Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only 9.3x62

Was it Paul McCartny who wrote :
"I once had a girl
or she had me.."

Hey Phil, when you switch whole-hog to doubles keep me in mind for that 505. It'll save me building one myself!

Are the DGS/DGX available as components? I'm thinking about them for my 416 for the upcoming trip for the bad cow.

I,for one, Have greatly enjoyed the give and take, the spirited discusion, the strongly held opinions - and most of all - a chance to read and reflect upon the words of men with so many years of combined experience. From reading exchanges like this - we all can learn so much. Well done!

The fact that I can converse with gentlemen of your own experience and stature on a forum such as is greatly appreciated.

In fact, due to my being able to converse and discuss things with men of your experience - I end up shooting more, dreaming more, and buying more magazines when I see that they contain articles written by those of you who write articles professionally.

In short - thank you!

Mule Deer & 458 Win...

Since your both in on this discussion would you give us your thoughts on the 9.3x62mm Mauser as compared to the .375 Ruger? Starting with they're both medium bore cartridges that fit into 30-06 actions...

idahoguy101

John Lennon. Norwegian Wood.

BR549?
Isn't that Junior Samples phone number?

Back to the original topic, the 9.3 X 62. I have two, and shoot them with utmost satisfaction. Felt recoil seems much more pleasant than the .375 H & H. The lethality seems out of proportion to the paper ballistics. I've got several Cape buffalo, LD eland, leopard, sable, and a host of others that will verify that the 9.3 X 62 is an effective killer.

I use 60g of H414 with the Barnes 259 TSX. R15 groups better, but the H414 meters so well, and has been effective every time, I just don't have a reason to change.

idahoguy101,

The 9.3x62 holds five rounds in a standard magazine; the .375 Ruger holds 3 rounds. The 9.3x62 can be made up into an 8-pound rifle without kicking all that hard. The .375 Ruger has much more noticeable recoil--still not anything like a .416, but it's definitely there. The 9.3x62 isn't legal in some African countries for most dangerous game; the .375 Ruger is legal in all African countries for dangerous game.

While the 9.3x62 is perfectly capable of killing about anything on earth, so is the .30-06. While the .375 Ruger is a slight step up from the .375 H&H, it isn't a .416 or .458.

My personal notions always tend toward wretched excess, which is why I have three 9.3 rifles. One is a 9.3x62, another is a 9,.3x74R double rifle, and another is a 9.3 B-S, a wildcat on the .350 Remington Magnum case. All three get pretty much exactly the same ballistics. I also own a .375 H&H, and used to own two--plus a .375 Ruger. I also own two .416's and a .458.

All of this means nothing except that I like rifles a lot--but I am also not forced to make any decisions except which one to take on any hunt.

If I were forced to own only a 9.3 or a .375, I would make the decision on whether I was going to hunt African dangerous game. As noted earlier, the .375's are legal over there, and generally the 9.3x62 isn't.

The 9.3x62 is a great cartridge for the larger African plains game, even in open country with a 250-grain bullet handloaded to around 2700 fps (an easy thing to do). But it isn't a .375, either legally or ballistically.

Personally I kinda prefer a .416 for Cape buffalo, the dangerous game most hunted in Africa. It hits them noticeably harder than either a 9.3 or .416, and its heavier bullets also get through really heavy bone just a little better than anything lighter. I have twice seen good 300-grain .375 bullets do weird things when hitting heavier buffalo bones. This isn't common but I have seen it happen--and haven't seen it happen with .416 bullets.

In North America I would happily go with the 9.3 for any kind of big game hunting, and have.

JB,

Allow me to point out that the slight larger base just ahead to the extractor groove that the 9.3 X 62 (and the 6.5 X 55) enjoy over the '06 case, will preclude the loading of 5 rounds into some customized Mauser actions. (ask me how I found out, twice!)

Of course, the CZ does not share this quirk.

"In North America I would happily go with the 9.3 for any kind of big game hunting, and have."

Couldn't agree with that statement more.

hatari,

Thanks for noting that. I haven't built any 9.3x62's on a 98 action--but have encountered that very problem with the 6.5x55!

Of course, 4 down is still one more than the .375 Ruger (or .375 H&H) gets in a standard action.

Isn't it amazing how so many such ancient rounds work so well? Which is why they're stil around....

JB & All,

Great thread for us beginners!

Have a LH .375 Ruger waiting to be picked up this weekend. Dies, brass bullets on the way. Think I'll load slightly above 9.3x62 levels to start with. Can always go full-house later if Africa becomes an option.

An excellent idea! The .375 Ruger should be very flexible when downloaded, just like the .375 H&H.

The 9.3x62 makes up into a really nice light minimum Cape Buffalo caliber and when used properly works very well on them..I have shot seveal Cape Buffalo with the 9.3x62. My rifle had a a 26" tube and with a max load of RL-15 and a 320 gr. Woodlieh it killed them...Personally I would prefer the 375 Ruger or the H&H anyway you cut it and better yet a 416 or 404..

There are no miracle calibers out there. there are good and better and bigger is better on DG anyway you cut it when the distance gets short..

IMO one should use the biggest caliber that he can shoot comfortably and accurately without ANY regard in his mind to recoil. To me personally, that equates to a 416 or 404, 450-400 and a 450-3.25 at the very top end...Others can handle more recoil comfortably, others just "claim" they can and these are the boys that get you in trouble....

If you are uncomfortable with a .375 Ruger or H&H then use the great little 9.3 x 62....its the next best choice down.

I see quite often that it is mentioned that the 9.3 is not legal in some places, are the only 2 S. Africa, and Tanz.?

I know the 9.3 is legal in Zim,and Namb.

In CAR, Camaroon, and Benin is'nt the min just 338?

Is it the P.H.'s call in the other countries like Zambia and Botswana? I have never hunted in those countries.

So if true just 2 African holdouts! Viva the 9.3!

Ed

Just a note , my 9.3x62 1917 Enfield holds 6 in the mag.It weighs 8.5# with a 1x4 Leapold. --- Mel

Just tried my Yugoslavian Mauser and it'll hold and feed 5 9.3x62mm's.

The 9.3 is legal in several countrties--but only the bore size, accompanied by an energy minimum that effectively rules out the 9.3x62, but allows the 9.3x64. My understanding is that this is the case both in Zimbabwe and Botswana. Of course a lot of officials can't tell the difference, and often the PH doesn't care and will allow the hunter to use whatever he wants, within reason. I know two people that have used .338's on buffalo in countries where 9.3 or .375 is the minimum, and one woman who killed a buffalo (quite neatly) with a 7x57 in Zimbabwe. Her PH gave the OK....

Whenever I turn to the Big Bore section of this forum, it's in hopes of an interesting read and exchange on some really fascinating bore above .40 that's lately been resurrected!

However, I must admit that the 9.3 X 62mm is fascination enough!
I have to go to a meeting just now, but will be back in a couple hours to see how this is developing. In the meanwhile, if you care to, you can read my blog on some of this at www.bigbores.ca

I tend to agree, This board considers the 9.3 and the 375 large bores where most consider them heavy mediums, but heck if I can talk about 9.3's and hunting who am I to bitch!

I could not pull up you blog.

Ed

I couldn't either.

505ED;

I couldn't either from this site. Not sure why. It is the correct address and works from other sites and you can type it in if you want up at the top of this page in space provided. That'll work. Then click Go.