Gents, I plan on going on an elk hunt in CO in the fall of 2010, and the only appropriate rifle I own for such a trip is a CZ550 American in 9.3x62. I reload, and am wondering where I should go regarding bullet choice. Nosler 250 Accubond, or 286 grain Partition? I have been told to prepare for shots to 300 yards by the man I am hunting with, who will be using a 300 Winchester Magnum. Is my 9.3 appropriate, I should I acquire something more flat shooting? We will be using a range finder, instead of just guessing distances...

My father plans to use his 9.3 in NM for elk this year. You can also help to flatten trajectory some by zeroing your scope for say a 200 yard zero instead of 100.

Good luck.

I had good success in SA on plains game with ranges up to 200 yards. Try the Barnes 250 TSX.

Dave

Maybe you should practice some with your friends 300 win also. That way if the shot presents itself at 300 plus and you don't feel comfortable with he 9.3 you aren't out of the fight. I don't know enough about the 9.3 to say if should buy something else, but I can say that of my 4 hunting buddies I regularly hunt with there are 3 300s between us (2 weatherby's and one win), and I sure like those 300s if you have to reach across a canyon for that bull etc.

The 9.3x62 is not exactly the flattest shooting cartridge in the World. That said, loaded with a sensible 250 grs bullet to about 2600 fps, it is not out of the question for the task at hand. Two years ago, I made a 300 yrd shot with mine, it was getting late and the water buck was about to depart, so it was now or never...

Either the 250 grs AccuBond or the TSX will kill elk reliably. Sadly neither of those bullets guarantee an exit wound. The AccuBond tends to flatten out more than the TSX, though, so I would personally choose the Barnes, provided your gun shoots it well.

Zeroed to shoot no higher than 2" (zero at about 170 yds) a 250 grs .366 cal TSX started at 2600 should fall no more than 12.5" at 300 yds. On a bull elk, that is a below top of the back hold (assuming 30" from back to brisket).

- mike

The 250-grain North Fork soft is nice in the 9.3.

johnnyreb,
My first choice would be the 250 gr. North Fork bullet, awesome accurate in my 9.3mm.
Zero your rifle @ 200 yards, then shoot to check YOUR trajectory @100 and @300 yards. Wright your fingings on an index card, insert card into hunting jacket pocket, then go Hunting.
Good luck and have fun!
Thanks, Doug

I have shot a lot of game with my 9,3x74R Double Rifle, including some big stuff in Africa.
I shot a kudu at a little over 300 yards with the 286gr Nosler Partition. My 9,3x74R has less velocity than your 9,3x62 Bolt rifle, so if you practice at 300 you should be fine.

I would recommend either the 286gr Nosler Partition or the 250 gr North Fork or the 250gr Swift A Frame.

I've been playing around with a CZ 550 American in 9.3x62 for a couple of years. I've shot a couple deer with it, but nothing bigger. But, a year ago, in my native Colorado, I shot a coyote at about 300 yards with it. Bang, flop, dead song dog.

I was using factory Sellor & Belliot ammo with 285 gr soft points. Not a very stout bullet, I'd probably use a Nosler. But I found that a hold over of about 18 inches put the bullet right where I wanted.

For what it's worth, I've shot over 25 elk in Colorado and have only had 2 that I can remember that were over 250 yards. So, sight in for 200 yards with either a Noslor or a Barnes. See where it hits at 50, 100 and 300 and then go kill yourself an elk.

Your 9.3x62 will make for a dandy elk rifle. I wouldn't stress over which bullet to use any decent bullet will work just go with the one that your rifle likes best and practice. Contrary to what some may lead you to believe elk are not bullet proof. Many elk in MT fall every season to what ever was on sale at wall mart a week before their hunt. I used 250gr Speer hot core in my 35 whelen with great results. Bullet placement is more important than bullet design. I hope you have a great hunt!

The most important thing you can do is practice with your rifle at 200 and 300 yds. If possible from hunting postions. Use a Northfork, Accubond or Barnes 250 and enjoy the steaks.

I prepared my 9.3x62 for the Grassveldt (Think Prairie) and Bushveldt of Africa with the 250 Nosler Accubond over 61.5 of Varget which is a MAX load in my rifle. It shot well to 300 where I zeroed it. I then practised at 100 and 200 to learn the rise of shot.

If Elk are anything like Kudu it will do fine as velocity will have fallen off at 300 and it won't expand violently.

If the Partition shoots more accurately in your rifle, use it.

Practise , practise, practise at all ranges as the 9.3x62 is really a close range thumper with conventional projectiles, not a long range sniper.

If you are familiar with your rifle and have confidence with it, take it.

I would go for a 250 NF if I were to whack an elk with one. It is pretty forgiving, about any bullet performs pretty well at these velocities.

250gn Nosler AB worked great for me on a 900lb cow bison.

The 250gn TSX would also be a great choice.

I've had a 9.3x62 on the CZ550 Am platform for about 4 years. I found that the Nos AB shoots very flat out past 200 yards. I also found that the Nos 286 Partition is actually more accurate in my rifle. At 225 yards (where I sight in) the difference is only about 3 inches vertical change. They both have a Bal. Coef. of about .492 so that go very well once lit off. I used the 250 AB in Idaho at 9500 ft. If I were to do it again I'd use the Partition. Shrps 74.

Gents, thanks for the replies. I guess I will check out the North Fork 250 grainers.

On a side note, I plan on having the barrel on my CZ550 free floated, the barrel channel sealed, and the trigger lightened this fall...

When I put my CZ550 together for last years Grizzly hunt north of Nome, long range was definately a possibility. In conjunction with the 286 Partition @ 2500 fps using Ramshot Big Game (same load as John Barsnes) I mounted the Leupold VXII 2x7 with the LR reticle. Had I needed to take a killing follow up shot I was good to about 400 yds though to quell any doubts I was only planning on 300 yds as max; easy stuff with the 9.3x62.

Alan

One of mine shoots almost all weights fairly well from the 200 Hawk to the 320 Woodleigh but really likes the 250 Accubonds.

The other one does not shoot anything below 270 well and prefers any of the 286's (esp Partitions) over all others.

If your rifle like the 250's they should do well for your purpose.