I am looking for bullet recommendations from those who have hands on experience. This is for short to mid range (max 175-200 yards) moose hunting in a 9.3x57 rifle. Muzzle velocity of 2150fps with a 285-286 gr. Bullet and about 2350 fps with 250gr. Bullet.
Moose hunting bullet 9.3 mm /.366 for 9.3x57
- Thread starter pacobillie
- Start date
- Location
- Saskatchewan
I have had limited experience wit the 285 gr. Lapua Mega and the very similar PPU bullet. Both work as intended IN game, are economical, and accurate. A premium bonded bullet that I can recommend with no reservations is the Norma Oryx. A superb choice for almost any application.
I have some considerable experience with the 9.3X57, having gotten my first two when Bevan King barrelled up a couple of Turkish Mausers for me many, many, years ago.
The plain vanilla Speer 270 gr is an excellent game bullet in the 9.3X57, as well as the 285 gr soft point cup and cores.
My experience loading cast bullets in 9.3s is that they are very accurate. These are 285 gr plain base, cast from wheel weights, loaded in 9.3X62 rounds.
The '57 case easily launches them at 2000 fps with good accuracy.
Ted
The plain vanilla Speer 270 gr is an excellent game bullet in the 9.3X57, as well as the 285 gr soft point cup and cores.
My experience loading cast bullets in 9.3s is that they are very accurate. These are 285 gr plain base, cast from wheel weights, loaded in 9.3X62 rounds.
The '57 case easily launches them at 2000 fps with good accuracy.
Ted
Was that in a x57 or in a x62? What game are we talking about?
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I have some considerable experience with the 9.3X57, having gotten my first two when Bevan King barrelled up a couple of Turkish Mausers for me many, many, years ago.
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My experience loading cast bullets in 9.3s is that they are very accurate. These are 285 gr plain base, cast from wheel weights, loaded in 9.3X62 rounds.
The '57 case easily launches them at 2000 fps with good accuracy.
Ted
Good to know, but I do not cast, and I am looking for a commercial hunting bullet. I am not concerned with accuracy or price, but rather by performance on heavy game, at 9.3x57 velocities. My concern is that 9.3x57 is an obsolescent cartridge. Thus, most bullets are designed to perform at 9.3x62 velocities, which are typically 250 fps faster than those out of a 9.3x57.
I am already familiar with the PRVI 285 and it is indeed very accurate and cheap. However, these are not the criteria that I have in mind. Whta I am concerned with is terminal performance (expansion, wounding and penetration) at 9.3x57 velocities, on moose sized game.
The bullets that I have been looking at, based upon my research thus far are (in ascending price order) the Norma Alaska (286), the Barnes Ttsx (250), the Nosler AB 250, the Woodleigh Weldcore RNSP 250, and the Nosler Partition 286.
From your list I would choose the Norma Alaska or the Nosler partition for the x57.
The 270gr Speer is a good bullet at 9,3x57 velocities. Was still expanding at 1500 fps impact velocity which is the lowest I tried so maybe it will expand even at lower velocity. Tested in ballistic gel and shot a couple animals with it. Held together and penetrated decently. I would have no issues using this bullet on a moose.
I played with the Hornady 286gr interlock in ballistic gel and thought it seemed very frangible at 2000+ fps. Never shot anything with it.
I would be a bit leery of the partition and other premium bullets for the same reason you are, because they are likely calibrated for the x62. If anything I would tend towards the non-premium bullets for that reason.
But the reality is that at 9.3x57 velocity using a 250gr+ bullet, the window for good bullet performance is much wider than it is with lighter, faster cartridges and bullets. When you're loading for a .300 Super-ultra mag you better choose the right bullet. When you're using a 45-70, almost any 400gr+ bullet will work for almost everything.. The 9.3x57 is much closer to the 45-70 side of the spectrum. Especially with non-dangerous game.
I played with the Hornady 286gr interlock in ballistic gel and thought it seemed very frangible at 2000+ fps. Never shot anything with it.
I would be a bit leery of the partition and other premium bullets for the same reason you are, because they are likely calibrated for the x62. If anything I would tend towards the non-premium bullets for that reason.
