Dangerous Game with 9.3x62?

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

I think that 9,3 x 62 is an old forgotten caliber for a dangerous game. 9,3x62 slowly but systematically ,
it regains its place among the calibers used for dangerous game in Africa.

 

[Fastrig]

9.3x62 is a fine cartridge.

Using one as mentioned where it is not legal for DG is fine, as long as things work out as they should....
If however you decide to use one and things go south and a tracker or PH gets seriously injured or killed I would not like to be the one who was using the illegal firearm if the powers that be decide to take things further.....

That’s why I’m planning on buying a Blaser R8 in 375 H&H....to be completely legal. When in someone else’s country, follow their rules and you don’t normally have any issues. I would check with my PH before making any decision and go with their guidance.

 

[njc110381]

I think that's my friend's approach to it. If you're legal you're far less likely to have issues.

 

[Jeffrey]

To me, the real advantage of 375HH over 9.3X62 is AMMO and components availability. The 375HH is simply far and above every other chambering in its class vis a vis availability. There's ammo in every camp.

I still haven't found a real world scenario in regards to 375HH being legal and 9.3X62 being illegal. Yes there are things written on websites on the internet, but rural Africa and the internet don't have much overlap. I'd like to see ONE real story where someone having a 9.3X62 was stopped by someone because he didn't have a legal chambering.

 

[Scrumbag]

I have a 9.3x62 (In an FN Mauser, not a Blaser) but if near the SE of England welcome to try it out. For Boar, as the French say, the 9.3x62 is "Le Calibre Superior"

 

[curtism1234]

9.3x62 is a fine cartridge.

Using one as mentioned where it is not legal for DG is fine, as long as things work out as they should....
If however you decide to use one and things go south and a tracker or PH gets seriously injured or killed I would not like to be the one who was using the illegal firearm if the powers that be decide to take things further.....

Furthermore - if a ph/outfitter allowed the use of such rifle illegally, that would certainly be a deal breaker in doing business with them. Their job is to keep out of trouble of all sorts, not purposely get you into trouble

 

[njc110381]

I have a 9.3x62 (In an FN Mauser, not a Blaser) but if near the SE of England welcome to try it out. For Boar, as the French say, the 9.3x62 is "Le Calibre Superior"

A very kind offer. Thank you.

I think my friend has firmly settled on the .375H&H now. We went to view a barrel today and he's keen. It turns out his stock doesn't need any work for the mid weight barrel to slot in, which was one worry he had. Barrel, bolt face and magazine insert are all available from the same place and his firearms department have given him an informal go ahead when the question was asked.

I'm a bit jealous - they wouldn't let me have my .375H&H for deer here back when I asked a few years ago. I've got the .416 Rigby now but I still have a lot of respect for the .375H&H. I have some great memories of shooting mine abroad before I sold it!

 

[Scrumbag]

NJC, glad to hear it!

I have my 9.3x62 for ALQ (And a 404J and slug - not quite sure how that happened!)

Scrummy

 

[njc110381]

Slug seems to be a real sore subject with Gloucestershire. I don't think they see the point as it's not generally deer legal and is a bit much for foxing. I suppose now boar are starting to be more of a thing that's a good use? When I first started out they wouldn't accept boar even existed! Well done on the .404 - getting a .4+ rifle cleared for use here seems to be the holy grail of achievement! I was shocked when they put AOLQ on my Rigby.

 

[adzhoo]

9,3 x 64 is a way more powerful option if you are in love with this diameter. Not sure it fits a standard Mauser action though.

 

[Kawshik Rahman]

