I'm a bad bad man, lol!!!Why do we do that? We get set up all proper like for a rifle/cartridge combo and then sell it all off only to do it all over again.
I've had a few 358Winchesters over the years, some nice, and sold them all knowing that a 358Winchester really does not have anything to offer over a 308 or 30-06. I recently came into a good deal on an entire loading setup for the 358 and am now considering looking for a bbl to go on a 700 action I have in a nice Brown Precision. I know I don't need another rifle and have been diligent on reducing the load in the safe. It's a sickness, I'm sure.
Update Post 89, down the rabbit hole AGAIN with the 9.3x62mm...
- Thread starter Jay
- Start date
^That's a fair assessment. LOL
- Location
- WMU248 near Edmonton
I promised myself that I would not buy any more guns that I was not already set up to reload for....
well that didn't work out very well, even with over 30 sets of dies I find myself looking for more dies again.
well that didn't work out very well, even with over 30 sets of dies I find myself looking for more dies again.
As posted in another 9.3x62 thread, I have the LH Sako 85 Hunter w/ open sights in this cartridge.
I have a Kahles Helia C 1.5-6x42 with the #4 reticle in it, mounted in Optiloc rings and bases. With 5 rounds in the magazine, it weighs in at 8 lbs 15 oz. While it has stout recoil, it is still manageable, even off the bench. (Suggest you put a LimbSaver on your rifle for better recoil management; you'll be glad for it!)
It produces 0.674" at 100 yards with Nosler's 250 gr AccuBond ammunition @ approx 2550 fps (I have not chronied this load as yet). It accounted for a young bull moose at 178 yards and was one and done on the quartering to shot that hit the spine in front of the shoulders and travelled a fair ways down the spine.
The rifle will also produce 1.026" groups with the Norma Alaskan 285 gr at 2362 fps, and 1.406" groups with the Lapua 285 gr Mega ammunition at 2264 fps. I do plan to hunt game with both of these loads (out to a maximum distance of 200 yards), just to see first hand on-game performance of these bullets.
While both of these loads are accurate enough for hunting, I do prefer the better accuracy of the 250 gr AccuBond ammo in my rifle, and will provide reliable retained velocity and energy out to 400 yards for proper expansion and penetration for game up to and including bison here in North America, whereas the Norma and Lapua will only do this out to 200 yards due their lower initial velocities. I have no plans to shoot at unwounded bear, moose, elk or bison at 400 yards, but it is nice to know that the Nosler load has the capacity to do so if follow up is needed on a wounded animal that is trying to escape. Perhaps I will get to take it to Africa one day for eland.
As for handloading, I have both 250 gr AccuBonds and A-Frames to load with Re-15, Varget, and IMR4064 to see what the rifle will like. QuickLoad shows I should achieve velocities in the 2600-2700 fps range with these bullets and powders in my rifle.
I have a Kahles Helia C 1.5-6x42 with the #4 reticle in it, mounted in Optiloc rings and bases. With 5 rounds in the magazine, it weighs in at 8 lbs 15 oz. While it has stout recoil, it is still manageable, even off the bench. (Suggest you put a LimbSaver on your rifle for better recoil management; you'll be glad for it!)
It produces 0.674" at 100 yards with Nosler's 250 gr AccuBond ammunition @ approx 2550 fps (I have not chronied this load as yet). It accounted for a young bull moose at 178 yards and was one and done on the quartering to shot that hit the spine in front of the shoulders and travelled a fair ways down the spine.
The rifle will also produce 1.026" groups with the Norma Alaskan 285 gr at 2362 fps, and 1.406" groups with the Lapua 285 gr Mega ammunition at 2264 fps. I do plan to hunt game with both of these loads (out to a maximum distance of 200 yards), just to see first hand on-game performance of these bullets.
While both of these loads are accurate enough for hunting, I do prefer the better accuracy of the 250 gr AccuBond ammo in my rifle, and will provide reliable retained velocity and energy out to 400 yards for proper expansion and penetration for game up to and including bison here in North America, whereas the Norma and Lapua will only do this out to 200 yards due their lower initial velocities. I have no plans to shoot at unwounded bear, moose, elk or bison at 400 yards, but it is nice to know that the Nosler load has the capacity to do so if follow up is needed on a wounded animal that is trying to escape. Perhaps I will get to take it to Africa one day for eland.
As for handloading, I have both 250 gr AccuBonds and A-Frames to load with Re-15, Varget, and IMR4064 to see what the rifle will like. QuickLoad shows I should achieve velocities in the 2600-2700 fps range with these bullets and powders in my rifle.
