Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 9.3 bullet test

Did a little redneck bullet testing at the backyard range today and thought you all might be interested. Just did the 286gr. bullets today as that is what I am most interested in. Test consisted of one shot into my box at about 80 yards which consisted of one wet phone book (~2.5") a soaked hardwood board about 1" thick then wet phone books behind to catch the bullet. Overall the only bullet that I wasn't impressed with was the Hornady Interlock, which actually suprised me. Was expecting more out of it as I really like the interlock in other calibers. The cheap PRVI bullet shocked the heck out of me hanging right in there with the premium bullets. The PRVI looks like a Lapua mega and performance was awesome to say the least, factor in the price and I can assure you I will be ordering more real soon. All bullets were launced from my recently completed semi-custom Husqvarna 640 which has the stadard euro 23.6ish" barrel. Lapua cases, Winchester large rifle primers, and 65 grains of Ramshot Big Game. OAL was unique to each, nothing fancy just whatever seemed appropriate, usually to a crimp groove or some such natural seating depth. Only really odd thing was the Barnes seemed to tumble in the last inch and was found facing the wrong way. Nosler had a little lead plug sitting up next to the front, I show weights with and without since they were together but not actually attached. Largest wound channel seemed to come from the Oryx, might be something to the RN causing more damage (in wet phone books at least). Width measured at widest point, even if that's just a curl of jacket

Results:
-Barnes TSX, Penetration 20.5", retained 272.3 (95%), Width .736
-Hornady interlock, Penetration 17", retained 169 (59%), Width 1.27
-Norma Oryx, Penetration 19", retained 277 (97%), Width .94"
-Nosler Partition, Penetration 22", retained 255 (89%) w/plug of lead, 212 (74%) without, width .738"
-PRVI, Penetration 17.5-18", retained 235 (82%), Width .85"
-Woodleigh PRP, penetration 20", retained 277 (97%), width 1.3"

I can e-mail pictures if anyone is so inclined and can run the loads across a chronograph if you just have to know the muzzle velocity, though I suspect 2400ish is a safe bet judging by my past experience with this rifle

Very neat, I love seeing these kind of things.

Based upon the rifle model designation I assumed this was a x57, but that charge weight suggests x62? Any idea what velocity these guys were doing when they impacted the test medium?

Do you have any 270 gr Speer HCs to test like this? I'd be very interested in that one, too.

Thanks for the great information! Nice to see that the more economical PP competes so nicely, as that and the Speer are what I've chosen for my x57.

THanks a lot for posting the results!

I agree - thanks for the information. I too, am interested in seeing some tests of the Speer HC if you have any. I came across a bullet penetration test on the web the other day that complements your test and is similar in the results. I think at the 9.3 x62 velocities and the x57 too, that the "old" style bullets will work just about as well as the premium bullets. Although just speculation on my part.

I am all over thoose PRVI's. My results into wet phone books at 50 yards are very similar to yours. My rifle is a CZ550 9.3x62. Hornadys had complete seperation. I ended up choosing the 250grain TSX for my up coming hunting.

Sorry defintely a 9.3x62, don't try those loads in the x57 although I suspect your case would runneth over if you tried to get that much powder in it!

Yep there wasn't much left of the Hornady although I didn't have any seperation. There certainly wasn't much shank left to push the 'shroom. Too bad, I really was hoping to run them for light/fun work and the partition for business. Starting to think a combo of PRVI and Norma Oryx may get the nod if I can get them all to shoot for me. Don't think the round nose is going to hurt me at 2-300 yards.

Guessing impact in the 2100-2200 fps. neighborhood but that's just a SWAG. Will look up the numbers later.

No hot cores here. Figure the hot core is on the way out and the odd ball weight doesn't impress me.

Norma Oryx is a good bullet, I've been beating that drum for a few years.

And I've been listening, got about 100 of em here for testing. Ever get that McMillan for the HVA? Mine's been with CAS for a little while, just got him the barreled action today. Smith went all out with the action, some necessary some not, but I couldn't be happier with the results.

Hasn't shown up yet, but it sure should be soon. I'll give Ryan a jingle this week.

What about the Norma Alaskan bullets? I have quite a few in
9.3

Haven't tried the alaska in the 9.3 although I do like them in the 6.5mm and have a pile of them in factory format. Figure it would be very similar to the PRVI at about triple the price, but if you have them I wouldn't be throwing them away...

I shoot the Alaska in my 9.3x57 but I've not slayed anything with that bullet. Thinking standard cup and core.

My only testing was on critters with the 250 gr X launched at 2650 fps from a 9.3x62 in 2002. Left to right, gemsbuck, bushbuck, two kudu (one shot) and eland.

Tony,

Shame about the poor performance of those X bullets you have been experiencing. I can see a few petals are missing from one bullet...

John

There is probably more 9.3 info on Nitro Express Forum than anywhere else.

http://forums.nitroexpress.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=94935&page=0&fpart=1&vc=1

I put one each of the PRVI and Hornady bullets into the chest of a broadside bear awhile back. The entrances were separated signifcantly, but there was only a single exit with Interlock bullet fragments in the tissue around the exit hole. Neither bullet seems like a great bullet and I'd happily pair the Hornady with the Partition as a paper,work-up/hunting combination. Then again, either bullet would be great for most any of the smaller species of deer, and I would have no qualms about using either on moose myself. But I hunt them virtually in my backyard.

tag for latter test

Wonder how the 250 Gr Nosler Accubond would do around 2600 FPS

Any experience with the Speer 270 grain?

Yukoner has used the 270 gr on moose and bearl, around 2400 FPS as I recall. Hopefully, he will post about his experience,s .