9.3x62mm..What about this caliber..

[xX-IKO-Xx]

I am a fan of different cartridges. I just like being different. When i was thinking about a big bore type rifle i wanted something unusual in the U.S. When i checked CZ site i noticed that they had just what i was looking for. The 550 Lux..That rifle caught my eye the minute the page came up.
Does anyone in the U.S. have experience with this cartridge.  Draw backs to it, of it. How is the recoil, manageable, comparable to what.. Ammo Availability. If im able to get the ammo for this rifle on a regular bases im might just get it. Its going to be used for ELK, caribou, and Moose in North America and who knows it might go with me somewhere else around the world.

[troublemaker71]

I'm sure this will kill whatever you shoot it at.   Plus whatever is hiding behind.

More optimal loads might be available from other vendors but I noticed Natchez sells S&B 285 grn soft point for $21.06 with slight discount for 10  boxes.

www.natchezss.com/ammo.cf...N=81498114

I imagine Norma has a wider variety in this caliber.  Might try A-Square.  

In practical terms probably not a very available round here in North America.  But then again that's kind of what gives it some mystique.     I say go for it!  Particularly since CZ doesn't make anything in 338 Win. Mag, which is a comparable round.

Should be quite good for moose, elk, caribou, brown bear and other large North American game.  I've never been to Africa but a bunch of Europeans hunt there and since this is a European caliber I'm sure it's readily available there (in Europe and Africa).

I've never hunt brown bear either, but I've scanned enough ballistics charts to comfortably assess this rounds effectiveness for such game.  Should also leave a respectable dent in your shoulder with 35 ft lbs or so of recoil.  Some consider this perfectly manageable but I do not.  

Hope this helps.

Good luck,

Tristan

[xX-IKO-Xx]

I was wanting a medium bore rifle..Never have hunting with anything over .30 cal. I'm not a fan of belted mags..I'm more of a traditionalist..Now, 35ft.lbs of recoil is that like a 300 win mag...or more like a mossberg 500 with a turkey load?  The ammo is probably the most deciding factor but i know the big gun shop in my home town will stock norma for you if you ask. It would be a hell of a conversation piece with all of the old men. Hunting wise...I've never traveled to hunt, say alaska..I would be flying commercial there. Do you have to buy your ammo there or can you bring ammo with you on the flight. Something tells me you would have to buy it there once you get there. Also, do you think you could mail your ammo like 2 weeks in advance to the hunting lodge? that would be another possible way wouldn't it?

[troublemaker71]

We're talking about a .366" diameter bullet in a standard size case, which at 265 grains or so is going to kick considerably more (~33 lbs) than a .300 Win Mag (~25 lbs) at the optimal 165 to 180 grains.  Don't really know if you consider this medium or large bore; different folks use different labels.  Also consider that with the short neck the 9.3x62 is probably more of a pain to reload than normally aspirated .30 cal.'s.

Closest comparison I percieve would be with the .338 Win Mag.  On average, the 9.3x62 should deliver three or four more pounds recoil in a bolt action compared to the .338, and up to 10 more pounds versus a muzzle-breaked .338.  Factory loads in .338 are usually found with up to 250 grain bullets, 9.3x62 with 250+ grains.  Of course reloaders can pretty much go heavier or lighter in either caliber.

If you like to shoot big animals with slightly bigger bullets than the next guy, and aren't too particular about recoil the 9.3x62 will be the best choice.  Unfortunately I cannot answer your questions about shipping ammo or whether the outfitter stocks odd calibers.  Fred Flintstone moderates this forum and could probably give you precise information about shipping to Canada and what's commonly available to hunters travelling north.

When considering .300 Win Mag vs. .338 Win Mag vs. 9.3x62 also consider that the .300 Win Mag typically has a reputation as an excellent long range round due to it's flatter trajectory.  Around 400 yards or so the larger calibers typically drop a bit faster, but reloaders can get around this by experimenting with different loads.

Hope this helps.

