Yesterday I asked about the the .376 Steyr. Seems that it is basicly the 9.3 shortened a bit... It also appears as if the 9.3 Brenneke will work in an '06 action, is that correct? If so, it looks like you utilize the action length better than you would with the .376. Wonder if it would feed properly, thinking about using it in a Monatana 1999 that is currently set up for the '06...

Have any of you used the 9.3 and is brass available in the states??
Thanks again,
Pat

Rancher,
I had a CZ550 in 9.3x62 rebored to the 64 and the bolt face opened up a bit. No problems Danny Pedersen in Prescott, AZ did the work and is in the process of reboring/rechambering a M70 originally in 30/06. Great caliber with a wide choice of bullet weights from 250-320gr. Horneber and RWS brass is available here in the States.

Pat:

On my May trip, I had a Blaser R93 Synthetic in 9.3x62 and another guy had one in 9.3x64, both with 286-grain bullets. Mine ran at 2335 fps and his were loaded to around 2550 fps, if I recall correctly.

Frankly, I didn't see much difference in performance on game, and his kicked significantly more, even with a Kick-Stop installed (mine didn't have one). No doubt he could get a bit more range, but I'd guess the difference in drop at 300 might be an inch or so, which is hardly worth mentioning.

The 9.3x62 can be made up in a trimmer, lighter rifle with at least one more round in the magazine in most cases. The bolt face is standard, so it's mostly a rebarrel job if converting from any standard length action. The .376 Steyr is pretty much its ballistic equivalent, but can fit in an even shorter action.

The 9.3x64 will out pace the 62 by at least 200fps,I've used the 64 for a while,makes a dandy moose round.It can be made just as light as the 9.3x62 as they use the exact same actions,the bolt face is opened slightly.components are not that hard to find,the 376 takes the same action as it can't really be stuffed into a short action.the recoil of the 64 feels about the same as the 338win,mine is a stainless rifle that weights 7& 3/4 lbs with a 4x scope,I push the 286NP @ just over 2600 with no problem from a 22" barrel.

Actually the 376 Styer fits in a lot of intermediate and "longish" short actions like the MRC 1999 that the two 9.3s won't fit into, for what that's worth.

This is of course a very fine round giving 375 H&H power and trajectories in an '06 length action. The problem in the States is that you don't always have good access to brass and bullet selection is a bit limited.

In this class, I feel that the 375 Taylor (375-338) is a better choice if you need to BUILD a 9.3X64. Brass is everywhere and the round is so easy to form that you can simply seat any boat tailed 375 bullet right into a 338 case and shoot it. I have actually seen folks pull a 250 gr 338 and seat a 270 gr 375, leaving the charge in the case. They shoot great, about 50 fps slower than the 250 gr 338 factory ammo. R15 is the majic handloader powder here, as it gives top velocities and fine accuracy with all bullet weights. It can drive 270 gr 375s 2900 fps in a 24 inch bbl, but most folks hold it to 2800 fps or a bit lower.

300 grainers will do 2600 fps and Woodleigh 350s close to 2400. In addition, 225 Hornady PSPs can be down loaded to 2650 fps for a fine 35 Whelen duplication load with the same applications and recoil level.

Its not much of a job to convert any std. Mauser or M-70 to a 9.3x64, (or 9.3x62) its a great cartridge but I have never been able to beat the 9.23x62 but about 150 FPS at the very most and mostly about 100 FPS in my rifles, so I sold my 9.3x64s...

With the advent of Horneber brass the 9.3x64 is a nice option for a medium bore in the .375 H&H class, although it is not technically legal in some African countries...

A problem may be how long is Horneber brass in 9.3x64 going to be available to us in the USA?? I know the 9.3x62 will always be with us and the difference is so little that I have not used the 9.3x64 in about 4 years... I will never use Bertram brass in any caliber.

Gentlemen

Those who have been in Africa for some time knows there is a difference between the laws and how they are followed in daily life Most West African countries allows 9,X62 or 9,3X64 for buffalo, lion etc.

Other African game department require a minimum .375 caliber (actually 9,55 mm)by law, and the 375 H&H is only 9,5 milimeters

I have reloaded for a friend and the 9,3X64 has always kept 200-250 fps over the 9,3X62. It�s easy to make 9,3X64 cases from 338 win or 300 win brass.

Cheers
/ JOHAN

.

ALF

No problem with the ignorance I have never needed to use this method since the ammo I have reloang has been with factory brass.

I know that there are companies in US who had offerd brass for the 9,3X64 and it has been based on 338, 458 or 300 cases.

Cheers
/ JOHAN

Alf
Buffalo Arms makes the 64 from .458 brass. They turn off the belt and recut the extractor groove. I could never get them to work well in my rifle. RWS and Horneber work just great. RWS brass is now available for $26/box from Huntington's. Horneber is about $12 more/box.

Has anyone ever made a belted 9.3x64?

Seems to me that if you can make brass from 458 Win brass by turning the belt and cutting the extractor groove that you could modify 9.3x64 dies to accomodate a belted case and re cut a 9.3x64 chamber to accept a belted case giving you a wildcat 9.3 Taylor.

Would solve the brass availability issue and rifles currently chambered for belted mags could be converted without having to reopen the bolt face.

I've been very impressed by the 9.3X64. I built one on a M98 VZ-24 action using a pac-nor barrel. It required only a minor opening up of the boltface, tweaking the extractor and some rail work. The first three rounds loaded with RL-15 and 250 gr Noslers went into .5 inches at 100 yrds. Velocity was 2950fps. Thats load was a bit too hot and I throttled it down to 2850fps. IMHO the 9.3X64 is a phenomenally efficient round. I bought brass from Buffalo arms, made brass myself from .458 win mag brass ( by turning off the belt and cutting a new rim/extractor groove shape) which worked out beautifully. Finally, some Horneber brass showed up and I was in 9.3X64 heaven. I'd reccomend this round to anyone!-Rob

Your suggestion is a good one...that's why I mentioed the 375 Taylor above. It is exactly what you describe, but one uses the .375 bullets instead of the .366 variety.

