I've just got my brand spanking new 9.3 x 62 (Sauer 202) which I've been lusting after for ages so I can take it to Africa next year.

However, my local constabulary have decided in their wisdom to only grant me NON-expanding ammo as I already have 2 x .30 calibre rifles for deer etc in this country. They tell me I can zero with FMJ in the UK and get factory soft point / expanding in Africa when I get there (stupid b@$!@&£$).

I intend to argue this later and push harder for expanding in the UK when my renewal is due in a couple of months, but in the mean time I have a lovely new unfired Sauer winking at me from its guncase WITH NO FMJ AMMO ANY WHERE TO BE FOUND!!! More frustrating than a hardon in a straightjacket!

The dealers I have contacted tell me that all the UK ammo distributors have no stock and importing it is likely to take 2-3 months, so if any one knowns of any one who has some stocks of 9.3x62 FMJ I would be very interested.

Thanks

Bizzare thinking over there if they'd rather you have ammo suited to perforating armored vehicles, raid shields and downing black helicopters than making venison.

I guess handloading is out of the question?

Shooter451

I found my self in the same position a few years ago.
You should immediatly get in touch with your FLO and request 10 mins of his time, when you have got his attention find out what are their reasons, i have a feelin they will say that you already have two large caliber rifles and that you dont need another (fair comment) i told them that i was hunting dangerous game and that i needed some actual field us, etc etc.
I also asked if thay would be willing to temp remove 1 rifle and replace with the new one (45-70). In the end i suggested that they give me the slot for the hunt and then when i am back that they remove the expanding ammo bit, any way they went for that i had my hunt and i never heard from them again!! my FAC says everything it needs to and there is no reference of the above conditions that we made! my renewal comes round etc and bingo its still on their! happy days.....
the rifle has gone to sombody else now (offer to good to refuse).
I am very surprised you cannot find any heads to reload with as this will save you a TON of cash..
any probs and i`ll probably be able to turn up some stuff or contacts if you need them
good luck
PS where and what are you going to be shooting? Im looking at a trip to Namibia at the moment but i am only interested in the small antelope.
B

Rick
we've got some whakky laws over here and some over zealous policemen who tend to interpret them how they wish! Expanding ammo is now "section 5" which means its in the same category as handguns and full auto rifles! God only knows how and why they dreamed these laws up.

Bumscratcher
You're right - they said that because I already have a couple of .30 cals I don't need a 9.3mm for deer over here. I asked the BASC for advise at the time and they said that my best bet would be to get one of the .30 cals on to target shooting only. If it come to it maybe I'll settle for that but I'm going to whinge alot at renewal time and see how it goes.
I will definately be looking to roll my own just as soon as I get the dies etc but you know what its like...you get the gun and can't shoot it just because of the ammo! It would just be nice to have a bang or two down the range. Thanks for the offer of help, I may well be calling on you if I don't get any more joy next week.
I'm off to the Eastern Cape SA in May with Puntgunner and a couple others to an outfit called Umlilo. We've got Kudu, Wildebeast, Impala,Springbuck, Blesbuck etc on the list. It will be my first time out there and really looking forward to it.
lets hope I'll be able to take my own expanding home loads out there!

Cheers

451

Shooter451

Couple points that may make your life more straightforward.

Home office guidelines to police note that calibres UP TO .375 hh may be used on larger deer species as being at the lower end of the large game calibres.

http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/news-and-publications/p...ance.pdf?view=Binary

Note the wording 'must' in chapt 4, para 4.5. ALSO under Chapt 13.35 note that your rifle can be permitted expanding ammo as you have ALREADY established 'good reason' here in the UK.

Strongly suggest you use their own guidance wording and references, as well as the fact your outfitter requires adequate field practice here in the UK - BEFORE meeting up with something large, hairy and upset!

Combine a need for field practice with the opportunity to take rutting Reds/Fallow bucks - and you have your good reason justification for loading, shooting and zeroing with expanding heads here in the UK.

I have been over to the Eastern Cape with the Dorfling's some years ago, prior to their forming Umlilo - if you have any queries please do pm me.

