9.3x62 Penetration On Large Game

[markferrigno]

300 gn swift aframe 9.3mm bullet at 2400 fps.
a bit faster than a x62, but not much.
600 kg camel bulls through the ribs side on come out the other side and kill instantly.
also camels 1/2 that weight with similar shots.
quartering frontal shots deliberately on the point of the shoulder, bullet stays in, but instant death.
quartering from the rear be careful not to try to drive the bullet through too much stomach.
you will get the camel, but not instant death.
penetration test on bull camel dead lying on its brisket.
would not completely penetrate both shoulder blades, muscle and spine sideways on.
the muscles were bunched up and tight.
I sometimes wonder whether dead muscles are harder or easier to penetrate than living ones?
will a brnesx penetrate more than a swift?
possibly so, as the swift relies on pushing, while the barnes to some degree also relies on cutting as well.
looking at these results, I would shoot cattle and buffalo with a 286 or 300 gn swift, but use a solid if forced to shoot an elephant.
something bigger would be preferable for this.
286 gn nosler partition on donkeys. not sure of weight.
nose blew off when hit shoulder blade and blew back out next to inlet hole.
rest of bullet deflected off course by this, luckily in a good direction.
could have been bad on different game in a different place.this same feature is what makes nosler partitions useful for shooting smaller species with bigger calibres.
body shots on other donkeys not many sudden deaths.
270 gn speer. won't penetrate much at all. would suit small species.
the x62 might do well with the brenneke tug 293 gn for many jobs.
it had dual cores, the front one being softer.
bruce.

Where did you hunt Camels?

 

[5shot]

My guess is Australia

 

[bruce moulds]

yes the land downunder, also referred to as the antipodes, or terra australis.
bruce.

 

[sambarhunter]

Load woodleigh hydro`s and you will have all the penetration you want,a shot up the texas donut on a camel will have the bullet come out the chest.

 

[Bushpig4Ever]

Load woodleigh hydro`s and you will have all the penetration you want,a shot up the texas donut on a camel will have the bullet come out the chest.

I have Woodleigh Hydro for my 9,3x74R, but never used it so far. Maybe in May on a buffalo at Bubey Valley Conservancy...

 

[bruce moulds]

sambarhunter,
that is good if you WANT the bullet to come out the chest end.
a barnes x might be a better balance.
bruce.

 

[BeeMaa]

Load woodleigh hydro`s and you will have all the penetration you want,a shot up the texas donut on a camel will have the bullet come out the chest.

This is exactly what I was going to suggest is having a few Woodleigh Hydros with you at all times.
Beautiful rifle as well.
Good luck on the upcoming hunt.

 

[sambarhunter]

Article from SCI today where one hunter was very pleased with his Woodleigh Hydro bullets.

https://huntforever.org/2016/01/26/...tm_campaign=Main&utm_content=HeymExpressrifle

 

[Daga Boy]

Its a great calibre. My all time favorite bushveld rifle.
Much like a .338WM but not as fast and the bullet is fatter and not as long in a given weight, so not as good as the WM for long range but better energy transmission (read KO) at shorter ranges.
I don't personally favour it for serious DG (only on account of the low KO factor ) but it has killed so many buffalo and elephants that its capability is absolutely beyond question.
Recoil is also way lower than any "serious" DG rifle.
Simply cant go wrong with this.

 

[sgt_zim]

This is my shoulder after about 40 rds of 250 gr NAB. Recoil is appreciable, even with "light" loads in a light rifle.

 

[Deleted member 43267]

Impala, Gemsbok, Bull Wildebeest, and Kudu, through and through, all down with one shot although they did not collapse. No tracking needed, all down within 25-50 yards.
Cull Wildebeest dropped in its tracks with a frontal shot that broke the neck, traveled down along the backbone and existed downward into the ground.
Eland retained a 286 grain Nosler partition on the opposite side of the chest cavity, went down within 75 yards with one shot.

I love that caliber.

Jeff

 

[Scrumbag]

Certainly does a decent job on all the big wild boar I've shot...

 

[TOBY458]

This is my shoulder after about 40 rds of 250 gr NAB. Recoil is appreciable, even with "light" loads in a light rifle.

View attachment 277104

Just shoot a 458 a few times once you're done with the 9.3, and blame it on the 458!

