9.3x62 or .338 WM??

1899 said:
I always find it amusing when folks talk about needing really low power. Perhaps it is just because of the terrain I am used to but this year's whitetail was interesting. I was watching a bunch of does at ~300 yards and noticed a buck. I took aim - but he was quite small - and my hunting partner encouraged me to pass, so I did. I was just putting my rifle down when two does burst out of the brush in front of me - right behind them was a nice buck. I brought my rifle up and followed him as he was trotting and chasing through some fairly open area. I was just waiting for him to stop. He spun around and changed direction - my partner let out a grunt and the buck stopped. I shot him. He was at just over 40 yards and my scope was still on 12x. It didn't cause me any trouble at all. Like I said, maybe it is just because of where I hunt, but I can't see the need for less than 3x.

On the other hand, here in BC, we can shoot from 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset. I find that any really good quality scope with a 42mm obj is fine for 1/2 hour before and 1/2 hour after. But if you want to use every minute of legal shooting light you need to have high quality optics, a larger obj lens and importantly the proper reticle. As a side note the hunting partner from the above story has been using a 3-12x56 Diavari for probably close to 20 years. He loves it.
Click to expand...

one of the best comments ive read in a while....if u cant find the animal in your scope at 3 power u need to take pointing lessons
 
Another vote for the 338 win mag, I always laugh when I hear people say "its a magnum, I don't like them" Then they say how they need a bigger non-magnum to do the same job. Or load there non-magnum to stupid pressure to get the same performance. Find a 338 that fits you right and go with it. The 338 WM shoots flat out to 500 with the lighter bullets, and has the ability to load heavy bullets for close encounters when needed. Anything farther than 500 yards your better off with the big 338's. A 9.3x62 is a cool caliber but if your going to go bigger then a 338, you might as well go with at least a 375 H&H. As far as the Zeiss goes, I would keep the scope. If you sell that scope, there's very high odds you'll regret it later.
 
Roadway said:
I've had the tremendous misfortune of adopting a Zeiss Victory Diavari 3-12x56. :rockOn:

The hunting rifle arsenal so far includes a Tikka T3 in 270 and a Sako 85 in 30-06 for mostly mulies and whitetail. While the Zeiss could get mounted on one or the other, this seems like a fabulous opportunity to "need" a new addition to the family!

While either would do for moose and/or elk (I keep dreaming about chasing more of these critters after a successful moose draw in 2012...), I'm leaning towards stepping it up in knockdown power to either a 338 WM or a 9.3x62.

Not a hand loader today, but hope to in the future.

Alternatively, could step it down to a 25-06 or .243.

What would you do?
Click to expand...

I've got both and like both. Have not yet taken game with the 9.3 but I have no doubt it will work just fine. I have taken a small ark load of critters with the 338wm and can attest that it works very well on black bears, grizzly bears, moose, elk, wolves, coyotes, deer, etc.

From my experience where the 338wm will be more versatile is at ranges past 300 yards. I regularly shoot to 500 yards with it and have taken game at 500 yards with it. It works. I have shot the 9.3 to 500 but it's kind of like my Rigby at 500 it works but the drop is excessive.

Both are great, I would take the 338 due to its greater range.
 
very very good choice.

this kind of scope fits perfectly a bigger caliber like any 9,3s .... and i ve seen a lot in the past.

i had myself for years a 7x50 Meopta for shooting wild boars at night... it was not poaching and perfectly legal in many places in Europe.
 
From an Easterner's perspective, the 9.3 is the better choice. I've owned several in .338 including a .340 Wby. The longest shot with it on moose was 165 yards!

Then, for some human reason, people are just slow to catch on to improvements for cartridges like the .45-70 and 9.3 X 62 -- what do I mean? Powders, bullets, rifles and pressures. With the best of each, the .45-70 in a single-shot Ruger is equivalent to a 22" .458 Win Mag. How do I know? Well, PM me and I'll let you know! The 9.3 X 62 with the best powder, bullets, rifle and pressure is in the same room as a .375 H&H, never mind the "little" .338 Win Mag!cou:

And, a "big" scope is best for looking for/at bears coming to baits on the edge of dark.

Bob

www.bigbores.ca
 
bigborefan said:
From an Easterner's perspective, the 9.3 is the better choice. I've owned several in .338 including a .340 Wby. The longest shot with it on moose was 165 yards!

Then, for some human reason, people are just slow to catch on to improvements for cartridges like the .45-70 and 9.3 X 62 -- what do I mean? Powders, bullets, rifles and pressures. With the best of each, the .45-70 in a single-shot Ruger is equivalent to a 22" .458 Win Mag. How do I know? Well, PM me and I'll let you know! The 9.3 X 62 with the best powder, bullets, rifle and pressure is in the same room as a .375 H&H, never mind the "little" .338 Win Mag!cou:

And, a "big" scope is best for looking for/at bears coming to baits on the edge of dark.

Bob

www.bigbores.ca
Click to expand...
Do the new powders not apply to the .338? Last time I checked the .338 is at the very least with the 375 and in many cases exceeds?
 
bigborefan said:
Then, for some human reason, people are just slow to catch on to improvements for cartridges like the .45-70 and 9.3 X 62 -- what do I mean? Powders, bullets, rifles and pressures. With the best of each, the .45-70 in a single-shot Ruger is equivalent to a 22" .458 Win Mag. How do I know? Well, PM me and I'll let you know! The 9.3 X 62 with the best powder, bullets, rifle and pressure is in the same room as a .375 H&H, never mind the "little" .338 Win Mag!
Click to expand...
I'd agree to the former but not the latter. The reason the 45-70 can nudge the 458 Win is because of similar pressures in No1s or Siamese Mausers.
But the 375 H&H is significantly bigger in terms of powder space. You can wind the 9.3x62 right up but that sorta defeats the purpose if you ask me and you still are behind in terms of powder capacity. If you said 9.3x64 Brenneke, sure, it matches the 375 H&H. And the 9.3x66 Sako tops the H&H. The beauty of the 9.3x62 is by moderate velocities and well constructed bullets it will put down the biggest game in the world. But the 375 H&H with a light bullet is a moderate to long range plains game round and with a heavy bullet is a dangerous game round. Even with a 232gn pill the 9.3x62 is no laser.
You can call the 338 little if you wish but it still requires a 3-12x56 more to exploit its abilities more than the 9.3x62 does.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom