Following on from the 9.3x62 threads....................

[Lateral]

Rather than going off track, for those trying to decide if the calibre is right for them, I felt it better to start a new thread, looking at, in this case the construction of 9.3mm bullets.

I've been using the Geco 255gn Factory, and reloaded Norma Oryx 232gn. I have also worked up some loads for the Geco 255gn, and a 232gn "mystery" bullet, I'm assured was made by Norma, but some years ago.

The Geco is cheap, and works well, but I wanted to have a play, and try some other bullets.

The 232gn Oryx is fast (2620fps) compared to the Geco factory, that did 2260fps in my 20" barrel. But, I'm not convinced the Oryx isn't a little too tough, because I was getting very small exit wounds.

So, I was wondering just what the construction differences are, between the three, and having a little time on my hands, decided, to have a go at cross sectioning them, to compare.

Given I'm at home, and only have a medium duty vice, and junior hacksaw, it turned out to be somewhat longer to do that I thought. It's not easy to get a clean cut, so it took some time to wet, and dry them, to get a clear contrast between the jacket, and the core.

They aren't perfect, but give a clear idea of the differences.



A) Geco 255gn soft point. Has cannelure

B) Mystery 232gn Norma. Has cannelure.

c) Norma 232gn Oryx.

The jacket differences can be seen very clearly. The jacket on Geco (A) is so thin, it was a SOB to get a picture of.

Now I've done this, I'm excited to try the "mystery" bullet, that looks very promising ?


Be interesting to see what others look like, if anyone else fancies having a look !

 

[Border]

Could the mystery Norma bullet be an Alaska? Don't know if it was made in 15g or not but probably, as it would suit the 9.3x57 or "potato thrower" better than the 18.5g offering.

 

[Lateral]

Could the mystery Norma bullet be an Alaska? Don't know if it was made in 15g or not but probably, as it would suit the 9.3x57 or "potato thrower" better than the 18.5g offering.

They don't appear to do the Alaska in a 232gn, just 286gn. It's more like the Vulcan, but without the jacket rolled in.

 

[Border]

They don't appear to do the Alaska in a 232gn, just 286gn. It's more like the Vulcan, but without the jacket rolled in.

Maybe older bullets?

 

[Lateral]

Maybe older bullets?

They are old, but perfectly preserved

 

[karamoja]

A good post Lateral! Great idea!
The Vulkan does not have a cannelure. I have attached some pictures as per your idea.
I have also done the same with a solid 286gn woodleigh and placed a soft nose for comparison.
I found that on fallow the Vulkans worked very well. They never went far at all. I had trouble getting hold of more and tried the Geco which I found to be just as accurate and just as effective. Shot reaction with the 9.3 is unlike anything else. It just looks like game over even when still on all four feet.
I am keen to try either some peregrine or GS in the lighter bullets if anybody has experience of those I would love to hear about it.
232gn Norma vulkan

286gn woodleigh

Sorry about the quality of cutting, in a rush before the children's bath time with a blunt saw. Excuses, excuses I know....
Best K
Ps does anyone have experience of the 9.3 on buffalo.... Is it adequate? Or is like the .243 and fallow/reds argument?

 

[Lateral]

A good post Lateral! Great idea!
The Vulkan does not have a cannelure. I have attached some pictures as per your idea.
I have also done the same with a solid 286gn woodleigh and placed a soft nose for comparison.
I found that on fallow the Vulkans worked very well. They never went far at all. I had trouble getting hold of more and tried the Geco which I found to be just as accurate and just as effective. Shot reaction with the 9.3 is unlike anything else. It just looks like game over even when still on all four feet.
I am keen to try either some peregrine or GS in the lighter bullets if anybody has experience of those I would love to hear about it.

Sorry about the quality of cutting, in a rush before the children's bath time with a blunt saw. Excuses, excuses I know....
Best K
Ps does anyone have experience of the 9.3 on buffalo.... Is it adequate? Or is like the .243 and fallow/reds argument?

karamoja,

Fantastic ! I can guess why you did the Woodleigh that way

It's also strange that whilst you say it's a solid, it has a core ?

If you get time, please can you rub the Vulcan down, to show the core/jacket, so it can be compared to the two Norma I posted

 

[karamoja]

Will do tomorrow if that's okay.
The solid title refers to the fact is a solid and not soft nose, like a full metal jacket. All traditional solid bullets are lead internally. My understanding that some big game calibres where preferred over others was due to the thinner metal at the nose and therefore prone to poorer performance?
K

 

[243varmint]

Thanks for taking the time to do this guys.
I've only reloaded 270gr Hot core at the moment but have got some 255gr Naturalis loaded and some S and B 286gr.

