| JohnK |
| (.275 member) |
| 08/06/08 02:22 PM |
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9.3 x 62. What accuracy to expect
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One and all,
I have finally worked up a load for my 9.3 x 62.
58 grains of RL 15 Woodleigh 286 gn PPSP projectiles. Velocity 2350 fps
(I posted a photo of my new acquisition recently http://forums.nitroexpress.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=103657&an=0&page=0#Post103657)
I have now posted photos of two targets I shot today. Centre to centre they measure about 27 mm each at 100 yards
Never having used a 9.3 x 62 before, Is this the accuracy I should expect or should I keep trying for better. I find this acceptable, but is this calibre capable of better.
Any comments appreciated.
| Nakihunter |
| (.375 member) |
| 08/06/08 05:41 PM |
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Re: 9.3 x 62. What accurace to expect
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Waow! That is great mate! I got a similar group last weekend with 250 gr Nosler BT. Most other loads are around 1.5 inches at 100 meters.
You can get another 100 fps with that bullet. I got 2450 fps with ADI 2208. The primers were still round & the bolt lift was easy. John Barsness reports 2550 fps in his CZ rifle.
I also got 2200 fps with 320 gr Woodleigh RN & 56 gr of ADI 2208. Accuracy was 1.5 inches but point of impact was 6 inches lower!
Do let us know how you get on. Any plans of "blooding" her?
| André |
| (.333 member) |
| 08/06/08 07:47 PM |
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Re: 9.3 x 62. What accurace to expect
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If you're willing to put some more time in handloading and if the rifle is capable, you can better these. With my Blaser R93, I was lucky to shoot under MOA from the start (4 x scope power). Here are two 5-shot group made with the second handload I tried, using a 286 Lapua Mega bullet + VV N 135 powder :
| Bramble |
| (.375 member) |
| 08/06/08 10:52 PM |
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Re: 9.3 x 62. What accurace to expect
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Given that you have a load that is proberbly more accurate than it is possible to hold to from hunting positions and that it is more than adaquate for the purpose, I would call it a day and preserve barrel life.
I doubt that lovley rifle is pillar bedded or that the barrel is floated. I think that you will only chase human and rifle error.
Regards
| 9.3x57 |
| (.450 member) |
| 08/06/08 11:35 PM |
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Re: 9.3 x 62. What accurace to expect
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JohnK, an interesting question and all have their own personal accuracy "standards", to be sure.
I think a lot like Bramble.
Once I get groups like what you are showing here from the bench, I leave the bench and start shooting from various "fun" positions; sitting, kneeling, standing, at various ranges, on various silhouette targets, small varmints, etc. For myself, I find bench shooting a bore and it seems if anything to diminish my field shooting skills, not improve them, so I try to get a load that hovers around an inch at 100 meters {my range setup} and leave the bench asap.
IF my 3-shot groups with a scoped, big game boltgun are in the 1.5" or more bracket, I would work to improve the groups, depending on the gun. Yours look good to me.
Just my $.02.
| Rick_R |
| (.300 member) |
| 09/06/08 01:36 AM |
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Re: 9.3 x 62. What accurace to expect
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My 9.3x62 will shoot right around an inch at 100 yards from the bench. For some reason it thinks the original Barnes 286gr X is a varmint bullet and puts them thru 1/2" when I do my part.
But being realistic, you're probably not going to shoot the Aussie version of groundsquirrels with a 9.3x62. I'd settle on a load that shoots like that all the time, and go shoot it a lot from field positions, then go shoot it at animals.
| Paatti |
| (.333 member) |
| 09/06/08 05:10 AM |
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Re: 9.3 x 62. What accurace to expect
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Sub moa groups are good at any big game hunting rifle. My 9,3x62 shoot under 1/2 moa groups as its best. Here is one three shot group with S&B 193 grain soft point. Group size 8mm at 75 meter. Varminting accuracy
| 9.3x57 |
| (.450 member) |
| 09/06/08 07:33 AM |
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Re: 9.3 x 62. What accurace to expect
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Paatti makes a great point. Guns such as your 9.3x62 or my 9.3x57's can often be very accurate indeed, and there's nothing wrong with that!
Whether you should ditch 1-inch groups in the pursuit of sub-inch groups is a personal preference, and the results of such work may be enjoyable in themselves, but the difference between a 3 shot group of 1.18 inches and one of .75 inches will not be noticeable in the field under almost any conceivable circumstances. Heck, I DO shoot ground squirrels with my 9.3's and at the ranges they are shot such fdifferences are not noticeable.
But if you do find yourself a one-holer handload, PLEASE report it here!
| Bramble |
| (.375 member) |
| 09/06/08 07:53 AM |
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Re: 9.3 x 62. What accurace to expect
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Thats my 9.3 takdown on a 3" diamiter bull @ 50 mts with open sights.
2 286 grain softs, 2 solids.
I dident measure the group, good enough is good enough.
Regards
| JohnK |
| (.275 member) |
| 09/06/08 08:00 AM |
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Re: 9.3 x 62. What accuracy to expect
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Thanks everyone for the information.
I am happy with what my rifle is doing and I will leave it at that. The rifle will be used for deer, pigs and maybe scrub bulls or buffalo and in the field this accuracy will be good enough.
It is very interesting to see the other photos posted and clearly the calibre is capable of very good accuracy.
