Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 9.3x62's disappearing

I can only find two gun makers chambering this cartridge anymore; Ruger for Lipsey's and Cooper. While never tremendously popular like a 30-06, for what it is is its popularity waning?

Tikka/Sako, Sauer, blaser, mauser, and zastava are still making them. Plus there are CZ and huskies on the used market. I think the best thing it has going for it is the easy conversion from a 30-06 with just a new tube.

It will never be really common here, but I think it's going to be around a while yet. My SIG and huskies sure aren't going anywhere

Why wouldn't it disappear?

Well, certainly the BEST thing it has going for it is what an outstanding medium to heavy big game cartridge it is, but I know what you mean. And a "new tube" isn't even necessary. JES Reboring will make a 30-06 into a 9.3x62 for $250 all in cost. Jesse's cut rifled rebores have a great reputation.
Cheers,
Rex

'cause it's too good to die!
In fact, the title of this thread kind of surprised me as my impression has been that the Nine-Three has never been as popular in the USA as it is these days. I might be wrong, but there seems to be a pretty strong low-level buzz online about it. I've had my 35 Whelen AI for almost 30 years but I am super stoked about getting my rebored '03 Springfield back from JES any day now! [EDIT - rebored to 9.3x62. I should have said that as it might not be obvious.]
Cheers,
Rex

That’s what I did. Sent a MarkX Mauser in 30-06 to Jesse. It had already been to Africa as an 06, now it’s ready to go back with a little more bullet weight. And it shoots most excellent!
Les

Les, are you a Tanker Jockey as in KC-10 or KC-135? If that's so we might have unknowingly "hooked up" some time.
Cheers,
Rex

Nope sorry Rex.
I used to drive fuel tanker “trucks”. Although sometimes we were almost flying.
Les

Exactly.

Fine in Africa perhaps, but for 99.9 % of what is hunted here by 99.9% of hunters it’s pointless. But then, so are most Medium Bores.

It seems to me that the 9.3x62 is a small niche cartridge, such a small niche that few manufacturers would find it profitable to catalog it as a regular production item or for most dealers to keep them in inventory.

For the fun of the hobby? I mean, I really have zero interest in what you choose to shoot, your choice, right?

Americans love their magnums and don’t know metric.
Because 23/64 is easier than dealing in 10ths.
Anyways Maybe it needs to be remade in imperial with a modern twist
36 Nosler or 36 magnum ?

In the current day of reboring and rebarreling I doubt the 9.3x62 will die.

I also doubt it will ever be a cartridge with mass market popularity, but it will be there.

If I didn't have my Whelen I may have looked at one..

The 9.3x62 IS a cartridge with mass market popularity, just not in the USA. It is popular in Europe, Scandinavia, nearly all of Africa, much of South America, and is reasonably popular in Canada and Australia.

I just checked last night and mine was still in the safe. It only disappears when I shut the safe door but it's there when I open it again. They never have been a main line cartridge in this country and they're more of a heavy game rifle. And also the Whelen is the sweet heart in its class here in the U.S. However, it has a following here of which I am a member. I don't think it's going anywhere anytime soon. And BTW, it kills game with aplumb or an apple or whatever you've got in your pocket when you pull the trigger. It kills real good.

Heck, my local Bass Pro Shops quit carrying ammo for any rifle over .30 cal. Seems like they're all fading away. Except for the 45-70 that is.

I thought that the 35 REM was still a popular cartridge for shooting deer in PA?

Is that anything like aplomb? 😉

Somewhat. But Bass Pro doesn't care. They're the first store I've seen have a cutoff at .30 caliber.