If may offer one insight on the subject :
During the span of my career ( 1962 - 1970 ) , l noticed that the .375 Holland and Holland magnum and the 9.3 millimeter mauser were two calibres which roughly competed for the same place , in a gentleman's battery : The medium-heavy bore rifle . While American and English sports men favored the .375 Holland and Holland magnum cartridge , continental sports men favored the 9.3 millimeter mauser.
Now , on to the technical aspect of this cartridge. The .375 Holland and Holland magnum uses 300 grain bullets ( although even heavier bullets are now available I recent times ) . The 9.3 millimeter mauser uses a 286 grain bullet. It is not much of a difference , but in terms of performance there is still a difference none the less. While there is very little which a .375 Holland and Holland magnum cartridge can do , which a 9.3 millimeter mauser cartridge cannot do , the 14 grain heavier bullet of the .375 is added insurance . The recoil of the 9.3 millimeter mauser is slightly less than the .375 Holland and Holland magnum cartridge , this is of no consequence , since any man of average strength can fire a .375 Holland and Holland magnum calibre rifle with fair ease .
In regards to dangerous animals , my humble observations show that , for a Royal Bengal tiger , the difference between the 9.3 millimeter mauser and the .375 Holland and Holland magnum cartridge is imperceptible. The same applies to boars and Asian sloth bears .
It is the bison or buffalo which really let's shooters see a difference in terms of the terminal effects of both the cartridges.
Even though l have no direct experience with the African species of cape buffalo , l can put a word about the effects of these two cartridges on the Indian Gaur Buffalo which , l believe is fairly similar with a weight of anywhere from 1500 pounds to 2000 pounds ( for a full grown adult male ) .
A .375 Holland and Holland magnum cartridge , with proper shot placement could take even the largest Gaur from stem to stern and even stopped a few charging Gaurs .
Now , a 9.3 millimeter mauser cartridge was also used by my clients to hunt numerous Gaurs . However , l noticed that if a Gaur above 1800 pounds in weight decided to charge , then the 9.3 millimeter mauser cartridge fared marginally at best for frontal shots.
This , combined with the fact that in most places of Africa , the .375 Holland and Holland magnum is the smallest cartridge legally permitted for dangerous animals , leads me to believe that if a gentleman on a budget is choosing one rifle between the two , the .375 Holland and Holland magnum calibre rifle will benefit him.

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

9,3x64 fits a standard action Mauser M98.

 

[adzhoo]

9,3x64 fits a standard action Mauser M98.

Much better option then, imho. It’s quite the flat shot and RWS is (was?) loading a 293 grains bullet for it. Great alternative

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

i personally love the 9.3
and with any decent ammo and decent shot placement, african DG will go down
it will be a lot easier too partnered with the 308, just change barrels and away you go
how much african DG will this gent ever hunt??? so why the inconvenience

get the 9.3 and lets go hunting

regards

 

[Bushpig4Ever]

With Kevin Robertson's 9,3 x 62 over 600 buffalo were killed. Any more questions you want to ask?

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

I agree with Bushpig4Ever.

 

[Tam Dl]

The problem with the 9.3 is it downgrades the experience. It turns a hunt for dangerous game away from something that you needed a 470 for; and into something that was easily handled with basically a wildcat of a 30-06 (speaking metaphorically, not historically).

Don Heath managed to romance it up a little with the thousands of buffalo and elephants he shot with it, while keeping in mind that terrorists, or poachers might insert themselves into the scene. He said that it was worth carrying a gun you could run 30 rounds through effectively, which is heavy weather with higher recoiling rounds. He also used a box magazine on his rifle.

Heath also said that at least in his hands, the only loading he felt was capable of moving the needle above the 9.3. The only thing that would meet the issues he might face as a guide. (he may have had to exclude such things as doubles and weird old nitros for budget and other practical reasons) was the 500 Jeffery, in a Blaser. Not sure which rifle...

He recommended the 375 H&H for for the average user. He had recommended the 9.3 at a time when he felt the bullets available for it were more reliable, but that no longer plays into things.

 

[JPmbogo]

The better question in choosing a cartridge for hunting critters who can shoot back, is how big a gun can I handle!?! Personally, if it ain't a .400+, forget it.

 

[K95]

Just a quick one chaps. A mate of mine has a Blaser R8 in .308. He wants something to shoot boar, bear, maybe African DG too. Will the 9.3x62 work for that? I know it's borderline and some countries want .375, but that will take a lot more changes to the rifle for it to work. From what I can see he can just slap on a 9.3x62 barrel and crack on? If it will do the job that is?! I'd appreciate your opinions!

I have a Blaser R8 with a 9.3 x 62 barrel. I rechambered it to the 9.3 x64 . Simply run a reamer through it. The only other thing is to slightly open the bolt face a few tho and it will work with both cartridges. You then have the a 9.3 cal with the power of a 375 H&H . Mine drives a 300 gr A swift at 2630 fps. Then you can hunt anything, anywhere.

 

[SRvet]

Just a quick one chaps. A mate of mine has a Blaser R8 in .308. He wants something to shoot boar, bear, maybe African DG too. Will the 9.3x62 work for that? I know it's borderline and some countries want .375, but that will take a lot more changes to the rifle for it to work. From what I can see he can just slap on a 9.3x62 barrel and crack on? If it will do the job that is?! I'd appreciate your opinions!

It should be very easy to swap calibre families to a belted magnum. He would only need the mag insert (that comes with a new barrel anyway) and a bolt head and Bobs your uncle, in 5 minutes you have a .375! There are secondhand bolt heads for the magnum calibres that would be easy enough to get. Edinburgh Rifles seem to have a decent bank of spares so may be worth a call.
Edit :I’ve just seen it looks like you are sorted375 will be great on boar I would expect. I’ve only shot warthog with mine but it seemed just right for that job.