9.3mm users

[Pilgrim]

Are there any 9.3mm shooters on the board besides Deputy Al, and (soon to be) myself? My rifle is off to the gun vet to get a recoil pad installed and a couple of other items changed. I haven't even fired it yet. I can hardly wait to get it back. Usually I'd do the recoil pad myself, but this rifle is purdy and I don't want to take a chance on dinging up the stock. My eyes and hands are not what they used to be, and I;m not sure I would have tried this one even if in tip top shape!! Pilgrim

[9.3X62AL]

Oh, crap--I gotta send those boolits your way! I'll get on it RIGHT NOW.

[The Nyack Kid]

im one i have 2 9.3x62s and a third being made-up right now. plus my ol man has one ,but he is not on the board .

[Pilgrim]

Anybody loading for a 9.3X74R?

[NuJudge]

I have a Valmet double. I use the Lyman plain base bullet, with either 2400 or SR4759. I've shot it a lot with cast. Most of my brass is old RWS, although recently I got some Swiss Thun brass off eBay.

In the past my cast bullet loads have been very mild. As soon as the weather improves, I'm going to see if I can put some authority in them.

CDD

[BruceB]

BTW, it seems that the Ruger factory may be producung some #1 rifles in 9.3x74 this year, and also some in .400 H&H....talk about "niche marketing"!

[9.3X62AL]

A #1 in 9.3 x 74R would be cool indeed--as would a 77R or RS in 9.3 x 62, or--dare it be dreamed--9.3 x 64 Brenneke?

[3584ELK]

yep, 9.3x64mm here. Its in a 7 1/2 lb setup, kicks like a mule and carries like a dream! I doubt I will use cast boolits in it for a while. I got to get my .375 Winchester shooting first!

[NVcurmudgeon]

BruceB, "some in .400 H&H"? Is that another new cartridge from H&H, since the .700? Crikey, that's two cartridges since the .244 H&H in 1955! Holland's are becoming positively innovative.

[gutshot_again]

I've been shooting a 9.3x57 for a few years now. It's my favorite whitetail cast bullet gun.

[Frank46]

I've got a sarco Husky in 9.3x57 that am waiting for the dies to show up. Has Husquvarna 9.3 engraved on top of the bbl. Some of the board members were most generous in sending me some of the cast boolits and am using some of them to try an design a mold which I hope Dan at Mountain Molds will make for me. Seems the dimensions are a little off and I need a fatter boolit. Frank

[bubblehead]

Gutshot,

I was starting to feel left out because I have a 9.3x57. I've never shot it because I keep forgetting it.

[gutshot_again]

Bubblehead, when you get around to shooting it you'll like it. Recoil seems very low for a full power 300 grain bullet and when you hit a deer with it, they just fall down (assuming flat meplat).

Frank, mine is also a Husky (can't remeber the model #), built on a '98 action. To say the throat is long would be an understatement. Still, it shoots 270 grain with the bullet seated out as much as you can very well. In fact I can shoot NEI's 335 grain in mine with it seated even with the base of the neck.

[9.3X62AL]

The CZ-550 I have features a pretty generous throat, too--about .290" of freebore before the lands rise up, diameter of .3665". Twist rate is about 1:13", or 3 turns/meter. It's a Mauser 4-groove pattern, with tall lands (.007") for a .366" x .352" profile.

[Frank46]

Gutshot Again, I put one of the cast bullets into the throat and with the aid of a flaslight saw that the base of the gc bullet would be about even with the start of the shoulder or even a little further into the neck. Once the dies show up then can start making cases. Its been drilled and tapped for weaver bases and the bolt handle altered for use with a scope.
Can't wait to get it shooting. I wanted something different to play with and I sure got it.
Frank

[Pilgrim]

I wanted a double rifle for many years (~50 or so) but the prices just kept going up ahead of me. If I could scratch up $1500, they were $3000, etc. I had a heart problem last spring...they weren't all that sure I was gonna make it, I guess. Anyway, I decided to go to the SCI convention in Reno, NV and look at and handle some double rifles. Double rifles are not easy to find to look at unless you live near Enid, OK (Champlins), or a few other places in the USA. But there are LOTS of 'em at the SCI convention and Dallas SCI conventions. I succumbed and bought one.

