9.3 X 62 or .416 Rem mag for buffalo

[IvW]

Rhino make the best bullets available in RSA for buffalo hunting. 286 gr and 300 gr in 9.3 readily available, just a phone call away.

For buffalo you want heavy for caliber bullets at modest velocity not light bullets at high velocity....

 

[AJS]

325gr and 320gr bullets from a 9.3x62? dear god kind of velocity are these things moving at?! i imagine just north of the speed of smell, heck id be surprised if you could even get 2000fps from most barrels.

the only Swift A-frame ive ever heard of failing (from a reliable source) was a 286gr A-frame fired from a 9.3x62. fact is that these heavy bullets fired from the 9.3x62 cartridge are just barely scooting along with any kind of real authority.

i own a 9.3x62 and love it, but i use 250gr Woodleigh RN bullets hot loaded to about 2500 fps in order to get proper expansion. i would never use any thing heavier then 286gr and even then i would be very careful of shot placement as bad angles could lead to bad expansion.

-matt

Thank you again Matt
I load my 9.3 x 62 with 230 gr Peregrine VRG3 and get 2520 fps and the 286 gr I get 2250 fps, I would really like to use heavier bullets in the 9.3, but I might try the Noma 325gr just for the sake of experience.

 

[AJS]

Rhino make the best bullets available in RSA for buffalo hunting. 286 gr and 300 gr in 9.3 readily available, just a phone call away.

For buffalo you want heavy for caliber bullets at modest velocity not light bullets at high velocity....

Hi LvW
Thank you I had a look at Rhino bullets but never got to purchasing some as per my reply to BeeMaa I am happy with Peregrine and the help and support they gave me.
Would you rather use a .416 Rem mag with 300 gr bullets at 2600 fps or a 9.3 x 62 with 286 gr bullets at 2250 fps on buffalo?

 

[IvW]

Hi LvW
Thank you I had a look at Rhino bullets but never got to purchasing some as per my reply to BeeMaa I am happy with Peregrine and the help and support they gave me.
Would you rather use a .416 Rem mag with 300 gr bullets at 2600 fps or a 9.3 x 62 with 286 gr bullets at 2250 fps on buffalo?

Between the two with those loads, the 9.3 x 62 hands down....the traditional load would be about 2350 fps with 286 gr bullet no need for more, velocity kills in motor vehicles not when hunting DG...

If you want to shoot 300 gr bullets close to that velocity buy a 375 H&H and drop the 416...you want to hunt with a 416 load 400 gr bullets...

 

[sgt_zim]

@AJS - if you are handloading and are able to get Western Powders (Ram Shot and Accurate), you might take a look at Ram Shot Big Game. It is considered by many to be THE powder for 286 gr bullets. I've got Western's load data for 9.3x62 on a PDF. If you're interested, I can attach it here.

There isn't a lot of load data for Alliant 2000MR but I've used that as well and am getting about 2425 fps on 286 gr without it being a max charge.

Hornady does have published loads for their 286 gr Interlock and 300 gr DGS bullets using 2000MR, but I don't believe I'd ever use either one of those on cape buffalo.

 

[AJS]

Between the two with those loads, the 9.3 x 62 hands down....the traditional load would be about 2350 fps with 286 gr bullet no need for more, velocity kills in motor vehicles not when hunting DG...

If you want to shoot 300 gr bullets close to that velocity buy a 375 H&H and drop the 416...you want to hunt with a 416 load 400 gr bullets...

Hi LvW
Thank you, your reply helps me in my decision making, As for the .416 with 400 gr bullets that recoil is just not for me. I have also mailed Rhino bullets and requested information on their bullets. I appreciate your help and advice. Regards

 

[Red Leg]

I would Listen very closely to what @IvW suggests. He is in your neighborhood, and has lots of experience with buffalo. Reading through all your responses, you clearly have settled on either the 286 9.3 or 300 .416. In that case, no contest, use your 9.3 and the best bullet you can get there. Had Holland created and marketed the 9.3 to English Africa rather than the .375 it would have become the continent’s do everything caliber instead. I prefer a 300 gr .375, but in similar bullets 14 grs won’t matter - after all, a lot of buffalo die every year to quality 270 gr loads from the old Holland and your 9.3 will likely out penetrate those with a 286.

 

[sierraone]

velocity kills in motor vehicles not when hunting DG.

A new expression for me that I'll not likely forget!

 

[WAB]

We just finished a buffalo hunt in the Zambezi valley. My wife made a one shot kill with her 9.3x62. The load was 286 grain Swift A-Frames at 2450 fps. The shot was a perfectly placed high heart shot that incredibly knocked the bull off his feet. He jumped back up, ran 100 yards and expired.

Mine was also a one shot kill but with my .458 Lott. As usual, the buff didn’t argue much after that 500 gr bear claw tore into him.

