9.3x62 for Deer?

[Matabele]

Hello everyone,

I've just got back from a trip to SA, and had a fantastic time! I used my mates 308 and 9.3x62, and was impressed with the 9.3's performance.
As you might imagine it seemed to operate with more authority than the 308, putting tough game down quickly.
I was hesitant about the recoil as I have owned an original Mauser A-Type in this calibre in the past and the recoil was brutal, however my friends Zastava was much milder mannered which could be down to stock shape.

I have now decided I need another 9.3, it will be my Africa gun! However I'd be interested to know if the powers that be would grant a condition to allow this calibre (or the 9.3x74R for that matter) to be used on deer in the UK?
Does anyone use their 9.3 on deer here in the UK?

 

[bowji john]

mine is conditioned for deer here in Cornwall

I use it for an area of my shooting grounds where the ground is wet and I don't want a red blundering into areas from which I can't recover it

 

[HonestJohn]

Had one for deer and any other legal quarry in Scotland, too much boom and too much pain, and too expensive to feed for the U.K. was my decision. I loved it, old 1909 Argentino Mauser 98 custom build with open sights. But…

Anyway, yes, no reason they shouldn’t let you

 

[VIGILAIRE]

Got it in x 62 and x 74R for AOLQ. Couldn't agree more, great calibre.

 

[Dorset Shakari]

AOLQ here in Dorset.

 

[karamoja]

Great all round caliber, bullet choice is key.
AOLQ in W/M.

 

[Greener Jim]

I had a 9.3x57 on ticket for deer, and on my second .458 for deer. Also had a slot for a 338-06 I didn't fill (slight regret there).

Varies so much from force to force, but a good cover letter goes a long way.

 

[Matabele]

Many thanks for the replies everyone, they're encouraging!

 

[alberta boy]

I had a 9.3x57 on ticket for deer, and on my second .458 for deer. Also had a slot for a 338-06 I didn't fill (slight regret there).

Varies so much from force to force, but a good cover letter goes a long way.

You need a 338/06 , I have one , a truly useful cartridge . I still have a 9.3x57 , an under rated cartridge .

AB

 

[alberta boy]

Great all round caliber, bullet choice is key.
AOLQ in W/M.

Exactly . It's a very popular all round cartridge around here . It's actually far more common than the 35 Whelen , 358 Win and 350 RM . I know a number of people who use the 9.3x62 , and to a lesser extent , the 9.3x 74R , on white - tails , mule deer and black bear with great results . I've used all of the above on deer over the years and have been surprised how little blood shot meat they produce , usually significantly less than faster smaller bore cartridges .

AB

 

[243varmint]

Got a 9.3x62 for deer and AOLQ. West Mercia.
Mauser actioned heavy spotter barrel done by Mike Norris at Brock and Norris.

 

[243varmint]

You can load light bullets for them too or go heavy. Very versatile round.

 

[angusb1]

When I was considering to go 9.3x62 or 35 Whelen, pretty much the only thing that swung it towards the 35 Whelen was that it has more choice of bullets which I thought would expand well on the UK deer I would primarily want to shoot with it. This is by no means a deal breaker but a lot of the bullets for the 9.3x62 are towards the heavier, tougher end of the spectrum, designed for penetration on tougher game like large boar and some of the African species. There are plenty of .358 calibre bullets the 35 Whelen can shoot which are softer and more expansive in comparison because they were designed with the 35 Remington in mind. If I was using a 9.3x62 on UK deer I would probably choose the 232gr Norma Vulkan as it expands well on that size of deer. One of the great advantages of the 9.3x62 over the 35 Whelen is availability of ammo if you are travelling to Europe or Africa where the 9.3x62 is much more common. The 9.3x62 is a great all rounder and if I lived in a country where I could easily have both I would.

 

[jthyttin]

Plus you get affordable 357 bullets for practice, if you're into that.

I consider myself having a decent stash of 9.3 bullets for practice, but I paid 50 cents a piece. You can get 158gr SP or HP (filled through "nose" so jacket covers the base) at 20 cents if you look around (or at least used to some time ago I aqcuired those 9.3 bullets).

Positive thing is that those 9.3 practice bullets are Lapua OTM (185gr?) and S&B 193gr (for 72R, yes 72 not 74) that are somewhat stable in price. 50 cents is always cheaper than, say 1 Euro.