Again, my advice is kind of general and based on what I've gleaned over the years from these forums and talking to people, so you might want to address your next post to Fred if you need more precise details and stuff.  I typically shoot 180 grain .30-06 at moderate range and interpret what I learn about different calibers with that common point of reference, so I'm sort of a Joe-six-pack when talking about the more exotic configurations.

Good luck,

Tristan

[Fred Flinstone]

Dealing with cross border acquisition of various goods, I've learned to not trust any transporter: Purolator, Fed. Ex, etc. You're not allowed to transport dangerous goods aboard air-lines transport(a few years ago before 9-1-1, I needed to transport liquid silicone(used to get garments water-proof) it was seized although it was within Canada, so imagine cross-border). A few years ago the Canadian gvmt. in its wise-thinking  application of new firearm laws put the amount of bond$$$ to transport companies that U.P.S. decided to withdraw from cross-border transport of ammo. Transporters are allowed to transport within the country(how else could the ammo come in). You can cross the border by car without a glitch but don't forget to declare the ammo.

A simpler way is to contact your hunting guide and ask him, he'll supply you with info. needed(local ammo availability, or order it from the nearest local smith, etc.) If there's a place where the know hunting it's Alaska, this state(U.S.A.) know what works and what does'nt. Don't forget to degrease, delubricate all metal parts as not to have a seized lock-up due to seized frozen lube.

The idea behind the 9.3 is to punch lots of energy and leaving a big puncture, other cartridges perform better at longer distance but lack the big puncture effect/big punch effect. The .300 Win. is amply enough medicine for moose but in a close quarter encounter with a grizzly I'd be much more at ease with the 9.3. Another shoulder puncher which is worth mentioning for your application would be the .375 H & H(don't go higher than that unless you're thinking African big game) for dangerous North American game. Whatever you do choose a CZ-550 Magnum and not the CZ 550, the CZ 550 is big calibers deliver a vicious quick which is a nice push with the extra weight in the CZ 550 Magnum. But if you like exotic you're left with the exotic cartridge availability.

Hope we're helping you in your decision
Fred

[Atlatl]

The 9.3 x 62mm is about the same ballistically as a .35 Whelen.   Though it has .366 pill.   It was created in 1905 and is well regarded in Europe as a wild boar round.  Also it is favorably regarded in Africa.   A recent Hatari Times article covered it.  The author, Harald Wolf, states "The 9.3 x 62 and .375 H&H are marginal calibers for buffalo hunting.  However, I never experienced any significant difference in the performance of the two."  "I personally won't hestitate to tackle a buffalo with a 9.3 x 62".   He goes over using the correct bullets for doing so.  Also of note is that Nosler has recently started manufacturing .366 bullets too.

Regards,
Travis

[Mballistic]

I own a 9.3X62 Fn Mauser.  No recoil pad.  Rifle does kick quite a bit.  Not a fun thing to shoot more than a couple of rounds at a time.  There is not a lot of selection for bullets.  What is available is expensive except for the Speer 270 gr. SP  Norma produces brass.  You might find Graf brass.  Cartridge was popular in Europe and Africa.  It will probably take down most American game.
If you like different cartridges go for it.
Jeff

[Frank in Montana]

The 9.3x62 is a very popular round in Europe and in Africa. It holds the distinction of being allowed by several African Countries for Dangerous game despite a .375" minimum for DG. It's "grandfathered" in for a reason; its THAT good.

  The diameter is .366" , the case is slightly larger than a .30-06 case. So case capacity IS a bit more than a standard 06 case. Bullet weights from 231 to 300+ grains are available. Factory ammo here in the USA IS a bit slim, but that will probably change as this round, thanks to CZ chambering it, is becoming more popular. I saw several factory offerings in South Africa in 2000, as its still popular over there.

  Nosler makes a 250 ballistic tip and a 286 grain partition. Speer does a 270 gr soft point. Barnes does a few X bullets; 250 and 286 grain. Norma does a few lightweights a 231 and a 232 grain, as well as the traditional 286 grain slugs. Swift also does their A-Frame in 9.3mm.

