9.3x57 or 9.3x62

Highwind said:
1. The first source is HODGDON RELOADING 2011. They list H4350 with 64.0 grains at 2321 velocity and 67.0C at 2438 velocity which produces 44,600 CUP. The test was with a 24 inch barrel.

2. MODERN RELOADING 2ND ED. RICHARD LEE reprinted 2014. This book was purchased based on a recommendation by an employee of Elwood Epps who stated that it was one of the best reloading printings to obtain and use for reloading. This publication agrees with Hodgdon and references H4350 as the top powder for velocity. Where 64.0c grains produces 2321 velocity as a starting load and states: Never exceed 67.0c grains and achieves 2407 velocity at 46,300 CUP. Does not state the length of barrel but we could assume that tests were out of a 24 inch barrel.
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I think the 4350's are a little too slow to give optimum results in the 9.3. The pressures of the loads you've quoted are on the low side, in spite of having a case crammed with powder. I've found Reloader 15 to be the best so far, but is rather hard to come by at the moment. I've started experimenting with IMR 4064, but had to suspend testing for the winter.

I tend to view the 9.3x62 as a great big fat .308 Win. Any powder that works well in the .308 will work well in the 9.3mm.
 
dgradinaru said:
Reaching 2500 fps with 285-286gr bullets is actually fairly easy depending the gun. I worked up the loaded in increments. Starting load was about 2400fps-and reached 2510fps with no pressure signs. Bolt lift was very easy, no flattened primers, everything seemed normal, so that load was safe in my gun. A lot of the data in books are underloaded as their are a lot of old 9.3x62's in 96 actions or old fragile 98's. But when you have a modern gun you can load it to its real potential.

Check out this data from real gun, it goes to show what the 9.3x62 is really capable of safely getting.

http://www.realguns.com/loads/93x62mm.htm
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:Yea thanks for the link. I've looked over the loads/powders and grain of bullets used and with the 22 inch barrel that is on the Zastava I would expect a loss in velocity. The test rifle had a 23 inch barrel so that would be the first consideration that I would have. I've seen it somewhere before that Reloader 17 would be a good powder and it appears to be one of the better ones for achieving higher velocity.
 
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hoytcanon said:
There's your first mistake...
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I've had a long standing customer relationship with Elwood Epps and (as is always the case) appreciated the effort that one of the senior salesmen at the shop provided. At that time he made several re-loading recommendations and I settled on the LEE manual. If your experience with Epps has been less then stellar - then maybe there is room for improvement on the relationship factors that have contributed to your discontent.
 
I notice no one has mentioned using Big Game with the 9.3x62. A few years ago, John Barsness published articles in Handloader, and a few other publications, about his 9.3x62 loads that he had pressure tested at the Western Powder labs in Montana, not far from where he lives. As I recall, his comment was that they were nearly identical pressure to SAAMI 30-06, but he reported 2,475 fps with 286 grain Partition (Big Game powder). The Western Powder 5.0 manual shows 2,550 with Big Game and 286 grain
 
Highwind said:
I've had a long standing customer relationship with Elwood Epps and (as is always the case) appreciated the effort that one of the senior salesmen at the shop provided. At that time he made several re-loading recommendations and I settled on the LEE manual. If your experience with Epps has been less then stellar - then maybe there is room for improvement on the relationship factors that have contributed to your discontent.
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I have heard more wild, nonsense statements coming out of Epps employees than any other shop that I have ever been in... that is what I am referring to... and I am not alone in that opinion. I have purchased many firearms and related gear from Epps, and as often as not, it has been a distasteful transaction... mostly a direct result of the attitude of the gun counter guys. I was actually in the middle of a very positive interaction with one of the gun counter staff and feeling good about the pending purchase... when the boss guy dropped on the salesman like a ton of bricks and reamed him out in front of everybody. I called and complained to Wes about the lack of professionalism.

But, I am glad your experiences have been positive and hope they continue to be so.
 
Potashminer said:
I notice no one has mentioned using Big Game with the 9.3x62. A few years ago, John Barsness published articles in Handloader, and a few other publications, about his 9.3x62 loads that he had pressure tested at the Western Powder labs in Montana, not far from where he lives. As I recall, his comment was that they were nearly identical pressure to SAAMI 30-06, but he reported 2,475 fps with 286 grain Partition (Big Game powder). The Western Powder 5.0 manual shows 2,550 with Big Game and 286 grain
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let me know or us where you can get big game powder ... the belgium plant had some issues few years ago and so far nothing hit the Canadian Market ...
 
Potashminer said:
I notice no one has mentioned using Big Game with the 9.3x62. A few years ago, John Barsness published articles in Handloader, and a few other publications, about his 9.3x62 loads that he had pressure tested at the Western Powder labs in Montana, not far from where he lives. As I recall, his comment was that they were nearly identical pressure to SAAMI 30-06, but he reported 2,475 fps with 286 grain Partition (Big Game powder). The Western Powder 5.0 manual shows 2,550 with Big Game and 286 grain
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Does it specify a bullet, OAL?
 
I think so, he was an accomplished metal worker, but his true passion was working with wood ever since he was a youngster.
Fortunately I have a few of his builds.
 
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