9.3x62 load

[Red Devil]

As much as my rule is: One load/rifle...?

This new 9.3x62 is getting a handful, to be handloaded to target velocities of:

- 286 gr. Swift A-Frame @ 2400 fps.
- 285 gr. Norma Oryx @ 2420 fps.
- 286 gr. Hdy SP-RP @ 2380 fps.
- 270 gr. Speer Hot-Cor @ 2420 fps.

Which should give all of them a 3" rise (scoped) for a 200 yd. zero, and a hair under 12" drop at 300.

(Would like to also add a 250 gr. Barnes TSX @ 2400 fps as well, for the same trajectory, if some become available)




Red

 

[bruce moulds]

red devil,
your selection of bullets offers great versatility.
if you had to choose one only, the swift will do what any of the others will do and more.
it will be interesting to see how the speer goes for terminal performance.
even though it is not the bullet any of the others are, there might be an application where it is the bullet of choice.
congratulations on not selecting the nosler 186 partion.
this bullet has been a big letdown to me in both 338 and 9.3.
I made it my first port of call, believing it to be a terminally superior bullet with a good b.c.
it has a good b.c..here in oz, hunting in the desert and some mountain hunting is easier with flatter trajectory, but if the animal is not killed there is no point.
bruce.

 

[Rick Cox]

Check out Nosler's on line reloading manual. Lots of good loads using various powders and bullet weights (theirs of course).

https://load-data.nosler.com/load-data/93x62-mauser/

 

[WAB]

Be careful with some of the loads listed on 24 hr campfire. I tried loading one listed for
Big Game and it wouldn’t fit in the case. I contacted the manufacturer and the load was well over their listed maximum. Perhaps you could work up to this with a compressed powder charge but I would be very, very careful!

 

[sgt_zim]

At least a couple of those guys are claiming 65-66 gr of Big Game for their 9.3

Here's a copy of Western Powders load data for 9.3x62

 

[Red Devil]

red devil,
your selection of bullets offers great versatility.
if you had to choose one only, the swift will do what any of the others will do and more.
it will be interesting to see how the speer goes for terminal performance.
even though it is not the bullet any of the others are, there might be an application where it is the bullet of choice.
congratulations on not selecting the nosler 186 partion.
this bullet has been a big letdown to me in both 338 and 9.3.
I made it my first port of call, believing it to be a terminally superior bullet with a good b.c.
it has a good b.c..here in oz, hunting in the desert and some mountain hunting is easier with flatter trajectory, but if the animal is not killed there is no point.
bruce.

Figured the 286 gr. A-Frame as a DG round. Might even try to push it up to 2480 fps so it qualifies as an elephant/buffalo/hippo round, just in case.

But for hogs/bear/elk, it's a little stout and spendy, so figured the HDY 286 gr. SP-RP could do double-duty for that as well as load development.

But have been less than impressed with what's being found about either the HDY or NP offerings on heavy game, so the Norma Oryx came in as that hunting round.

As for Speer Hot-Cor's, shoot a lot of'em in .270 and in the heavy-for-caliber offerings (SD > 0.280), they are inexpensive, very accurate, and hold together on lighter game if not over-stressed. The 270 gr. .366 Hot-Cor, even with 1.5X expansion, is .54 caliber, about that of a premium 150 gr. .277 with 2X expansion, and almost twice the weight. Should impress deer and hogs OK. Would like to see Speer come out with a 286 gr. Grand Slam in .366, but as yet, it is not in their pipeline.




Red

 

[WAB]

At least a couple of those guys are claiming 65-66 gr of Big Game for their 9.3

Here's a copy of Western Powders load data for 9.3x62

Thanks Sgt.. I talked to the tech rep at Western Powders. They indicate a max charge of 62.0 gr of Big Game with a 286 gr. bullet. I'm not saying you can't go beyond this with VERY careful work, but I can't even get 65 gr. of Big Game in a 9.3x62 casing. I would be very, very cautious with the loads on the 'other' forum.

It also seems like there may be an effort to make the 9.3x62 something it is not. It is a great caliber, designed to work in a standard length action and send a 286 gr projectile downrange at about 2350 fps. This has proven lethal on all manner of African plains and dangerous game with good shot placement. Isn't that enough?

 

[sgt_zim]

Thanks Sgt.. I talked to the tech rep at Western Powders. They indicate a max charge of 62.0 gr of Big Game with a 286 gr. bullet. I'm not saying you can't go beyond this with VERY careful work, but I can't even get 65 gr. of Big Game in a 9.3x62 casing. I would be very, very cautious with the loads on the 'other' forum.