   Cases are available from Norma as well as GRAF's. One can also fireform 9.3x62's from .35 Whelan or even regular 06 brass. Case life is no better or worse than any 06 based round at this operating pressure.

  Dies are available from Redding, RCBS and possibly from LEE. I have heard that LEE did a small run for one of the discount houses,possibly GRAFS or MIDWAY. My Reddings have worked flawlessly.

  From a 22 or 23 inch barrel the 286's can be driven to 2400+ fps, the 270 Speer to near that and the 250's an easy 2500+ fps .  In a world of 3000+ fps hunting rounds these figures appear pretty tame. But the 9.3x62 is IMHO one of those rounds like the 250 savage, ,257 Roberts, 7mm-08/7mm Mauser, .338-06 and a few others that perform much better than their paper ballistics tell us they should.
  Why? In a word; "penetration". You have a LONG, slow moving slug of fairly large diameter. It penetrates deep and STRAIGHT, like a .375 H&H. I've shot a lot of game with the 300 grain partitions and Swift A-Frames in the old three seven five. The 286 partitions and the 300 gr .375" are almost identical in sectional density ; .305 vs .307. Hence the deep penetration.

  The 9.3x62 will ruin a lot less meat too than most higher velocity hunting rounds.

  I have a CZ 550 with the european style stock. Mine shoots VERY well, with 1 1/2" groups at 100 yds with IRON SIGHTS pretty much an average.

  Recoil is NOT bad at all. One has to remember that the stock design,butt thickness, cast on/cast off, etc. ALL enter into perceived recoil. Your average M94 hurts worse than a well stocked .30-06 or .300 Win mag. The CZ 550 stock does a good job of mitigating recoil. Recoil velocity is also slow as the bullets velocity is moderate. A PUSH more than a SLAP.

  For the recoil shy hunter the 9.3x62 IS a better choice for the big stuff than a .375" as they will probably PLACE their rounds better due to the lighter recoil and muzzle blast.

  For the occasional plains game hunt in Africa or  a NA game round to be used on the big stuff; elk,moose and the big bears, with proper bullets, it will surely get the job done. I'm talking out to moderate ranges; say 300 yds. Like the .375 its NO long range round but few of us should be shooting at ANY game animal past 300 yds anyway.

  FN in MT

 

 

[xX-IKO-Xx]

After reading the message boards over the years most people are more recoil conscious then I am. I don't think i will have a problem with the 9.3x62mm at all what so ever.. Push is definetly more manageable than slap. The only thing i may not be able to manage is the ammo availability. I live in middle georgia and we have one of the better gunshops around the area. I'm sure they will order it for me. I think im going to be buying 2 CZs one in a 6.5x55swede or 7x57mm mauser..Can't make up my mind. It will be for a lady hunter though. I'm sure that the rifle won't kick as much as this

www.serveroptions.com/humor/ahmed2.mpg

or this
www.serveroptions.com/humor/zahran.mpg

[Watergoat]

www.outdoor-source.com has S&B 9.3x62 in stock.  They are in Dothan, Alabama.  You don't need to go through a dealer, they can ship it to your door.  I believe it may have been John Barsness in Rifle about a year or so ago that did an article on the caliber, he bought one.  Said it is great for elk, mule deer, etc.  The slower recoil velocity makes it much easier to shoot than the faster magnums.  The African PH's still think very highly of it after all these years because IT WORKS!  
    6.5x55 vs 7x57? Hard to call, I would go with 6.5 based on personal experience.  Tack-driving accuracy, negligible recoil make good shot placement easier.  Another old caliber that drops game much better than the ballistics numbers would indicate.

[Frank in Montana]

A piece of trivia; ref the Barsness article on the 9.3x62. I gave John the box of Norma factory ammo he used in the test.

 The 9.3 is an easy cartridge to handload. Brass is available as are both std and premium bullets. A great round for cast bullets too.

FN in MT

[Unregistered(d)]

I used this calibre in Africa last summer in Namibia where it is quite popular.
www.accuratereloading.com...PHPSESSID=

[Atlatl]

Good article at the accuratrerifle.com...

375 Holland and Holland Magnum