How effective is a .366" LFN for hunting BIG stuff.

[GSSP]

I've been working on getting my new 255 gr LBT LFN to shoot in my 9.3x62. I'm not having issues with velocity; getting over 2400 with zero leading. The accuracy, up there is dismal. Under 2000 fps, the accuracy is in the 1-2 moa range. The rifle, and now, load i'm developing is purpose built for big northern animals; elk, moose and grizzly. Is 1900 to 2000 fps with that bullet going to be effective enough. If so, to what range?

Alan

[richhodg66]

Never having dealt with a 9.3 rifle before, isn't 255 grains a bit light for caliber? I also haven't hunted the big species you mention, but if I were to use a .35 Whelen, I think I'd start with bullets in the 280 to 300 grain range.

That being said, a LFN that heavy and gig around going that fast oughta flatten anything on the continent with proper shot placement. I might worry about shooting a grizzly with it, but I'd probably worry about shooting a grizzly with anything, LOL.

I have been watching off and on these Husqvarna short sporters in 9.3x57 that SARCO imported a while back on Gunbroker. Seems like a great combo, but then I'd have to get more molds, dies, sizers, etc. I'll probably stick with .35s.

[dh2]

I would have no issue with taking any thing that walks North America with the 9.3x62m Mauser but to not feel that going as light as 200gr. would be giving the range or energy this round is capable of. I am casting a 285gr. fp to feed my mauser . I see no problem with a big brown bear but I think going below 250gr. in this round would be sub. par even for white tail deer.

[Cheshire Dave]

I'm using the NOE280gr water dropped and running over 2100fps in my 9.3x74 Ruger #1 and shoots great. .625 @50yds and less then 1.25 @100. Haven't killed anything with it yet but don't think I will recover any bullets from the Blacktails around here.

[clintsfolly]

Am using the NOE 280 cast with Lyman #2/ 45gr imr4895 in my 9.3x62. I would use it on anything that needs to be shot to 200yds. Have shot 4 deer now and used 4 bullets. Just love it. Clint

[GSSP]

Rich,

Hope I'm getting your name correct. For my 9.3, i've only shot 250 Accubond's and 286 Partitions. My first cast was a 174 gr LFN, plinking bullet with the mold also being made by Veral. It was my first, ever, excursion into cast "rifle" boolits. I've been casting handgun stuff since 1984. I realize my 255 gr isn't a 286, 300 or larger, but Veral assures me is should work just fine. He sent me this little treatise yesterday evening.

"Alan,
Bullet hardness and remaining velocity will determine maximum range. Set gallon water filled plastic jugs out at increasing ranges and if the impact makes them explode they will kill. If you just get a small hole and small split in the jug you have exceeded the effective range for best killing, but if the shot is well placed that bullet will kill well out to as far as you can hit. A few years ago a fellow in OR took an elk at 350 yards with a 32 cal LFN started at only 1450 fps. Hit through the lungs, the large cow only walked a few steps and collapsed. Not a good choice for that range, but it definitely says, don't quit shooting as long as you might hit if you are trying to take a wounded piece of game down."

[RobS]

I assume you have either a 1-12" or probable 1-14" twist rate rifle so yes over 2000 fps is very possible however more info. is needed as to what you have done so far. What powder are you using? What alloy? What Lube? etc.

I shoot a Savage 375 H&H 1:12" twist with 270 grain boolits atop of Varget Powder and push out to around 2300 fps with MOA accuracy. I use water quenched WW boolits and lube with my own homemade lube. So with your 9.3x62 I say it should definitely be capable of pushing over 2,000 fps with good accuracy if all your ducks are aligned correctly.

[GSSP]

I have a 24" #3 PacNor so it's a 12 twist. I've hit just a bit over 2400 fps using IMR 4831 with zero leading but horrible accuracy. Allow was straight WW, an oz of 95%/5% antimony. Water quenched so 30-32 BHN using Veral's BHN measuring device. Using LBT Blue for lube. I've also tried IMR 4350 and Varget as well as air cooled WW; 15 BHN.

It might be the throat. The original throat was super short. I had to take a PTG throating reamer to it. Might need a skootch more removed.

Alan

[RobS]

I shoot this design:
http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/images/N.O.E._Bullet_Moulds_378_275Gr._FN_HP_260_gr_Sketc h.Jpg
http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/images/N.O.E._Bullet_Moulds_378_275Gr._FN_HP.Jpg
http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=52&products_id=561

With this boolit seated in the case so the nose is just touching the rifling, not enough to create rifling marks but just enough so I see light marks that it is supported equally around the nose of the boolit.