 

[Greener Jim]

You need a 338/06 , I have one , a truly useful cartridge . I still have a 9.3x57 , an under rated cartridge .

AB

I am pretty sure you got me my does for the 9.3x57. Still have them actually, always handy to have dies for stuff you may get again.

338-06 still appeals, but i think a magnum 8mm would really tickle my pickle

 

[Covert]

Hello everyone,

I've just got back from a trip to SA, and had a fantastic time! I used my mates 308 and 9.3x62, and was impressed with the 9.3's performance.
As you might imagine it seemed to operate with more authority than the 308, putting tough game down quickly.
I was hesitant about the recoil as I have owned an original Mauser A-Type in this calibre in the past and the recoil was brutal, however my friends Zastava was much milder mannered which could be down to stock shape.

I have now decided I need another 9.3, it will be my Africa gun! However I'd be interested to know if the powers that be would grant a condition to allow this calibre (or the 9.3x74R for that matter) to be used on deer in the UK?
Does anyone use their 9.3 on deer here in the.

Luck of the draw.
I have a 9.3 x74 r double rifle, had a variation granted by previous licensing authority for use overseas and UK.
Moved into new licensing area sourced a suitable rifle and filled the vacant slot.
It took 3 years to convince my new local Firearms licensing department to let me buy ammunition and use it in the U.K. on an approved range. They insisted I was only allowed to have the weapon out of storage when heading to a port of embarkation, they would not allow me hold ammunition to sight in , practice , test etc
Now I can acquire ammunition but only use on a range in the UK.
Having held a FAC for 40 years with numerous rimfire and centrefire calibres up to
.308 being used professionally didn’t make any difference.

 

[HonestJohn]

Luck of the draw.
I have a 9.3 x74 r double rifle, had a variation granted by previous licensing authority for use overseas and UK.
Moved into new licensing area sourced a suitable rifle and filled the vacant slot.
It took 3 years to convince my new local Firearms licensing department to let me buy ammunition and use it in the U.K. on an approved range. They insisted I was only allowed to have the weapon out of storage when heading to a port of embarkation, they would not allow me hold ammunition to sight in , practice , test etc
Now I can acquire ammunition but only use on a range in the UK.
Having held a FAC for 40 years with numerous rimfire and centrefire calibres up to
.308 being used professionally didn’t make any difference.

Such insanity! A longstanding FAC holder is far safer with even a 500NE than an unlearned youngster with a .22-250 shooting foxes and rabbits in the darkness

 

[6pt-sika]

I am pretty sure you got me my does for the 9.3x57. Still have them actually, always handy to have dies for stuff you may get again.

338-06 still appeals, but i think a magnum 8mm would really tickle my pickle

For sure always keep the dies and brass for awhile after . Forty years ago I’d sell a rifle and let all dies and brass go with it then six months later I’d be buying that stuff again for another rifle .

 

[alberta boy]

I am pretty sure you got me my does for the 9.3x57. Still have them actually, always handy to have dies for stuff you may get again.

338-06 still appeals, but i think a magnum 8mm would really tickle my pickle

I forgot about that , I did send you those dies some time ago . I had a Brno ZKK in 8X68S a number of years ago , it was an extremely powerful and accurate combination . The only downside was it was a heavy rifle to pack around in high country . I have one hunting buddy who still uses a 325 WSM for Moose and Elk . It was never a popular cartridge but it does what it was designed to do very well in a fairly handy rifle , his is a Browning X Bolt .

AB

 

[njc110381]

If African dangerous game isn't part of the package and you home load, look at the .35 Whelen. Bullets range from 180gr to 310gr and there are a lot more options designed to work on quarry you'll find in the UK.

I developed a round to generate just over 1000ft-lbs using Hornady 180gr pistol bullets for muntjac. It's great. If I wanted to shoot something big there isn't much a 310gr Woodleigh Weldcore wouldn't get through. For regular deer use Barnes offer a 180gr TTSX which would be perfect. I'm using 170gr Sierra soft points loaded on the gentle side but there's no point developing that because it'll be outlawed soon.

Edit... It looks like 250gr is the lightest .366 offering from Barnes. That's quite a chunk of copper to expand on the light framed deer we have. There are other brands of course but it's not a cartridge I've studied in great detail.