One thing - I took a .375hh with a 1.25x4 scope atop, in the expectation of tight bush and short range shooting.

My first shot was 330m on a black springbok - not much bigger than a large Roe buck. I made the shot - but wished I had more than 4x mag!!

Later I put a couple shots over the top of a Steinbok - because I didn't realise it was not much larger than a Muntie and judged distance accordingly!

All part of the learning process!



I would recommend a 3-9 x 40 scope - something like the Burris ballistic plex is a huge aid to confident longer range shots. A lazer rangefinder can also be a great reassurance if you are not able to apply your usual methods of judging distance.

Rgds Ian

Ian,

Thanks for your reply. By the way, thats a nice beast in the photo - you're right to have a smile on your face!

I've read home office guidance before and what you say is correct but I found their argument still relates to "good reason" for the 9.3mm. Whilst I have good reason for the 2 x .30 cals, they say there is no good reason for having a third rifle in .30+ calibre.

You have a very good point in saying that the SA outfit requires prevoius field practice - I'll use that one.

Thanks for your advise on scope as I am in the market for one now. I have been thinkng along the lines of a fixed magnification 6x42 S&B or Swarovski.

I'd be very intereested in your thoughts of the Dorflings - I'll get back to you on PM.

Thanks

451

451,

Do you reload? If so, there maybe ways to get you shooting One which would be quite a chore to set up, but probably not so bad afterwards would be to cast for it..I am toying with that idea myself. Incedently, while North Wales Police are normally very conservative about granting such calibers, I got my 9.3x62mm for deer no problem...

As "good reason", when i had the lease up in Scotland I helped a fellow poster on AR with a similar problem by inviting him to shoot red deer with a .416Rigby...Cheshire Police weren't happy but as the law does not stipulate a maximum calibre for deer, they granted it him in the end..

You need to find someone down there with wild boar on their ground who will write you a similar letter...Get them to specify that they prefer an 8mm caliber or above...

Regards,

Pete

451

Further to PeteE's comment - I can help there as I have them on my own land - obviously Paul is another option though he has been jumped on by his FLO as being a bit too helpful!

Rgds Ian

Thankyou Gents,

As it happens I managed to get boar on my ticket already, but they still say I should shoot them with a .308 even though I now have a 9.3!!! There is no reasoning with some people!

I've been calling around some more this morning and having no luck with any ammo or bullet heads. Found some cases at Tim Hannams and I'll propbably send off to Sinclair for my dies. It 's starting to look as though it will be easier to wait until I can persuade FLO to give me expanding on 9.3 before I manage to find any FMJ.

Casting your own?...sounds scary! It's all I can do to load my own let alone make the bullets. I'll wait and see what materialises before I go down that road I think.

451

Have you tried Cabelas in the states for your cases, i have had lots of help from them in the past? or you could try numerous other state side dealers or even better do you have friends or family over there so you could get them to get your gear for you? thats what i do with the more specilized stuff that i use.
B

Shooter,

Give York Guns a ring and see if they can get some Barnes Solids...they were very good at ordering my Barnes X in that caliber.

Theoretically, getting solid heads should be easy as you don't need to hold an FAC and they can be put in the ordinary parcel post. Again "in theory" it should be no problem to have them posted from Europe either...

For cases ect, I've also been lucky with Reloading Solutions...

Regards,

Pete

Pete,

Interesting point. I've spoken to a number of RFDs about this and they all seem to shy away from selling Barnes solids as "non-expanding" as strictly speaking they are "designed to expand in a predictable manner" as defined in law.

I think its a case of finding the right dealer who doesn't mind / doesn't know what he is selling !!!

My situation as of 22:30 hrs BST is the cases are ordered from stock from Tim Hannam, the dies are coming in from Sinclair in 2-3 weeks and the bullet heads may find there way over here from a friend of a friend in the states.

What a palarver (spelling?) this is turning out to be... I seem to remember an eveing at the Finknappers talking to some bloke who had just come back from Africa spouting on about Heir Mauser's 9.3x62 cartridge, and the rest is history!

Nigel 451