Quote:

---

Ripp - the trouble I see with the 9.3x57, is the low velocity and possible refusal to expand or very limited expansion with a X type bullets.

I figure, in a '98 action's 9.3x57, the 250gr. Barnes TX might achieve around 2,450fps to maybe 2,500fps, same speed I drive 232gr. Vulcans and swaged 225gr. Hornady SP's in my M46 Husky. BLC2 and H4895 seem to work the best. I should include Varget in there as well as I use it with 286gr. and 300gr. swaged Hornady's.

I'm not conviced a premium bullet is needed in this sedate round, unless one wishes to break down heavy game with large bone hits. That's where the X-type bullet really shines. I think a 300gr.RN Hornady, swaged or drawn down to .366" will give all the penetration needed. In Rod's tests, it beat all his tested bullets so far, including the .375's for total penetration. He was only driving them at 2,050fps. My M46 Husky makes 2,175fps with them and just over 2,200fps with the 286's using the same load. A M98 9.3x57 might get upwards of 2,250 with the 300's.

I have some cup-pointed 300gr. Interbonds I should send him to test for penetration and expansion.

Note the velocities I'm getting in my rifle may not be safe in other M46's. My rifle has a .370" groove diameter along with the normal .358" bore. The rifling is very deep but the chamber won't allow a round with a bullet larger than .367" to be chambered, so that's what I swage the .375's to.

At 2,200fps to 2,250fps with 300gr. bullets, that old 9.3x57 (model '98 action) matches some of the old GREATS mentioned in John Taylor's book. Some of the .33's.

---