In 2006, I purchased a 9.3x62 after studying the cartridge in my various reloading manuals for many years prior. My first 9.3 rifle was a full-length stocked CZ carbine. I began accruing ammunition locally, which wasn’t cheap. I gathered mostly Lapua and Nosler Custom ammo. I used this rifle with 286 grain partitions exclusively for caribou and moose hunting from my various canoes. On one particular moose hunt, I had this rifle in hand when my hunting partner and I were within 25 yards of a massive grizzly that stood well over 8 ft tall, observing us with lack of patience. He looked like an upright sheet of plywood with a head on top. I have never seen a larger grizzly since, and that was over 8 years ago. Neither did I feel under-gunned.
One boring winter range session in 2011, I decided to fire the three factory loadings over a chronograph. The results were depressing to say the least. The 285 grain Lapua Megas barely registered 2125 fps, the 286 grain nosler partitions, 2200 fps, and the 250 grain accubond 2300 fps. Though sufficient, I knew that modest ammo would represent my last $86 dollar box of factory ammunition. Handloading was the only way.
In 2012, I began researching the optimum powder for the case. Being larger in bore than a 338-06, I felt that the slower powders like reloader 17 or reloader 19 weren’t ideal especially from a carbine. Reloader 15 is a tried and true, versatile powder, but chose to use a slightly slower burning powder due to my bullet choice: the 300 grain Swift A-frame. After a great visit with Ted Wagner in 2011, his assertion on the 9.3, "it is like a 375 H&H, but with 5 in the magazine". So, fitting to Ted’s great 9.3 slogan, the 300 grainer didn’t disappoint.
The powder I chose, was the new (at the time) 2000-MR made by Alliant. I chose this powder, because of my great luck used in a heavy 200 grain Nosler partition load in 308 Winchester. It was very dense, metered well, and seemed ideal for my heavy 9.3 load. Starting at 53 grains, and eventually working my way up to 64 grains, which filled the case, the results were impressive. At 64 grains, it registered 2460 fps over the chronograph. Firing these long, stoutly constructed, soft copper jacketed A-frames exhibited no signs of dangerous pressure on the Lapua brass at this velocity. Due to the long throats, typical of two 9.3 rifles I’ve owned, I’m certain that extended length hand-loads are possible, with a few grains more of this great powder. Regardless of what some narcissistic handloaders might believe, the 9.3’s performance afield isn’t affected too much by chasing the last foot per second of velocity, or the slightest deviation in velocity. All my incrementally-charged rounds typically hit the same point of impact, from 53 grains, all the way to 64 grains. At 2460 fps, the deviations in velocity from round to round, was too minuscule to mention, as previously stated, doesn’t matter a damn thing in my book, when dealing the ole nine-three.
The recoil from these loads is tolerable, but stout. I wouldn’t want my current 9.3 rifle any lighter than its 7 lbs. 4 oz unloaded.
For many hunts, it’s very hard for me to part with a 358 Winchester, which is one of my favorites and my first Alaskan big game rifle(used since 2004). Between the two rifles, I generally reach for the 358 when hiking mountains is involved or deer hunting back in northern Maine, weighing in at 6 lbs 4 oz unloaded. I reach for the 9.3 for everything else.
I have two exclusive loads, both very effective. My standard/affordable load that I use for practice as well as caribou and moose hunting consist of PRVI brass, PRVI 285 grain bullets, CCI standard benchrest primers and either 60 grains of Alliant 2000-MR, or 58 grains of reloader 15. I like the reloader 15 better in my standard load, as it’s always available, even during the powder shortage. Regardless of all the hoopla of chasing every last foot per second with the latest/greatest/rarest powder, good ole reloader 15 will never disappoint. Just like another old stand-by: Alliant Unique for our handguns. Both the Serbian brass and bullets, are cheaper in price than any comparable domestic brass, Hornady interlocks, or speer hot-cor bullets. With a much thicker jacket than any of our domestic cup/core bullets, and two deeply swaged cannalures locking the jacket to the core, they hold together immensely well, and certainly not near as frangible as some of the domestic bullets I’ve witnessed fired into Alaskan game. They simply hold together and expand well even on smaller caribou. Two seasons ago I caught a two caribou using this bullet. One at 25 yards, the other at about 350 yards. Clean holes in both and never a recovered bullet.
My last bull moose and three caribou were shot using my full-power 300 grain swift A-frame load. Due to harassment by a couple of hunters, crowding in on my camp site, I was forced to take a roughly 500-yard shot on a 40” racked moose that I called into my camp. With the crowders wallowing around 50 yds behind my campsite, the bull was real spooky. With no time to close the distance of this departing bull, I let out one more cow grunt, stopping the bull at a distance upriver and very uncomfortable for me. Holding the crosshairs flush with his back, I sent one his way, observing a spray of water directly under him. I then held the thick part of the crosshair flush on his back and let one loose. The fat bull began to struggle to catch a stride and crashed into the water along shore. After processing the animal, I found that the 300 grain swift A-frame expanded remarkably well to 62 caliber, with an impact velocity all of 1500-1600 fps. The bullet hit low behind the shoulder upon entry, and was found against the hide on the offside, in the forearm of the bull!:
http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com...via-Clipper-Canoe-and-8hp-Evinrude/page2Low on 358 ammo, I decided to use the ole nine-three again to catch winter caribou by dog team a couple months ago. After letting a small herd pass by me along the trail, I closed the distance from the rear, the dogs eager to follow. I chose the three fattest cows, unaccompanied by calves. It all happened so fast: I slowly set the snow hook, crouched off the runners, quietly walked in front of the lead dogs, took a knee and took the first one at 75 yards. A quick shuck of the bolt, I took the second at about 200 yds on a full run. Struggling to regain her footing, I let go another into her neck. Some 400 yds off, the third cow turned around to find the heard. With the crosshairs held at the top of her head, I let another go. A miss! Finally, my last and fifth round, I pushed the trigger into the single-set mode, held the thick part of the crosshair square on her nose, and squeezed the 13 ounce trigger. Down she went. After processing these three caribou, I found another 300 grain a-frame from the caribou taken by the long shot. The bullet had traveled through the entire caribou resting against the hide near the groin. It too expanded wonderfully, this one to 61 caliber retaining 289 grains. I have learned something about these swift a-frames. Though many a marginal internet “gun writer” have opined that these stoutly constructed a-frame bullets may not expand on smaller game or below 1800 fps, nothing could be further from the truth. I’ve never found a bullet that has exhibited such reliable, controlled expansion, all the way down to 1500-1600 fps. In 20 below zero hunting, the 2000-MR still had enough oomph for the long shot, even with a standard primer:
https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...78682/3-caribou-by-dog-team#Post13278682I find no interest, loading the ole nine-three with lighter bullets. I’ve asked a lot from the cartridge and I’ve eaten well due to this rifle. My last 6 animals over the past two years have been caught with this 9.3x62 carbine. Hardly a coffee can full of blood-shot meat was ever lost from all six animals combined.
If there’s a hunter out there on a budget like most of us, send off any ole 270 or 30-06 to Jesse Occumpaugh for an affordable rebore, load up some of those equally affordable PRVI brass/bullets, and never look back. That combo will be the most affordable, effective combination for even the largest game in North America. If I’m as lucky or as tough as ole Yukoner Ted, I have another 40 years of hunting the north country with my nine-three. From as far back as 1904, this chambering isn’t dated in the least, it was an “improved” case, before parker Otto Ackley soiled his first diaper.
