I just got a 9.3x62 in a Sauer 200. New to the caliber and would be thankful for your thoughts on loading for it.

Does this help?....from Nosler

250 Nosler Solid Base Ballistic Tip (olive) Hodgdon Varget 56.5 2,525
Remarks: maximum load; most accurate powder tested
250 Nosler Solid Base Ballistic Tip (olive) Hodgdon Varget 54.5 2,452
Remarks: most accurate powder tested
250 Nosler Solid Base Ballistic Tip (olive) Hodgdon Varget 52.5 2,383
Remarks: most accurate load tested; most accurate powder tested
286 Nosler Partition Spitzer Accurate XMR-2015 51.0 2,280
Remarks: maximum load
286 Nosler Partition Spitzer Accurate XMR-2015 49.0 2,217
Remarks: most accurate load tested
286 Nosler Partition Spitzer Accurate XMR-2015 47.0 2,144
286 Nosler Partition Spitzer Vihtavuori VV-N135 52.5 2,293
Remarks: maximum load; most accurate load tested; most accurate powder tested
286 Nosler Partition Spitzer Vihtavuori VV-N135 50.5 2,210
Remarks: most accurate powder tested
286 Nosler Partition Spitzer Vihtavuori VV-N135 48.5 2,127
Remarks: most accurate powder tested
286 Nosler Partition Spitzer IMR IMR-4895 54.0 2,340
Remarks: maximum load; most accurate load tested
286 Nosler Partition Spitzer IMR IMR-4895 52.0 2,246
286 Nosler Partition Spitzer IMR IMR-4895 50.0 2,177
286 Nosler Partition Spitzer IMR IMR-4320 57.5 2,370
Remarks: maximum load
286 Nosler Partition Spitzer IMR IMR-4320 55.5 2,308
Remarks: most accurate load tested
286 Nosler Partition Spitzer IMR IMR-4320 53.5 2,228
286 Nosler Partition Spitzer IMR IMR-4064 54.0 2,368
Remarks: maximum load
286 Nosler Partition Spitzer IMR IMR-4064 52.0 2,233
286 Nosler Partition Spitzer IMR IMR-4064 50.0 2,157
Remarks: most accurate load tested
286 Nosler Partition Spitzer Alliant RL-15 58.5 2,414
Remarks: maximum load; most accurate load tested
286 Nosler Partition Spitzer Alliant RL-15 56.5 2,371

I like the RL15 59 grains with a 286 Nosler, goes 2417. My best shooting load is 65 grains of Big Game with a 286 North Fork, will be just under 2500 fps. I have shot some 250 North Forks as well, but can't seem to get past 2600 fps with them so would just as soon have the 286's if the trajectory is the same anyway. I rolled a big running whitetail at 180 yards season before last and a 7 ft black bear last year with the 286 North Forks as well as a few coyotes.

Well, try R-15 or Ramshot Big Game.

59.0gr R-15 with 286gr Nosler Partition, or any other 286gr probably, work up and all that. I get 2450fps.

65.0gr. of Ramshot Big Game with the same 286gr. bullets, again start lower and see how it shoots. This also provides 2450 fps. Some guys get more V with this powder but my rifle seems to like each about equally.

One thing, the Big Game is a fine ball powder so you can meter the loads directly into the case if you like.

Both loads give me 3 shot groups of about 1 inch, more or less on how I'm shooting that day; more than enough for anything you'd like to wack with a 9.3, I'd think.

I keep meaning to get around to working up some loads with Norma Oryx 232gr. Might be able to do 2700fps with these and really get some all-round use out of the 9.3. Anybody tried these?

Ezra,

That Sauer will digest about anything you can put into it - a fine 9.3x62 IMO, well balanced and a good compromise of weight, bbl., with recoil as a shove not a belt in the chops.

Expereinces:

Buy factory (anything - cheaper could even be better) to shoot initially - use the cases to measure and adjust headspace on the dies with the headspace on your rifle.

Don't get wrapped up on speed with the 9.3x62, it does it's best work at 2340-75 fps. which is where most ammo averages out at anyway. Everyone else seems to get 2650 fps with a 24" barrel = "Whatever, Dear".

286 grs. is the so-called "standard" but guess what? 232's, 250's (Nosler BT's if you can find them) & especially 270 gr. Speers work great for practice, sighting-in and for general hunting; if you absolutely have to have the "premium", Nosler Partitions, Woodlieghs, North Forks, A-Squares, ect. save 'em for the really BIG game. Shoot lots of inexpensive bullets for practice and at game they all work.

The mid-range powders are very good, everyone has their favorites, mine are; (not in order of performance) IMR-4320, IMR or H-4895 & VV N-140 or VV N-540.

Don't try to make the 9.3x62 a 9.3x64, a .375H&H, or a .338 Win Mag.; it isn't and works best as is - a great cartridge.

Vapodog,
I see that you go as high as N135/52.5 behind a 286 bullet. I'm a N135 user too but I noticed that the latest 2006 Vihtavuori data sets the max at 48.5 for the 286 Mega, so I stopped at that. What's your experience ?

