So guys, i've really been feeling the itch to purchase a 9.3x62 for a while now, and im tempted to go and pull the trigger on either a Tikka T3 or CZ550 in the said caliber tommorrow morning at my local store. The only problem is, I'm having trouble justifying the purchase to myself, as I've already got a T3 chambered in 30-06, and don't hunt game any bigger than the Sambar deer (about the same size as an Elk). My usual medicine of 180g core-lokts works just fine on them.

I'd love to have a 9.3, but im still at university and only work part time, and my reasonable side is telling me to either save the money, or spend it on new equipment i need, like a chainsaw and new radio. I guess what im really looking for is opinions. Is there really any reason that I "need" a 9.3 when my 30-06 does the job well already? Im considering trying some 200 or 220g loads just to mix things up a bit, and keep me interested until a later date when perhaps I can justify another rifle. Im sure every rifle looney goes through this, but this time its extra tough!

Get the 9.3 if you can't live without it.

Sell the Tikka.

Buy a chainsaw.

Well Aleks, obviously you have answered your own questions.

But get one anyway.

Have you considered the Zastava in that chambering? A lot cheaper.

Seems to me you don't "need" to poke bigger holes in smaller game, but the itch is there. I'd hold off for a while, and see if the itch gets so bad you absolutely can't stand the irritation before you try to scratch it.

But why anyone would listen to my advice about NOT buying another rifle is well beyond my comprehension. The longest I waited to scratch the itch was 3 years, bt I got the rifle I NEEDED (right) for a lot better price at the end of the wait.

Sounds like a good approach, you scratch your new itch and buy the things you need. After all you can always get an 06 down the road again when that itch resurfaces.

I have a 9.3 also, have yet to draw blood with it, but it is a very satisfying cartridge to load and shoot.

I have a 9.3x62 (CZ 550 American Kevlar) and like TwoTrax, I've yet to draw blood with it. I too had a hard time justifying it since it will be used for hunting deer, elk and hogs and already had other rifles that work on large game. I guess I was just intrigued by the reviews and stories about the old caliber.

I'm still trying to find that magic load. So far, I've tried Varget and RS Big Game and both were acceptable but, will be trying Reloader 17 next. I will be using 286 gr. Nosler Partitions.

I've thought about selling the 06, but i cant being myself to do it. Bought it when I was 15, and shot my first ever deer with it. Too much sentimental value. I have considered a zastava, and have had a look at one chambered in 7x57. Looks like a good working rifle for the price. Guess ill have to make the choice tommmorrow morning!

Keep the 30, wait on the 9.3. Buying is only fun when you don't have to worry about it.


Travis

+1. The 9.3 may kick a bit more than you "always" like, never ever sell a nice 06.

This 111 sold for $800 on GB in Dec.

This,is the best advice. I have only two .30-06 rifles left, of about 15 I have owned, as I sold one Brno ZG-47, my minty Mannlicher MC carbine and my early Browning Safari during the past 1.5 years and I have four 9,3x62 rifles, have had a couple of others.

The 9.3 is NOT hard to handle and seems an ideal round for much of "big" as in elk, moose, ect, hunting. It is also easy to load for and mine have given stellar accuracy, but, based on sad experience, I have to agree with the above comment.

It seldom seems to the true gun nut, that you WILL EVER get all the neat guns you crave; believe me, I have done so for almost 50 years and you would be surprised how quickly some of these desires can turn to "buyer's remorse" if you step beyond what you can comfortably afford to scratch a particular itch....I worked two jobs in my '50s, sometimes 4-5 weeks of split shifts in 16 hour days to afford much of what I now have and I now regret that.....just some friendly advice from a guy who has BTDT

Keep the .30-06 if it is accurate. Never sell an accurate rifle. Personally the 9.3 x 62 has more recoil than I would want to deal with -- .30-06 with 200 grain bullets is about my limit, and I think a lot of people feel the same.

I'd hate to think what it would cost to get that rifle imported to Australia, which is where I'm guessing the OP is from (Sambar deer). I'd bet that rifle would double in price quite rapidly.

Aleks9210 are you hunting the Sambar on drives? If you are I could see where a large bore thumper like the 9.3X62 would come in handy, especially for a shorter barreled rifle with ghost ring sights. Something that handles fast, points easily, and is minute of Sambar out to 200 yards/meters.

