Updating a 9.3x62

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Scrumbag

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All,

Looking for your collective wisdom.

I've been offered the chance to go on a Black Bear and Moose hunt in Canada.

Of my current battery, I think my 9.3x62 would probably be my best choice

(.257 Roberts and 7x64 could be a little light on the bear front)

Now, I do need to upgrade the 9.3x62. It is currently my driven boar rifle so is without optics. So my questions are:

What would you scope it with?
What bullet would you take on this trip for moose and bear?

(current thoughts are something 1-6x or a 2-7 or similar shooting a 285gr Swift A-Frame)

Looking forward to your advice folks!

Scrummy
 
Location location location....

What id take for stand hunting vs what I'd take for swamp stalking in the prairies vs what is take for cut block hunting in BC vs what I'd take for a trip to the NWT all vary a bit... I think as an all around optic on the 9.3x62 you'd be hard pressed to beat a variable in the 1-6/1-4 neighborhood, try a few and see what fits best... Moose are pretty big, irons work well inside a hundred yards, bears are a lil nicer to put glass on from a distance but if your hunting over bait you'll be happier with irons than glass if your accustomed to using em
 
I have a straight 4x Leupold on my FN 98 9.3x62 and shoot 286gr Partitions only now as I had a Hornady 286gr explode on a cow moose shoulder blade failing to penetrate.Harold
 
Leupold Vari-X III 1.5 x 5 would be my first choice, followed by their 1.75x6. I personally have the 1.5x5 on my 9.3 x 62. It's a CZ550 btw.
 
mbogo3 said:
I have a straight 4x Leupold on my FN 98 9.3x62 and shoot 286gr Partitions only now as I had a Hornady 286gr explode on a cow moose shoulder blade failing to penetrate.Harold
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Interesting, my 9.3x62 is an FN98 and I do have a Zeiss Diatal 4x32 (though it is perhaps currently under-utilized sitting on my air rifle...)

Any thoughts on bullet choice? What about Norma Oryx for both?
 
Slooshark1 said:
Leupold Vari-X III 1.5 x 5 would be my first choice, followed by their 1.75x6. I personally have the 1.5x5 on my 9.3 x 62. It's a CZ550 btw.
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Love CZs. .22lr is one, 223 Rem is CZ527 and a really good buddy of mine has a .375 H&H.

Interesting choice on the scopes. I guess something that has a <40mm objective would be preferable?
 
i am using a 4x redfield widefield on my rifle .

i don't think there is a 9.3mm bullet made that wouldn't easily take down a moose .

with that in mind my hunting loads revolve around the 250 grain accubond because of to ability to flatten out the trajectory of the cartridge .

off hand i want to say that my rifle sighted in between 1 and 1 1/2 " inches high at 100 yards is only 8 or 9 inches low at 300 yards , and if i put the cross hairs on its back I'm good to at least 400 yards .
 
I have a Leupold FXII 4x33 Heavy Duplex on my CZ550 9.3x62, and can't imagine a better scope for that application: nice, trim, light, RUGGED scope.

If one HAD to have a variable, I'd go with a Leupold FX# 1.75-6x32. Don't bother with their 1.5-5x20, you'll probably be disappointed like I was - the straight tube scopes tend to be much dimmer IMHO than those with a larger objective bell. I've owned three 1.5-5x20's over the years, and got rid of them all - the 1.76-6x32 is WAY better at dawn and dusk.

And do yourself a favour, and get the Heavy Duplex reticle in whichever you do decide on.

You mention the Norma Oryx, and I couldn't imagine a better-suited round for your intended purposes than the Norma 285 gr Oryx. I've used them with perfect success, but prefer my handloads with either 286 grain Nosler Partition, or 250 grain Nosler Accubond.
 
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Alberta seems most likely currently.

Atm I shoot the RWS T-Mantel which I'm sure will do the business on moose, just think I could do with something a little tougher for bear if I need to break a shoulder.

The x33 leupold looks nice!
 
id say any cup and core bullet would do just fine I would go with a Norma though I tested both the 285gr Oryx an the 285gr Alaska in my 9.3x57 I would not hesitate to take both of them after any north American game
 
No reason not to use the 4x Zeiss you already have. Personally I'd use a 1.5-5x Leupold or the 2-7x Burris that's currently on my 300 H&H but that's just because I have them around.

The 285 Oryx is a great bullet and you really couldn't go wrong with it. I currently use the 286 Norma RNs that I got from Ted and they work fine. When I run out of them I'll probably give some of Marshall's bullets a try. There are no shortage of excellent bullets out there. I've never used the T-Mantle so I can't comment on them but if they're reasonably well constructed then they should work fine. The only bullet that I've completely ruled out is the 286 TSX as I couldn't get much over 2000 fps out of my M98 Husky. Maybe they're too long for the case, maybe my rifle has a slightly oversize bore, but the velocity just wasn't there and if you start them out that slow then how likely are they to open properly at 200 yards absent a hit on bone?
 
Im surprised nobody has said you dont HAVE to use the 9.3x62. The 7x64 would also be a fine choice for both moose and black bear. Plenty of bear and moose taken with cartridges very similar to it. When I was doing the ol' new-rifle-caliber-debate people recommended 7mm-08 and 7x57 for doing exactly what you are doing. I ended up going with a 270 due to the difficulty of finding factory ammo in the 7mm calibers around here but I still dream of a 7mm-something one day...
 
Bassmaster said:
I'm using a fixed Leupold M8 4x with warne bases and rings on my 9.3x62 Zastava. As for ammo I'm using the Prvi brass and 285gr bullets that TEC sells. Seems to do ok on paper:)
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Went with a 3-9 Bushnell Elite on my Zastava,;) .366 Wagner.



Prior to getting the rifle I picked up dies, Lapua brass and some of the PRVI 285gr bullets. Just to 'try' I've also accumulated a good variety of other bullets but with the accuracy I got with my initial loads,



I haven't 'tried' any of the others, yet as I'd be hard pressed to improve on that initial accuracy.
 
Suther said:
Im surprised nobody has said you dont HAVE to use the 9.3x62. The 7x64 would also be a fine choice for both moose and black bear. Plenty of bear and moose taken with cartridges very similar to it. When I was doing the ol' new-rifle-caliber-debate people recommended 7mm-08 and 7x57 for doing exactly what you are doing. I ended up going with a 270 due to the difficulty of finding factory ammo in the 7mm calibers around here but I still dream of a 7mm-something one day...
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so your advocating the use of a 270 over the 9.3x62 ?........ HEATHEN !!!!!
 
burnt_servo said:
so your advocating the use of a 270 over the 9.3x62 ?........ HEATHEN !!!!!
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Im the one who has a 270. If you wanna accuse me of something at least get it right. If I was advocating for anything it was 7x64...

And Im just trying to provide the OP with knowledge. What he does with that knowledge is up to him.
 
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