But the reality is that at 9.3x57 velocity using a 250gr+ bullet, the window for good bullet performance is much wider than it is with lighter, faster cartridges and bullets. When you're loading for a .300 Super-ultra mag you better choose the right bullet. When you're using a 45-70, almost any 400gr+ bullet will work for almost everything.. The 9.3x57 is much closer to the 45-70 side of the spectrum. Especially with non-dangerous game.
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Was that in a x57 or x62?
OP, following the advise of Ted and others, I've got the Speer 270gr sitting on my shelf. I've been told you should be able to get over 2300fps with that bullet and as Jethunter mentioned they open up very well even at low velocity. However I haven't been able to get around to loading or shooting my 9.3x57.
The first animal I saw taken with the Speer 270 gr was a big black bear at around 80 yards. Bush pilot friend of mine was using his 9.3X57 carbine. One shot in the lungs, a perfectly expanded bullet, and it was all over.
I had been using the 285 gr Norma Plastic Point Dual Core in my 9.3X62 rifles and nothing else with very satisfying results for years. Decided to try the Speer bullet after seeing the performance on that bear. Here's a typical recovered bullet, taken from a huge bull moose shot at over 100 yards.
This bullet was started at around 2500 fps. The '57 easily starts it out over 2300 using Ball C2.
To clarify an earlier post, I have not used the cast bullet loads for hunting in either the '57 or '62, but they are certainly accurate enough to do so
Ted
I had been using the 285 gr Norma Plastic Point Dual Core in my 9.3X62 rifles and nothing else with very satisfying results for years. Decided to try the Speer bullet after seeing the performance on that bear. Here's a typical recovered bullet, taken from a huge bull moose shot at over 100 yards.
This bullet was started at around 2500 fps. The '57 easily starts it out over 2300 using Ball C2.
To clarify an earlier post, I have not used the cast bullet loads for hunting in either the '57 or '62, but they are certainly accurate enough to do so
Ted
Based on my thirty-plus years of experience with the 9.3X57, the short answer to your question is that the 270 gr Speer will perform very well, most likely better, than any of the other bullets you are considering, except perhaps the 250 gr Accubond.
Ted
Barnes_270
Regular
- Location
- Langley, BC
Has anyone hunted with cast in a 9.3x57 (or x62)? Or in something similar like a 375? I'd be curious to hear people's experiences.
I think what may be missing here is that it is no trick at all to easily get the 9.3X57 to within 100 fps of standard 9.3X63 factory velocity. The original '57 factory loading, 285 gr at 2070fps was purposely kept to well below 40,000 CUP for use in the old 88 Commission rifles.
In both of my Turkish Mauser '57s I have fired many loads that come very close to factory '62 velocities, 2360 fps. No expanded primer pockets, long case life, and very good accuracy. Same with my current 9.3X57 Husqvarna FN sporter.
A somewhat reasonable comparison would be the 308 Win to the 30-06.
Ted
In both of my Turkish Mauser '57s I have fired many loads that come very close to factory '62 velocities, 2360 fps. No expanded primer pockets, long case life, and very good accuracy. Same with my current 9.3X57 Husqvarna FN sporter.
A somewhat reasonable comparison would be the 308 Win to the 30-06.
Ted
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No experience with the 9.3x57 but quite a bit of hunting success with the 9.3x62 and 74R. The factory 286 gr TUG in my 18.5" barrelled stutzen was the hammer of Thor on moose and bear, but at much more reasonable cost the 270 gr Speer worked just as well and was very accurate in several rifles. No need for expensive premium bullets in this caliber, the Speer will do everything this cartridge can do and do it well.
I am quite interested in hearing about your recipes. Personnally, i am up to 2154 fps (3 shot average) with a 285 gr. PRVI bullet, using 45.9 gr of H4895, CCI BR-2 primers and resized 8x57 winchester cases. I seat the bullet even with the rear crimp grove.
I am touching 2400 fps with 270 speer in a 9.3x57 loaded to 30-06 pressure levels.