Looking at the Gecco. They do two different loads in the 255gr bullet weight. They both call them hunting but if you look at the details on their website there is a varmint/target and a hunting.
Two totally different bullets I'd say.
The boxes are the same but you have to look at the back of the box.

That Gecco bullet has one hell of a thin jacket for a hunting bullet don't you think?

If I have time tomorrow (home schooling permitting) I'll section a S and B bullet.

 

[243varmint]

Following on from yesterday's post.
Here is a 285gr Sellier and Bellot soft point
Quite a thin jacket on these bullets too.

 

[Lateral]

243,

Great, thanks, but were you "drunk, in charge of a saw" when you did it ?

Yes it's thin, but nothing like the Geco.

Before anyone discounts the Geco, based on the thin Jacket, I have shot a lot of boar from 5yds > 200 yds, using it, and in most cases, it produces an exit wound, even with the factory only doing circa 2260fps !

I'm hoping to see a few more, Partition, Accubond, anything would be interesting.

 

[243varmint]

243,

Great, thanks, but were you "drunk, in charge of a saw" when you did it ?

Yes it's thin, but nothing like the Geco.

Before anyone discounts the Geco, based on the thin Jacket, I have shot a lot of boar from 5yds > 200 yds, using it, and in most cases, it produces an exit wound, even with the factory only doing circa 2260fps !

I'm hoping to see a few more, Partition, Accubond, anything would be interesting.

Ha. That's after the file. Bloody small junior hacksaw only I'm afraid.
If got a 255gr Naturalis but that's solid.i can do one if you want??

 

[243varmint]

Just looking at the Oryx again, it's got s good jacket on that.

I haven't used the Gecco yet only the Hot core on anything live. I would like to take a nice fallow buck with it. Hoping to take it to Germany one day.

 

[Lateral]

Ha. That's after the file. Bloody small junior hacksaw only I'm afraid.
If got a 255gr Naturalis but that's solid.i can do one if you want??

Just pulling your leg, but I was looking at the other half

If the Naturalis is solid copper, the only bit of interest would be the recess for the plastic tip. Depends on how bored you are

I'm having some serious withdrawal symptoms at the moment I've already had to postpone a trip to the FOD, and I would have spent a long weekend hunting at night in Hungary, not happening in the near future, and I can't see any driven trips going ahead this year

 

[243varmint]

Just pulling your leg, but I was looking at the other half

If the Naturalis is solid copper, the only bit of interest would be the recess for the plastic tip. Depends on how bored you are

I'm having some serious withdrawal symptoms at the moment I've already had to postpone a trip to the FOD, and I would have spent a long weekend hunting at night in Hungary, not happening in the near future, and I can't see any driven trips going ahead this year

See what I can do

I've done a few load developments over the last few weeks. 255gr Naturalis and these 285gr SandB. Just need to test them.

Not sure what's going to happen but I just hope 'lockdown' isn't lifted to quickly otherwise I think it will be a massive backward step.

 

[243varmint]

Here you go.
255gr Naturalis and 285gr SandB

 

[karamoja]

Hi all,
Managed to get half an hour, I have cleaned up the Vulkan. I need to look on the nitro express pages as from memory there is a long thread on 9.3 bullet performance?? I will have search.

Fairly thick jacket. But as lateral said I have never had poor performance from the Geco! I would be quite happy to carry on using them.

 

[243varmint]

I see a few in the Shire have 9.3x62

 

[Manny]

Hornady interlock 286g SP-RP

I’ve got some partitions somewhere I’ll try dig them out. I currently use Norma oryx 285g (factory) would be interested to see one of them cut in half.

 

[8x57]

193 grain Sellior & Bellot that I use in my 9.3x74r. The bullet is really meant for the older 9.3x72r round but they were all that was available at the time and the price was good.



Like the 285grn version that 243varmint sectioned they have a relatively thin jacket.




Taken from a high seat at approximately 80 yards. Entry hole on other side, perfectly positioned for a heart lung shot but the bullet decided to take a turn north on entry and virtually severed spine. Pondering the possibility that these bullets are simply to light for this cartridge and maybe only just stable. No indications of any instability when tested on the range.

The other 9.3mm bullet that I have used for game in this rifle is the 250grn Nosler ballistic tip. Super accurate and does the job most impressively. A very kind site member also gave me some 232 grn Geco soft points to try. Not used them in anger but very impressed by how they shot when tested on the range.