The agony of choice...

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

So, my choice is the Manlicher-Schoenauer GK 9,3x62!

I 100% Agree with Clodo. Pure class outstanding optics for near or far
Great cartridge even tho it's a metric Whelen.
What more can you ask for. Common every day, overpriced and over engineered or pure CLASS.
Bob

 

[spike.t]

On my next trip to RSA, a 9,3x62 will accompany me.

A Mauser M98, 20" barrel, Zeiss 3-12x56 Diavari, German #1 on pivot mount, or ....
A Mannlicher-Schoenauer GK, 25,6" barrel, zeiss 2,5-10x52 Diavari, German #4 on claw mount.

View attachment 356594



HWL

I would take both....lovely classic rifles unlike those blaser things....I think it's a well known fact you couldn't even give me one of those ugly things....

 

[HWL]

R93 ?

Not even this....

HWL

 

[Major Khan]

My personal vote goes to the Mannlicher , HWL . It holds each cartridge separately and utmost reliability is guaranteed . Of course , both designs are truly magnificent time tested actions .

 

[Brian Rothhammer]

My personal vote goes to the Mannlicher , HWL . It holds each cartridge separately and utmost reliability is guaranteed . Of course , both designs are truly magnificent time tested actions .

 

[Bert the Turtle]

I've got some nice guns, even a bespoke 404 on a GMA action. If I had no sentimental attachment to any of them, I'd sell the lot and keep my R8. Maybe use some of the money to get another.

They are all fun to shoot and some are beautiful. The R8 is just a functional tool. It's a commodity item. If it got damaged or whatever, I'd be out some money but there are as many more of them as I can afford. No sentimentality, it just works. You could say I'm attached to it because I am not attached to it.

It isn't perfect (it's a bit hard to load the magazine compared with other guns) but it is incredibly practical and works extremely well at what actually matters in a rifle as a tool. And having done it both ways, I can assure you that a take-down rifle is easier to travel with than a regular full-length rifle.

African hunting enthusiasts are a rather sentimental and romantic lot. We appreciate the past but have a tendency to deny progress. I think we would do well to emulate classic car enthusiasts. For the most part, they have hobby cars that they are passionate about and they have a car they use for getting to work. A '68 Hemi 'Cuda is unquestionably cooler and more interesting than a 2020 BMW M5. It is fun to take it out for a drive. Driving one signals a lot of things about the owner's passion. And there is absolutely a value to preserving and enjoying that history. But it doesn't perform better and it's not a better daily driver.

 

[Standard Velocity]

Our last trip abroad was to Spain. Our apartment was above a gun shop that sold Blaser rifles. Having never used one before I went in and asked to see one. While I still do not find them aesthetically pleasing, the Blaser rifles do have to be held to be appreciated. The ergonomics and balance are unique and wonderful. I don’t see myself ever owning one (I’m in the nostalgia camp) but must agree it’s likely one of the better engineered rifles available.

The rotary magazine in Mannlicher and Savage 99’s is probably only second to the old Sauer for protecting cartridges from setback in heavy recoiling rifles (though I’ve never experienced this problem).

The Mauser is a perfectly simple mouse trap. NASA space pen or a pencil accomplishes the same thing. The simpler the better. 1885 falling block.

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

Hi Bert,

Agree with you about the R8. I have had my hands on one but never fired it.
What really impressed me was the PERFECT trigger it had.
Best!

CF

 

[Milan]

African hunting enthusiasts are a rather sentimental and romantic lot. We appreciate the past but have a tendency to deny progress. I think we would do well to emulate classic car enthusiasts. For the most part, they have hobby cars that they are passionate about and they have a car they use for getting to work. A '68 Hemi 'Cuda is unquestionably cooler and more interesting than a 2020 BMW M5. It is fun to take it out for a drive. Driving one signals a lot of things about the owner's passion. And there is absolutely a value to preserving and enjoying that history. But it doesn't perform better and it's not a better daily driver.

I think the Mauser is more like an older pickup. Also not as comfy or fast as perhaps the new pickups but it is simpler thus easier to maintain, can be just as reliable (if not more), has nice lines and mainly still does the job not only well enough but sometimes better than the new versions. It may sting to loose one but if you gather a spare you can rebuild one in a flash without having to worry about sentimentality much.

