I have a pre 64 Model 70 chambered in 30-06. I would like to rebore and rechamber to 9.3x62 Mauser or 9.3x64 Brenneke. Any advantages/disadvantages pertaining to either one of these 9.3 cartridges?
Jim
Jim, I just had a sako 30'06 rebored by clearwater reboring to 9.3x62. I'm very happy with the job they did and the caliber I chose.With Norma factory ammo loaded with 250 grain a-frames I'm suppose to get 2625fps, I'll report soon on what I find out.
I'm thinking that will kill the biggest of creatures I'll ever hunt.
I'll be waiting for your report. Thanks for the info.
Jim
Good caliber choice Jim, I'm a wannabe for a 9.3.
Either cartridge will do well...I built a x62 on a mauser action because the Brennele was too long and fat. For a W70 I would pick the Brenneke because you can load longer...maybe a bit of work on the rails and bolt face, I'm not sure...no extra work on the x62.
I would go with a new barrel rather than a rebore as the cost should be about the same. You could also do any number of "wildcats" with a new barrel if you are a reloader...a 375 or 416 "Brenneke" would rival the 375 or 416 Taylor and give you 400 gr plus bullet weight in the 416 if you want and have plenty of whump for any game in the world.
I'm getting 2350 f/s with 300 gr and 2400 plus with 286 gr without pushing the envelope.
Lots of x62 ammo availible and cheaper than Brenneke stuff, but the Bren HAS a bit more thump on both ends...2400 vs 2700 with a 286 gr bullet...something to consider. The exta whump on both ends isn't needed for N.A. game but for the rest of the world I would go the larger Bren and a 416 cal.
Pick one for the conditions and be happy.
FWIW, if you can find a pre-'64 take-off barrel in 270 or 30-06 to rebore, it would be nice to keep the original barrel, in case you ever wanted to put it back into its original configuration.
Although this isn't a great barrel, since it has been shortened, GB # 108366902 might work and the price is right.
Jeff
I was going to do this with a pre-64 Fwt '06, but found out that there just wasn't enough diameter at the muzzle to make me feel good about doing it. I had a mint pre-64 .270 standard weight, but couldn't bring myself to use it. It would have required using a Fwt. stock and some additional inletting to accommodate the rear sight boss. It just would not have looked or felt right to me.
I then acquired a pre-64 standard weight barrel in '06, thinking that I would find a pre-64 donor action somewhere, but that hasn't happened either. If you would like a barrel to rebore, I will sell you mine cheap.
Put the .06in your safe and go buy a 9.3, or rebarrel and keep the.06 barrel. After a few years of shoulder thumping of those 250gr pills, you will decide the .06 is the right one. ( take a look at 220 gr RN out of an .06 vs the 250 gr out of the 9.3)
I kept wanting to make 35 Wheeln out of mine,but after few days, every time,could not see the advantage
Jim,
I have three 9.3x62 rifles. Also, two 9.3x57 and three 9.3x74R's. One of my rebored x62's is a Ruger #1-B that was formerly a .270.
Altho' I have long lusted for a 9.3x64, In truth, I cannot find enough advantages over the x62 to even seriously consider it. Cases are only made by RWS. Dies are custom order only... All that trouble for likely less than 100 f.p.s. advantage over the 9.3x62. (Not to mention odd bolt face dimemsions and odd shellholder...) The 9.3x64 cannot match the performance of the revered .375 H&H, but it can come close. But in truth, the .375 is fairly overpowered for North American game. (with the possible exception of the big bears... )
Sometimes common sense and virtual reality should prevail over emotion. But hey! Who could ever claim that rifle looniness should be logical.
If it were, It wouldn't be any fun.
The 9.3x62 will do everything the .35 Whelen will do and more. (And about 95% of the .375H&H)
Grasshopper
i picked up a 1952 std weight 30-06 with a frosty dark bore and a cracked stock, but a perfect action and exterior metal.
