Short Barreled 9.3x62 rifle

[aleli]

I have shot boars up to 200 yards. Maybe a little more on the rare occasion. And a roe buck at 245 when my 7 mm RemMag was at the gunsmith so I hade to take the Blaser... But I feel more limited by my scope (Trijicon) than my rifle in that case.

I will check the velocity he gets (I think I have the data already since be uses my cronograph for load development)

 

[aleli]

His best shooting load was just over 2400 fps with a 250 gr bullet and he called it "a moderate load" (in Swedish).

In the load notes there is a mention to try a faster double-base powder from Vitavourhi instead of the Norma powder but I didn't know if he ever tried it..not to my knowledge at least

 

[Jayjay]

His best shooting load was just over 2400 fps with a 250 gr bullet and he called it "a moderate load" (in Swedish).

In the load notes there is a mention to try a faster double-base powder from Vitavourhi instead of the Norma powder but I didn't know if he ever tried it..not to my knowledge at least

Thanks very much Aleli.

What Vitavourhi powders would he suggest?

Once I get my rifle I willl play around with the available powders to try to achieve 2500fps safely.

Regards.

 

[aleli]

I am not sure but my guess would be N540. It should be fast enough for a short barreled 9.3...

 

[Jayjay]

Ok Aleli! Will check it out. Thanks.

 

[Nyati]

Shot with a Merkel Helix, RWS EVO 296gr.

Distance around 40 meters, high heart shot, didn´t go too far.

 

[CAustin]

I think the Merkel is a sharp looking rifle. Saw one last month at the Merkel distributor showroom and liked it.

 

[PaulT]

I have a Sako Black Bear in 9.3x62 with a short 20" barrel and for my purpose I love it.
Light-weight, synthetic, smooth action, accurate, mild recoil etc etc the positives are many.

I am using mine in thickly forested mountain condiotions

 

[POCONO GUY]

I shot my Oryx at 190yds and my Kudu at 270 yards one shot in the neck with a Blaser R93 in 300 Win Mag shooting 180grain Federal Trophy Copper. Plrnty of gun and plenty of bullet. Took an elk at 150 yards with same rifle and bullet.

 

[dchamp]

I have Blaser R8 with a 22" barrel in 9.3x62 and it is a wonderful rifle. I shoot a 250gr TTSX at 2530fps. You can also get it with a 20.5" barrel and a lot of guys that have it prefer it to the 22". One guy I know with the Blaser 20.5" barrel shoots a 250 Accubond at 2470fps. If you want a full length stock then Blaser has their Success model which a lot of guys like also. One guy I know with the Blaser 9.3x63 20.5" barrel shoots a 250 Accubond at 2470fps.

 

[Jayjay]

Shot with a Merkel Helix, RWS EVO 296gr.

Distance around 40 meters, high heart shot, didn´t go too far.

Wow! Nice Eland.

Have you ever tried to shoot your Merkel for groups? Would it be possible to use the Helix to hunt for game at 300-350 meters?

 

[Jayjay]

I have a Sako Black Bear in 9.3x62 with a short 20" barrel and for my purpose I love it.
Light-weight, synthetic, smooth action, accurate, mild recoil etc etc the positives are many.

I am using mine in thickly forested mountain condiotions

Hi Paul.

A similar rifle caught my eye also, but it's a Grizzly in 9.3x62. Have you harvested game with your rifle? How was your experience using a 20 inch barrel? What bullet weight do you use?

 

[Jayjay]

I shot my Oryx at 190yds and my Kudu at 270 yards one shot in the neck with a Blaser R93 in 300 Win Mag shooting 180grain Federal Trophy Copper. Plrnty of gun and plenty of bullet. Took an elk at 150 yards with same rifle and bullet.View attachment 177683View attachment 177684View attachment 177685

Beautiful rifle, beautiful animals Sir.

 

[Jayjay]

I have Blaser R8 with a 22" barrel in 9.3x62 and it is a wonderful rifle. I shoot a 250gr TTSX at 2530fps. You can also get it with a 20.5" barrel and a lot of guys that have it prefer it to the 22". One guy I know with the Blaser 20.5" barrel shoots a 250 Accubond at 2470fps. If you want a full length stock then Blaser has their Success model which a lot of guys like also. One guy I know with the Blaser 9.3x63 20.5" barrel shoots a 250 Accubond at 2470fps.

Thank you.

How far would a 250 Accubond bullet be effective at 2470fps? Assuming, I can get my trajectories right, would this bullet traveling at that velocity be effective 300 meters or farther? I really do not consider myself a precision shooter, if I can hit an animal cleanly at 300 meters consistently, I would be happy.

