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

John,

It just hit me. The data you mention for the 9.3x62 using the 250 Accubond and Varget, is 60.5 gr. I've look net wide to find such published data and only one place rewards me with 60.5 gr. Loaddata.com's data which references Handloader magazine, #250, Dec 2007. This shot from a CZ550, 23.6" barrel and pressure tested under 60k psi.

Now, I'm going to assume that is your load, published by you. If not, I apologize. I'd lay rewared where it is due. No other manufacture of load data, bullets, powder, etc, lists 60.5 gr of Varget of the 250 Accubond or any other 250 gr 9.3 bullet.

If it was indeed your data....

1. How did you come up with said data?

2. Did you use what we refer to as looking for typical pressure signs; ie, difficult bolt lift, velocity, measuring CHE, primer signs (poor signs), etc.?

3. Did you SWAG it? Educated guess? Pay a witch doctor for help?

4. Did you confer with ballistic reps at Nosler, Hodgdon or elsewhere?

5. Once you obtained the 60.5 gr data, I assume you had it pressure tested by Ramshot (?) since you seem to have a very good relationship with them.?

Did you notice an increase or decrease in accuracy with each increase in powder charge with this bullet/powder combination? My best accuracy with my Pre 64 M70 and 24" Pacnor barrel seemed to be in the 2400-2550 fps range with 3-shot groups running sub 1/4-1/2 MOA. As soon as I went above 2550 fps, groups opened up to 3/4 to 1.25 MOA; which is fine for it's intended purpose.

Basically, I'm wondering if you, like many of us out here in "Handloader Land", pus
hed the published envelope a skootch more than the books say and use our years, possibly decades, of knowledge and experience?

Please don't interpret this post as a flaming arrow. I appreciate you knowledge and advice as a gunwriter.

Oh, and if you need to be politically correct, I understand. Do the best you can with your answers.
Alan

Alan,

Yep, that was my data.

I never had that particular load pressure-tested.

I did have the load of 62.0 grains of Reloder 15 and a 250-grain pressure-tested, and it got around 60,000 psi. I used that powder charge with 250's for a while, but one day when I was getting ready to go on a hunt in South Africa my supply of RL-15 was a little low. There wasn't any available locally, or time to order any.

I've always gotten good results with Varget, which is normally just slightly faster than RL-15, so tried Nosler's data, starting with the maximum load (56.5 grains) because they stick to older pressure standards of well under 60,000 psi. As I recall the initial test loads went up to 59 grains or so, and all shot sub-MOA for 3-shot groups at 100 yards, normaly for my rifle with about any load.

The muzzle velocity of my pressure-tested 62.0 RL-15 load was around 2650 fps, and the top load of Varget didn't get there. So I did a little calculating and figured 60.5 grains would result in 2650 or so. (This is easily done with single-based powders like Varget because velocity increases at the same rate as the powder charge.)

60.5 grains also shot into less than an inch and muzzle velocity was right around 2650. I loaded up 50 rounds of ammo and took it to Africa, and have used that load with 250's ever since. It never has shown the slightest indication of high pressure, even at 90-degree temperatures, and I would bet an 8-pound jug of Varget that it gets right around 60,000 psi.

I noticed in one of your previous posts that you use 65 or 66 grains Big Game with 286's. Where did you come up with that load?

John,

LOL, my notes say I got it from you

Alan

HA!

John, what is your load for the 286 gr Partition using Varget or Re15?

Thanks,
Ted

I've never tried Varget or RL-15 with 286's.

The very first 9.3x62 I loaded for was purchased for a friend from a local store. Before sending it to him I loaded for it just to see what would happen, trying IMR4895 and H4350 with 286's., which were recommended by many people back when the 9.3x62 was rare in the U.S. Neither worked all that great; H4350 was too slow and IMR4895 too fast.

I bought my own 9.3x62 a decade ago and tried Big Game right away with 286's, since it was right between IMR4895 and H350 in burning rate. It shot so well, both in terms of velocity and accuracy, that I've never fooled with anything else since.