I like H4895. We have loaded up to 63gr with a 250Moly X for 2650 f/s. I have loaded the 250 North fork with 58-63 gr H4895 and a max. velocity of 2750 f/s with no pressure signs and tight primer pockets. Many of our Lapua cases are on their 10-14 reload so obviously no serrious pressure issues. Mike at North fork said that I have to be running Weatherby pressures not '06 pressures with my top loads. I have since backed off when using North fork bullets and go with the 60gr H4895 load for 2685 f/s. Accuracy with all of the loads of this powder run under an inch.

Ezra4570,

Check this thread 9.3x62 RL-15 285gr in the "Your Favorite Loads" forum.

And see this thread Back from RSA - photos to see some results of using my 9.3x62 in South Africa in August 2005.

A nice article on the 9.3x62 from African Hunter magazine:
The 9.3 x 62
http://www.african-hunter.com/the_9_3_x_62_mauser.htm

I predict that you're going to really like your new 9.3x62! It has become one of my favorites.

-Bob F.

Gerry is right about this cartridge. Don't try to make it a 375. It works very well at 2350fps. I've never driven mine any faster and it kills dead-dead.
I've rethought my feelings about velocity in light of my experience with this round. It does everything I need in a big game round without the velocity.

Ezra,
You are going to enjoy this caliber. There is a good amount of info here on AR regarding the 9.3x62 including some excellent detailed load development and testing by BFaucett and others.

My CZ550 has over 800 rounds through it and has basically shot everything well. A couple of my favorites -

286gr Nosler Partition/59.0gr Reloader 15/Winchester WLR primers in either Lapua or Norma cases - chrono's 2,425 fps with accuracy consistently under an inch.

250gr Nosler Ballistic Tip/58.0gr Reloader 15/WLR primers in Lapua or Norma cases - 2,550 fps with accuracy between 1/2 to 1 inch - if I do my part!!!


HunterMontana -
I've tried the 232gr Norma Oryx and found it to be an excellent option in my CZ. Looks like availablity is a little better now than it was a few years ago. Did not get velocities near 2,700 fps but did see mid-2,500's with Reloader 15 and some very slight indications of pressure. Would like to play with some of the other powders such as Ramshot Big Game but have not done it yet. The 232gr bullet showed promise with slightly better groups than my stand-by 250gr Ballistic Tip's. I'm going to run out of the the old BT's soon and will need to do some more experimenting!!!!

Also thought I'd mention that my 9.3x62 (with the Noser Partition load mentioned above) was taken to Zimbabwe in 2002 for plains game and it was quite impressive on everything from bushbuck to eland. Plenty of similar experiences on game are availble here as well.

Good luck.

Phil

I like Varget with all bullet weights. I found that it was really the "go to" powder. Although I load the 286 gr bullets to the high 2300's, I find that the 250BT work well and reach out to 275yds when pushed to 2600fps. I do not think this is warranted with the 286gr and the 270 Speer certainly wasn't intended for high velocities.

I wrote up my experiments with Varget about a year ago in reloading forum, and would suggest any interested person read it as a suggested means of approaching load development. Kudude

You guys loading the 9.3x62:

What overall cartridge length are you loading?

Reason I'm asking is: I've got an old Vz-24 action that needs rebarreling. Think the a 9.3x62 would be great. Problem is the max OAL for the magazene is 3.250" which would limit my reloaods to 3.230 to 3.235" for consistence feeding. Can the 9.3x62 be loaded to 3.230" OAL? Or do I need to go with a 9.3x57?

quote:

Originally posted by jstevens:
I like the RL15 59 grains with a 286 Nosler, goes 2417. My best shooting load is 65 grains of Big Game with a 286 North Fork, will be just under 2500 fps. I have shot some 250 North Forks as well, but can't seem to get past 2600 fps with them so would just as soon have the 286's if the trajectory is the same anyway. I rolled a big running whitetail at 180 yards season before last and a 7 ft black bear last year with the 286 North Forks as well as a few coyotes.

Have you tried Varget powder and your 250gr. Nortfork bullet? 58-63gr Varget gets me from 2635-2758 f/s with no pressure signs as well as excellent accuracy in all of our 9.3x62's. I load for 12 of them. I also have loads foor the 320gr Woodleigh soft/solid as well as the Northfork 286gr. CPS/FNS.

lb404

I have not tried Varget at all in the 9.3x62. Maybe that is the secret for the 250's. With RL15 I couldn't even quite reach 2600 fps with it and the 250 NF bullets. I don't think you can cram enough Big Game in the case for a 250 to get up to speed, so I've just been shooting the 286's. I still have a box of 250 NF left however. One surprise I had while on a bear hunt in BC, the guide asked me what i was shooting, I was getting ready to explain what the 9.3x62 was, he said he had seen several hunters use it in the past, particularly some moose hunters he had from Europe and liked the round.