Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Mule Deer's 9.3x62 data

MtnT
How many grains RL17 are you using with the 250ttsx. Have you found the RL17 to be heat sensitivite? Been using varget, I’ve got some RL17 to use up.

I am not the smartest handloader so be careful

my magazine on the CZ550 is extra long, 3.47"; and apparently a long throat to match, came like that from the factory

so I am loading to 3.44 OAL to fit more powder and lower pressures

It gives it kind of a Creedmore look

So with that said: magnum primer, 68g r17, 3.44 oal, quickload calc'd pressure just under 62k

I started ladder loads at 64g, all the loads grouped less than 1 1/4"

MtnT,

All 9,3x62s have long throats, like most smokeless cartridges that were designed back in the day when heavy, round-nosed bullets were pretty much the rule, whether for military or sporting rifles. But the CZ magazine is indeed longer than the original standard magazine length: The round was designed to work in the standard K98 Mauser military action, which typical has a 3.30 inch magazine, so it is indeed possible to crowd some more powder in there, especially with spitzer bullets.

One of the reasons I use Big Game with 286s with 9,3x62 is have found it less temperature sensitive than R17--and not just in that application but every other combination I've tried. Since it's s spherical powder, you can also get a lot inside the case, even with very long bullets like the 286-grain Barnes TSX.

my goto 286g load calcs at 52k
what is this temp sensitivity going to do to this load ?
64g R17

increased pressure? speed faster than planned?

Dunno until you try it at different temperatures.

Since I live in Montana, my primary concern is real cold, from zero Fahrenheit on down to maybe -30. But have also used that load in 100+ degree temperatures in Africa.

Usually increased (or decreased) pressure/velocity isn't the problem in itself. Instead its a potential significant change in point of impact at 100 yards, which can be in any direction. Often this doesn't happen, even if muzzle velocity changes 100 fps or even more, but sometimes it does. You never know until you try it at various temps in your rifle. Which is one reason I prefer Big Game for heavier bullets. (With 250's I use Varget, which gets 2650-2700, depending on the specific bullet.)

All of this is explained in far more detail in THE BIG BOOK OF GUN GACK II, which also lists the results of a bunch of loads at different temperatures in cartridges from the .17 Hornet to .375 H&H.

I will buy the book and the powder
My goal is to have a suppressed 9.3 that shoots 250grain accubonds less than an inch and has 4000lb energy at the muzzle

2nd goal 286g partions at the 4000ft-lb level and tight groups

I want to put a turret scope on and use the 250g for my go-to elk rifle
And have the rifle dangerous game ready for Namibia, 5400joules, 3980ft-lb minimum

So far I made those goals, as a complete amateur with an off the shelf rifle

I will try those powders, what primer is recommended?

What powder is recommended if I wanted to try 325g oryx norma? How about for solids?
Looking for 2350fps w the 325’s

Thank you for your suggestions btw

Norma 325 grain Oryx, burning N550 62.0 grains, all just under an inch.
2,339
2,331
2,318

Don’t think you’ll need the turret. You’ll find John’s load 250ttsx and 60 gr. Varget plenty adequate up to 500 yds. with practice.
Norma 230 gr ecostrike is no slouch neither. Toting an 8lb 9.3 up the mountain just makes life easier.

5/14/20 UPDATE:

Thanks for all the advice. I finally got out today to the range to shoot the loads I made up and based on my typing speed, my hands are still here.

Here’s the data:

Conditions were sunny, 60F, LtoR gusting headwind @3-10mph, target was moving back and forth....
50yd target, 1959 Husqvarna, 19.5” barrel, mounted with a 1-4x20 Leupold scope

Varget:286g HSP:WLR primer: COAL 3.298

53.5g:2170fps avg:1 2/16” group
55.5g:2245fps avg:1 4/16” group
57.5g:2308 FPS avg:1 10/16” group

Big Game:286g HSP:WLR primer: COAL 3.292

56g:2065fps avg: 1 4/16” group
58g:2112fps avg: 2 10/16” group
60g:2242fps avg:1 8/16” group
62g: 2345fps avg: 2 9/16” group
63g: 2394fps avg: 1 10/16” group
64g: 2386fps avg: 1 12/16” group

Yeah yeah yeah....I didn’t use the lowest common denominator....blah blah blah....

So the target would sway back and forth as the wind gusted...and I was using a 4X scope....and I didn’t clean the barrel or let the barrel fully cool off between group sets...so accuracy could be improved...

Takeaways:

Seems to be that 63g of BigGame is the ticket. I had max velocity and an OK group.
Don’t exceed 63g of BigGame as the velocity drops and your max load has been reached?
I had no signs of pressure (although these were my first shots at reloading) as the primers all appeared to be uniform and good and no sticky bolt lift was experienced.
Any velocity over 2250 caused my safety to slide back into the SAFE position, which I thought at first was a stuck bolt. This could present a problem with follow up shots, but nothing a gunsmith shouldn’t be able to remedy....?
I have a suspicion that my data for 62g of Big Game could be an outlier.

Future steps:

Take Varget a step further and throw some lead with 57g-58g-59g. I’d like to see pressure signs, vel decrease, or reduced accuracy before stopping. This will depend on case capacity I suppose...
Play with the COAL with BigGame at 63g and see if that changes anything.
Clean the barrel between switching powders.
ANY OTHERS??????


My goal with this rifle is for moose, within 150yds, and with open sights. Hitting a 2’ diameter circle offhand at 150yds is all I need. I’d like to stick with 286g bullets for their SD and maintain a velocity of at least 2300fps.