Based on my experience with Varget and RL-15 and 250's, however, I'd say that around 57-58 grains of Varget would be about max, and 58-59 grains of RL-15. However, I must also note that Varget doesn't seem to vary much between lots, but I've seen RL-15 vary as much as two grains in cases the size of the 9.3x62.

When it comes to the 9.3x62, I'll be the first to say, for the most part, I'm not a pioneer. I discovered it here on the CF and the AR. I've simply followed suit and mimicked John's and others examples. When John said he used Varget or Big Game for the 250 Accubond or 286 Partition, I got in step.

Where I did diverge and break away from the pack is having Leupold install the CDS elev turret system on my VX3 1.75-6 and make the 250 Accubond load a combination I can use out to 470-685 yds (near sea level to my 10,500' mountain elevations). I bought three of the turrets; 500', 5500' and 10,500', since the 2nd and 3rd turrets were 1/2 the price of the 1st. For those individuals who claim the 9.3x62's max range should be no further than about 300 yds, better grab your oxygen. The 3rd, 10,500', turret will take me out to 620 yds, not that i'd use it that far.

Something of interest. The 250 AB @ 2600 fps drops about 5" more than a 180 Ballistic Tip/AccuBond in 30 cal @ 2700 fps (30-06!) @ 500 yds.

I found the same thing with RL 15 in my 35 Whelen switching to Varget solved that, got great accuracy too and it costs less.

Thanks for the reply, John. That actually fits perfectly with my experience using IMR4320.

Ted

Just for reference purposes....





Cheers!
-Bob F.

John,

Getting a touch of senility there, Ay?

Alan

Any of you gents have info for the Accubond in a x74R you
could share? Shooting in No.1 and SSK Encore barrel.

I have two lots of RL15 noticeably different in density. With my Redding BR-30 set to throw 42 grains of the light lot, it throws 43.6 grains of the heavy one. Interestingly those two charge/lot combinations shoot about the same under a 168 in my 308 rifles.

John,
I wold like to thank you for the data for the 9.3X62 that you published awhile ago. It made a noramally long and intensive search for good loads very short. My CZ550 shots yours so well that I have no need to look further.

John,

Would you use a 9.3x62 for Water Buffalo like we get here in Australia? I notice a few Ruger African's chambered in this cartridge which has peaked my interest.

LowBC

Would anyone have a .338 WM and a 9.3X62? Overlap? I like both,but need room in the safe...

I'm not JB alias MD but when i decided to go hunting water buff in Australia last year i asked my guide if my 9,3x62 would be enough. Answer was "yes without restrain if you use good bullets, will be as good as 375H&H". I choose to take my lever action in .50AK cal but will use 9,3 in Africa next year.

Hi GSSP,

I'm using and loading 9,3x62 for years in France, not having access to RL15 or Varget i use VN140 and VN540 wich are very close to them, with loads close or a bit higher than that of JB. Velocity is very close to his one and with no pressure excess sign. The 9,3x62 is loaded to lower pressure than cartridges using same case head and capacity because of the old standard of 1905 that are references for manufacturers. Loading to a bit higher pressure is easily done without risk in our modern rifles and cases. Never a 330WM the 9,3x62 is even better today with a bit more velocity than at the beginning of XXth century.
From my experience with french and finnish powders, with RWS, Norma or Lapua cases and most commun bullets we find today i'm sure you can use without problem the datas of MD.
In my Steyr Prohunter i can push 800m/s the 250NBT (no accubond)and get less than moa at 100m for 5 shots if i do my best. Not from Lead Sled but from and old Millet plastic rest...
Dom
PS: The Ramshot powders (Tac, Big Game, Hunter, Magnum) used by JB are franco/belgian powders we use under an other name with the same results as JB.

LowBC,

I haven't taken any buffalo with the 9.3x62. Tried to in Africa in September, but had already shot a really nice one with my .416 and never found one I wanted to shoot with the 9.3x62, though I carried it (with my PH's blessings--and he had seen others in action) for several stalks. It is so close to the .375 H&H that I doubt anybody could see the difference, though no doubt some ballistic hair-splitter would disagree.

John,

I have used both for more than 30 years, killed literally tons of big game with both, and always tell anyone who asks about the 9.3X62 that it is a 375 with five in the magazine.

Ted