I thank everyone for their input, it is very much appreciated.
| 9.3x57 |
| (.450 member) |
| 09/06/08 10:46 AM |
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Re: 9.3 x 62. What accuracy to expect
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Five millimeters short of a 9.3x62...as close as I can get!
http://forums.nitroexpress.com/showflat....a5bd055ea138cf4
| DarylS |
| (.700 member) |
| 10/06/08 10:00 AM |
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Re: 9.3 x 62. What accuracy to expect
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John- with heavy loads and hunting bullets from 270gr. to 286fe., my old worn out m98 with lightly pitted bore was consistantly a 1-1/2MOA rifle. It shot slightly better at 200 meters, normally inside 2 1/2". These ballistics are with 270gr. at 2,675fps and 286gr. running 2,519fps, both recorded at 10' from the muzzle
: I would expect a new barrel be it a Blaser, CZ or custom rifle, to hold under an inch with normal weight bullets possessing the same ballistics.
| TilleyMan |
| (.333 member) |
| 10/06/08 12:46 PM |
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Re: 9.3 x 62. What accuracy to expect
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Just back from a range trip with the Sako AV 9.3x62
Tested loads for the Speer 270gr bullet... had tried ADI 2206 but got pressure signs well before ADI max and swapped over to Reloder 15... MUCH better!
Very clean burning, slower rate, no pressure signs at all.
Start load for the Speer 270gr is listed at 53.0gr with max at 58.0gr... I found excellent accuracy at 57.0gr, with 4 shots all into one ragged hole at 100m
Chronied at 2277fps, 2274fps, 2256fps... fairly moderate load it seems, excellent consistency though. Could probably up the load 1 grain in future.
Good accurate load, the Speer is top value even if it has a reputation for being a bit soft!
Then tested some of the Highland 286gr factory loads, bigger groups at 100m (but 3 shot groups still just over an inch) and a slightly lower point of impact for the heavier bullet.
Chronied at 2257fps, 2289fps, 2240fps... bit more variation, but not too bad for a budget cartridge.
Will order in some of the Lapua Mega 285gr and report back in due course...
| DarylS |
| (.700 member) |
| 11/06/08 02:04 AM |
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Re: 9.3 x 62. What accuracy to expect
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At those velocties, I'm quite sure you'll find the 270gr. Speer to be a great bullet - even perhaps on the tough side for elk and moose. My 9.3x57 gets 2,300fps and it's only a M96. Your loads must be quite low pressure as mine don't expand the web of the case even 1/2 thou, with 1 thou. less expansion of the neck than my 300gr. loads produce and they are not max pressure either.
: Your rifle shows very good accuracy, with these light loads.
| Tiagra |
| (.224 member) |
| 11/06/08 08:36 AM |
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Re: 9.3 x 62. What accurace to expect
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I recently had an opportunity to try out the Hornady 286 gr 9.3mm spitzer bullets in my 9.3X62. These are the same bullets that Hornady has been using in their 9.3X74R ammunition.
The rifle is a Brazilian Model 1908(Oberndorf contract) Mauser 98 with a 21" barrel, Dayton trigger and a 2-7X33 Leupold VX-I scope.
I used Norma cases that have been loaded 4-5 times. I full-length resized them when they were new and have partially resized them on all subsequent loadings. This most recent range session indicates they are in need of a FL resizing as chambering was stiff on a number of rounds.
Primers were CCI 200's.
I loaded two batches of ammo using Varget and RL15 at 58 and 59 grains of each powder. COL was 3.29"
Here's the results at 100 meters. I didn't chronograph these loads but based on velocities using 286 gr Prvi Partizan and Nosler Partitions, velocities will be around 2350 fps with both powders.
The Varget loads are the clear winner over the RL15. I can't say that I was surprised as I was getting the same kind of results with Varget and Speer 270 gr bullets. The picture below should give an idea of what I mean. Just don't ask me to repeat the group on a regular basis.
| CHAPUISARMES |
| (.416 member) |
| 11/06/08 09:38 AM |
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Re: 9.3 x 62. What accurace to expect
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Hi Tiagra,
Very good shooting and load work up. I have done reloading in the past but not on a 9.3 x 62 but I have just purchased another barrel for my Chapuis "Challenger" in that calibre so I will try this load out and hopefully will get similar results. I am going to do a Plains Game hunt next year God willing and am considering this calibre over a 30.06. I will have a Double Rifle in .375 if game is large or I need a bigger calibre. May I ask where you bought the top target, they do not have them here in Australia and would like to purchase some.
Anyway, Cheers for now from Australia.
| TilleyMan |
| (.333 member) |
| 11/06/08 06:09 PM |
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Re: 9.3 x 62. What accurace to expect
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Darryl
I'm starting to think the (borrowed) chrony is not reading accurately.
There's a couple of posts on Alaska Shooting Forums where 'Murphy' lists some 9.3x62mm loads in an identical Sako AV as follows:
Reloder 15
Speer 270 gr
56.0gr 2441fps
57.0gr 2504fps
58.0gr 2554 fps
A passerby put one .300 Win Mag round through the chrony and expressed surprise as it was much slower than he anticipated. Also those Highland/Privi factory 286gr loads seem a bit light-on too.
I'd like to retest with a new Chrony or one known to be calibrated before I'm confident.
Cheers
TM
| Nakihunter |
| (.375 member) |
| 11/06/08 09:48 PM |
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Re: 9.3 x 62. What accurace to expect
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What is the chrony you are using? My Gamma Chrony (Canadian) is over 12 years old but still works fine. My friends Pro-chrony reads 150 fps to 200 fps slow now & we both have lost confidence in it.
On the other hand different rifles give variable velocities with same powder charge / bullet combo. My Simson 9.3X62 gives 2450 fps with Lapua Mega 285 gr & 58 grs of AR 2208 (Varget). It also does 2550 fps with Nosler & Barnes 250 gr bullets & 60 gr of AR 2208 / Varget. This is 3 to 4 grains more than the Nosler manual for similar weight bullets & velocity.