Gentlemen



Why not neck up a 8X68S case to 9,3? More room and no belt .375 H�lderlin is a rimmed version based on the 6,5X68R case. http://home.snafu.de/l.moeller/375_H&H_Magnum.htm



366 IH magnum is a 358 Norma or 300 Win necked up to 9,3. I guess most cases been tried already





cchunter-

Read the Pdf article I sent you.



Cheers

/ JOHAN

JOHAN

My freind Jens Christian Kj�r Danish reloader, gun writer and hunter has made a caliber called .375 RAS it is a 8x68s necked up to .375.
It does about the same as the .375 H&H mag but fits in a standard mauser action.
He tok it hunting in Zim last year with great sucess.
You can read the article in Nordisk safari klubs magazine Trof�.

Cheers,

Andr�

I have had several 9.3x64 and it is probably the most overlooked round I can think of and may well be the best "all around" cartridge there is, but it has never been popular, its the stepson of the rifle industry...

I built a 9.3x338 Win. one time and it was a absolutly wonderfull round and the availability of brass was the best part of it all..but I don't like wildcats so I dumped it...

In my 26" barrel 9.3x62, I can come within 100 FPS of most 9.3 loads with heavy bullets and withing 200 FPS with the lighter bullets, so thats the route I went..

All that said, I suppose the old 375 H&H is still the better choice for anyone, except perhaps the Europeans.

Is there anywhere in the world where you could pick up factory ammo for a 9.3x64? If the answer is what I think it is I'll stick with a 338 or 375, both of which are probably indistinguishable in effect on game.

Belt bashing is quiche today and really mostly BS, its as usefull today as it was back when...everyone is hung up on feeding of the round with little thought to extraction when in reality extraction is a major cause of jamed rifles in the heat of battle be it war or a charging pachyderm..

With a belted case that headspaces on the belt and perhaps partially on the shoulder, a lot of taper can be given to the case and this slope makes for easy extraction in the African heat...The belt has proven itself by real hunters, not balistics experts, for a 100 or so years.

My how quick we forget, or perhaps the newbies never knew that in the first place....

The 300 H&H , the 375 H&H have been around for quite awhile and will be here when all the RUMs etc. have folded from lack of sales..the 338 Win just gets more popular every year since its birth..

I use rimmed, belted and non belted big bores like the 404 Jefferys, 470 N.E., 375 and 300 H&H, 338, 9.3x62 and 416 Rem. I like one about as well as the other...and I doubt that all the blow about rimless rounds being better is holding much water with hunters, nor that it has much substance in real world reality....Its mostly and experts thing..ex meaning has been and squirt meaning, well lets not go into that!

Time will tell and my money is on the belted 375 H&H as the last round standing.. I will win that bet!!

As much as I disagree with belt bashing, I do allow that its good that one has a choice, that is a good thing...take your pick.

The belt on the 300 H&H certainly does not impede feeding. Mine is a pre64 M70 and the only rifle I have that is even close to feeding as smooth is a custom 35 Ackley Whelen on a Springfield

Rancher I hope you got all that! My 9.3x64 was built on a std 98 mauser action. The bolt face was opened up slightly and the feed rails were touched up slightly and it feeds like a dream. I'm sure any 06 lenght action will work just fine. Griz ,robgunbuilder and Ray have all suggested the 9.3x64 is a very good round. I can only echo their comments. I occasionaly see RWS loaded ammo here in Canada and components are not that hard to locate. RWS and Hornerber brass is availble and you can make brass from 458 or 338 cases. Machine off the belt, recut the extractor groove using your shell holder as a "GO" gauge and once through a properly adjusted size die and you are ready to load.That does not weaken the case. You still have more material from the bottom of the extractor groove to the primer pocket than you have in an 06 case. Bullets are no problem. Nosler makes a 250 gr BT and a 286 gr partion. Barnes makes a250 and 286 gr X bullet. Swift makes a 250 and 300 gr A frame.Speer makes a 270 gr semi spitzer and I have been able to obtain 286 gr TUG bullets from RWS here in Canada. I am so fond of mine I haven't hunted with my 338 or my 375 since I built my 9.3. I can't compliment a calibre much more than that.

I still can't see why anyone would want to BUILD a rifle to shoot 9.3 bullets when .375 offers such a superior choice in bullet types and weights. If you don't like belts, neck up the 9.3X64 brass. If you don't mind belts, neck up 338 Win brass.

Well

9,3 bullets are avilable from 230 grain to 320. What is is a 375 does that a 9,3x64 or 9,3X70 can't do?

Cheers
/JOHAN

.

The 9.3 bullet IS Europe's .375, and both are outstanding. the difference in bore diameter of .009 inches or 0.23 mm actually IS smaller than a gnat's ass.

I may be wrong, but I just thought that Americans can get good 375s easier than 9.3s over the full range of bullet weights.

The path of lowest cost and least resistance to this class of cartridge is the 375 Taylor, at least over here.

For the benefit of Swedish users here, I will give a link to a ZG-47 in 9.3x64 for sale in Sweden:
http://www2.blocket.se/view/2818216.htm?l=0&c=1&city=0

I talked with the seller yesterday, and it was very tempting... The stock is made by J. Boberg, bedded.

So anyone, go and get it so we can shoot it at the next Official Scandinavian AR meeting.

Regards,
Martin