The SCI rules require that the dealer ship it to you after the show is over, so I had to wait for a couple of weeks for it to arrive at my dealer. I was really patient (NOT). Then I fondled it for an hour or so, and then hauled it off to the gun vet to put a recoil pad on it and to do a few other small things for me. I usually do all of that kind of stuff myself, but this rifle is a bit spendier with nicer wood so I took it to somebody who would do the work without screwing up the wood by dinging it when sanding. I've been waiting for two weeks now, and have at least one week to go. I'm not being very patient waiting, but it's gonna be right when I touch it off the first time. The stock is/was a touch long for me. The rifle is chambered for 9.3X74R. The rifle weighs about 7 pounds so it's gonna have a smidgeon of recoil, hence the recoil pad first thing.

I've got neck dies and trim dies on order, bullets and snap caps on order, lens covers for the scope on order, "once fired" brass on order, and prolly other stuff. None of it has arrived yet and its been 3+ weeks since I placed the first order! I'm going nuts.

Sorry guys,...I hadda tell somebody. Pilgrim

[NVcurmudgeon]

Pilgrim, your new 9.3 X 74R sounds like a fine rifle. If you were to appear at the Nevada Cast Bullet Shoot, I'm sure the Rools Committy would allow you to shoot groups with either barrel!

[Pilgrim]

I was at the NCBS #2 and enjoyed myself, except for the lousy motel! I haven't been down since then. Going thru Winnie on the way to Reno the "Ramada" on the West side of town is no longer. The facility is still there, but new name and hopefully new ownership and policies.

The only problem with the NCBS is it's been scheduled on Mothers Day weekend for the last ? years. I have 10 g'kids now, and believe me, a slow death would be a pleasure compared to that I will experience if I leave home on that weekend. Anyway, schedule it for some other weekend, and I'll sure enough try to get there. It's about 9 or 10 hours one way from here to Winnie. Pilgrim

[j4570]

I have a Husky 9.3x57.

I don't shoot cast in it, I've been using the Nosler 250 gr.

I just reform the 8x57 cases using Hornady 9.3 dies (they have the nice tapered expander to do so). Mica doesn't seem to cut it for expanding, so I have been using imperial wax on a Q-tip, and then tumbling clean after forming.

Mine's a fine shooter.

[rockrat]

Have a Valmet that loves the PVI 286gr bullets that I get from Grafs. Gun has a nice tight neck, but the base is way oversize(reamer must have wallowed). I only get two shots before I start to get a casehead seperation(Norma Brass). bought some RWS, as that is what was recommended to me. Good caliber, lots of thump on both ends.

[Nrut]

The CZ-550 I have features a pretty generous throat, too--about .290" of freebore before the lands rise up, diameter of .3665". Twist rate is about 1:13", or 3 turns/meter. It's a Mauser 4-groove pattern, with tall lands (.007") for a .366" x .352" profile.
Deputy Al...I have a CZ550FS coming in late March or April...I'm wondering what mould you use for your CZ550 as I would like to order one ahead of time so it will be here when the rifle arrives...also any loading data for cast bullets would be appreciated....thanks mic
after thought....brass? do you use 9.3 brass or neck up .35 Whelen brass?...I found a Canadian source for 9.3 brass but it is pricy....

[9.3X62AL]

My primary mold has been the Mountain Molds 9.3mm/270 grain flatnose, and I've also fired some plain-base Lyman #366408's and an NEI design that were sent as samples. All of these castings did very well, accuracy-wise. Loads aren't real high-tech, just 18.0-23.0 grains of 2400 with dacron. I should chronogrph these critters one of these days, I'm guessing the higher-end load gives 1700 FPS or thereabouts.

