School Me On the 9.3x57

conor_90

conor_90

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Please share your stories, loads and opinions about the .366 WSM (Wagner Short Mooser).

To be blunt the price of the Husqvarna 1896 rifles on tradex appeals to me. Seems like a hell of a lot of rifle for the money.

I like iron sights and they almost all seem to come with them. I'm also interested in a smaller medium bore and 35 caliber rifles seem to be expensive by nature (with some obvious exceptions). I was looking at a Savage Hog Hunter in .338 federal but I do not own a mauser style bolt and would like to get one (and for half the price!), also variety is the spice of life and I'm shooting the .338 Win Mag already.

Recently having caught the project bug I have to know if anyone has experience restocking these rifles or putting peep sights on them.

Obviously this cartridge is a reloaders proposition. Would you all suggest stocking up on norma brass while I can get it? Is the process of resizing 8x57 with an expander die hard on the cases? Will they last as long as a factory formed cartridge in a low pressure round? Do they require a lot of trimming or any at all? Load data on the cartridge seems pretty minimal.

Seems like the cartridge goes well with cast bullets and I would appreciate if someone shared some loads for that.

Thanks all.
 
I picked up 2 m96's 9.3x57 from Tradex (thank-you Tradex) Both as described and better. A friend shot 3 shots. 1 inch between holes @ 100 yards. Open sights, on a rest. New Metalverken 9.3x57 brass, 290 gr. Matrix Ballistics projectile, Fed 210 primer, H4895 45gr. good for 2160 fps chronographed. The other rifle had to have its stock repaired. I will test it for accuracy again soon. The rifles are light, easy to carry and handle. Mild recoil. Exceeds min Yukon Bison load regs. I do not have a 9.3 mold yet. A win win rifle purchase . Whynot has lots of knowledge of this caliber also, as you already know.
 
You can form the brass from 8x57 as you stated. It's not to hard on the cases when properly lubricated and not forced to hard. T.E.C is selling Hornady dies that will serve the purpose. I like the Huskies in this calibre - even with their light weight they don't punish you too much with recoil.
 
I prefer the M98 over the M96 myself and TradeEx has several M98s (north of 20 by my quick count) in x57. I would be inclined to go that way rather than with a 96. There is even one that is a barreled action which could easily be put into a stock from Brownell's for a relatively inexpensive and enjoyable winter project.
 
cody c said:
how does it compare to the 9.3x62?
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The parallel is how does the .308 compare with the 30-06? The 9.3x57 compares favorably to the 9.3x62. Of course there is a little less velocity and power but the moose on the other end will never know the difference.
 
Thanks for the responses guys.

BUM the barreled action idea is a good one, I should have done this with my last project.
 
conor_90 said:
To be blunt the price of the Husqvarna 1896 rifles on tradex appeals to me. Seems like a hell of a lot of rifle for the money.

Thanks all.
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Hi, first time poster here, I was searching for info on Husqvarna 1896, I just purchased a 30-06 at auction for $270.00 plus fees and taxes for deer hunting. I am very happy so far with what I have read about the rifle, can't wait to get out and run some rounds through it. The previous owner put a Bushnell scope (3-9 x 40) and epoxied the mounts onto the receiver, covered the model number at the same time, so will likely remove the mounts and make new. The current position of the scope prevents full activation of the safety too, so it needs raising. What do you folks think of the purchase and can you tell me anything about it? I hope the attached pictures show up.
Bob
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ds3uzqfqpkwzann/2015-10-28 11.42.37.png?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/uzplgenfq7z7pfg/20151025_141940.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/61jtmesxc6us2s8/20151025_142301.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/oydkp7izjk5f39k/2015-10-28 11.43.57.png?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/rs42kkwii1l0lff/2015-10-28 11.43.22.png?dl=0
 
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Pretired said:
Hi, first time poster here, I was searching for info on Husqvarna 1896, I just purchased a 30-06 at auction for $270.00 plus fees and taxes for deer hunting. I am very happy so far with what I have read about the rifle, can't wait to get out and run some rounds through it. The previous owner put a Bushnell scope (3-9 x 40) and epoxied the mounts onto the receiver, covered the model number at the same time, so will likely remove the mounts and make new. The current position of the scope prevents full activation of the safety too, so it needs raising. What do you folks think of the purchase and can you tell me anything about it? I hope the attached pictures show up.
Bob
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ds3uzqfqpkwzann/2015-10-28 11.42.37.png?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/uzplgenfq7z7pfg/20151025_141940.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/61jtmesxc6us2s8/20151025_142301.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/oydkp7izjk5f39k/2015-10-28 11.43.57.png?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/rs42kkwii1l0lff/2015-10-28 11.43.22.png?dl=0
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I would have a gunsmith check it over first before putting any rounds through it....there is some questionable work done to that sporter.
 