 

[Philip Glass]

I doubt I could talk anyone out of a nostalgic rifle nor would I want to. They are really cool. For me the cool factor is trumped by functionality that I find in my R8. I’ve been to Africa 15 times but still have lots of serious hunting to do there. I want to be efficient and knock stuff down no matter the situation. Maybe someday I’ll have done most of what I want to do and then could consider just taking it easy and hunt with an older rifle that I like and not worry too much about anything. Enjoy your adventure!
Philip

 

[ZG47]

If I were going to buy a truly modern rifle, it would be (subject to a Lotto win) the Hardy Hybrid. Designed to last, miniaturised artillery breech, idiot proof assembly/disassembly, choice of a homogenous or carbon wrapped barrel, precisely manufactured throughout, properly designed multipurpose stock, good proprietary detachable magazines and even high quality bipod options that mimic the geometric advantages of the FRF1/FRF2 bipods whilst being small, light and quickly detachable.
People talk about needing short barrelled rifles BUT unless you are doing contact drills out of a vehicle OR house clearing drills; a few inches less in overall length is unlikely to make a difference. I personally find that a telescopic sight mounted on any rifle is far better at snagging on vegetation than the barrel of a full size rifle. Pack frames that go above the shoulder are also a much bigger pain than a full size rifle.
That being said, to each their own!

 

[crs]

HWL,
Are you going to attend a gun show or on Safari?

If the former, both rifles are nice and either should bring a good price.

If the latter, what will you hunt, elves or elephants?

 

[HWL]

HWL,
Are you going to attend a gun show or on Safari?

If the former, both rifles are nice and either should bring a good price.

If the latter, what will you hunt, elves or elephants?

I like gun shows,..... but this time, I want to tackle the cape buffalo.

Now I am sitting in front of my reloading bench and think about the bullet to use.

293 gr Brenneke TUG, 320 gr Woodleigh Soft point and 325 gr Norma Oryx are on the shortlist.

Does any of you guys has field experience with this bullets.... in a 9,3x62.....on buff?

Is a full metal jacket necessary too?


HWL

 

[HWL]

Must you choose?

Mannlicher and the R8. Double gun case.

I cannot choose this option, because I do not have a R8.

I think, I will take the Mannlicher-Schoenauer....

The longer barrel delivers every ft-lb of energy, the 9,3x62 has to offer..... is my main reason.


HWL

 

[IvW]

I like gun shows,..... but this time, I want to tackle the cape buffalo.

Now I am sitting in front of my reloading bench and think about the bullet to use.

293 gr Brenneke TUG, 320 gr Woodleigh Soft point and 325 gr Norma Oryx are on the shortlist.

Does any of you guys has field experience with this bullets.... in a 9,3x62.....on buff?

Is a full metal jacket necessary too?


HWL

For Cape buffalo I would suggest the Woodleigh the PP SN to be exact. 286gr is enough but if you are only hunting buffalo the 320 gr is also an excellent choice...

If you are permitted to take two rifles in the same caliber, to the country you intend hunting, I would do so, one loaded with 286gr for all PG and the other with 320gr for buff.....best of both worlds

 

[HWL]

For Cape buffalo I would suggest the Woodleigh the PP SN to be exact. 286gr is enough but if you are only hunting buffalo the 320 gr is also an excellent choice...

With this rifle, I want to hunt the buffalo only.

Plains game, I intend to hunt with something smaller.

I am thinking about a 8x60S, lying dormant in my gun safe.


HWL

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

Hello HWL,

I like the 8x60 S!! What rifle do you have?

 

[bowjijohn]

I'm a real newby here so it is with trepidation that I offer my thoughts

9.3 x 62 is a cracker so no worries there

So long as

it shoots straight

and more importantly

cycles properly under speed and pressure

and fits you

that you like it and is doesn't cause you angst and gives you any reason to distrust it

The rest is down to the fun of choice

test first - pay later

PS - mine is a Mauser 98, 23'' barrel using 286 gn noslers under 62 grain of RL 17 and ( more recently ) the Woodleigh hydrostatics

I trust it

PPS - I have a Blaser R8 pro and though I could have bought a barrel in 9.3, I went for an old Mauser. The R8 is technically superb but has (in my opinion) no soul

 

[WAB]

With this rifle, I want to hunt the buffalo only.

Plains game, I intend to hunt with something smaller.

I am thinking about a 8x60S, lying dormant in my gun safe.


HWL

My wife used the 286 gr Swift A-Frame on her buffalo. It performed very well.

 

[Bonk]

What is it with R8 owners? They take every opportunity to explain to the rest of us why their rifle is the only one worth consideration. Glad you enjoy them but please stop infecting every other thread with R8 propaganda. We get it. You spent a lot of money for an ugly rifle and you need to explain why. It's become very tedious. How many times does the OP have to say he doesn't own an R8? Jeezle Pete.....

To the OP, take the Mauser 9.3x62.