9.3 with Lapua Mega 285’s- question

[Fryeguy]

I know this is crazy, but I have it, and might as well use it. I have a Ruger #1 in 9.3x74R, that shoots pretty dang good. I have never killed an animal with it, but it is deer season….so has anyone used the Lapua Mega 285grain bullets on an animal the size of a whitetail deer or maybe a black bear? Will it open quickly enough or punch right thru it? I have them going 2350fps according to my chronograph. I have multiple loads worked up for this gun, but I’ve only used 250accubonds, 286 aframes in my 9.3x62 on animals. I want to be able to shoot thru mountain laurel if one stops behind it. Just wondering if there is real world experience out there. Or for an Aframe. The smallest thing I shot in Africa with them was an Nyala.

 

[MS 9x56]

I know this is crazy, but I have it, and might as well use it. I have a Ruger #1 in 9.3x74R, that shoots pretty dang good. I have never killed an animal with it, but it is deer season….so has anyone used the Lapua Mega 285grain bullets on an animal the size of a whitetail deer or maybe a black bear? Will it open quickly enough or punch right thru it? I have them going 2350fps according to my chronograph. I have multiple loads worked up for this gun, but I’ve only used 250accubonds, 286 aframes in my 9.3x62 on animals. I want to be able to shoot thru mountain laurel if one stops behind it. Just wondering if there is real world experience out there. Or for an Aframe. The smallest thing I shot in Africa with them was an Nyala.

Not with that specific bullet but every deer I shot at through mountain laurel I missed. Those big green leaves and limbs either absorb or deflect any bullet. I use plain old PPU round nose soft point 286 grain bullets.

 

[John Wasmuth]

I use my 9,3x62 with 285/286’s for everything I hunt. From wild pigs to bison. Very little meat damage and they drop pretty quick. Not much difference between the two cartridges. I would think since it’ll blow through shin oak mountain laurel wouldn’t be a problem. Always best to have a clear shooting lane if you can though. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Fryeguy]

I agree on shooting clear lanes. A couple of times it’s been just the last few leaves blocking vitals right beside deer, but didn’t want to risk it with a small bullets like the 6.5cm. Any 30cal or above probably would have been fine, but it is what it is. It won’t happen if I carry a big gun, they’ll pop right out.

 

[Fryeguy]

I confirmed the load with the mega bullets, so I am going to try them hopefully soon. Had to adjust the scope some since the 232’s are moving way faster. I might try a deer with them, then try the 232 oryx on another…

Thanks for the replies so far

 

[John Wasmuth]

Slower 285/286’s would be better through the thick stuff, just my opinion.

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

Hi Fryeguy,

ANY bullet can be deflected by even a tiny leave or a small soft branch. It is an urban myth that there are bullets immune to that.

Good luck!

CF

 

[Kraut]

In Europe, the Lapua Mega has a very good reputation especially in 9.3. Used it on roebuck, fallow deer and wild boars. Being one of the harder bullets it delivers clean wound channels on lighter game and opens up quite nice in heavier game. Not being a professional I would say that the farer the leaves are from your target, the more critical it gets.

 

[Fryeguy]

Well guys a quick update! Finally carried the #1 and used the MEGA 285 lapua bullets. They shot very well. The only thing that came by happened to be a coyote. I have no mercy on coyotes. It was walking thru the laurels and well it shouldn’t have. One well placed 285 sent it spinning and that was it. I will say that the bullet did open up, or should I say opened it up. I found where the bullet exited, and between where the dirt and leaves were spread apart and where the coyote stood were small parts of coyote. The coyote was 5-8ft down the hill. The bullet struck ground and plowed over 20” open (two and an half boot lengths, Courtney size 12’s), and underneath the leaves at the end there was bullet!! I don’t know how much the bullet opened up before striking ground, it still weighed quite a bit. Sorry for the one pic, if it is too disturbing try not to look or maybe forum boss can delete it.

 

[Fryeguy]

Now I must shoot something else, just have to test bullet more!!!