 

[sgt_zim]

I'm pushing 525 gr BTB out of my 45-70 at about 1625. Still not 458 WM or L territory, but close enough.

 

[Scrumbag]

I'm pushing 525 gr BTB out of my 45-70 at about 1625. Still not 458 WM or L territory, but close enough.

Sounds plenty punchy enough for my shoulder that one...

 

[8x68]

Anybody have any experience using Lapua 285gr MEGA's as a hunting round? They shoot lights out in my CZ 550 FS 9.3x62.

 

[IvW]

I plan to use it as my plains game rifle, and possibly Buffalo if the occasion should arrise.

It is a very good choice for this purpose.

My question is, how does the 9.3 compare to larger calibers when it comes to penetration on Large animals like, Buffalo, Eland, Hippo, and even Elephant.

Larger calibers with the same shot placement and the same bullet will perform better, however the 9.3 is more than capable in the right hands with the right bullet and shot placement.

Does it offer enough penetration to comfortably take a frontal chest shot on a Cape Buffalo?

No! 9.3 and 375 calibers are not recommended for frontal chest shots on buffalo.

How about a frontal brain shot on an Elephant?

Yes with the right solid and shot placement it has more than enough penetration to reach the brain every time.

I know this all depends on the bullets being used, but let's just say they're all using Barnes TSX, Swift A Frame, or something similar.

I would not recommend the Barnes TSX in the 9.3x62 for DG.

Also, how does it do on Lion with lighter weight bullets?

It is a great Lion caliber but do not use lighter weight bullets, use minimum 286gr or rather step up to 300gr or even 320gr bullets. The Woodleighs in the heavier weights are excellent for Lion.

My new rifle is going to be lightweight and handy to carry on all day hunts. I look forward to shooting it and learning more about this legendary caliber.

It sure is a legendary caliber and with the right bullet, shot placement and in the right hands it can kill anything in Africa.

In many cases the reduced recoil results in better shooting ability and shot placement which in turn means dead whatever you where aiming at.

It is a superb caliber, great for plains game with the ability to kill DG more effectively than what ballistics suggest. Anybody who has used one will only have good things to say.

Good luck and enjoy one of the best African calibers ever designed, the Germans knew what they where doing....

 

[1dirthawker]

there was an article by a guy named guyana, he was a ph that had done quite a bit of hunting (i suspect still does) he was a great proponent of the 9.3x62. used on buffalo, lions, etc. i bet he would use it in a second for a undisturbed ele.
i think as a backup, he might consider a larger rifle more appropriate, but i cannot put words in other peoples mouths, but that is the gist of what i got.

 

[TOBY458]

It is a very good choice for this purpose.



Larger calibers with the same shot placement and the same bullet will perform better, however the 9.3 is more than capable in the right hands with the right bullet and shot placement.



No! 9.3 and 375 calibers are not recommended for frontal chest shots on buffalo.



Yes with the right solid and shot placement it has more than enough penetration to reach the brain every time.



I would not recommend the Barnes TSX in the 9.3x62 for DG.



It is a great Lion caliber but do not use lighter weight bullets, use minimum 286gr or rather step up to 300gr or even 320gr bullets. The Woodleighs in the heavier weights are excellent for Lion.



It sure is a legendary caliber and with the right bullet, shot placement and in the right hands it can kill anything in Africa.

In many cases the reduced recoil results in better shooting ability and shot placement which in turn means dead whatever you where aiming at.

It is a superb caliber, great for plains game with the ability to kill DG more effectively than what ballistics suggest. Anybody who has used one will only have good things to say.

Good luck and enjoy one of the best African calibers ever designed, the Germans knew what they where doing....

Thanks for you response! Very good info here!

 

[TOBY458]

there was an article by a guy named guyana, he was a ph that had done quite a bit of hunting (i suspect still does) he was a great proponent of the 9.3x62. used on buffalo, lions, etc. i bet he would use it in a second for a undisturbed ele.
i think as a backup, he might consider a larger rifle more appropriate, but i cannot put words in other peoples mouths, but that is the gist of what i got.

Yes he was a great proponent of the 9.3. His name was Don Heath, but unfortunately he passed away not too long ago I'm told.