Bullet Choice for 9.3x62

slinkylegs

slinkylegs

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Given the persistence of the 9.3x62 thread around here, I got thinking about what is the best "economical" bullet choice for it. In my opinion, there are four choices that spring to my mind: 270 Speer Hot-Cor, 286 Hornady Interlock, 285 PRVI Partisan, and the 285 Lapua Mega. Given the option, what would you choose for reload if you were going plinking, and also hunting elk and moose? Or are there any other options that should be considered?
 
I like the Lapua Mega as an elk and moose bullet. Perfect performance. And the PPU is an almost exact clone with a thinner jacket and much lower price. They shoot identically from both of my rifles, same powder charges = same velocities and impact points. So I use the PPU for practise and would also use it for deer, and switch back to the Lapua bullet for serious work.
 
Longwalker said:
I like the Lapua Mega as an elk and moose bullet. Perfect performance. And the PPU is an almost exact clone with a thinner jacket and much lower price. They shoot identically from both of my rifles, same powder charges = same velocities and impact points. So I use the PPU for practise and would also use it for deer, and switch back to the Lapua bullet for serious work.
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What kind of powder are you using for it? I have some leftover Varget I had intended to try for the 9.3, and hope it works because I like the temperature insensitivity of it
 
Varget is a great choice, and I've had good results with it, but I currently use Ramshot Big game. It's a spherical powder, packs in nice and tight, and its medium burn rate pairs very well with the heavier bullets in the 9.3x62. 65 grains ignited by a Rem 9-1/2 magnum primer in PPU or Norma brass gives me 2440 fps in the 24" barrels of both my rifles. Mild pressures, even in hot African temperatures. If I loaded 1/2 grain more powder my load would meet the Dangerous Game minimum energy requirement in Zimbabwe. John Barsness is the gunwriter who developed that load data.
 
slinkylegs said:
Will they hold up to moose? I've heard mixed things about the toughness of both of those, with some saying they are too soft, whereas others say they are fine
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There was a big thread somewheres here, where the fella tested all manner of 9.3 bullets. I can't remember for the life of me how the PPU 285's held up though. You can always get a few and test them against each other in redneck ballistics medium aka fat firewood rounds, and see how they compare relative to each other. I know I know, moose aren't made of wood, but they're not made of water jugs either lol

The PPU 285's hammer deer but good.
 
I am almost exactly the same with info as Longwalker in my Tikka 9.3x62.
Same powder charge and bullets. Just got the rifle over the winter and have yet to put it to serious work hunting, but would have no doubts using the Mega as my serious elk and moose load with the PPU for deer and bear for sure.
To echo Saskgun, I’ll be shooting them into all manner of media for funzies once the weather warms up.
I figure any bullet in the right place will likely do the job, but kinda wanna test the PPU and Mega against a cow femur wrapped in wet news paper and carpet or something, just in case of less than ideal shot opportunity in elk season.
 
dtkb said:
I am almost exactly the same with info as Longwalker in my Tikka 9.3x62.
Same powder charge and bullets. Just got the rifle over the winter and have yet to put it to serious work hunting, but would have no doubts using the Mega as my serious elk and moose load with the PPU for deer and bear for sure.
To echo Saskgun, I’ll be shooting them into all manner of media for funzies once the weather warms up.
I figure any bullet in the right place will likely do the job, but kinda wanna test the PPU and Mega against a cow femur wrapped in wet news paper and carpet or something, just in case of less than ideal shot opportunity in elk season.
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Just an idea for you. You could also run your load through an online ballistics calculator to get the bullet speed at various projected ranges, and water them down and test them closer to where you are (lazy guy thinking out loud).
 
The test that Phil did a few years back with pretty much all 9.3 bullets available had some great results with the 270gn Speer hotcor.
But also really bad results with some Hornady but can’t remember which one!
 
All of those are cup and core bullets. Nothing particularly special. I would advise against the interlok as they don't hold together well at all. Hot-Cors are supposed to be decent. I only have hunting experience with Partitions and Norma Oryx bullets.
 
MDR said:
All of those are cup and core bullets. Nothing particularly special. I would advise against the interlok as they don't hold together well at all. Hot-Cors are supposed to be decent. I only have hunting experience with Partitions and Norma Oryx bullets.
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The Mega's advertising claims a high retention rate (up to 97% I think). Now, that is likely under perfect sceneries and speeds, but the 9.3 isn't exactly a speed demo anyway. I am one of those guys who loathes much lead in the meat, but I also don't really want Barnes in the 9.3 due to speed issues
 
Longwalker said:
Varget is a great choice, and I've had good results with it, but I currently use Ramshot Big game. It's a spherical powder, packs in nice and tight, and its medium burn rate pairs very well with the heavier bullets in the 9.3x62. 65 grains ignited by a Rem 9-1/2 magnum primer in PPU or Norma brass gives me 2440 fps in the 24" barrels of both my rifles. Mild pressures, even in hot African temperatures. If I loaded 1/2 grain more powder my load would meet the Dangerous Game minimum energy requirement in Zimbabwe. John Barsness is the gunwriter who developed that load data.
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Is that a compressed load then?
 
Personally I use nosler partition and swift Aframe…
I did shoot a small black bear with 200gn hot cor with my 8mm06 no bullet found!
Shot a moose with a 200 accubond out of a 8x57 bullet went through!
 
slinkylegs said:
Will they hold up to moose? I've heard mixed things about the toughness of both of those, with some saying they are too soft, whereas others say they are fine
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Moose are not particularly tough to kill, the 9.3x62 got it's fame as a capable hunting round in the early 1900's in Africa, I'm pretty sure that back then there was no premium ammo as we have it today, still people killed all sorts of game some of them considered dangerous and some of them tougher than moose,not saying you shouldn't buy premium ammo, but in my opinion you don't need a premium bullet to successful hunt moose, deer or black bear with a 9.3x62.
premium bullets are better but not necessary for moose in my opinion.
 
freire said:
Moose are not particularly tough to kill, the 9.3x62 got it's fame as a capable hunting round in the early 1900's in Africa, I'm pretty sure that back then there was no premium ammo as we have it today, still people killed all sorts of game some of them considered dangerous and some of them tougher than moose,not saying you shouldn't buy premium ammo, but in my opinion you don't need a premium bullet to successful hunt moose, deer or black bear with a 9.3x62.
premium bullets are better but not necessary for moose in my opinion.
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Not only was there no premium ammo, but the original loading was only like 2150fps too.
 
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