I've got a line on a CZ 550 in 375 H&H for five-hundred clams; only rub is, I already have a CZ 550 in 9.3x62 Mauser. So, aside from just wanting another gun, what practical reasons are there to own guns in both calibers? I have my 9.3 set up in a McMillan stock, and it is fairly light and handy.

To meet minimum bore requirements for dangerous game. And just because. Rodney

Only reason I can think of is that you want to hunt dangerous game is African countries who have a .375 caliber minimum.

I happen to have both, and the only time the .375 H&H comes out is to play with piggies or go to Africa.

The only reason I would get that CZ 550 .375 H&H is because it is a good price. Once it is my hands I would have it made into a .416 or bigger. I had a choice getting the CZ in .375 or the CZ 9.3x62 FS and took the .375. I now wish I would have taken the 9.3x62.

That said, I always want to have a .375 in my battery, so until I get another to replace it I will keep it as back up to my bigger bores. Then I'll have the CZ .375 made into something else - I don't know what.

Namibiahunter

Because the Allies won WWII.

quote:

Originally posted by Buliwyf:
Because the Allies won WWII.

I have two 62s and a 375; I've always liked redundancy.

I have two .375H&H rifles and four different 9.3s, one a drilling in the 74R round and three bolt rifles in the 62mm chambering. These seems quite normal to me, but, I am a guy who owns five .338WM rifles and is eyeing a Sako 85 Kodiak in that chambering. so..........

It IS best to have both, you WILL feel better..........

quote:

Originally posted by Oregon45:
I've got a line on a CZ 550 in 375 H&H for five-hundred clams; only rub is, I already have a CZ 550 in 9.3x62 Mauser. So, aside from just wanting another gun, what practical reasons are there to own guns in both calibers? I have my 9.3 set up in a McMillan stock, and it is fairly light and handy.

The ammo for the English round is available in nearly every US shop, but the CZ 550 'Medium' is less of a "boulder" to carry around.

I don't have any African hunting experience but the difference in power between the two is noticeable. I know that many have successfully used the 9.3 on heavy/dangerous game but I can't think of a single situation where it would be preferable to the 375 unless you are talking about a woman or a child who will be using it.

By the way, I own both and enjoy shooting them equally. Neither has much recoil and both are classic cartridges.

Landrum

I had the same problem but I solved it by selling my .375 and building a 9.3x64. I´ve never looked back.

quote:

Originally posted by Antlers:

quote:

Originally posted by Buliwyf:
Because the Allies won WWII.

I have two 62s and a 375; I've always liked redundancy.

I also have two 9.3X62s and a .375 H&H. I have really come to prefer the 9.3X62. They are much handier than my .375. I shoot the .375 at the range but if I was headed to Africa and was given the okay buy my PH, my Blaser 9.3X62 loaded with 250 TSX and banded solids would be the gun that I would take. I also have a 30-06 barrel for the Blaser and a case that both go into. That is my idea of a combination for hunting the world for everything up to and including buff.

Dave

Have had two .375 H&H rifles. Still have one. Gave one to a good friend who needed a big bore toy. Bought a CZ 550 American in 9,3x62 and use it a lot. I later built another 9,3x62 on a VZ.24 action to make sure one was available for use in nasty weather.

Have I noticed a lot of difference in killing power between 286 gr Noslers at 2425 fps from the 9,3x62 and 300 gr TSXs at 2600 from the .375 H&H ... nope. They both kill very, very well.

Should everyone have at least one .375? Surely. Unless you hunt Africa frequently you are likely to use the handier 9,3x62 more often.

If I wanted a lot more power than the 9,3x62 I'd go to a .416 chambering. I have noted that they are a real step up.

I'd buy a $500 large CZ action just to build something more interesting (but I already have two 9,3x62s, a 9,3x74R Chapuis DR, a Mauser in .376 Steyr, a .375 H&H M70 SS Classic, a Mauser in .376/.416 Steyr Improved, a CZ 550 in .416 Rigby, a Mauser in .458 AR, and a .470 NE Searcy DR).

My best 9.3x62 loads give 2500 fps-mv with the 286NP from 23.5" bbls., while I can get 2600 and a bit from my buddie's 9.3x64 on a ZG action I sold him. It has a 25" tube and was built by Martini, so, you know the chmaber is right. (I keep telling him that he doesn't really need this rifle and I do, but......).

I get 2600 average and sometimes a little more from my .375H&H rifles, with 24-25" tubes and I honestly do not see a HUGE difference here, but, you are right, there is some advantage to the .375H&H, all in all.

