9.3X62 and Hornady bullets

Mauser98

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Recently Hornady started marketing 286 gr 9.3mm spitzer bullets. These are the same bullets that Hornady has been using in their 9.3X74R ammunition.

I was able to acquire four boxes(50/box) and yesterday I had the opportunity to get to the range to try them out. The crimping grooves on these bullets are useless for crimping purposes in the 9.3X62. They are apparently placed for crimping in the 9.3X74R
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The rifle is a Brazilian Model 1908(Oberndorf contract) Mauser 98 with a 21" barrel, Dayton trigger and a 2-7X33 Leupold VX-I scope.
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I used Norma cases that have been loaded 4-5 times. I full-length resized them when they were new and have partially resized them on all subsequent loadings. This most recent range session indicates they are in need of a FL resizing as chambering was stiff on a number of rounds.

Primers were CCI 200's.

I loaded two batches of ammo using Varget and RL15 at 58 and 59 grains of each powder. COL was 3.29"

From experience, I know that this rifle gets its best accuracy from a fouled barrel. The barrel had been cleaned down to bare metal so I ran six shots through prior to shooting the Hornadys.

Here's the results at 100 meters. I didn't chronograph these loads but based on velocities using 286 gr Prvi Partizan and Nosler Partitions, velocities will be around 2350 fps with both powders.
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The Varget loads are the clear winner over the RL15. I can't say that I was surprised as I was getting the same kind of results with Varget and Speer 270 gr bullets. The picture below should give an idea of what I mean. Just don't ask me to repeat the group on a regular basis.:)

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That rifle has very nice lines. Based on your sig line I won't ask how it feeds. I don't think any critters will get away from those 286 gr Hornady's, and it appears that your velocity is just right to make "magic" happen.
 
Good shooting, are you going to use those for hunting?

I would really like to hear how the bullets perform on moose.

Nechako

Although I wouldn't hesitate to do so, I probably won't use them for hunting moose/elk this year. I have some 286 gr Nosler Partitions that shoot well from my rifle and they proved very effective on last years moose.

Given the construction of the Interlocks and the velocities involved, the 286'ers should be a fine big game bullet.

I have used the Hornady 250 gr spitzer in my .35 Whelen on moose and they performed very well.
 
m98, do you generally get the same velocities with RL15 and Varget with the same charges?
 
Although I wouldn't hesitate to do so, I probably won't use them for hunting moose/elk this year. I have some 286 gr Nosler Partitions that shoot well from my rifle and they proved very effective on last years moose.

Given the construction of the Interlocks and the velocities involved, the 286'ers should be a fine big game bullet.

I have used the Hornady 250 gr spitzer in my .35 Whelen on moose and they performed very well.

I have 49+/- Partitions to send you Mauser98. Those Hornadies will hold up plenty good enough for me, especially if they shoot like that!:)

Are they priced reasonably?

Higginson's here I come!:dancingbanana:

Thanks for the great info. Nice shooting too.

Noel
 
m98, do you generally get the same velocities with RL15 and Varget with the same charges?

With Speer 270 gr and Prvi Partizan 286 gr, I'm getting 20 to 50fps more velocity with Varget than I am with RL15. With the limited data I have, I would say the difference is statistically insignificant. The big difference is better accuracy with the Varget.

From the research I've done, 59 gr of RL15 with 286 gr bullets is considered maximum. 59 gr of Varget with 286 gr bullets is listed on the Hodgdon site as been maximum.

I haven't seen any symptoms of excess pressures.
 
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