Thoughts on the 9.3 x 62 Mauser

[Pierre DUFFORT]

I own two 9.3x62. One, you could compare to your FN, is an Obendorf built in 1914 (family herloom). Great rifle, light and handy. No scope on it, just wonderfull. I use it with Norma Oryx 285 gr which is just perfect on medium/heavy size animals.
The other one is a Sako 85, with two scopes (Meopta R2 1-6X24 for driven hunts and Africa, and Zeiss V8 1.8-14X50 for stalking) fuelled with French ammo FIP Sauvestre 251 gr (non lead with an internal hardened steel arrow). This gun/calibre/ammo is what I use 9 times out of 10 when I go hunting. I have shot wild boars, hartebeest, gemsbok, kudu, zebra etc.. with it. Most of time, one shot kill. It is a great combination for the globe trotter hunter, hunting non dangerous game, although I would use it on buffalo and big cats. But if you like shooting over 250 yards, this is not your rifle. Once again, it is a rifle for hunting and stalking medium/heavy animals more than varmint shooting.

 

[Art Lambart II]

@Quaticman if you really want to know what the AH community thinks about your rifle/cartridge combination just list in the classified section. I'd be shocked if it lasted two days.

You have a real treasure on your hands, if it where mine I'd never part with it.

 

[Daga Boy]

This is an interesting thread. The 9.3 x 62 sort of disappeared from the African hunting scene for some time after WW2 (with a few exceptions) but it has been making a great comeback in recent years. It works well in short barrels (22") and fits into a standard length action. These characteristics coupled with relatively mild recoil mean that you can have a 9.3 in compact , lightweight, fast handling rifle - which is exactly what you want in a bush rifle. Any .375 H&H is much longer and beefier by comparison. Terminal effect is much the same as a .375, in fact often better as muzzle and impact velocities are lower, which reduces the problem of bullet disintegration. Meat damage is also less, for the same reason.
If loaded with a lighter bullet (say a 250g monometal) it can be used effectively at longish ranges - not .338WM ranges but definitely to around 300m.
The 338WM (for a long time my "go to") is a better long range calibre but its advantage is limited to deserts and mountainous terrain where shots in excess of 200m are the norm - with 300- 400m shots not being uncommon.
The 9.3 x 62 is legal for use on dangerous game in most African countries and those who have used it for that purpose speak highly of it.
Personally i feel more comfortable with a bigger rifle (.416 or .458 cal) for specifically going after big game or as a back up weapon simply because of the bigger permanent wound channel and better "knockdown" effect.
Apart from that application the the 9.3 x 62 is arguably the best all round calibre for African bush use, especially when hand loaded.
The late Don Heath (Ganyana) was a big fan of this calibre , which he used on all species including elephant.

 

[Tom Dissinger]

I'm going on my first plains game hunt in May in Limpopo with a Husqvarna Mauser in 9.3 x 62mm. It was originally a Model 146 in 9.3x57mm that I had rechambered to the longer 62mm cartridge. Shoots great and it's topped with a 3-7x luepold scope. I have a lot of confidence in the rifle and have been practicing with it for two years.

I used Privi for whitetails but am taking A-frames for everything in Africa.

BTW Velo Dog- I used to work with Danny. Very solid guy.

 

[Ridgewalker]

I see you’re new Tom Dissinger to AH! Welcome aboard! When you get the chance, give us an introduction at https://www.africahunting.com/community/introductions-greets/

 

[Tom Dissinger]

Hey Hammergun, I did exactly the same thing! I'm sellin' off stuff to keep an overdue date with a Big Tom before it's too late. Mine has a Hogue stock, Dednutz mount, Bushnell 3200 1.5-4.5x scope, 3-pos safety, and a straight down bolt handle.

 

[Tom Dissinger]

This is an interesting thread. The 9.3 x 62 sort of disappeared from the African hunting scene for some time after WW2 (with a few exceptions) but it has been making a great comeback in recent years. It works well in short barrels (22") and fits into a standard length action. These characteristics coupled with relatively mild recoil mean that you can have a 9.3 in compact , lightweight, fast handling rifle - which is exactly what you want in a bush rifle. Any .375 H&H is much longer and beefier by comparison. Terminal effect is much the same as a .375, in fact often better as muzzle and impact velocities are lower, which reduces the problem of bullet disintegration. Meat damage is also less, for the same reason.
If loaded with a lighter bullet (say a 250g monometal) it can be used effectively at longish ranges - not .338WM ranges but definitely to around 300m.
The 338WM (for a long time my "go to") is a better long range calibre but its advantage is limited to deserts and mountainous terrain where shots in excess of 200m are the norm - with 300- 400m shots not being uncommon.
The 9.3 x 62 is legal for use on dangerous game in most African countries and those who have used it for that purpose speak highly of it.
Personally i feel more comfortable with a bigger rifle (.416 or .458 cal) for specifically going after big game or as a back up weapon simply because of the bigger permanent wound channel and better "knockdown" effect.
Apart from that application the the 9.3 x 62 is arguably the best all round calibre for African bush use, especially when hand loaded.
The late Don Heath (Ganyana) was a big fan of this calibre , which he used on all species including elephant.

I always liked Don's articles when they showed up in Rifle/Handloader. I thought he wrote from a "No Bull; Just Fact" perspective. TD

 

[Tom Dissinger]

I see you’re new Tom Dissinger to AH! Welcome aboard! When you get the chance, give us an introduction at https://www.africahunting.com/community/introductions-greets/

Thank you, Ridgewalker. This is going to be fun. TD

 

[WAB]

I have two 9.3’s, a Rigby highland stalker and a Ruger No 1. We will spend the month of August on safari. The Rigby will be my PG rifle and my wife’s buffalo gun (I use a Lott for buffalo).

