School me on 9.3x57 vs 9.3x62 and TradeEx rifles

[Milt Dale]

I bought a Husqvarna 98 from Tradeex rechambered to 9.3x62 62 from 9.3X57, I have not hunted with it yet but I am happy with the rifle, I picked this particular rifle because it had a good stock (no cracks), I had a local gunsmith bend the bolt and it just clears my Nikon 1-5 scope mounted on the Kwik Site see through rings, I plan on using it when I am calling Moose. I was considering shortening the barrel but it shoots so well with the existing sights I will probably leave it alone.

 

[Why not?]

An amigo of mine got the same model as mine from Tradeex and found that with the brass he was using (Re-sized 8x57) he had to inside turn the necks to better fit the .368" Bullet Barn projectile so as to allow for smooth chambering of the cartridge in his rifle. Un-reamed loads required forceful chambering.

I reckon that would not be an issue with jacketed .366 bullets, but I found for cast loads using a .368 boolit in Norma 9.3x57 brass that there was no issues with bullet seating/neck distortion or chambering. The rounds drop in clean & they shoot great.

Norma brass being pre-formed to this chambering must account for this.

These Bullet Barns are loaded in reformed 7X57 and 8X57 brass. They chamber easily in my 46 Husqvarna.



Evidently, the rifles are not all chambered using the same reamer over a number of years.



Reamers wear and become dull as they are used. They can be resharpened, but chambers dimensions decrease until the reamer no longer is usable.

I had a SAKO L61R years ago that had chamber with such minimum dimensions that I had to FL resize every case every time. Sold it to a fellow who was not a handloader.

Ted

 

[CoryTheCowboy]

If I had that kinda money for this it would be easy to find something in x62 and just go with it, like the aforementioned Zastava m98 rifles.

Instead I am looking for something that is more like half that price. You can find Husqvarna m96 sporter rechambered to x62 for under $350, and the x57 for as little as $225. For that sort of price I can get the rifle and get set up to reload for it for less than a new Zastava and still have enough left over for a used scope.

I guess one of my big questions is whos actually got a x57 and what do you think of it? Do you wish you had a x62? How many have gone the rechambering route down the road? I have read elsewhere that you can just seat the bullet a bit deeper to deal with the short magazine of the m96?(obviously while working up a load)

Alternatively does anyone with a x62 feel like its too much gun sometimes? (I know I know wtf is too much gun.... lol)

Here is my 46A in 9.3x57 on the left

And with my opening morning bull moose from 2012 shot using a 270 gr. Matrix at only 1987 FPS muzzle velocity.

That little rifle has worked great for me. I've shortened the barrel on it and am converting it into an open-sighted, snowy day rifle. I think I paid $225 for that one and I don't see how you can really beat it for the price. It's a comfortable cartridge to shoot and for hunting deer and moose, I've never felt the "need" for a x62 except so I could be as cool as Why Not?

Cory

 

[Slooshark1]

Personally, I would go right to the x62. It has all the power you could want in a rifle. It just doesn't get cooler than that.

 

[BigUglyMan]

My x62 (or .366 Wagner to the uninitiated) is pure M98. Thumb cut, charger guide, flag safety, everything. It is exactly what I wanted when I cam upon it on the TradeEx site several years ago. IIRC at the time they only had three so I jumped on mine despite it being equipped with a side-mounted scope mount (I still have the mount and the scope but have never used either). Mine weighs 7lb 11oz with it's leather sling and a bellyful of cartridges. With 286s at 2350 it's lively but it carrys and handles just right for me. I was sorely tempted by a fine Why Not x57 when I visited him a number of years ago but self-control got the better of me. Probably should have bought it (actually, there's no probably about it) but that's the way the cookie crumbles.

I will say that I am a dyed-in-the-wool Mauser 98 fan. I cannot stand the M96 though I wouldn't burn someone as a witch for using one. They're just not right for me. I shot my bison with my x62 and it didn't feel like too much rifle. I think it would be the ideal moose or elk rifle at traditional Fudd-approved hunting ranges. Would the x57 work too? I'm sure, but the x62 is legal for Dangerous Game in Africa and has a very long storied history over there which cranks it up a notch in my books. It also handles the bigger, heavier bullets that I prefer better than the x57 (I'm a heavy bullet guy across the board...the thought of 165s in a 300WM gives me hives). That said, the 286 TSX is too long a bullet for the x62 (just an FYI) so in a mono you want to stay lighter. Until they decide to ban lead hunting ammunition I would be inclined to pick a Matrix bullet that I liked and stick with that. Support a Canadian business and use a quality product all at the same time. Win-Win.

 

[SHELL SHUCKER]

These Bullet Barns are loaded in reformed 7X57 and 8X57 brass. They chamber easily in my 46 Husqvarna.

Evidently, the rifles are not all chambered using the same reamer over a number of years.

Reamers wear and become dull as they are used. They can be resharpened, but chambers dimensions decrease until the reamer no longer is usable.

I had a SAKO L61R years ago that had chamber with such minimum dimensions that I had to FL resize every case every time. Sold it to a fellow who was not a handloader.

Ted

Yes, chamber dimensions vary somewhat between these Husqvarnas & my amigo obviously got himself a snug one. Haven't tried any reformed brass in my one yet as I have a good supply of fresh Norma 9.3 stuff.