9.3X62

I think the standard Hornady bullets would be fine for Caribou or Moose, but in Alaska uninvited guests like the "Ursus arctos" may ruin the party!

I can guarantee that 70% of the bears ever shot in Alaska were with a 30-06 or less, with crappy bullets


WilddontgetmagnumitisAlaska ™©2002-2011
 
cmdc, I love that combo, 6.5 & 9.3. I have been wanting ruger to make a #1 in both for a long time. Because I can't spring for the Blaser!
 
I can guarantee that 70% of the bears ever shot in Alaska were with a 30-06 or less, with crappy bullets

Interesting. Is this because they are cheaper, or the shooter(s) didn't know any better? I am thinking you are quoting hunting shots at a longer range than defensive situations??? I can see a 220 grain in 30'06, but me personally, I would still use better bullet designs than off the shelf stuff myself.
 
Interesting. Is this because they are cheaper, or the shooter(s) didn't know any better? I am thinking you are quoting hunting shots at a longer range than defensive situations??? I can see a 220 grain in 30'06, but me personally, I would still use better bullet designs than off the shelf stuff myself.

Well thats you personally.

I had a native tell me that 30 caliber is too much gun, although I do know of another 74 year old native hunter that uses an 18" 460 Wby.


Wild9.3isfineAlaska ™©2002-2011
 
I had a native tell me that 30 caliber is too much gun, although I do know of another 74 year old native hunter that uses an 18" 460 Wby.

I had a .460 Wby. built on an FN action! I would not want to shoot one with an 18 inch tube! It might burn off your eye-brows!
 
publius, Blasers are cool, but you are right, they, and everything about them, is pricey. The 9.3 barrel was $900.00, and that was about $200 off sticker. I got extra saddle mounts so I could keep a scope on each barrel, and they were $375 a pop.

Midway USA has a good selection of 9.3 ammo, by the way, as well as 6.5. I don't reload, bummer.
 
cmdc

How reliable is the Blaser? I like the apparent speed, I have never shot one, but how does it compare to a CRF action in being reliable as a self defense rifle in the bush?
 
Man, you have got to start handloading, especially with those 2 calibers. Doesn't cost much to get into, it's lots of fun, and you have better ammo. I've got a couple good loads I can give you for the 6.5 and WildAlaska knows more about the Swede than the ammo manufacturers.
 
How reliable is the Blaser? I like the apparent speed, I have never shot one, but how does it compare to a CRF action in being reliable as a self defense rifle in the bush?

Based on the way it operates, the Blaser is the most reliable bolt action you can get if:

You know how it operates.
You operate it correctly.
Your ammo is correct

Blasers are becoming EXTREMELY popular in Alaska.

WildwesellthehelloutofthemAlaska ™©2002-2011
 
Wildalaska and publius, you are both correct: The Blaser is very reliable, and as far as I can tell, very rugged, and yes, I really should start reloading. Just haven't found the time, even though I'm retired from my real job.

I have an affinity for unique or less common calibers, for some reason. Been thinking about getting a Blaser K95 or Ruger #1 or Dakota Arms single shot in something like 7x57, just to be different.
 
I watched a video on the Blaser rifle. It looks good, but, and there always is a but in life. After thousands of cycles of working CRF rifles, on purpose to get fast at it, I am not interested in changing my skill sets at this point with a brand new motion required to work the Blaser action, although it is natural and easy looking. This is even more so in regard to defensive use in the bush. I may have no time to think in a charge, and where reactions count, don't change what works!

If I were new at this game, or just hunting deer ... maybe. It is a nice looking rifle, and design!
 
Last edited:
Interesting. Is this because they are cheaper, or the shooter(s) didn't know any better? I am thinking you are quoting hunting shots at a longer range than defensive situations??? I can see a 220 grain in 30'06, but me personally, I would still use better bullet designs than off the shelf stuff myself.

I've seen both. Magnums aren't reall common until you get within the gravitational influences of skAnchorage and Fairbanks.
 
Squished bugs on a windshield is proof the slow/heavy bullet theory works.