 

[Trogon]

I've used the (previously) economical and briefly available Geco 255 grain Teilmantel soft point load on two bucks in 9.3x62 on Whitetail deer, 25 yards, first one dropped immediately, second one had a short run, unfortunately straight downhill into a steeper creek ravine. The mobile deer recovery team was not happy! I like the caliber. I would have used a 286 grain load but these were available and acceptable for accuracy. I did try the heavier PRVI load but had light primer strikes.

 

[Longwalker]

I've shot only one animal with the Lapua Mega 285 from my 9.3x62, a fairly large cow elk. About the size of a bull Kudu or Oryx. The bullet performed exactly as I'd hoped. Broadside shot just behind the shoulders at about 120 yards. Bullet path showed good expansion and caused lots of internal damage, and continued on to exit. Death dash was only a few yards. This photo is the exit side of the carcass. Little meat damage on that side, but quite a bit of trim on the entry side.

And regarding comments about shooting through brush, don't expect good results with any bullet. I know better, but succumbed to temptation tried two such shots last month on deer and very small twigs deflected the bullets each time. Wounded one, missed the other. Hate wounding animals. I was using a 7x64 / 170 gr. for one attempt and an 8x57JS / 195 gr. for the other. I wouldn't expect a 9.3 / 285 gr. to do any better.

 

[mauser98]

I've used 285gr PPU SP which is apparently a copy of Lapua's mega bullet. My 9.3x62 was shooting them at 2440 fps. Shot a mule deer buck and a couple black bears in 2014. Bullet preformed well. I don't think you'll have any issues with the lapua bullet.

 

[RayAtkinson]

I've had good luck with that Lapua bullets in my 6.5x54 and my 9,3x62 both in Africa and the US...apparently so have you..they killed well for me and not too much meat damage unless a major bone is hit..

 

[cajunchefray]

Well guys a quick update! Finally carried the #1 and used the MEGA 285 lapua bullets. They shot very well. The only thing that came by happened to be a coyote. I have no mercy on coyotes. It was walking thru the laurels and well it shouldn’t have. One well placed 285 sent it spinning and that was it. I will say that the bullet did open up, or should I say opened it up. I found where the bullet exited, and between where the dirt and leaves were spread apart and where the coyote stood were small parts of coyote. The coyote was 5-8ft down the hill. The bullet struck ground and plowed over 20” open (two and an half boot lengths, Courtney size 12’s), and underneath the leaves at the end there was bullet!! I don’t know how much the bullet opened up before striking ground, it still weighed quite a bit. Sorry for the one pic, if it is too disturbing try not to look or maybe forum boss can delete it.

View attachment 574688View attachment 574689View attachment 574690

Proper treatment of a coyote.

 

[OxfordTheCat]

I've used the (previously) economical and briefly available Geco 255 grain Teilmantel soft point load on two bucks in 9.3x62 on Whitetail deer, 25 yards, first one dropped immediately, second one had a short run, unfortunately straight downhill into a steeper creek ravine. The mobile deer recovery team was not happy! I like the caliber. I would have used a 286 grain load but these were available and acceptable for accuracy. I did try the heavier PRVI load but had light primer strikes.

How much higher did the 255s shoot over the 286, if you recall?

Was considering a 250gr Lapua Naturalis over the 286gr, but it's irons and not sure what sort of difference I might expect with the lighter load from 9.3

 

[Trogon]

How much higher did the 255s shoot over the 286, if you recall?

Was considering a 250gr Lapua Naturalis over the 286gr, but it's irons and not sure what sort of difference I might expect with the lighter load from 9.3

Been awhile since shooting the PRVI 285 but I believe it was around 2" difference with the Geco ammo.

 

[F. Vaccaro]

As others have said, shooting through brush really isn’t a good idea. I’ve tested several ctgs by putting cardboard behind brush & shooting at it. None hit where I’d aimed, most would have given me a huge tracking job.

 

[OxfordTheCat]

Been awhile since shooting the PRVI 285 but I believe it was around 2" difference with the Geco ammo.

Thank you.
In line with what I'd expect from having looked at a chart, but can't save my self from the compulsion to ask!

 

[RayAtkinson]

They work well enough on deer size game, but my preference is the286 Nosler partition or the Nosler 250 gr Accubond the both work well on deer and elk and all PG in Africa. BArnes work well also in the 9,3s.