Got a nice 98 in 9.3 x 57. My GF hammered an Elk with it this weekend. About 150 yds through the neck in front of the shoulder; got up, did the 'wobble-walk' for a minute or two and checked out after a 'Coupe de grace' with a 30-40 Krag springfield Bubba.
Mine likes the bullets seated out quite a ways; 3.155 OAL with 48 gr of 4895 will push a 250 RN @ 2140 fps.
 
I was one click away from buying either of the 9.3's last week, but in the end I couldn't get around the cost of reloading for these cartridges for the little bit of shooting it would see.
I think I would probably get into a 375H&H if I ever need more gun then my 30'06....
 
It's comparable to the 358 Win, but dies are more expensive. I already have a 35 Whelen I hardly shoot, but if I didn't have that, I'd likely get a 9.3X62 just to have something that can launch 250+ gr bullets with authority.
 
Here is my model 46a 9.3x57, it is a sweet gun and I really like it. its the 96 action. Barrel shortened to 20.5 inches. The scope is a weaver classic V 1-3x20. Here it is shown in high rings, but I have since put it in burris zee medium rings, just perfectly barely clearing the bolt handle (which has been modified for scope).

IMHO the swedish mauser action and the 9.3x57 cartridge are two of the most under- rated things out there, but they are both absolutely splendid. Everybody wants a 98 action instead because they are stronger, but in reality the 96 is stronger than many people think.. and I doubt most who buy a 98 end up putting loads in it that a 96 could not safely handle. Do your research and use your own discretion of course though.

I really like the stocks on the husqvarna 96 commercial sporters (model 46's), to me the stocks they put on the 98 actioned guns are not as nice of a style (for looks I mean). Some of the 9.3x62 98's have beech stocks instead of walnut.
You mentioned you may make the gun a project and re stock it, but to me this would be throwing away one of the best parts of these guns. When you handle the gun you will see what I mean, it just handles so well and feels great in the hands. Way better than the modern stocks that tend to be big clubby plastic things like a 2x4 in your hands. The wood is really nicely done with great checkering and fitting on these rifles.

Adding a peep sight to a 9.3x57 would be awesome, the gun and cartridge are just made for it.. would look very classy too.

My rifle weighs 7lbs 4 oz, as shown with scope and rings. With that small ring action its a really nice trim and light rifle.

The x57 is over shadowed by the x62, and the bigger cartridge certainly deserves all the fame it receives. Once again, do your research because the x57 does not lose all that much to the bigger cartridge. Its still a great performer. Although if I had to do it again I would perhaps buy one of the 96's thats been converted to x62.. load data is much more available for that cartridge, and well, its the famous and celebrated 9.3x62.

You asked for cast loads, I have not done much yet but I am starting with a light plinker load. I am casting a 250 grain .379 bullet out of a Lee mold, then sizing it to .367 through a custom bullet sizer. This works well in one pass and it allows me to use a $30 Lee mold rather than an expensive 9.3 calibre mold. This is a non gas checked bullet so its very cheap to produce, but this limits the velocity. I am using H4895 powder and it seems like around 32 gr is the most accurate... this gives roughly 1300-1400 fps. Its very fun to shoot with no recoil at all and just has that satisfying loud hollow BOOM! sound. You could even hunt deer with this at shorter ranges if you wanted.
I am getting great groups now but getting these pesky occasional fliers, and some barrel leading, gotta do some tweaking. The group shown is a hair over 1 inch at 75 yards.. then that one flyer 2 inches up (ignore the shot way high up thats a sighter)

Anyway, if you get one of these and put a peep sight on it you will not regret it! Enjoy the old world hand-crafted quality! :)
 
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BigUglyMan said:
You need a front sight. Check out the NECG Masterpiece banded front sight at Brownell's.
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Yes I do!! Thank you, I have been thinking about a sight but it has not been a priority. It does not look right without one and I'd love to try it with irons too. I didn't know where to look but what you suggested is perfect.
 
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