Hello,

I'm stalking some reds for the first time later this season. This will be Continental deer, not highland stag, free range in the mountains.

I'm going to use my 9.3, and I have two bullet loads currently that I use:

286 Woodleigh round nose, very accurate and I use them on heavier game like black bears.

270 Speer hot core, I use on smaller deer in the states like Whitetails. Also I use them on boar.

What do you guys recomend? I'm inclined to the Speer, but should I take the heavier, tougher bullet for greater penetration.

This is my first red stag hunt and I am really excited!!!

Chasseur,

I have a plethora of experience of 9.3x62 on red stags: 1 shot two with that caliber!

The first one was in the mountains in South Poland. I was using a Norma Alaska 286 grs. Basically a simple round nose bullet. I hit the stag quartering towards me. The bullet entered without hitting bone, went through the lungs, and lodged in the stomach. Not very far into the stomach. I was a bit surprised I didn't see more penetration.

The second one I shot with the same bullet, practically same shot, only now I hit very close to the spine, and the stag dropped on the spot. Further details lost in time... no exit hole though.

Last week I shot a moose with my .300WM 180grs TSX bullet. As he ran off I put one through his left ham (hit no bone), which it excited. It then entered the abdomen, and continued on to hit lungs (blood coming out of his mouth as I approached). I like that kind of penetration. At the last second I had grabbed the .300WM in favour of the 9.3x62, because all I had available for bullets were those same Norma Alaskas (no factory ammo available in Calgary; reloading gear in disarray).

I'd go for the Woodleighs.

Frans

Chasseur - Aloha,

I've used jusd about every bullet that was ever available in the 9.3x62. The good news is that we're starting to see some better quality projectiles.

From my expereince (and it is considerable) the 270 grain Speer's aren't as bad as many people make them out to be. I've shot a whole bunch of Red Deer and Wild Boar with them and they've always done their part for me = dead animal, no drama, no fuss, just get the job done.

I've also, thanks to my Australian AR Buddy (Stu C) been turned on to the pleasures of Woodliegh's, especailly the 250 grain .366" Weldcore, this is a really good bullet for the 9.3x62 IMO.

Just because it's a special hunt I'd use the "Special" bullets - go with the Woodleigh.

If you've got Woodleighs then use them. To be honest the deer wont mind both will do the job perfectly.

Thanks for your replies, I was leaning toward the Woodleighs always!

Woodleighs will kill red deer, boar, buffalo, etc etc with no problem.

I think the trick with the .270grn Speer is not to drive it too fast...I have have spoken to a couple of the guys from Africa who post here and they've used it on medium sized plains game with no problems...They put the bullets bad repuation for failure down to some folks "need for speed"...