Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 9.3x62 Conumdrum.....fixed!

About a decade back, I had Redneck, here on the CF, do all the metal work and Charley Santoni, finish a custom 9.2x62 for me. The parts are a pre '64 M70 action, 24" #3 Pacnor barrel, D'Arcy Echols Legend stock topped with a VX3 1.75-6 with CDS turrets in Leupold QR base/rings.



Both the 250 Accubond/Varget and 286 Partition/Big Game loads I put together were stupid accurate. I'm talking one hole, 3-shot groups.



After several years, I decided I wanted to develop a 250 gr flat nose cast bullet load with one of Veral Smith's molds. With Varget it was giving me 3-shot, sub .8 moa groups running 2200 fps......and zero leading!



The issue with the cast bullets was the throat was too short so I ended up taking a PTG hand throating reamer to it, allowing the cast bullets to fit properly but giving so much free bore with the Nosler's, it ruined their accuracy. I'm talking 3-4" groups with the same loads. I tried the 250 E-tips and it helped giving "hunting" accuracy I'd feel comfortable taking a shot at an elks broadside at no more than 200 yds. I believe the E-tips and their monometal characteristics of wanting to be off the throat helped. With that, I decided to try the Barnes 250 TTSX, since Barnes suggest seating their bullets off the lands aways as well. Well, it worked. My conundrum is fixed. I tried numerous powders, Varget, H4895, IMR 4895, Rel 15, AA 4064, IMR 4350 and H380. All the powder gave great, sub moa 3-shot groups. IMR 4895 and IMR 4350 gave very low velocities so I stuck with Varget, H4895 and Rel 15, settling, so far with Rel 15 for 2550 fps. I'm not divulging my powder charges since my, Weatherby plus, free bore calls for exceeding any book max published charge.





Now, my only issue is testing the 3 different CDS turrets, set up with the .494 BC Accubond at 2600 fps with the .440 BC TTSX at 2550 fps. Glad the rifle range is only 1 mile from my house.

Alan

That's very interesting stuff. Thanks for posting. It must have been heartbreaking to lose the accuracy you were getting with the Noslers. Have you used the cast bullet on any critters? How does it feed in your rifle?

The only cast bullet I've tried in my 9.3 so far is the 286gr NOE cast with wheelweights. Powder coated at 2400fps they will only do about 3.5" at 100. I started developing a load using the coated bullet during the second Hussein shortage but then found a stock of my normal partition/big game components and forgot about it. The other load I use with that bullet uses a gas check, alox tumble lube, and trailboss for 1335 fps. It's a one-hole load at 50 yards and is perfect for small game. Interestingly, without the gas check that bullet at low velocity shoots horribly, tumbles even. My rifle won't consistently feed the cast bullet from one side of the box. I've been meaning to polish or otherwise experiment with the feed ramp but haven't got around to doing so since I only ever use these loads to shoot in single shot mode anyway.

Awesome, glad to hear that Alan. Ive always loved the looks of that rifle.

Glad you sorted it out, but if it ain't broke......

That is a heckuva good looking rifle. Glad you got it back up and shooting.

No critters yet. My neighbor typically get both mitigation doe and cow tags. I just need to hit him up for one. Last year I used my Taylor/Uberti 1873 in 45 Colt to take my doe with my own 285 gr WFN cast. My rifle won't reliably 3rd 4th or 5th round either. Just first two. With that said i've got a good supply of 250 Accubond and 286 Partitions for sale if any one is looking?

Alan

Just put a bunch of Nosler 250 Accbonds and E-Tips, "first's and "seconds" up for sale over on the classifieds.

Alan

Looks like you have it all settled. But as a lark sometime try RL 17. Be Well. Rusty

This on Sunday, 200 yds; move down two clicks....let's go hunt elk. 2540 fps.

Dang! Looks horrible!

Great shooting and what an excellent shooting rifle!