Getting a 9.3x57

F

flyinlead

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
71   0   0
Location
Ontario
At first I had my mind set on a 9.3x62, but after much reading I decided that the 57 has a lot to offer in that nice little 96 husky. And the price was right! Less than 300 to my door from trade ex for a classic piece of old world craftsmanship.

And this is really opening pandora's box, because with this purchase I have decided to enter the dark mysterious world of bullet casting! (ps why do they call them "boolits"?)

anyway, a couple questions that are mostly reloading related.

I'll be necking up 8mm brass, and loading cast and jacketed. I am considering the ch4d dies, since I have heard complaints about the hornady seater. I have k&m neck turning gear so I will get a 9.3 expander from them to neck up. Good choice?

Which leads to another question, what do people use to turn 9.3 necks? I can't use my k&m turner because you have to buy their bigger body model for bigger than 338 : (

can't wait for this baby to show up, should be tomorrow if I am lucky!!
 
Welcome to the world of reloading and casting. First the guys that use the term "boolits" likely also use words like remy, winy and shotty to describe their rifles and shotguns and are to be excused for being a doofus. Can't help with the 9.3 reloading as i haven't had the pleasure, had a 96 mauser in 9.3x57 and sold it before i got to do much with it. I'm sure some expeirenced guys will speak up though.
 
The term boolits is in reference to the fact that they are home made and not factory bullets. Check out Cast Boolits forum for more on castting your own. I don't know what they are using to neck turn as I'm just getting started with a 9.3x62.
 
Just a heads up, in case you didn't already know this, a company called The Bullet Barn here is BC sells cast 9.3 bullets.
 
I just ordered 200 9.3 cast "boolits" from the bullet barn this week to try in my 9.3x62. I've shot lots of cast pistol rounds over the years however I've just never found the time to get set up to cast my own. I think that learning to craft your own boolits is the completion of reloading for these older rounds but its still on my bucket list. A 280 grain slug @1600 fps would make for friendly practice round in one of these thumpers. It will be a little while before I have a chance to test them out however I look forward to the project.
 
Most of us use turned down .375 pilots for the trimmers and neck turning.
Nothing wrong with the Hornady seater, as long as you get used to the pilot coming in the way on every fresh round..
Now, this doesn't mean you will have to turn the necks neither. Some need it, other don't. You first need to load up some rounds and try it. I, personally use a RCBS neck turning tool, but right now I don't need to turn the necks of 8x57 (W-W, Norma and Dominion) cases reformed for my 9.3X57's.
 
Trade ex has a lot of stuff to offer! Posts some pictures when you get it! If you ever get tired of the x57 I have a x62 reamer and go gauge..
 
Kevan,
There is a much better article in "Big Bore Rifles & Ammunitions"... the Handloader article speaks of the X57 like being something unseen and pretty rare, which it's not, as they are around in pretty good supply since at least 15 years. To me, the writer did not make a lot or researches on either the rifles and ammunition...
However, the loading table is pretty well done and accurate.
 
I paid more attention to the loading table, but yes the Big Bore Rifles & Ammunition book has a better article.
Actually the entire book is very good, my copy is very well worn...
 
I have been using the 9.3X57 for a while. Had Bevan King barrel me up a pair of Turkish actions close to thirty years ago, long before we started seeing them imported by Tradex.

Tradex has really been a blessing to us here in Canada in bringing these rifles in. You will be quite impressed with your Husqvarna. I have owned a few of them, and never been disappointed. Still have one in 9.3X57. With handloads, it is only about thirty yards behind it's big brother, the 9.3X62

BTW, Ball C2 and magnum primers is magic with 286 gr jacketed bullets, 3031 with cast. Have not used any cast on game, yet, but the '57 is no slouch on big game.

PM sent your way.
Ted
 
Last edited:
I've been reloading for the x57 for two falls...so that's 3 years. I'm not an expert by any means (I think that distinction goes to Ted).

I use the Hornady dies from TradeEx and haven't had any problems. I haven't tried necking up 8x57 brass yet though.

I tried using "The Load" (Red Dot) with Bullet Barn bullets the first year I had it, but couldn't get them to shoot to the same point of aim. I'm going to try again when the weather gets nicer.

Like Ted said, BLC-2 powder is great and if you're going after big game, I think it would be hard to beat Matrix bullets.

This is my Husqvarna 46A from TradeEx.

MooseOpener020.jpg


Cory
 
Don't think they'll get any more... as Metallverken is long gone from the market (they were bought by Norma in the '60s).
Check out for Norma brass, though. Nothing wrong in using any 8X57 brass neither, reforming is pretty straightforward.
 
