.370 Sako Mag

[DOC-404]

A light bulb just came on (dimly but visible) about the reason for the 375. It is a gateway of sorts, a tool to train for a different kind of hunt. A way of getting accustomed to the recoil of the bigger bore guns but yet have a rifle that is fine for what we do in North America. I never really thought of it that way. thanks.

..there you go..! :agree:

 

[B9.3]

I would take a 9.3x62 over the 9.3x66/370 Sako anyday or night. There is really bugger all difference between my 9.3x62 & my 375 H&H when loaded to potential.
In the 62, Lapua is the very best brass & loaded with RL17 @ 2700 fps with the 250gr it really is a lot of gun. I use 250gr Accubond for allround work & the 250gr North Fork to hunt anything ugly. There is a plethora of good bullets for the 9.3. The 9.3x62, just like the 30.06 is a rifle to own & hang on to forever.
If used purely as a hunting rifle you will never burn the barrel out on it. I cannot speak highly enough about this magnificent cartridge..

 

[sestoppelman]

I too like the 9.3 very much. I dont think its a good as the .375 nor do most folks. About the best energy you can get out of the 62mm case is near 4000 lbs and that takes some pretty creative and ballsy loads and an optimistic chronograph. Or a very long and "fast" barrel. I was quite happy to drive a 250gr slug to over 2500fps in mine (w/ 24" bbl.) and just over 2300 for the 286. In the H&H getting over 2600fps with a 300 gr bullet is pretty easy, and thats good for over 4500 lbs. I have seen loads claiming over 2700fps, but I have not gone there. The difference in powder capacity is quite a lot. There is nearly 30 percent difference in boiler room. Really the 9.3x62 is just a tad bigger in case size than the '06 though yes it is quite a lot more cartridge due to bore size, bullet weight and a slight advantage in powder capacity. The '06 case used here held 67.5grs (10% less than the 9.3) of W760 that I used in the others, poured in and not tapped down. These are all great rounds, the .375 is still king of the heap for the all-rounder. The 9.3x62 is a great cartridge, but its no .375H&H.

 

[Pheroze]

I get the distinct impression that the pros and cons of the 9.3 and the 375 need to be fully explored before a decision can be made. such in depth research will probably require one of each...Looks like familiarity with reloading also an asset.

Thanks again for the input. Greatly appreciated!

 

[bebo]

9.3x66, .375 Ruger id Blaser are "proprietaries" ... Good luck !
What do these new cartridges bring more ? Shorter case .. and money to the manufacturers..and difficulties to get them.
9.3x62 and .375H&H are still alive and what want to do new cartridges : try to duplicate "old" cartridges with just a little more , more what ?
I own both 9.3x62 and .375H&H : 9.3x62 can be efficient with a short barrel, and accuracy until 160yds. If you need more : 7RM, 300WM or .338WM (24") classic!
.375 H&H with a 24 " barrel with .270grs you can shot until more than 220 yds ... until 200yds with .300grs. ...
Wide choice of bullets and manufacturers with ... "new" loads (for instance "Superperformance", new Winch and so on ..). Sako has very good rifles barreled with . ... "classic" calibers .... so!

 

[bushmantim]

G'day Pheroze,
don't be afraid of being a bit different and going for a 9.3. Obviously the problem in North America is ammo availability from what I hear, but a lot of the American manufacturers are getting into the bigger medium bores & big bores now (including the euros), such as Hornady.
I have taken Asian water buffalo here in Australia easily with the 9.3X62, and the cartridge is having a resurgence here for that and Sambar deer hunting. I helped cull close to 300 feral pigs here last year, and put about 150 rounds of 9.3X62 down range: recoil wasn't an issue. A guy I go pig hunting with mostly shoots a 9.3X62, and has already downed over a 1000 feral pigs for THIS year.
biggest advantage of the 9.3X62 (&'66, '64) is they fit in a standard action. My sako black bear also holds 5 rounds in the mag, & with a barrel less than 22" is a very fast handling outfit. We are lucky here to have a good supply of woodleigh bullets in 232, 250, 286 & 320 grains, however speer, hornady, Barnes to name a few also make 9.3 projectiles.

 

[bebo]

G'day Pheroze,
don't be afraid of being a bit different and going for a 9.3. Obviously the problem in North America is ammo availability from what I hear, but a lot of the American manufacturers are getting into the bigger medium bores & big bores now (including the euros), such as Hornady.

biggest advantage of the 9.3X62 (&'66, '64) is they fit in a standard action. My sako black bear also holds 5 rounds in the mag, & with a barrel less than 22" is a very fast handling outfit. We are lucky here to have a good supply of woodleigh bullets in 232, 250, 286 & 320 grains, however speer, hornady, Barnes to name a few also make 9.3 projectiles.

I agree ! but for the 9.3x62 (now true availibility) :agree:

Nb :
9.3x66 (Sako) (.370 Sako) is between 9.3x62 (Mauser) and 9.3x64 (Brenneke) performance.

9.3x64 <=> .375 H&H very closed to ... but 9.3x64 is not easy to find ...poor bullet' choice for manufactured ammos even here in Europa .. it's a pity ...because it's a very, very good ammo !!

 

[Pheroze]

I seriously appreciate all of the information about this caliber! I started off looking for something "better" but the more I read the more I recognize that only real field experience will allow me to appreciate these calibers (9.3x62 and 375) in a meaningful way. My thought is that there is nothing learned by going to the latest thing such as 370 Sako when I have not even given the established ones a proper try.