could 2500 be a hot load for the x62 using 293 and 300 gn bullets?
i know that while these bullets can do 2600 with good loads in the x64, 2500 is still a fair load in that case with bigger capacity.
these loads are also starting to generate a fair ammount of recoil in a light rifle.
from experience with 293 tug, i would not use it on bovines at those kind of speeds, and john taylor described that bullet as a bit soft for those speeds as well on bigger game.
he liked the bullet at reduced velocities.
bruce.
If 9.3 was made the minimum caliber we would be having this discussion about the .35
If .35 was made the minimum caliber we would be having this discussion about the .338
The 9.3 allowed older non premium bullets to work well with controllable recoil, driving a 286gr bullet to 2500fps is counter productive.
Just get a .375 if thats what you want.
Honestly though, I dare say 250gr Nosler E-tip fired at 2950fps out of 338LM would kill any DG just as well as any of the ancient big bores but that's not the hill I'm going to die on.
Nevertheless your thinking is flawed in sense that 9.3mm is legal minimum in some parts of Africa while .35 never was. Making the limitations consistent for each species in different countries would make selection of firearm easier. Nevertheless, we're talking about different countries, legal minimums have much more variety between countries in Europe already.
Then again, if some solution proves suitable for task at hand, shouldn't the law be changed accordingly?
9,3x64 is excellent example of cartridge that should've excelled but ended up being almost forgotten. Then again, it doesn't have benefit of lighter recoil over 375HH and it has same limitations of legality for DG as 9,3x62. Kind of a lose-lose compromise.
@Skinnersblade
But he was chosen to educate people on the virtues of the mighty mid bore. Dang even the mighty Elmer Kieth liked the 35 and the 25s.
Bob
Even if the 9.3 x 62 was the legal minimum I'd still prefer my 375 H&H. I don't have a 9.3 x 62 but have its ballistic equivalent the 9.3 x 66 Sako and those who say the 9.3 are nicer to shoot have not shot one in a rifle weighing 8lb 4oz (Sako 85 Hunter with Zeiss Conquest 4x scope). The recoil (286gr Woodleigh @ $2400fps) is brutal! But that rifle was scary accurate and a dream to carry.
I much preferred shooting my 10lb 375 H&H Custom though.
I just listened to Ken Robertson's podcast and he's a big proponent of the 9.3 but his was a rifle that weighed 10 1/2 lbs. So yeah that would be nice to shoot but how many 9.3 x 62's out there are that heavy? They are generally much lighter than their 375 counterparts so I'd rate recoil about the same or worse in case of my Sako.
Typical weight should be somewhere between 9 and 10 pounds with scope. Felt recoil is in many cases a stock issue but not a weight issue. Recoil is not really different to a 300 winmag with 200gr bullets.
I would choose the .375H&H over 9.3x62 simply because it is more versatile in Africa..I have had wonderful results on PG with 235 Barnes X, 260 Nosler Accubond, 270 Rem. core loct.. And you can easily take up to and including elephant with a .375 with modern bullets...300/350/380 grainers..
I agree that getting a 286gr bullet 2500fps is productive, I disagree that 9.3x64 case capacity is needed.
I am heading to the Caprivi region in about a months time to hunt Cape Buffalo. It has long been a dream to take one with my 9.3x62. Namibian law however stipulates that only calibers producing 5400 joules of enerygy or more may be used on dangerous game. About two years ago I started doing research on how to get my rifle legal to hunt buffalo. Its quite simple... RL-17 powder. I was able to load 286gr Swift A Frames as well as Woodleig hydro solids over 2505fps which exceeds the minimum energy requirements. The A-Frame's are not at all a hot load, they are actually below max suggested psi pressure. The 286gr hydro is a bit of a hotter load due to it being longer than the A-Frame and thus taking up more space in the case. I have tested 286gr A-Frames at 2520fps vs 2420 fps to see if 100fps would equal more penetration. Both penetraded almost exactly the same distance. The faster bullet went about 1" deeper. My point being that chasing speed in the 9.3x62 might be counter productive from a "effective killing" perspective. I don't think a well constructed bullet traveling 2520fps would be more effective at killing buffalo than the same bullet travelling say 2350fps. I however think enabling the 9.3x62 to reach minimum requirements for dangerous game is very productive. I have to mention that if ever given the opportunity to hunt hippo or elephant, I wouldn't hesitate to use my 9.3x62 with 286gr Woodleigh Hydro solids traveling 2510fps. The penetration and wound channel is something that will surprise most. Coming back to the title, I think depending on which country your hunting the 9.3x62 might already be seen as the legal minimum.
Out of interest, attached is a photo of the two Swift A Frames traveling 2420fps and 2520fps. Both expanded way more than double caliber.
Oelof
View attachment 405698
First off the wound channel would still be 9.3mm as solids do not expand. My .300 RUM pushing a 200 grain bullet at 3,110 ft./s generates generates 5,821 joules, quite a bit over the minimum energy required today.
However, caliber matters. I would not use my .300 RUM on an elephant or a hippo. Heck, my personal opinion is that even a .375 H&H is marginal at best for an elephant.
I have nothing against the 9.3 variants, my 9.3x74R from Heym is getting shipped from Dallas to my FFL tomorrow. However, I will not be using it for an elephant, I have a multitude of .4xx and .500 caliber firearms for that. Horses for the courses.