Sgt Zim, I’ve been trying to get the Western powders loaf for 300 gr bullets in the 9.3. If you have it would you mi d forwarding it?

 

[sgt_zim]

As requested. I think the MV is a bit optimistic.

 

[fourfive8]

There are huge design differences among bullets.

SD is only one part of the equation for potential bullet penetration and, indirectly, effectiveness. There are other equally if not more important elements — including nose shape, relative softness/hardness and stability during penetration. If for example a bullet which has a relatively high SD of 300 but is frangible and/or soft may turn into a shot charge, a “pancake” or a bent pencil within a short distance after impact so is much less effective than a bullet that has a lower SD but is tougher and maintains its mass, structural integrity and is stable throughout its penetration track.

 

[IvW]

less effective than a bullet that has a lower SD but is tougher and maintains its mass, structural integrity and is stable throughout its penetration track.

Exactly, therefore the same tougher bullet that maintains mass, structural integrity and is stable throughout its penetration track which has a higher SD will out perform the same bullet with a lower SD, every time.

That is why premium grade heavy for caliber bullets(high SD) are recommended when hunting DG and not low SD high speed bullets.

 

[sgt_zim]

We just finished a buffalo hunt in the Zambezi valley. My wife made a one shot kill with her 9.3x62. The load was 286 grain Swift A-Frames at 2450 fps. The shot was a perfectly placed high heart shot that incredibly knocked the bull off his feet. He jumped back up, ran 100 yards and expired.

Mine was also a one shot kill but with my .458 Lott. As usual, the buff didn’t argue much after that 500 gr bear claw tore into him.

Sgt Zim, I’ve been trying to get the Western powders loaf for 300 gr bullets in the 9.3. If you have it would you mi d forwarding it?

Can't remember if it was you or @TOBY458 was going to work up 458 WM loads based on some GC lead commonly used in 45-70; Beartooth Bullet Piledriver 525 gr or BTB Piledriver, Junior 425 gr. I shoot both of those just north of 1600. I haven't killed anything with either yet. You might check with Marshall (owner) of beartooth bullets dot com (shows up as another BBS here, so no linking) and see if those bullets would work at 458 WM velocities.

I get good performance with RL7 and Ram Shot X-Terminator.

 

[AJS]

I would Listen very closely to what @IvW suggests. He is in your neighborhood, and has lots of experience with buffalo. Reading through all your responses, you clearly have settled on either the 286 9.3 or 300 .416. In that case, no contest, use your 9.3 and the best bullet you can get there. Had Holland created and marketed the 9.3 to English Africa rather than the .375 it would have become the continent’s do everything caliber instead. I prefer a 300 gr .375, but in similar bullets 14 grs won’t matter - after all, a lot of buffalo die every year to quality 270 gr loads from the old Holland and your 9.3 will likely out penetrate those with a 286.

Hi Red Leg
Thank you for the reply and yes I agree, LvW is well experienced and I can benefit from the advice.

 

[AJS]

We just finished a buffalo hunt in the Zambezi valley. My wife made a one shot kill with her 9.3x62. The load was 286 grain Swift A-Frames at 2450 fps. The shot was a perfectly placed high heart shot that incredibly knocked the bull off his feet. He jumped back up, ran 100 yards and expired.

Mine was also a one shot kill but with my .458 Lott. As usual, the buff didn’t argue much after that 500 gr bear claw tore into him.

Sgt Zim, I’ve been trying to get the Western powders loaf for 300 gr bullets in the 9.3. If you have it would you mi d forwarding it?

Hi WAB
Thank you for sharing you and your wife's experience specifically in relation to the 9.3x62 this give me direction in my decision. Regards.

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Maybe might be worth trying a box of 325 Norma Oryx in the 9.3? Serious sectional density there...

+1

 

[bruce moulds]

I would prefer , and consider it more morally acceptable, to hunt buff with a 9.3x62 and 286 or 300 gn swift than shooting at some of the bigger plains game species with a 7x57.
bruce.

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

I would prefer , and consider it more morally acceptable, to hunt buff with a 9.3x62 and 286 or 300 gn swift than shooting at some of the bigger plains game species with a 7x57.
bruce.

Why ?

 

[bruce moulds]

because the 9.3 is in my mind more likely to kill the buff suddenly than the 7x57 an eland or zebra.
bruce.

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

hi there

i havent read the whole thread so sorry if i repeat anything
sounds like you not so comfortable with the 416RM.
i am a huge fan of both of these calibres.
if you are the client and want to take only one of those 2 guns along, the 9.3 is perfect for buff, giraffe and all plains game.....as long as you not doing any long range shooting of say 200m plus
in my opinion 9,3X62 is the ideal calibre for bush hunting in africa. i am extremely happy when a client brings along a 9.3

one well placed shot on the buff, and another good follow up should be all you need.

take the one you most comfortable with, you will shoot better and thats way more important then a bigger calibre

regards