 

[Graham Hunter]

Is the 9.3 legal for Buff?

 

[Rick Cox]

Graham, your right is a Sako 85; It's the Grizzly model.

I figured... but you've restocked it right?

 

[Rick Cox]

Hello my fellow hunters and rifle enthusiasts,

I'm definitely +1 with stug in regards to the long range capability of our most common 9.3 cartridges.
I suppose for someone who shoots a 14 pound .338 Lapua or, .50 Browning MG caliber that, looks more like a science fiction movie prop than it does a hunting rifle, complete with a working replica of the Hubble telescope, mounted in 4 or more industrial sized rings and a muzzle brake that resembles a gigantic harmonica, the term "long range" might mean something beginning well beyond 500 yards / meters.
But, for the rest of us simple souls, primarily interested in what a portable, if not perfectly handy hunting rifle will do, I think "long range" probably describes something beginning and ending around 300 yds/mtrs (or maybe 400).

Well any way, in regards to this specific caliber thread, mine is a 9.3x62 and it's made on a commercial (not military surplus) FN 1950's vintage, Model 98 Mauser action.
It has a 23 inch, medium sporter-weight barrel and "only" a 4x scope, (plus British style express sights, in case I break the scope).
Shooting Privi-Partizan brand 286 grain round nose softs from this rifle, I can hit a large dinner plate size target at 300 meters, from standing with sticks, every time (However, about 200 meters is my personal limit when using the open sights on this rifle).
The above factory loaded bullets, are leaving the muzzle around 2300 feet per second, perhaps a tic more.
I have tried hand loaded 285 grain Nosler Partitons, at about the same speed and found them very accurate but sadly, I've yet to hunt anything with this rifle.
Anyway, with my scope zeroed at 100, I have to hold a little high for center hits at 300 but, not much.

Furthermore, I have not fired my 9.3 at any target beyond 300 measured meters (pre-marked rifle range) so, I can only guess from reading ballistic data that, very far beyond 300, the heavy bullet will begin to loose trajectory fast.
There are lighter, flatter shooting bullets available for the 9.3's, such as the 232 grain spitzer but, I have not seen fit to try them.

My parting shot as it were:
Many of my fellow North Americans seem enamored with various .300 magnums / 165 to 180 grain spitzers for most all their hunting, including in thick African thornbush, where a very long shot MIGHT be 200 paces, across a water hole or canyon.
I think it may have been Craig Boddington that wrote something like "Realistically, in perhaps 80% of huntable Africa, the conditions are moderate to thick bush" (or something like that).

So, if hunting in such common Africa conditions, the 9.3's with heavy bullet, IMO are superior to any .30 caliber, (dreaded magnum or otherwise), in every way - especially when considering valuable meat for eating and skins for taxidermy, not splattered all over creation.
That said and in all fairness to the high velocity crowd, the .300's are quite excellent for so called "plains game" hunting in wide open conditions.
Most of Namibia and South Africa's Eastern Cape come to mind, as places where, a .300 magnum will be the better choice over any 9.3.

Cheers,
Velo Dog.

That is some darn good shooting you are doing there... guess I need more practise.

 

[WAB]

Is the 9.3 legal for Buff?

Country by country.

 

[Graham Hunter]

Country by country.

Not quite an answer. Where are you hunting that the 9.3 is legal?

 

[Rick Cox]

Hi SWARA,

I am loading my own 9,3x62 ZKK 600 with 60 cm barrel lenght, at 2650 f/s with 250 grs TTSX and Hornady GMX. NORMA or Remington cases CCI 250 and R15. Very good and safe Maximum load. The magazine and barrel chamber allow an OAL very long, longer than the cartridge standard, of about 86 mm with 1mm free travel to the lands. I am VERY happy with this gun!

@SWARA and Clodo Ferreira thanks for the loads. The 250 gr. loads you've related are the velocities listed for the 35 Whelen in the Nosler reloading manual. (2637 max). I've always felt that the Whelen can do what the 9.3 x 62 can do but it has a much more available selection of lighter projectiles. The problem for me is it is tough to find current CRF actions in 35 Whelen. Nice to know the 9.3 has these velocities.

 

[Hammergun]

Hey Hammergun, I did exactly the same thing! I'm sellin' off stuff to keep an overdue date with a Big Tom before it's too late. Mine has a Hogue stock, Dednutz mount, Bushnell 3200 1.5-4.5x scope, 3-pos safety, and a straight down bolt handle.

As you can see from my avatar the rifle worked great. It was very effective. My PH said I could bring it back for buffalo but I'll probably take a 416. We'll see.

 

[Albert GRANT]

This my 9.3x62.. Although it now wears a 1.5-6 scope.
View attachment 219134

LOVE this rifle! Makes me wish I had money to blow, lol

 

[cbvanb]

Not quite an answer. Where are you hunting that the 9.3 is legal?

The correct answer is it doesn’t meet legal minimums in any country that has them, but every PH we ever spoke with said to bring the 9.3, they’re excellent on buff. We’re hunting with WAB in August and I’m debating on taking my 9.3x74R.

 

[spike.t]

Every one should have a 9.3x62 or a 9.3x74r........simple

 

[SWARA]

@Rick Cox. No, it's not been restocked. Although it was hand picked for me at Beretta because of the wood.