I tend to prefer the 62mm chambering to about ANY other available cartridge, for MT uses, but, I am not interested in Africa and am a BC meat hunter, wilderness wanderer and can/do use both with satisfaction.

I wish Nosler would bring out a 9.3- 270 gr. NP as this would be superior, for MY uses to anything now available. I am loading ABs in some of my rifles, but, do not really trust them as I do the NPs.

Why in the world do you need to justify buying another new rifle

Buy it because you can!

I can't picture my safe without a 375H&H in it. Must make a disclousure here, every thing I have shot in Africa has been with a 300 Win Mag, 416 Rem Mag, or 470 NE, but that doesn't change a thing.

I have a CZ550 in .375 H&H and will not part with it. If you can get one for $500, I say jump on it. While I have no exeperience with a 9.3x62, I don't view them as a .375 H&H equivalent but I would gladly put one in my safe .

quote:

Originally posted by Snowwolfe:
Why in the world do you need to justify buying another new rifle

Buy it because you can!

Now that makes a lot of sense.

have a 9.3x62, got a 378wby instead of the HH............

quote:

Originally posted by Dewey:

My best 9.3x62 loads give 2500 fps-mv with the 286NP from 23.5" bbls.

2500 fps with a 286 Nosler? Really? Is that a chronographed load?

I've owned three .375s, but took a CZ 550 in 9.3 to Namibia in 2007. I'm on the wrong side of 50, but managed to keep up with my much younger PH and tracker when clambering up the kopjes thanks in part to the very, very manageable weight of the 9.3. My overweight younger brother just sat in the hunting car smoking cigarettes while we spotted the game.

quote:

what practical reasons are there to own guns in both calibers?

Since when does "practical" come into the equation? "Practical" and rifle loony seldom cross paths in the same discussion. Buy it because you want it, or don't. It's a good buy in a sound rifle.

Next question please. LOL!

David

I alwsays give chrono'ed load data rather than estimates. The powder used is Ramshot Big Game and it gives higher velocities in the 9.3x62 than does my usual RE-15, by about 100 fps.

I have also come to use H-4350 in my 9.3x74R Merkel drilling rather then the usual IMR-4064 which gives 2400 fps with the NP. I do this as it is more temp. stable and I hunt where it can be 75-80*F on opening morning and 0*F at this time of year.

Both of these give me the best loads for these old rounds that I have tried.

I would like to get a CZ 550 in 3 six bits ...It would be a very easy rifle to shoot well ... May be a little extra to pack around but not debilitating ........

quote:

Originally posted by Dewey:
I alwsays give chrono'ed load data rather than estimates. The powder used is Ramshot Big Game and it gives higher velocities in the 9.3x62 than does my usual RE-15, by about 100 fps.

I have also come to use H-4350 in my 9.3x74R Merkel drilling rather then the usual IMR-4064 which gives 2400 fps with the NP. I do this as it is more temp. stable and I hunt where it can be 75-80*F on opening morning and 0*F at this time of year.

Both of these give me the best loads for these old rounds that I have tried.

Dewey:

I looked around and did indeed find some data that suggested 2500 fps with a 286 grain bullet using Ramshot Big Game in a 9.3X62. However, I don't care much for spherical powder. To get more velocity, I switched to a 250 grain TSX bullet in my 9.3. The 250 grain TSX bullets are about the same length as my 286 grain Woodleigh protected points. If you seat the 250 grain TSX bullets out to max overall length of 3.291, you can get 59.5 to 60 grains of Varget in the case with only slight powder compression. The Barnes 250 grain banded solids are shorter and seated at the crimping grove, the come to about the same place in the case as the 250 grain TSX bullets seated out to 3.291. I am getting 2473 fps with this load out of the 22.7 inch barrel of my Blaser. I tested some 286 grain Woodleigh protected points and round nose bullets as well as some 300 hundred grain Swifts against the 250 grain TSX bullets last summer at the range by shooting them into wet phone books. The Woodleigh round nose bullets are very soft. The protected points did quite well but I got the best penetration and weight retention from the 250 grain TSX bullets and the 300 grain Swifts. You might want to give the TSX bullets a try. Standard caveat. Start a little lower on the powder charge and work up.

Could you PM me with the Ramshot Big Game load that you are using with the 286 grain bullets?

Dave

Only reason I can think of is if your 'other' heavy uses a long action. I prefer my working rifle (a 9,3x62) and what ever else I happen to own as a big bore back up to have the same length action. It avoids mistakes.

