using a longer box would gain you more.

Ammo is not available in the US(last I heard). You can now get brass.

If you want different go for it. But loaded to 60-63,000 in a modern rifle the 9.3x62 is hard to beat. Grab a CZ American and go hunting.

X66 looks good on paper but how much differience is that in the real world? However, if you have a 9.3x62 you may want to try ammo from Nosler.

http://www.nosler.com/index.php?p=11&b=3&s=106

But in a long Rem 700 it really shines. With a COL at 3.675, it will duplicate the 9,3x64, but still give 4+1.

a What? 9.3x66?......

quote:

With a COL at 3.675

Yep. I drew this up when I was trying to decide if I wanted to build a 9.3 on my wildcat case. With a 286 gr bullet you gain just a small amount of net capacity from the 66 case. Only in the shoulder area. Bullet takes up all the neck. Using the same bullet you can seat the bullet at the base of the neck still be under 3.6" and have a much larger net gain.

Just my story and I'm sticking to it. In a 06 magazine stay 62 and load to 66 pressure in a 3.6" or longer magazine go for the 66.

quote:

It is 4 mm longer than the 9.3x62. In an 06 length magazine this doesn't gain you much net capacity.

True, but remember, the Sako magazine will accomodate 3.6".

The 66mm Sako case does much what the Howell (a stretched .30-06) case does: It provides capacity approaching a 2.5" belted maganum case with one more cartridge in the magazine (again, in a Sako, this is 5 for the 66mm case vs. 4 for the magnum, or 3 for a WSM-type fatboy.) I was reminded of the potential imprortance of magazine capacity last Saturday morning when I dropped a wounded deer that was otherwise sure to be lost with the last shot in the magazine. I was shooting a .30-06; had I been shooting a .300 WSM, this particular deer would have escaped to become coyote bait.

quote:

True, but remember, the Sako magazine will accomodate 3.6".

I'll take your word on that. From what I've read factory 9.3x66 has and OAL that fits in a 3.4" magazine.

Most all of the various improved heavier caliber 06 cases would all get gain from a 3.6" magazine.

Seating a bullet out longer gains so little powder capacity it is not worth the time it takes to readjust the seating die much less expensive gunsmithing, brass etc.

quote:

Seating a bullet out longer gains so little powder capacity

Like I said depends on the caliber.

Taking a 375 since I had some of the numbers.
Water density is 62.4#/cubicft*7000gr/#= 436800gr/cubicft.
1 cubicft =1728 cubic inches so water is 252.77778grs/cubic inch

Area of a 375 is .1875*.1875*3.14=.1104 sqinches times (3.6-3.4)" = .02208cubic inches
times the density gives (252.7778*.02208)=5.58grs of water. I show a 375Hawk as 75.6grs of water. 5.58/75.6= 7.38% Compared to an AI gain on the 06 in the 4% range.

Run the same numbers for a 308 caliber and the gain is 3.93% equal to an AI. Sure easier for me to cut the throat and set the bullet out than go to an AI.

Hey I'm greedy, I blow out the case set the shoulder foward for an 10-11% gain then set the bullet out for good measure.

If you handload and your magazine will allow it why not set the bullet out as far as you can???

I'd wait to see what rifles may be in development for the American market. Federal has started making 370 Sako Magnum ammunition, which is an "Americanized" version of the 9.3x66.

So which arms maker works close with Federal?

One wouldn't think that Federal would start production without a gun to use them.

quote:

Originally posted by pinotguy:
I'd wait to see what rifles may be in development for the American market. Federal has started making 370 Sako Magnum ammunition, which is an "Americanized" version of the 9.3x66.

Huh?? Can you tell more? THIS is exiting news!! T least if the caliber is .375...

quote:

T least if the caliber is .375...

Only thing I could find was on Shootingindustry.com

"For big-game hunters, Federal introduces a new caliber with a heavy bullet, the .370 Sako Magnum. Federal has two options: a 286-grain Barnes TSXTM and a 286-grain Nosler Partition."

Sounds more like a 9.3

quote:

Originally posted by CARNE:
So which arms maker works close with Federal?

One wouldn't think that Federal would start production without a gun to use them.

Well Remington and Winchester would have done their own cartridge R&D. Ruger would have gone to Hornady. Savage wouldn't introduce a new cart. If Marlin had a new bolt coming out, we'd have seen it by now. Weatherby is a long shot not to use Norma, but not out of the question. I think it will be a Smith & Wesson i-bolt chambering.

I'm guessing that Beretta will finally start importing Sako 85's in this chambering as opposed to another company offering a new model. The original cartridge was a Sako design and they are the only manufacturer who chamber rifles in it. I tried (via e-mail) to ask Federal about it but didn't receive any sort of response.