It also seems like there may be an effort to make the 9.3x62 something it is not. It is a great caliber, designed to work in a standard length action and send a 286 gr projectile downrange at about 2350 fps. This has proven lethal on all manner of African plains and dangerous game with good shot placement. Isn't that enough?

For 286 and 300 gr, yes, I think that's plenty. For Barnes and Nosler 250s, performance can be pretty close to 338 WM.

There is an innate desire in many of us for efficiency. Squeezing every last FPS of velocity out of a cartridge is a part of that. But at some point, one has to take a step back and look at the forest, not just the trees.

FWIW, at the COAL Hornady publishes, I can't get but about 55.5 gr of Varget into the case for their 286.

I'm already getting 2400+ with 2000MR and their 286. Will be pretty happy if I can get 2350-2400 out of NP , A-frame, or Oryx. And reasonable accuracy, of course.

 

[Red Devil]

Thanks Sgt.. I talked to the tech rep at Western Powders. They indicate a max charge of 62.0 gr of Big Game with a 286 gr. bullet. I'm not saying you can't go beyond this with VERY careful work, but I can't even get 65 gr. of Big Game in a 9.3x62 casing. I would be very, very cautious with the loads on the 'other' forum.

It also seems like there may be an effort to make the 9.3x62 something it is not. It is a great caliber, designed to work in a standard length action and send a 286 gr projectile downrange at about 2350 fps. This has proven lethal on all manner of African plains and dangerous game with good shot placement. Isn't that enough?

The thrust of this seems to be rooted in John Barsness' work in elevating the 9.3x62mm into a modern 60,000 psi. cartridge, and that the higher velocities (286 gr. @ 2480 fps) bring the already caliber qualified cartridge into legal energy qualification for elephant/buffalo/hippo at least in Zimbabwe and possibly others.

For me, a 286 gr. @ 2400 fps., (+/-) 20 fps. depending on bullet BC, will give a scoped rifle a max. 3" rise with a 200 yd. zero, a 300 yd max range with 12" of drop, and ~ 3,000/2,500/2,000 lb-ft. of energy at 100/200/300 yds. respectively.

Couldn't ask for anything more from an 8.5 lb. carry-all-day big game rifle.




Red

 

[Laurie Colgrave]

Thanks for all info
I am new to the 9.3x62 family.
It’s a new addition to my moose hunting arms.
I kinda need some flat trajectory with good bullet construction really swaying toward the 250gr AB in PPU brass.
Have any of you used RL 17 or Norma 201 ?

 

[Laurie Colgrave]

Hi Alaska

Reloder 17 is the best for 9.3x62. My M98 topped out at 2460fps with 286gn pills using Varget, I was able to get 2640fps with Reloder 17 & 286gn Woodleigh with less pressure, 3 shots touching at 100m. With the 320gn Woodleigh I got 2520fps with standard pressure. Bob Mitchell got similar results with a Tikka T3.

 

[Laurie Colgrave]

Does anyone know where this elusive BLC-(2) load is that pushes a 286 to 2600 without pressure problems? I've looked around the internet and can't find it. I bought a can of BLC-(2) to experiment with, but have zero experience with ball powders in the first place...

Reloder 17 does 2600

 

[Cleveland48]

Hi Alaska

Reloder 17 is the best for 9.3x62. My M98 topped out at 2460fps with 286gn pills using Varget, I was able to get 2640fps with Reloder 17 & 286gn Woodleigh with less pressure, 3 shots touching at 100m. With the 320gn Woodleigh I got 2520fps with standard pressure. Bob Mitchell got similar results with a Tikka T3.

Really been meaning to hit up the RL 17 with both 286 gr and 320 gr loads. Yours seems like its packing a punch! I have used RL17 in the past in 6.5 Creedmoor and its velocity was always better than most other powders.

 

[bruce moulds]

Reloder 17 does 2600

that is 9.3x64 country.
a punchy load.
bruce.

 

[AZDAVE]

I have read Bob's articles and make sure you understand that those loads are running in the 64-65,000 psi range and should be approached with EXTREME caution and worked up to very carefully as what is safe in HIS Tikka may well be very dangerous in a 60-100 year old mauser. RL-17 and Ramshot Big game have given me the best performance in the 9.3x62. If I want 375 speeds I will just shoot a 375. The 9.3 is one of my favorite abut I don't try and make a magnum out of it. I have shot more game in africa with a 9.3x62 and x74 than any other calibre and the 250 accubond and swift Aframes 286 and 300 have all performed great. The best example is my eland was shot with a 300 Aframe at 2380fps and broke the near side shoulder went through the heart and lungs clipped the scapula on the off side shoulder and was found right uner the skin on the off side. The eland went less than 20 meters.