So that you will have at least one of each, of course.

Dewey:

Your suggestion of Ramshot Big Game peaked my interest a bit so I got off and e-mail to Ramshot this morning and I have already heard from their ballistician, Johan Loubser. He suggested the following loads for the 9.3X62 with Ramshot Big Game:

Caliber: 9.3x62 Mauser

Barrel length: 24â€

Powder: Ramshot - BIG GAME (1st Choice)

Bullet weight: 232 grains.

Start load: 60.0grains (2400 – 2500 ft/p/sec)
Maximum load: 65.0grains (2650 – 2750 Ft/p/sec).

Bullet weight: 250 grains.

Start load: 58.0grains (2300 – 2400 ft/p/sec)
Maximum load: 63.5grains (2550 – 2650 Ft/p/sec).

Bullet weight: 275/285grains.

Start load: 56.0grains (2250–2350 ft/p/sec)
Maximum load: 62.0grains (2450 – 2550 Ft/p/sec).

Bullet weight: 290/300grains.

Start load: 54.0grains (2200 - 2300 ft/p/sec)
Maximum load: 59.0 grains (2400-2500ft/p/sec).

Bullet weight: 320 grains.

Start load: 53.0grains (2100 - 2200 ft/p/sec)
Maximum load: 58.0 grains (2300-2400ft/p/sec).

NOTES:
It’ important to note that SAFETY is our prime concern therefore we strongly recommend.
1. TO ALWAYS BEGIN LOADING AT THE RECOMMENDED MINIMUM “START†LOAD.
2. If at all possible, measure the velocity and correlate with our data.

I guess my feeling is if you can get this kind of velocity out of a 9.3, why would you need a .375?

Dave

quote:

Originally posted by pichon1:

quote:

Originally posted by Snowwolfe:
Why in the world do you need to justify buying another new rifle

Buy it because you can!

Now that makes a lot of sense.

Amen! Also, when I read of PH's here liking their 9.3x62's and of some who intentionally load their 375's down to 2400 fps, I hafta wonder how much practical difference is inherent in the extra .009" of bullet diameter and 14 grains of bullet weight enjoyed by the 375. FWIW, I have both, too.

Grenadier:

You are correct. I know that the 9.3 can never really equal a .375 H&H because the H&H has more case capacity. I have just come to prefer the 9.3 because it you can easily shoot a 286 grain bullet at 2350 fps and as you can see here, some guys are getting 2400-2500 fps and they are so much more pleasant to carry and shoot. My own personal favorite load is a 250 TSX at 2450-2500 fps. You can always go bigger but history has proven that the little old 9.3 will do all you need to do on everything up to and including a buff.

Dave

The .375 can push bullets of the same weight faster than the 9.3x62 can.

The .375 can use heavier bullets than the 9.3x62 can.

The .375 is legal for DG anywhere; the 9.3x62, maybe.

Ammunition and components for the .375 are ubiquitous; the 9.3x62, not so much.

.375 rifles are widely available; 9.3x62 are uncommon here.

The .375 has killed more sport-hunted game than the 9.3x62.

George
P.S. If you want to discuss the merits of the 9.3x62, take it over to 'Medium Bores'.

Well it sounds like you want another rifle. theres nothing wrong with two rifles with the caliber close to the same. I own two 300's only
one is a ultra.

I have owned three P-64 Mod. 70s and one Brno 602 with 25" bbls. It is EASY to get 2600+ fps-mv-300NP out of these, you CAN come close to 2650 with some powders/lots. I used W-760, IMR-4350 and curently, H-4350 to do this, BUT, the blast and recoil were miserable and the accuracy not quite up to what the rifles would do if loaded to 2550. No 9.3x62 load can come close to this, no matter what powder one uses.

My Ruger RSM with 23" tube would come close to 2600 and due to it's heft was not bad to shoot with the max. loads, but, it was a real bugger tg pack this thing around in the Rockies and so I sold it.

I now have this P-64 action, mated to a Mod. 70 Classic sts. tube that Ray Atkinson sold my buddy and a "salvage" Micky Monte Carlo stock off E-bay. With Recknagels, bbl chopped to 20", Gun-Koted, Leupy QRWs and Leupy 2.5C scope, this little gem shoots lights out and gets me all the velocity I NEED with 300NPs.

Since I built this, I have only shot my original P-64 once, simply no point in using anything other than "Thumper" as the original .375 specs work so well.