Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles How does the 9.3 x 62 compare with 375 H&H?

There has been quite a bit of buzz on the 9.3x62 on this site and elsewhere. Now that Ruger is "in", it makes the cartridge more tempting. So for Mule Deer & others, how does this cartridge stack up against the 375 H&H and the 338WM for that matter? Is it more recoil "forgiving"? Mostly an African application?
Or is it a "retro cool" cartridge just waiting for loonies like us to plunk down our coin?

I'm not sure. I can't get myself interested in it.In my opinion the 375 H&H and the 338 are better rounds, as are many other rounds in that league.I'd rather have a 35 whelen than a 9.3x62.

I acquired my .35 Whelen in about 1993; a 9.3x62 in about 2005 or so. I sold the 9.3x62 in about 2007 or so, because I couldn't figure out a difference in the two that was significant enough to matter. Other than the Whelen weighed about 1 1/2 lbs less, and shot slightly lighter bullets (250) slightly faster than the 9.3 (286). I bought a .375 Ruger in about 2008, and I really like it. It seems enough more powerful to be worth it, though if all I had was a 9.3x62 I would never hesitate to shoot anything with it.

The real answer is to buy and hunt with what you like -- any of them will work just fine on anything up to maybe elephant -- and if you're going after elephants you probably don't need my advice...

Dennis

I like the 9.3X62. Recoil is a couple of steps down from my 375's and 338s. Though I have to say upfront that most of the shooting I have done with the 9.3 is using 286gr bullets at at ~ 2400 fps.

The 9.3 is usually built on a lighter and smaller action which translates to a lighter rifle. Handier too if the maker has their stuff in one sock.

I have a friend with a shooting shoulder injury that limits recoil tolerance and he shoots a 9.3 well...jim

................In terms of power and/or velocity, the 9.3x62 won`t match the 375 H&H, 375 Ruger or the 338 WM, but then again it doesn`t need to. It is more of a moderate to medium ranged big game round designed for those who don`t need the power and extra recoil of the 375s. Similar to those, who would prefer say a 338 Federal to the 338 Win Mag to better match their hunting style and terrain.

Ruger got on the 9.3x62 bandwagon because they know imo, that it "should" be a good seller in the Hawkeye.

Along with the 375s, you don`t need to go Africa to put a 9.3x62 to very good use here in N/America.

Last time I was in Namibia, I told my PH that I was going to build or buy a 9.3x62 when I got back home. It turned out that he has a very high opinion of the cartridge and prefers it to the .375 H&H. Of course, Namibia is still very much a German place and that may have had something to do with his opinion...

According to the Chuck Hawks energy charts, the energy of the 9.3x62 is about the same as the WSM's and the .300Win at about 3500#. Most folks from Africa probably won't agree, as the 9.3x62 is a very well accepted game rifle over there. The .300WBY, .338Win, and .375H&H are in the 4000# range. FWIW. Good luck.

There are powders, bullets, and load data to run a 250grainer out of a 9.3x62 around 2,650fps which is in 338WM territory. There are also 286 loads running near 2,500fps which are on the heels of the 375H&H. It's a very broad brushed non-magnum cartridge for a handloader. With the 250 Nosler ABs and the 250 Barnes TSXs, it can be turned into a surprisingly flat shooting rifle. With the large traditional loads, it has a track record to work well on the biggest of any game. John Barsness' load data for the 286 Partition is running around 4,000 ft-lbs energy. In addition, their is load data for the bigger 300+ grainers.

Later

My personal opinion and experience is that the 9.3x62mm compares quite favorably to the .375 H&H

Unlike the .35 Whelen and .338WM, the 9.3x62mm is legal for DG in parts of Africa.

Compared to the .375 H&H, the 9.3x62mm can be had in a rifle that is trimmer, lighter, handier, and less expensive.
Felt recoil is noticeably less, making follow-up shots quicker.

Plenty of loaded ammunition off the shelf is available (unlike the Whelen) for those that don't roll their own, and is cheaper than the .375 H&H

While the .375 H&H does indeed hold an advantage, game shot with either would likely be hard pressed to tell the difference.

Bigwhoop,

I built my 1st 9.3x62 in 1990 at a time when few folks in this country had even heard of it. I have had at least one in the rack ever since... and sometimes as many as three... Currently, I'm back to one... (but another in the planning...)

I bought my 1st .375 in 1985 and have had as many as three in the rack... Currently have two... (Ruger #1, and Remington M-700 Safari..) but there's a nagging doubt that I may have another squirreled away that I've forgotton about...

For myself, I've only hunted big game species of Whitetail, Mule Deer, and Elk. Thus, I opine that the 9.3x62 will work just fine, and kill an animal equally as dead as a .375. After all, a 270 gr. bullet @ 2500 and change, is not a whole lot different than a .270 gr. bullet at 2600 and change... Given equal weight rifles, of equal design, likely recoil will not be noticably different. (I'm one of the blessed who aren't paticularly bothered with recoil...)

IF, I were going to the dark continent... (And I have no intent nor desire of ever going...) Then and only then, would I opt for the .375... Face the facts, the animals in residence are bigger and more dangerous...

Other than the above, I feel the point is pretty much moot...

Thanks to all who have posted. I assume it will take awhile for Ruger to get them ready to ship. In the meanwhile, I'm going to see how hard it is to get brass and bullets. I suspect when available, it is prudent to stock up.

I don't think brass nor bullets are difficult to find.

Grafs list Lapua, Norma, Hornady, and PRVI brass as being in stock.

The main difference that anyone is likely to see between the 9.3x62 and the .375 H&H is the difference in the depth of the rifling lands, ( the bore size of the .375 is .366 or 9.3mm), 15 grains of bullet weight and, depending on the load, maybe 100 fps of velocity. None of them are enough that any animal is likely to notice.

I have a 9.3x62 in a CZ 550 FS (full stock). It is a very well balanced and light for caliber firearm. I reload and it has done MOA easily at both 100yds and 200yds. I have used 286grn Nosler Partitions, and 250 grain Barnes TSX, no real accuracy difference. Works well with RL-15 book list load in Speer Manual. I am saving this firearm for a trip to Africa or Alaska for bear or moose. I shot a 20 1/2" black bear in Manitoba with it and a hit to the engine room at 30 yards with open sites produced a bang flop. The bear was dead before the echo off the small duck pond had finished. I really like most everything about this firearm. Buckfever1

big..,

My 9.3 served well in Africa. The biggest game I took was kudo, gemsbok and black wildebeast, they ranged in the neighborhood of 400-450 lbs. That indicates to me an elk or simular sized critter will become very dead, very fast.

It is my opinion the 9.3 is superior to the 35 whelan. It seems to function as a '.375 Lite', in my view. Many others disagree. I would not hesitate to use it on any critter found on this side of the Atlantic. The .375 H&H is no doubt a better round, but the 9.3 works just fine.

O

I would put the 9.3x62 in the "dual" round category for both North America and Africa. Neither the 338 WM nor the 35 Whelen fit both categories if the African game sought is in the "dangerous" category. It's easy to obtain components and simple to load for. The 375's fit the legal description for Africa but come with the extra recoil associated with it. To me, that's why the 9.3x62 fits the bill and makes my accuracy potential to hit the target easier without the attenuating recoil of the 375's.

Alan

Animals cannot tell the difference. Why should we squabble over paper ballistic difference between the two?

Fixed it for you.

Wrong ...nice try though.