I have both reformed Rem 35 Whelen and Graf's 9.3 x 62 cases on hand. The reformed Rem 35 Whelens have 6 loadings under their belt plus the fire-forming, which was accomplished with 9mm Makarov JHP's and a goodly dose of WC-852F powder. Them pistol bullets at 2700 FPS destroyed jackrabbits, I should note. The 9.3 x 62 cases ARE just a mite fatter at the head area, .479" as opposed to the .471" of the Rems. I put up cast boolits in the reformed Rems, the J-words go into the Graf's cases. Nosler 286 Partitions and 250 BalTips shoot GREAT, but extended bench sessions with full-tilt loads are a bit much. The Speer semi-spitzer 270's don't shoot as well as the Noslers in my rifle.

[JohnH]

Where are you guys finding your loading data? I've begun to experiement with some IMR 3031 data I found over at accuratereloading in my 375 JDJ. The 9.3x57 and the JDJ are so close that I could make brass from a rimmed version of 9.3x57, would involve little more than expanding the neck, load a shoot. Thanks for posting that data Deputy Al, it is a big help. I've had some pretty decent results from 18.7 grians of 820 pulldown from J. Bartlett (gibrass.com) Clocks at 1470 from my 26" tube pushing the Lyman 379449 (270 grains)

[Curtis44]

Rockrat, I had the same problem with my son's valmet, the rear of the chamber is oversize. So much oversize that the fired cases would not go back in the chamber unless oriented exactly the same way they were fired, a major PITA.. If I F/L sized the brass so it would fit the chambers, the brass would begin to fail 1/2 inch ahead of the rim. The cases were expanding off center due to the oversize rear of the chamber... they were expanding lopsided!
I solved it by placing a 1/16 ring of tape just ahead of the rim to center the case in the chamber for the first firing. The case expands evenly to fill the chamber ahead of the rim and tape. After fireforming using this method, I Use a neck sizing die only. Cases can be loaded many times and drop into the chambers perfectly. Resizing with a FL die will result in early case loss.

I sure wish they still imported this gun, even with these problems. I'd buy one for me! I like the 9.3's. I guess I'll have to live with my little 375 JDJ carbine for now..

[Noel]

Hi Everyone!

I have to tip my hat to Nrut who has very kindly offered to help me get into shooting cast with my 9,3.:)

I had long wanted one but it took ten or so years to find one. Last fall I started out with a very nice Husky 146 in 9,3x57. I used the 270gr Speer to get a 58 1/2" bullwinkle and was very impressed with it's performance.

Since that rifle was not easily suited to fit a scope I sold it to a friend and stumbled upon a Brno ZG47 in 9,3x62 and snapped that up.

Nrut contacted me via another forum about trying cast out. I have never really shot them or considered it before. Not sure why.

I look behind me at my bench and see a pile of 256gr, 286gr and 323gr pills awaiting getting stuck in a case and flung through the air.:mrgreen:

I am thinking this will catch on.:twisted: So here I am, looking to suck up all the info I can for shooting cast.

I seated them over 38-40gr of H4895 for the first trial run. The ZG47's mag is quite long as they housed the 64 Brenneke in it as well. That leaves the 323gr OAL at 3.444" with lots of clearance yet. I have roughly 5/8" of freebore in my barrel so I hope to minimize the jump to the lands.

Anyway, I've blabbed enough. Looking forward to learning from you folks.

Best regards,
Noel

[Marlin Junky]

What gas checks are you guys using for these metric wonders wedged between the Whelen and the .375H&H?

MJ

[Bullshop]

My NEI's take 35's
BIC/BS

[9.3X62AL]

NEI's use 35's? Interesting.......the MM uses .375's.