Here’s Ronnie’s chat on the 9.3x62 
https://www.ronspomeroutdoors.com/blog/the-surprising-93x62-rifle-cartridge
https://www.ronspomeroutdoors.com/blog/the-surprising-93x62-rifle-cartridge
Tip of the hat to Clay & Team at Prophet River... I bought the Winchester SXR2 in 9.3x62 on Saturday, they had it in the mail with Canada Post on Monday (I know, I know & I was praying...) & to my surprise it was routed through Toronto & then Ottawa VS 'usually' going to Montreal & back to Ottawa...
Now, I know what you're all thinking lol... That Jay's sure got a funny roundabout way to get back into a semi auto 9.3x62 after that BAR fiasco AND YOU WOULD BE RIGHT!!! But here we are nonetheless
So, let's start with first impressions. The Winchester SXR2 is a solid feeling rifle that weighs in at 8 lbs 6&5/8oz and points like a dream. The ramped rib has a white line painted on it that draws your eye & a red fibre optic front post. It's a SOLID set up if you wanted to run irons. But with my aging eyes, it's scope all the way (more on that later)...
When it comes to fit & finish. I'm happy with the finish on the rifle, it looks good. Fit, well these stocks popped out of molds leave a bit to be desired AND I will have to take an edge off where my tigger finger lays alongside the receiver as there is a sharp edge.
The safety, it's a simple serviceable cross bolt on the trigger guard. The trigger, I really like the shape & how it fits my trigger finger, but again the trigger pull is just serviceable. IMHO both of these aspects of the rifle could have had a bit more attention from Winchester.
Over to the magazine. My first complaint is there wasn't a spare mag to buy WITH the rifle. To Prophet River's credit, once I mentioned this they immediately ordered them from Europe. Keep in mind folks, this is a bit of a unicorn here & I'm putting my faith in another semi auto 9.3x62...
The recoil pad on the rifle is rather stiff. I'd have preferred something a bit more squishy with the 9.3x62 but, only some range time will tell the tale...
Which brings me to mounting the scope! You'll notice that the SXR2 is sporting a Bushnell Elite 4500 2.5-10x40 That's NOT the scope I had intended to put on it. I was going to put my spare Bushnell Nitro 3-12x44 BUT, upon mounting the medium height Talley base & bottom 1/2 of the rings, the bell of the 44mm was 'just' touching the ramped rear sight! Initially, I considered removing the rear ramped sight but it looks cool, so I didn't want to. This sent me digging around in the gun cabinet for my Sauer in 9.3x62, remember that one? LOL! Yes, it had the Bushnell Elite 4500 2.5-10x40 on it and I decided to remove it, put the Bushnell Nitro 3-12x44 on it...
So now I have TWO 9.3x62 rifles to sight in sometime this weekend! LOL
Now, who wants some pics?
Now, I know what you're all thinking lol... That Jay's sure got a funny roundabout way to get back into a semi auto 9.3x62 after that BAR fiasco AND YOU WOULD BE RIGHT!!! But here we are nonetheless
So, let's start with first impressions. The Winchester SXR2 is a solid feeling rifle that weighs in at 8 lbs 6&5/8oz and points like a dream. The ramped rib has a white line painted on it that draws your eye & a red fibre optic front post. It's a SOLID set up if you wanted to run irons. But with my aging eyes, it's scope all the way (more on that later)...
When it comes to fit & finish. I'm happy with the finish on the rifle, it looks good. Fit, well these stocks popped out of molds leave a bit to be desired AND I will have to take an edge off where my tigger finger lays alongside the receiver as there is a sharp edge.
The safety, it's a simple serviceable cross bolt on the trigger guard. The trigger, I really like the shape & how it fits my trigger finger, but again the trigger pull is just serviceable. IMHO both of these aspects of the rifle could have had a bit more attention from Winchester.
Over to the magazine. My first complaint is there wasn't a spare mag to buy WITH the rifle. To Prophet River's credit, once I mentioned this they immediately ordered them from Europe. Keep in mind folks, this is a bit of a unicorn here & I'm putting my faith in another semi auto 9.3x62...
The recoil pad on the rifle is rather stiff. I'd have preferred something a bit more squishy with the 9.3x62 but, only some range time will tell the tale...
Which brings me to mounting the scope! You'll notice that the SXR2 is sporting a Bushnell Elite 4500 2.5-10x40
That's NOT the scope I had intended to put on it. I was going to put my spare Bushnell Nitro 3-12x44 BUT, upon mounting the medium height Talley base & bottom 1/2 of the rings, the bell of the 44mm was 'just' touching the ramped rear sight! Initially, I considered removing the rear ramped sight but it looks cool, so I didn't want to. This sent me digging around in the gun cabinet for my Sauer in 9.3x62, remember that one? LOL! Yes, it had the Bushnell Elite 4500 2.5-10x40 on it and I decided to remove it, put the Bushnell Nitro 3-12x44 on it...So now I have TWO 9.3x62 rifles to sight in sometime this weekend! LOL
Now, who wants some pics?
I will likely be in touch lol!
