Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa 9.3x62, 30-06, or 7x57 for plains game/ N. America

The 9.3 makes a bigger hole than the .30/06 going in (.366" vs.
.308").

Also, while the 9.3 is not a flat shooting rifle, the .30/06 with a 240 grain bullet is likely even less so.

The puny 7x57 with 160 AB's worked fine for my 13 year old son.

The 240-30 cal and the 286-9.3 cal have basically identical BCs and can achieve similar velocity. The 30 cal has a significantly higher SD so it would probably penetrate deeper.

Own all three! It's easy and it's fun to have choices. But if I had to have only one the 30/06 is the most practical.

My preference would go to the 7X57 just because I have one myself and use it more than any other caliber I own out in the African bush! 170 gr 7x57 is hard to beat for african plains game.



Best Regards
Louis van Bergen

Louis found one of those amazing elans for me in September. Took two shots from my 30-06 with 180 grain Partitions. Most exciting hunt of my life (and I'm an old guy). Thanks again Lou...

Thanks for the compliment Gary!

It is always great to have you in camp with us my friend, will be looking forward to our future hunts.

Best Regards
Louis van Bergen

All are great calibers, but if I only had to have only one rifle to hunt with for the rest of my life, I would choose a 9.3x62mm. Using the right bullets, you can legally and ethically take game in size from the smallest antelope up to elephants. As good as the .30-06 is, it cannot be relied on against dangerous game. Yes, the 9.3 does not shoot as flat of a trajectory as other calibers, but it will do the job with no issues out to 200-250 yards.

The 9,3x62 will go farther than that with a 250-grain spiter handloaded to .30-06 pressures. I've used it beyond 300 yards on smaller African antelope, quite easily.

Same here BSA, 9.3X62.

Gunner

Never been to Africa but I use a FN 98 sporter in 9.3x62 on moose with 286gr Hornady handloads and it works just fine.Took a black wolf a couple yesrs back along with WT's.All bangflops.....Harold