[Pilgrim]

As I noted in an earlier post (same thread) I finally acquired my double rifle. All of the parts were duly assembled, and off to the range I went. As expected, recoil was a bit more than noticable, but OK if one has shot large bore rifles a bit. I wouldn't say it was a tremendous pleasure to shoot it off of the bench, but...Anyway, after putting a couple hundred rounds through it I took it to a gunsmith in central Oregon who works on double rifles exclusively. I needed to have the comb lowered and the triggers lightened. The front trigger was around 8-9 pounds, perhaps a bit more while the back trigger was considerably heavier, I'd guess around 14 pounds or so. They are now at ~4# and 4.5# (front and rear) which is heavier than I like, but I am advised that that is about the lightest one can adjust them and not run into potential trouble with doubling. The comb is lower but needs to be a bit lower even yet. That will get addressed another time.

I began developing loads with the FLGC's and then included the MM 286 gr GC boolits in the load development process. Amazingly, even though the rifle shot more like a bolt gun to start with (4 shots in ~ 1" at 100 yds, 2 lefts and rights), the gun started "crossing". That is when the right barrel impacts to the left of the left barrel impact, and vice versa. After some 300 or so rounds both the bullets and boolits were crossing by ~ 5" at 100 yards. The dealer refused to honor the warranty (1 year) claiming that 5" at 100 yards was acceptable accuracy for a double rifle. The manufacturer also declined to address the issue. All of the other dealers and gunsmiths i showed the targets to, and discussed the problem with, didn't agree with the dealer, particularly given the original accuracy. Anyway, the gun was sent off to a nationally recognized specialist in Enid, OK to reregulate the barrels. My original diagnosis was confirmed by the gunsmith. The barrels were both very rough initially, and as they smoothed out, the barrel "dwell time" was reduced (time between firing and bullet exit from the muzzle) with the result the bullets/boolits were exiting the barrel too soon and thus the crossing. Velocities were essentially identical between the original shots and those at the end prior to re-regulation. After 4 months or so, I got the rifle back and began to continue load development. The FLGC's were pretty easy to develop, while the GC boolits have been a bit more challenging. All indications are I will have good loads with both FLGC's and boolits when done. As soon as the outside temperatures go back to the 70's or so, I'll get back after it. More info when I'm done. Both FLGC's and GC's will be at a velocity of about 2350 fps. FWIW...Pilgrim

[mazo kid]

I have a Husky Rolling Block, mdl. 1867, chambered in 9.3 X 57R. Has been a struggle finding components. Where do you find the brass and boolits? I am thinking of having CBE in Aust. make me a double cavity mould with 2 different weight boolits. Am waiting on his reply as to whether he will do this. The moulds are very well made (I have a buddy who has 3-4 of them) and relatively inexpensive, turn-around is also very fast. I had a custom s1zing die made at .372 to try my .377 boolits in but haven't had a chance to try it yet. Emery

[mstarling]

I acquired an NEI 366 260 GC 4 cavity mould and made the first batch of WW bullets with it and sent them to testers and shot a few myself. They came out at 285 gr and use 35 cal gas checks. Sized to 0.366 Lubed with

Results so far:

9,3x62 33 gr AA5744 in Graf brass from scoped VZ,24 w 24" 1:12 twist Douglas bbl ... 1 1/2" at 50 yards

same load from scoped CZ 550 American w 1 in 9+ twist ... shotgun pattern

9,3x62 23.0 gr Blue Dot in Graf brass in different VZ.24 w 24" 1:12 Douglas bbl ... 0.65" at 50 yards. 1 1/2" at 100 yards

9,3x74 R scoped Chapuis double rifle 34 gr AA5477 in RWS brass close to regulation at 50 yards 3" group

Always employ good reloading practices ... what's safe in my guns may not be in yours!

[dragonrider]

I have a 9.3x57 Husky, one of my favorite rifles. Does real good with FLGC Sierra's. Haven't had a lot of success with boolits yet but workin on it.

[Nelsdou44]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v24/BubbaChevy/000_0022.jpg

9.3x57 Model 46 Husky, Mt. Baldy .367" 270 grain w/GC, 24 grains of 5744, range - 100 yds.

Don't overlook paper-patching .358" boolits. Two wraps of cotton onion-skin and lube on a .358 boolit gets you the right diameter for the 9.3. I've gotten fair groups at full power loads and sure I can get 'em tighter.

Nels