Updating a 9.3x62

[BigUglyMan]

so your advocating the use of a 270 over the 9.3x62 ?........ HEATHEN !!!!!

Burn the witch!

 

[peterf]

Interesting, my 9.3x62 is an FN98 and I do have a Zeiss Diatal 4x32 (though it is perhaps currently under-utilized sitting on my air rifle...)

Any thoughts on bullet choice? What about Norma Oryx for both?

Your Zeiss 4x32 would be great on that rifle. Pretty much any of the 285gr bullets would work like a charm on moose and black bear. My 9.3x62 is one of my favorite big game rifles.

 

[jaycee]

Sure the 7x64 will do fine on either... but the 9.3x62 will be MUCH better....

 

[remington jim]

Sure the 7x64 will do fine on either... but the 9.3x62 will be MUCH better....

YUP with a Leupold 1.75 - 6 on it - that would BE my choice - jmo RJ

 

[Kevan]

Leupold Vari-X III 1.5 x 5 would be my first choice, followed by their 1.75x6. I personally have the 1.5x5 on my 9.3 x 62. It's a CZ550 btw.

The 1.5-5 Leupold is my choice as well on my 9.3 ( CZ550 FS ).
Actually I think they are an awesome scope and have several.... and have yet to break one..

 

[Scrumbag]

Thanks for the info so far folks. I do like the idea of having a nice low (in 1s) range scope for some fast acquisition. Ideally with an illuminated dot as well.

What I really wish Kahles would do is make their 2-7x36 with an illuminated reticule!

 

[Boomer]

I like low variable power scopes and all of the previous suggestions are very good, but for hunting in heavy timber, a Nightforce 1-4X is tough to beat, and it has an illuminated reticle, with adjustable brightness settings. The 30 mm tube is both an advantage and a curse, first the larger tube allows a 4X increase in magnification rather than 3X without loss of optical quality, and it is a bright scope without need of an objective bell. The downside is that it feels like a big scope, particularly if it were mounted on a small rifle.

Although it appears to make contact, there is airspace between the adjustment knob and the rail . . .

If more magnification is deemed desirable, a 1.75-6X provides a bit more at the top end than the 1.5-5X, without a discernible loss of field of view at the bottom.

 

[Brian46]

The thing to remember about many of the low power/smaller body scopes is that the field of view is usually very narrow.

 

[bat119]

The thing to remember about many of the low power/smaller body scopes is that the field of view is usually very narrow.

My leupold vx-3 1.5-5 has 68' field of view at 100 yards better than a 3-9 at 39'
I have this scope on my 9.3 I find it the best choice in the bush. I've never had a problem at dawn or dusk either the picture is clear even looking at something 10' away

 

[Boomer]

The thing to remember about many of the low power/smaller body scopes is that the field of view is usually very narrow.

That might be true of a low priced rimfire scope with a 7/8" tube, but any of the 1" low power scopes I've ever seen have very wide FOVs.

 

[Johnn Peterson]

I like low variable power scopes and all of the previous suggestions are very good, but for hunting in heavy timber, a Nightforce 1-4X is tough to beat, and it has an illuminated reticle, with adjustable brightness settings. The 30 mm tube is both an advantage and a curse, first the larger tube allows a 4X increase in magnification rather than 3X without loss of optical quality, and it is a bright scope without need of an objective bell. The downside is that it feels like a big scope, particularly if it were mounted on a small rifle.

Although it appears to make contact, there is airspace between the adjustment knob and the rail . . .

If more magnification is deemed desirable, a 1.75-6X provides a bit more at the top end than the 1.5-5X, without a discernible loss of field of view at the bottom.

As I stated earlier, I went with a 3-9 Bushnell Elite. The primary rationale behind that as a choice, it's all I happened to have on hand. On some of the bigger items I have, the choice has been Leupold low power variables for the most part.
A question from your photos, I'm intrigued by what you have for a scope mount and base set-up. Care to share details??

 

[jaycee]

The 1.5-5 Leupold is my choice as well on my 9.3 ( CZ550 FS ).
Actually I think they are an awesome scope and have several.... and have yet to break one..

Yes, they are a tough scope, but then so is a 1.75-6 or a 2.5-8, 3.5-10, etc.

The thing to remember about many of the low power/smaller body scopes is that the field of view is usually very narrow.

Maybe on many old scopes, but not many in my experience have a very narrow field of view. I have a straight 2.5X Leupold Compact (can't get much smaller bodied scope than that one) that has a very good field of view. IME field of view is one of the most over-rated characteristics out there. I have no problem shooting game at close range with a straight 6X scope. FAR more important is an often forgotten thing called eye-relief.

The thing that I didn't like about the 3 1.5-5's that I have owned over the years, is that the straight objective tube REALLY cuts down on performance at either dawn or dusk. The test that finished the 1.5-5 for me was when I took both a 1.5-5 and a 1.75-6 with me and sat one evening in my blind. When I couldn't see anything well enough to shoot with the 1.5-5 at 5X, I could still see quite well with the 1.75-6 turned up to 6X. I EASILY got another 10 minutes out of the 1.75-6. Ten minutes doesn't seem like much, but I've shot a pile of animals over the years during those extra 10 minutes. For my money, the only advantage that a 1.5-5 has over a 1.76-6 is if one is trying to mount it to a very long action, such as a magnum length CZ550, Brno 602, etc, then yes, one will have more lee-way with the 1.5-5. Other than that, I personally see no reason to handi-cap oneself with a 1.5-5 Leupold when the better scope is the 1.75-6. The price difference certainly isn't enough to make a difference.