I don't know what your boolit looks like but seating this way with this particular design has helped me go a long way in creating a straight launch as the boolit makes way into the bore. Here is the NOE 9.3 design that others have posted:
http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=36&products_id=734
http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/images/N.O.E._Bullet_Moulds_368_280Gr._FN_HP_272_gr_Sketc h.Jpg
http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/images/N.O.E._Bullet_Moulds_368_280Gr._FN_HP.Jpg

Is your LBT design similar?

[RobS]

Also here are some other .36X molds that you could look at in comparison, may help the rest of us out to see what you are working with regards to your LBT LFN design.

http://www.accuratemolds.com/catalog.php?page=7
or
http://www.accuratemolds.com/catalog.php?page=8

[GSSP]

I've never seen a CAD drawing of one of Veral's bullets but here are a few pictures of mine. It was cut for 250 gr but mine come out 255-257 gr.
126042

Here is how deep I seating the bullet.
126043

[RobS]

How are you seating the boolits in relation to the the lands or start of the rifling in the bore?

[GSSP]

Rob, they were being seated into the lands and the upper edge or lip of the GC was at the neck/shoulder junction so as to not expose any lead/lube.

I've since taken to removing some more metal in the throat with the PTG hand held throating reamer. I did this because chambering a fresh cartridge was a bit difficult. Now, I can basically seat to the same depth but chambering is easy. On Saturday I ran another brief test and velocities were obviously lower. Bullets were all 15 BHN. Range 50 yds.

Here is the before with Varget



48


2003 Hi, 1777 Lo, 226 Es, 1922 Av, 125 Sd
.625"/1.25 MOA


49


2062 Hi, 2008 Lo, 54 Es, 2031 Av, 27 Sd
1.5"/3 MOA


50


2079 Hi, 2039 Lo, 40 Es, 2055 Av, 20 Sd
1.5"/3 MOA


51


2219 Hi, 2026 Lo, 193 Es, 2100 Av, 104 Sd
2"/4 MOA


52


2207 Hi, 2034 Lo, 173 Es, 2136 Av, 90 SD
1.75"/ 3.5 MOA


53


2265 Hi, 2224 Lo, 41 Es, 2249 Av,22 Sd
3.5"/7 MOA




Here is the after with Varget



2071 Hi, 1857 Lo, 21 es, 1952 av, 108 sd
2"


2081 Hi, 1834 Lo, 247 av, 1939 av, 127 sd
2-1/16"


2000 Hi, 1935 Lo, 65 es, 1961 av, 34 sd
1.5"


2149 Hi, 2002 Lo, 147 es, 2072 av, 73 sd
3-1/8"


2106 Hi, 2050 Lo, 56 av, 2081 av, 28 sd
3"


2180 Hi, 2123 Ho, 57 es, 2152, 28 sd
7"



Here is the before with IMR 4350



58
2224Hi, 2188 Lo, 36 Es, 2205 Av, 18 Sd
1.375"/2.75 MOA


59
2265 Hi, 2186 Lo, 79 Av, 2226 Av, 39 Sd
4.5"/9 MOA




Here is the after with IMR 4350



2058 Hi, 1953 Lo, 105 es, 2000 av, 53 sd


2100 Hi,2018 Lo, 82 es, 2066 av, 42 sd




Here is the before with IMR 4831



57
2219 Hi, 2169 Lo, 50 Es, 2187 Av, 27 Sd
3.5"/7 moa




Here is the after with IMR 4831



2004 Hi, 1889 Lo, 115 es, 1942 av, 57 sd
1-7/8"

[GSSP]

Discovered something today. With the throat lengthened, I can size the bullets to just .368" and leave the nose alone and I could get a dummy round to chamber today. Might just change things again.

[Ed K]

I've been working on getting my new 255 gr LBT LFN to shoot in my 9.3x62. I'm not having issues with velocity; getting over 2400 with zero leading. The accuracy, up there is dismal. Under 2000 fps, the accuracy is in the 1-2 moa range. The rifle, and now, load i'm developing is purpose built for big northern animals; elk, moose and grizzly. Is 1900 to 2000 fps with that bullet going to be effective enough. If so, to what range?

Alan

I don't know about griz but for thin-skinned game (deer-elk-moose) Veral would tell you the attached chart shows you where you need to be. Read about Veral's DV formula in his book.

127528

[wmitty]

Might consider paper patching a .358 boolit up to groove diameter.

[Gunnut 45/454]

GSSP
Looks like your sweet spot for that rifle bullet combo is around 2000-2100 fps. With that bullet wt I'd say off hand your good to 200 yards for the thin skinned game and 125 yards for Griz. Shooting Griz I'd be breaking bones .

[ammohead]

I was hoping to contribute something positive to this thread but alas the elk won. Better luck next time. I did have one of my best hunting seasons to date with 13 days in the elk fields, but when you are limited to distance and the elk have been hunted for over 4 months straight it is danged difficult. Had chances but blew them all.