If you reload I'd be tempted to pick up an old Enfield down there cheap and rebarrel to a 9.3x303 when you get the money. However, if a guy has a good .30-06 you can't get much better than that for the game you described. If you need better tools that will make you more money long term to feed your rifle habit, I'd buy the tools

I always have a 30-06, and that would be one of my first to get and last to let go. Currently have a nice Sako 30-06 that does not let me down. In big magnums, my favorite is the 416 Remington and I currently have a nice Winchester 416 that does not let me down. My 9.3x62, which is another Sako, was purchased not to replace my 30-06, but was intended for use when I wanted to shoot bigger bullets on big stuff without using the magnum. I look at it as another 30-06 that shoots bigger bullets. I've entertained the thought of doing an extreme downsizing and using this 9.3x62 to replace both my '06 and my 416, but I cannot bring myself to sell either. If I were frugal enough and didn't have such love for the 30-06, I'd then probably stick with the 9.3x62 and never own the other two. In that scenerio, I could probably live with a .22lr, a .243Win, and the 9.3x62 to serve all my rifle needs for anything I'd care to hunt, including Africa.

Best

Honestly when you lay everything out on the table like that, it seems that you need to wait. Down the road, you'll be in a better financial position to buy one and the good ol 06 is boring at what it does but very effective as we all know. If I were in your shoes, I'd wait.....Set priorities and goals for yourself. Therefore, it sounds like the other tools (you mention) would be at the front of the list....

If you want magic, you should try RE15 instead of skating and ducking around it...They arn't that hard to load for...

The day comes for every hunter when he realizies that all he ever really needed was a .30-06.

Or 3 huh swampy....

Fixt it for ya!

Noone ever need any AI.

Go hunt Griz with you 223AI, just remember to throw the gun to the side, I don't want to inherit a rifle that is all scratched up.

LOL

You are correct, no justification present.

Set the money aside when you can and plan to get one cheap down the road, post university, from some guy who overspent relative to income as Kutenay has said--there will be a good supply of opportunities...

Thought I'd run some 190g Hornady thru the 06 this year, maybe some Bergers...

This. It's college. Plenty of opportunity to buy "wants" in a few short years. A .30-60 Tikka (plus sentimentality) is a pretty sweet do-anything rig. Lusted over one in college myself and couldn't afford it; can't imagine it being insufficient if I could have.

Just a note:
Sambar are not hunted in drives they are stalked 1:1. Hunting ethics in OZ weed out anyone who strays outside this (Inc Spot lighting)and destroys them socially. To suggest they are disrespected is a massive understatement.

Sambar live in the deep forest of the Blue Mountains in teh South East of Australia which is one of the few areas they live in huntable numbers. The sambar stag is the holy grail of hunting down under with a 30" head usually a once in a lifetime achievment.

They are tough beyond belief, will hide under water when escaping, typically run into deep forest when spooked or shot and have to be tracked so the bigger the blood trail the better.

While a .30/06 will kill any cervus anywhere, it is the bottom of preferred choices in Oz. The most succesful sambar hutner I ever knew took 14 in the first 2 years of hutning them. This is very highly unusual but the hunter was skilled and educated far beyond the average stalker.

The .458 is a top choice but so it the 9.3, .375 and .338's.

In the words of Lou Holtz, "WIN", or What's Important Now. Let your conscience be your guide.

What about Hound Hunting? That was what I actually meant when I stated "drives", I had remembered reading this post a few years back: "Hound Hunting for Sambar in Victorian High Country." To me hound hunting isn't anything vastly differnt than a drive IMO.

I'd look into a tougher bullet than a core-lokt for game that is commonly shot with .458's.

That savage looks sweet. Shame im in aus. @ taylorce1, your right. I do hunt them over hounds, which is similar to a european driven game hunt but not quite the same, and perfectly legal. I thought about it, an i think ill wait until my borthday in august for the 9.3, itll make a lot more sense then.

Lastly @aussiegunwriter, mate im only 20 years old (21 in august) but i can say ive hunted a fair bit since i started accompanying my dad some 11 odd years ago. Never in my time have i seen anyone go after sambar with a .458 mag, and frankly the idea that anyone would is ludacris. .300s, .338s, .375s, heck even a .350 rigby are all represented in my hunting camp but ive never even heard of someone suggest a .458.