 

[Scrumbag]

SO62 seems to do quite well with 9,3x62 if you want to go single base. Apparently somewhere near 4895

 

[Laurie Colgrave]

I have read Bob's articles and make sure you understand that those loads are running in the 64-65,000 psi range and should be approached with EXTREME caution and worked up to very carefully as what is safe in HIS Tikka may well be very dangerous in a 60-100 year old mauser. RL-17 and Ramshot Big game have given me the best performance in the 9.3x62. If I want 375 speeds I will just shoot a 375. The 9.3 is one of my favorite abut I don't try and make a magnum out of it. I have shot more game in africa with a 9.3x62 and x74 than any other calibre and the 250 accubond and swift Aframes 286 and 300 have all performed great. The best example is my eland was shot with a 300 Aframe at 2380fps and broke the near side shoulder went through the heart and lungs clipped the scapula on the off side shoulder and was found right uner the skin on the off side. The eland went less than 20 meters.

AZDAVE
Thanks for the advice, I have been hand loading for 45 years & this is not a game for me!
My two 9.3x62 rifles are different Mauser98/Tikka65 but share the common 9.3x62 trait..... plenty of throat. My shooting mate uses a CZ550 in 9.3x62 also long throated & shares similar results with handloads.The burning characteristics of Re17 combined with carefully prepared loading help increase performance dramatically. The extra velocity was achieved at lower pressure than my previous working load using Varget, which has stood up to the rigours of cull hunting in very hot northern Australia.
Load the 9.3x62 gently if you wish, I use mine for hunting big animals 400kg plus & appreciate the extra grunt!

 

[AZDAVE]

AZDAVE
Thanks for the advice, I have been hand loading for 45 years & this is not a game for me!
My two 9.3x62 rifles are different Mauser98/Tikka65 but share the common 9.3x62 trait..... plenty of throat. My shooting mate uses a CZ550 in 9.3x62 also long throated & shares similar results with handloads.The burning characteristics of Re17 combined with carefully prepared loading help increase performance dramatically. The extra velocity was achieved at lower pressure than my previous working load using Varget, which has stood up to the rigours of cull hunting in very hot northern Australia.
Load the 9.3x62 gently if you wish, I use mine for hunting big animals 400kg plus & appreciate the extra grunt!

Based on your posing I could tell you are a very experienced reloader, like you I have been reloading for a long time. I am always cautious to make sure that folks understand the pressures that rounds are running at because I witnessed 2 guys blow up rifles based on not being cognisant of what they were doing and were unsafe. (Both were hurt, one lost a eye)

I have loaded to the levels you are talking in a CZ and a ruger. Both my current 9.3'x62 are built on a mauser actions Parker hale and a VZ 24. and have no problems with that level pressures but I get the best accuracy with a little less Grunt. I just worry about a new guy with a old husky or soft 98 action running into problems.

RL-17 is a wonderful powder in the 9.3 and as you said best velocity with the lowest pressures.

So shoot allot, shoot straight, shoot some big stuff and have fun

 

[metricman]

Based on your posing I could tell you are a very experienced reloader, like you I have been reloading for a long time. I am always cautious to make sure that folks understand the pressures that rounds are running at because I witnessed 2 guys blow up rifles based on not being cognisant of what they were doing and were unsafe. (Both were hurt, one lost a eye)

I have loaded to the levels you are talking in a CZ and a ruger. Both my current 9.3'x62 are built on a mauser actions Parker hale and a VZ 24. and have no problems with that level pressures but I get the best accuracy with a little less Grunt. I just worry about a new guy with a old husky or soft 98 action running into problems.

RL-17 is a wonderful powder in the 9.3 and as you said best velocity with the lowest pressures.

So shoot allot, shoot straight, shoot some big stuff and have fun

do you happen to have pressure data using RL 17?

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I will thanks
Norma 201 suppose to be good
CFE 233 and RL 17 also good write ups .

Alaska
I'm using cfe223 in my Whelen. Outstanding velocity and accurate.
I get 2,700fps using Speer hotcore 250grn. This is with Speer reloading site of 64gn cfe223 in the Whelen.
You m at want to check the Speer reloading site
Cheers
Bob