9.5x57 would be my favourite if I had one instead of the .375/06IMP. We all love our 9.3x57's. That is a nice hunting rifle!

NSWHunter - your loads are very soft. I used that same powder in my 9.3x57, H4895 I believe it is called over here, with 48.5gr. and 270gr. Speers & they are barely making 2,300fps.

With the 220gr. and 225gr. Hornady's sized down to .367" and 232gr. .366" Norma Vulcans, I'm using 52.0gr. of H4895 - as well as 56.0gr. BLC2.

These loads were developed in a M46, which is a Model 94/96 action - the weaker of the Mauser actions. The 9.5x57 has a slightly higher expansion ratio than the 9.3x57, which means these loads are fully capable of being shot in your rifle.

The case web expansion was 0 from sized diameter of .466" (8x57RP) with all loads - literally showing no pressure signs at all. The velocity was good at 2,450fps with 232gr. and 2,550fps for the lighter bullets. They all shot into sub 1" at 100 meters off the bags.

As always stay safe and work up from below, watching for pressure signs.

The 220gr. Hornady FN meant for the .375Winchester and Marlin lever guns might be a better goat bullet. At lower velocities, Rod found the 235gr. Speer to be very tough acting - closely matching 300gr. Swifts from a .375 H&H in penetration and damage.

I'd think, unless run at 2,500fps or more, they'd be too tough for the smaller goats. The 225gr. Hornady SP should be wonderful in that case for such game - even Sambar - flatter shooting and better expanding as well. Since it has a thin nose and .062" base jacket, it should work well on a variety of game at such moderate speeds. Having the spitzer nose, should allow good feeding as well.