County range is finally reopeneing at least on a limited basis. Tomorrow I expect to try out the loads derived here:
Using Mule Deer's Rules in the 9.3x62
I'll report back!
Cheers,
Rex

I've actually had two range sessions with the 9.3x62 since posting the above. All the work with 2000-MR was on the first trip. Here is the short version:
- I missed the velocity predictions by about 50 FPS with both the 286 Partition and the 250 NAB.
- Pressures with both the "max" loads were about equal to the Lapua factory 286 Mega (based on CHE)
- Accuracy with the 250 NAB/2000-MR was not quite as good as that from 250 NAB/Varget that I got on the first trip to the range with this rifle.

The long version:
Attempting to use John's rules of thumb to replicate the success of 2000-MR in my 35 Whelen AI predicted ~67.8/2000-MR for ~2670 FPS with the 250 NAB, and ~63.5/2000-MR for ~2500 FPS with the 286 Partition.
I worked up to both of those as follows and the velocities, group size, and CHE are also included (I measure to 4 decimal places with my blade mic for CHE - where 5 decimal places are shown, it's from averaging 3 rounds' CHE) Cases were new unfired Lapua, primers were CC!200, and all rounds were loaded to 3.375", which placed them over .200" off the lands in my long (standard) throat:
Bullet Charge Vel./SD Group (100yd) CHE
286 PT 61.5 2329/3 1.50" .00073
" 62.5 2396/6 3.13" .0010
" 63.5 2440/13 1.86" .0009
250 AB 66 2542/14 1.66" .00067
" 67 2594/13 1.94" .00067
" 67.8 2621/15 0.95" .0008

EDIT: Sorry these look so sloppy - I had them all nice and neat with the right spaces, but those extra spaces were dumped when I hit "send"

Of note - I also took CHE on Lapua Factory 285 Mega, and it was .00083" with 2254 FPS and SD 19.
- There were no traditional pressure signs.
- No idea what happened to the second round of the second 286 PT it landed about 2 inches at 1:00 from all the other 286 PT rounds in the three groups.
- It looks like it would take just about another grain to hit the target velocities, and I suspect the associated pressures would be fine based on CHE comparison to the factory stuff. I know CHE is not a stand-alone tool but I think it can be useful for comparisons when other factors are considered as well.

Hope this helps anyone wanting to use PP 2000-MR in the Nine-Three.

Cheers,
Rex

Guys:

I went out in warmer weather to check the difference w R17, accubounds, from winter shooting as discussed earlier in the thread
my bone stock CZ550 shot a 0.45" group, 2 thru the same hole 0.16" apart, and the flyer that opened it up to 0.45". There was a 7-10mph variable cross wind.
I wish I knew how to upload pic's

I tried Varget earlier in the year and didn't get the velocity I am looking for, nor did it tighten up the group LOL

yesterday I fired a fouling shot, three for accuracy, then a couple at the 400y target, and went home

[quote=MtnT]Guys:

I went out in warmer weather to check the difference w R17, accubounds, from winter shooting as discussed earlier in the thread ...

/quote]

So what was the difference? Did you compare velocity? Or just accuracy? Speaking of accuracy, sounds like you got a bunch of it! What was your load with the 250 AB and RL-17? I just got a pound of RL-17 and hoping to try it with 286 PTs - didn't know it was that good with ABs.

Thanks & nice shooting,
Rex

I wasn't getting good readings from the chrono

I am shooting the "CZ550" load suggested by Bob Mitchell, he has a blog on this

New Hornady Brass
Winchester Mag Primer
70g R17
3.37 OAL

re Temperature, this is my take: get your load sorted out when the temps are similar to your hunting season. I am not sure if the 20-40d F variation is enough to worry about that you could see during the season. If your hunting hogs in Texas in July, then late season deer in Saskatchewan, taking 400+ yard shots, you may need to compensate, I read in another forum velocity difference is 1fps per degree temp with r17.

On another note, using V550, per someone's recommendation, I loaded +p 325g ORYX bullets. Grouped just over an inch, maybe it would do better, but my trembling after the first shot could have thrown me off. If there is a need for detached retinas and a concussion, shoot this from a 7lb rifle prone

I calc these loads on quickload, CZ550 has probably posted load data for the 286part somewhere, these are +p+ loads that he posts

I also use the 232 grain but in the UK can bullet. Does very well on deer and wild hogs.

Do you recall which one? Trying to develop some loads for the FS with AB

Mule Deer,

I haven't got time to read all 16 pages but would your 9.3x62 data be applicable to a Ruger No.1?

Thanks muchly.

Put the paddles to this thread because I have an interest in the heavy 9.3mm Woodleigh Weldcore bullets.

This got me thinkin' about'em again.



Looked at the 320 gr. Weldcore SP when initially acquiring bullets for the new 9.3x62mm cartridge, but at the time they were relatively expensive and thought to be sub-optimal compared to the 286 gr. fodder.

FF/today, they are a relative bargain. (although right now MidwayUSA has .366/250 gr. NOSLER AB's for $40.10/50 box)

So, am again thinkin'bout the 320 gr. Weldcore SP, at ~ 2300 fps/24" Bbl., ahead of one of the IMR/H 4350 powders and CCI 200 primers.

Any performance value for North American Large/Dangerous game over Big Game/286 gr. A-frame/Oryx at ~ 2400 fps.?

Used as a woods/< 100 yd. stopping round.





GR

Yeah, it is. Especially since the No. 1 is one of the strongest actions out there.

Somethingsfishy. I was going to tell you the cartridge and gun combination with 9.3X62 will withstand more recoil than you can desire. IT WILL KICK YOU! And detached retinas are not needed when you can prevent it. You see this information on the previous page. I found the 9.3 to kill whitetails at any velocity where I can get minute of deer. Who needs recoil? Be Well, RZ.