I had Jim Dubell (Allen actually) from Clearwater rebore to 9.3 and a local guy fit and rechamber. It shoots very well with all loads and does not copper foul.
I originally planned a 35 whelen, just because the whelen/pre-64 seemed like nicer match, but after we pulled the barrel and had a good look, the chamber was pitted as well, and a 9.3x62 will clean up the chamber completely, as well as give a longer headspace distance, letting you lap the lugs and trim the bolt-face if necessary.
if your barrel is good, I would consider getting a take-off, as others suggested . Pre-64's are indexed the same, so any barrel will screw on with the sights and extracor cut lined up correctly.
The rifle loads and feeds as well as it did with 30-06's with no modifications.
I had Les Bauska do exactly the same thing to my pre-war Model 70. It was a 270 with a bore that looked like a concrete sidewalk and a chamber to match.
Completely cleaned up the chamber, as well got a new bore.
Ted
I have built up more than a few 9.3x62s and 9.3x64s. I much prefer the 9.3x62 over the 9.3x64. The 64s gave me about 75 FPS over the 62s and brass is expensive and hard to find and could be impossible to get any time in the future...
I have shot Cape Buffalo with the 9.3x62 and the 320 gr. Woodleighs at 2400 FPS or a bit more in a 26 inch barrel. It is on par with the great .375 H&H..the 9.3x62 really cooks in a long tube btw...
I would just rebarrel your rifle, reboring is iffy and expensive and takes forever to get one back, its best for those collectable guns that you don't want to change the outside on.
Or, you could find an x62 Swede Moose thumper at a place like Allan's Armory and be good to go without rebarrel/rebore. SARCO also handled these, but think they stopped the Huqvarna sales. Don
As a Husqvarna man I think getting a nice old rifle from Allan is a great idea. It would cost about the same and he is a good guy and easy to deal with. That said, my 9.3X62 is a CZ 550FS.
Well, Brenneke brass seems to be in short supply. Also, I saw lots of 9.3x62 Mauser ammo in the gunshops in Namibia so 9.3x62 will be the cartridge. Now I must only decide whether to rebarrel or rebore. Thanks for all the suggestions and input.
Jim
One of my 9.3x62's is a rebore/rechamber of an FN 30-06 that Cliff LaBounty did some years ago. Clearwater Reboring bought Cliff's old business. Cliff did fine work as I have two other rebores/rechambers of his, a 338-06 and a 35 Whelen. At the time cost was much less than a re-barrel and blue. All are very smooth and accurate. I load the 250 gr X to 2650 fps in my 9.3's and used that load in Africa 6 years ago with great success. I would not bother with the 9.3x64 as brass is still a hassle I believe.
On barrel diameter, my Whelen rebore measures .555" at the muzzle, same as my factory Ruger 35 Whelen. I recall Cliff wanted 10 thousandths a side at the muzzle.
On barrel diameter, my Whelen rebore measures .555" at the muzzle, same as my factory Ruger 35 Whelen. I recall Cliff wanted 10 thousandths a side at the muzzle.
Point of order: I believe you mean .100 or 100 thousandths, or 1 tenth of an inch. .010 is paper thin...
Grasshopper
One of my 9.3x62's is a rebore/rechamber of an FN 30-06 that Cliff LaBounty did some years ago. Clearwater Reboring bought Cliff's old business. Cliff did fine work as I have two other rebores/rechambers of his, a 338-06 and a 35 Whelen. At the time cost was much less than a re-barrel and blue. All are very smooth and accurate. I load the 250 gr X to 2650 fps in my 9.3's and used that load in Africa 6 years ago with great success. I would not bother with the 9.3x64 as brass is still a hassle I believe.
On barrel diameter, my Whelen rebore measures .555" at the muzzle, same as my factory Ruger 35 Whelen. I recall Cliff wanted .10" a side at the muzzle.