I shot a hog in Texas with a CZ 550FS in 9.3x62 at 240 yards, he looked like he was hit by a sledgehammer.

 

[Jayjay]

I shot my Oryx at 190yds and my Kudu at 270 yards one shot in the neck with a Blaser R93 in 300 Win Mag shooting 180grain Federal Trophy Copper. Plrnty of gun and plenty of bullet. Took an elk at 150 yards with same rifle and bullet.View attachment 177683View attachment 177684View attachment 177685

I wish I could hunt a Gemsbok like that, how did the horns measure? How about the Kudu? Looks at least 55 inches.

 

[PaulT]

Hi Paul.

A similar rifle caught my eye also, but it's a Grizzly in 9.3x62. Have you harvested game with your rifle? How was your experience using a 20 inch barrel? What bullet weight do you use?

Jayjay, I absolutely love my Sako Black bear.
For my specific purposes it fits the requirements as close to perfect as possible.

I am using it to hunt thickly forested mountainous terrain that is difficult to negotiate at times and is also (relatively) steep at times.
As I purchased it my Black bear weighed 6.5lbs naked and is just on 8lbs scoped, loaded and ready to hunt.
I have so far shot three Sambar deer does and one malformed young stag all under 100yds using PMP 285gn factory rounds that I would definitely NOT recommend as I am experiencing at least 2 to 3 rounds per box that ARE not going off !!! one of those failures cost me a good stag .
Even these cheap generic 285gn soft points are knocking down medium sized deer such as Sambar as though they have been hit by a train.
The furthest any has travelled up to this point has been about 25yds.

I have no need nor intent on using this rifle beyond 200yds maximum therefore the light-weight, short-barrel handling characteristics were much more valued than it's long range potential.

Good luck with your selection.

Paul.

 

[Jayjay]

Jayjay, I absolutely love my Sako Black bear.
For my specific purposes it fits the requirements as close to perfect as possible.

I am using it to hunt thickly forested mountainous terrain that is difficult to negotiate at times and is also (relatively) steep at times.
As I purchased it my Black bear weighed 6.5lbs naked and is just on 8lbs scoped, loaded and ready to hunt.
I have so far shot three Sambar deer does and one malformed young stag all under 100yds using PMP 285gn factory rounds that I would definitely NOT recommend as I am experiencing at least 2 to 3 rounds per box that ARE not going off !!! one of those failures cost me a good stag .
Even these cheap generic 285gn soft points are knocking down medium sized deer such as Sambar as though they have been hit by a train.
The furthest any has travelled up to this point has been about 25yds.

I have no need nor intent on using this rifle beyond 200yds maximum therefore the light-weight, short-barrel handling characteristics were much more valued than it's long range potential.

Good luck with your selection.

Paul.

Thanks Paul.

I too have never shot any game animal at 300 meters. The farthest is a Texas wild boar at 240 yards. I have shot prairie dogs at distance though, that, is a lot of fun too.

I am set in getting a 9.3x62 rifle for hunting, however, all my hunting friends are going with the high velocity chambering like 270 Win, 300 win mag, 308. They are all talking about taking game at distance. My rifle will be used like yours, a brush gun, would be an appropriate term. I love shooting hogs, I have been dreaming of doing a driven hog hunt in Europe for years. Shots would be within 100 meters most of the time.

I would want to know what is the maximum distance I can use a rifle like this. Just want to know what the limitations are. In Africa, they say there are long shots you may need to take in Namibia or Kalahari. I just want to know when I need to pass on the shot or try to move closer.



Regards.

 

[Shootist43]

Maximum range will vary depending on the bullet being used and the animal being shot. Initial muzzle velocity is just part of the equation. Try using Nikon's Spot On program (available online for free) to see what energy remains at any given distance for the bullet you are using. You can vary bullet weights and manufacturers just to see what options best suit your needs.

Here is the link http://spoton.nikonsportoptics.com/spoton/spoton.html#:4

 

[Nyati]

Wow! Nice Eland.

Have you ever tried to shoot your Merkel for groups? Would it be possible to use the Helix to hunt for game at 300-350 meters?

Rifle is not mine, I was just testing it for a firearms magazine.

The 9,3x62 is not a long range cartridge, so I only tested it at 100 meters and it grouped fine, as far as I can remember.

 

[stug]

@Jayjay a 250gr accubond at 2470 will easily kill at 300 yds. With it 2" high at 100 yds it will be 12.5" low at 300 and have 2259 ft-lbs of energy and still be going 2017 fps. The accubon will still expand at that velocity. It still has 1878 fps at 400yds so should expand as well.