Ask any soldier in Iraq, which works better on windshields at check points, a faster .223, or old reliable, a .308 from an M-14.

It is speed and weight, which depends on many other factors, like the quality of the projectile. An armor piercing round of .223 versus a soft nose .308 will work better. Most people quote specific circumstances to back up their point, whilst a change in assumptions will unmask their theorem and agenda!

Over a century in Africa Pros have chosen heavy and slow, to a point, over super fast, such as a .460 Weatherby versus a .458 mag or Lott. Again, this can be a factor of poor bullet design of the past, and the Weatherby deflected due to the bullet deforming on impact. I think if you used one of the relevant solids made today by CNC machining of solid brass that may not happen!
 
Last edited:
Premium 180 grain bullets have taken 30-06 and 308 to a higher level of lethality. Yet, like its posted earlier, stacks of animals have been felled with plain bullets.

Hornady's Interlock bullet has a long reputation of good work on game yet not considered a Premium by design or mat'ls. Hornady's 9.3mm ammo should be most excellent indeed!

Jack
 
9.3x62

I've become a recent convert to the 9.3x62mm. I think that it is extremely underrated in the United States. With the right bullets, it is extremely potent. My cousin has a CZ550 in 9.3x62 that he took to Africa a couple of years ago and dropped a kudu, oryx, warthog, and caracal in their tracks. The PH nicknamed it "the laser" because it was so accurate and deadly.

I have a left handed Ruger M77 originally in .30-60 that I got re-barreled to 9.3x62. A couple of weeks ago I shot a 300 pound black bear with it and dropped it in it's tracks. I was in an elevated stand and it was moving directly away from me. I shot him about six inches up from his hips and the bullet exited his throat, traveling almost the length of his body. I was using a 258gr RWS H-Mantel bullet and it penetrated about 28" before exiting, while causing massive internal damage. The RWS bullets are very expensive, but they are well worth the money. They give good terminal performance while penetrating a very long distance. The shape of the bullet also makes good, clean entrance and exit holes that help to ensure that the wound does not close up and continues to leave a good blood trail when you have to track the animal.

The good penetration and performance I observed on this bear, penetrating it's thick, hairy hide and heavy bone, coupled with the performance my cousin experienced, make me feel good using this caliber/bullet combination on anything up to and including moose or eland. It has a pretty good reputation in Africa as well, especially South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. Due to the high sectional density of the bullets, it penetrates very deeply. Using heavy, controlled expansion or solid bullets, this caliber has cleanly taken many cape buffalo and elephant.
 
What's the recoil like with this round? I still haven't shot mine because I'm still trying to decide on a scope. Leaning towards a Trijicon Accupoint 1-4x24 w/green German reticle.
 
Recoil is a pretty subjective topic, however, in my rifle shooting the Prvi Partizan bullets the recoil is less punishing than a 12 guage. However my rifle has a longer barrel than most and a stock that fits me nicely.

My lighter 30-06 has more felt recoil to me than the 9.3x62. However, the Prvi Partizan isn't exactly a hot load, and adding another 200 fps to the bullet would probably increase felt recoil substantially.

Worst recoil I can think of was from a K.Kale Turk Mauser shooting milsurp 196gr bullets. That steel butt plate was brutal.

Jimro
 
9.3x62

Jimro wrote that 9.3 brass could be formed from 30-06. Notice, however that diameter at base of cartridge is .007in different

surfer1

This is my first post on this forum. I noticed identical post by different author on different forum, of which I was unaware at the time. I looked up at source i had and verified, not with SAAMI or CIP however. So I thought I'd mention for reloaders to check.
 
Yes, the specs are .007 difference. But when you take that as part of a radius then the difference is .0035" difference. It is enough that most American manufacturers of 6.5x55 brass (same base dimension as 9.3x62) simply use standard 30-06 base dimension brass and no one has complained yet.

So yes, you can form 30-06 brass into 9.3x62 by necking up above .366, necking back down to move the shoulder forward, and trimming to length. If you have a lot of 30-06 and a lot of time it might be worth your while.

Jimro
 
Back
Top