 

[medvedqc]

Jaycee,

try at 3x for the low light ... it may strech a little but still not a low light scope anyway nor the 1.75-6 ...

 

[Brian46]

Maybe on many old scopes, but not many in my experience have a very narrow field of view.

For example, I have a new Zeiss Terra 2-7x32 and the field of view is narrow compared to any of the higher mag ones I haxe

IME field of view is one of the most over-rated characteristics out there. I have no problem shooting game at close range with a straight 6X scope. FAR more important is an often forgotten thing called eye-relief.

I have no problems using a fixed higher mag scope or a variable 5-15 at close ranges but the 2-7 bothers me at any power and at any range, it gives you the impression of trying to look through a straw is the best I can describe.

 

[Boomer]

As I stated earlier, I went with a 3-9 Bushnell Elite. The primary rationale behind that as a choice, it's all I happened to have on hand. On some of the bigger items I have, the choice has been Leupold low power variables for the most part.
A question from your photos, I'm intrigued by what you have for a scope mount and base set-up. Care to share details??

Cool isn't it. Its a Nightforce 1-4X mounted on a 0 MOA Picatinny rail and duel ring set from Richard Near.

Earlier I had his Alpha mount on this rifle, but it positioned the ocular back a bit far, and true to my predication, one day I threw the rifle up and was rewarded with a messy cut. You haven't lived until you've got tagged by a hot loaded .458 (76 grs H-335 over a 500).

Near Alpha Mount, not the base and bottom halves of the rings are a single piece . . .

 

[c-fbmi]

OP..........the 4X Zeiss scope you have will suit the ballistics of the 9.3X62 flawlessly and neither animal you will be pursing is noted for exceptional eyesight nor wariness. Need for any magnification beyond 4X is imaginary for these 2 critters, I suspect both will be taken inside 200 mtrs. As far as bullets go I cannot recommend the 270 gn Matrix RBT bonded bullet highly enough. I used this bullet in a 9.3 wildcat last fall pushing it at over 3000 fps and shot a grizzly at less than 30 mtrs and the bullet lost a total of 12 grns of weight and expanded larger than a toonie..........seriously, call Marshal @ Matrix bullets and try some of his 270 gn bonded bullets. With the 270 you get a little flatter trajectory due to a higher velocity and higher BC all the while still using a devastating bonded bullet.






Now what's not to like about that kind of bullet performance, especially in a "bullets worst case scenario".......... driven at extreme velocity and impacting at virtually point blank range, on a dense, heavily haired, large boned animal.
It don't get better than that IMHO..........That bullet still weighs 258 grs and has been cleaned and washed..........
I believe enough in Matrix bullets that I have been changing all my hunting rifles over to them and will be using them in Africa this fall. That right there should tell you something, cause I wouldn't risk a high priced African hunt on bullets that I did not have 110% faith in.

 

[medvedqc]

Cool isn't it. Its a Nightforce 1-4X mounted on a 0 MOA Picatinny rail and duel ring set from Richard Near.

Earlier I had his Alpha mount on this rifle, but it positioned the ocular back a bit far, and true to my predication, one day I threw the rifle up and was rewarded with a messy cut. You haven't lived until you've got tagged by a hot loaded .458 (76 grs H-335 over a 500).

Near Alpha Mount, not the base and bottom halves of the rings are a single piece . . .

Mike,

is it a quick detach system?

if not how hard to remove it in case you need to use your open sights?

Phil

 

[Johnn Peterson]

Cool isn't it. Its a Nightforce 1-4X mounted on a 0 MOA Picatinny rail and duel ring set from Richard Near.

Earlier I had his Alpha mount on this rifle, but it positioned the ocular back a bit far, and true to my predication, one day I threw the rifle up and was rewarded with a messy cut. You haven't lived until you've got tagged by a hot loaded .458 (76 grs H-335 over a 500).

Near Alpha Mount, not the base and bottom halves of the rings are a single piece . . .

That it is and that I like. Thanks for the info, much appreciated.

 

[Boomer]

Mike,

is it a quick detach system?

if not how hard to remove it in case you need to use your open sights?

Phil

The Alpha Mount is not a QD system, once its on, you no longer have access to the irons, and swapping out scopes is a drag. The Pic rail system is better but still not a true QD arrangement. If the scope breaks, I'll beat it off with a rock and go to the irons.

 

[dgradinaru]

This is my Zastava M70 rifle, its set up with extended medium rings and a Nikon Prostaff 3-9x40. Rifle shoots very good both with 285gr Privi and 286gr hornady. Looking forward on trying out the 270gr speer and 286 Partion soon.


This grouping is with the Hornady 286gr at 2400fts. Ted Wagner shared this load with me.


This privi bullet was recovered from a moose shot around 35-40 yards in the shoulders, bullet was going around 2440fts and yet It held up pretty good for what it is. Bullet was recovered in the second shoulder.




This is the 285 gr privi group accuracy @ approx. 2440 chronied.( Once again Ted shared the load)