Baribal said:
Most of us use turned down .375 pilots for the trimmers and neck turning.
Nothing wrong with the Hornady seater, as long as you get used to the pilot coming in the way on every fresh round..
Now, this doesn't mean you will have to turn the necks neither. Some need it, other don't. You first need to load up some rounds and try it. I, personally use a RCBS neck turning tool, but right now I don't need to turn the necks of 8x57 (W-W, Norma and Dominion) cases reformed for my 9.3X57's.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I am really hoping that I won't have to turn any necks. The issue is with cast bullets you want to use one thats .001 or so bigger than groove diameter.. in some of the huskies with bigger groove diameters the neck is too tight to allow that size of bullet. Neck turning would seem to be the answer (as long as you are not taking the necks down too thin) As soon as I get the gun here I am slugging the bore to find out what the diameter is, and also taking a chamber cast. If the bore/neck relationship is wrong for cast bullets I may consider just having the gun converted to 9.3x62 and reaming the neck bigger as well to solve the problem. We will see soon enough :)

NBK16 said:
Trade ex has a lot of stuff to offer! Posts some pictures when you get it! If you ever get tired of the x57 I have a x62 reamer and go gauge..
Click to expand...
I will try to take some pics but I am not the greatest photographer, hopefully I can do the old girl justice. If I decide to go 62mm I may be sending you a PM, thanks for that offer.

Why not? said:
I have been using the 9.3X57 for a while. Had Bevan King barrel me up a pair of Turkish actions close to thirty years ago, long before we started seeing them imported by Tradex.

Tradex has really been a blessing to us here in Canada in bringing these rifles in. You will be quite impressed with your Husqvarna. I have owned a few of them, and never been disappointed. Still have one in 9.3X57. With handloads, it is only about thirty yards behind it's big brother, the 9.3X62

BTW, Ball C2 and magnum primers is magic with 286 gr jacketed bullets, 3031 with cast. Have not used any cast on game, yet, but the '57 is no slouch on big game.

PM sent your way.
Ted
Click to expand...

Thanks Ted, got your PM. Yes that Trade Ex is a jewel for us Canucks, a lot of really neat stuff. How often do they get new batches of imports in?
I think you are right about the 9.3x57 with hand loads.. factory stuff is loaded needlessly mild for some reason. I am not sure why when other cartridges of much higher pressure were used in the m96 action. Was there some other really weak gun made in 9.3x57 hence the low pressure standards? That being said I plan on being very careful and not pushing this gun too hard.

CoryTheCowboy said:
I've been reloading for the x57 for two falls...so that's 3 years. I'm not an expert by any means (I think that distinction goes to Ted).

I use the Hornady dies from TradeEx and haven't had any problems. I haven't tried necking up 8x57 brass yet though.

I tried using "The Load" (Red Dot) with Bullet Barn bullets the first year I had it, but couldn't get them to shoot to the same point of aim. I'm going to try again when the weather gets nicer.

Like Ted said, BLC-2 powder is great and if you're going after big game, I think it would be hard to beat Matrix bullets.

This is my Husqvarna 46A from TradeEx.

MooseOpener020.jpg


Cory
Click to expand...

Thats a nice looking gun! Thanks for sharing.

diopter said:
Tradeex has(had?) Swedish made 9.3x57 brass marked
METALLVERKAN
9,3x57

Nice brass. Will get some more
Click to expand...

There is a guy on the EE (Jethunter) selling this metallverkan brass in 8x57. I think this is what I will try, hopefully it is good and not too old and brittle. He is selling cast bullets too.
 
outdoors said:
I just ordered 200 9.3 cast "boolits" from the bullet barn this week to try in my 9.3x62. I've shot lots of cast pistol rounds over the years however I've just never found the time to get set up to cast my own. I think that learning to craft your own boolits is the completion of reloading for these older rounds but its still on my bucket list. A 280 grain slug @1600 fps would make for friendly practice round in one of these thumpers. It will be a little while before I have a chance to test them out however I look forward to the project.
Click to expand...
Finding the time will be the challenge for me, but it will eventually come together. The very high price of 9.3 bullets is driving me towards this. Got reading about casting and realized its not too hard or expensive. Going down to the US soon and there is a LEE melting pot and mold waiting for me. Just need a sizing die and some lube. Just under $150 to get started. (Plus some lead)

I am thinking the same as you, a 250 grainer over H4895 at 1600-1800 would be a really pleasant round to just bang away at the gong offhand with.

I'm doing a bit of an experiment and using a Lee .379 mold then pushing the bullets through a custom sizing die that a guy on the cast boolits site makes for 20 bucks IIRC. Apparently you can size bullets down 10 thou or even more and it will work. If not then a custom mold will have to be ordered.
 
I read the article loading data-and it said the maximum load was 45.5 gr of 4064 with 286 gr privi partizans-I've been loading 47 gr of 4064 with 286 gr privi partizans with no ill effects or signs of excess pressure in my tradeex M96.I don't know what velocity I'm getting but the primers aren't pushed out and the bolt opens easily.I don't think I'd exceed that load though-all I want is a load that will drop a moose up to 250 yards-my maximum personal range limit that I'm confident I can make a lung shot on a bull.
I've got three 9,3x57 rifles-one with a Helqvist ''ghost ring'' peep sight-I bought the rifle just to get the sight.I can't say enough about the service Tradeex gives-good people who describe their rifles accurately and price fairly
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom