9.3x62 still a top big game cartridge

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MISportsman

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I am starting this mainly just for fun and information. I plan on taking my kids to Colorado in a few years when my daughter gets a bit older elk hunting. I plan on using my .300 win mag for the hunt but I after cleaning rifles from a range trip I glanced at my Hawkeye African 9.3x62 and wondered why not? It definitely has the ability to take much larger animals at a moderate range, but what if the only shot you have on the last day of the hunt is 250-300 yards across a valley could it do it? Maybe with noslers 250 gr accubond load??? Any thoughts?
 
I think your 300 is the better tool for the job. But hunting isn't always about using the most efficient tool for the job. We hunt for fun and using guns we enjoy hunting with is part of the fun. It'll certainly get the job done and do it at reasonable ranges where most shots are taken.

There are places in Colorado where a 200 yard shot at elk would be a long shot, there are also places where 200 yards would be about as close as you can hope to get. Some guide services advise hunters to bring a rifle, and the skills to take 400 yard shots because that may be the only one you get. A 9.3X62 can do that, but a 300 makes that shot easier.

I've hunted Colorado for both elk and deer in the past. Taking an elk is on my bucket list and for now I'm planning on going back this fall. I'm waiting a little longer to see how this Covid situation plays out before committing. For me it is a 1700 mile, 2-3 day drive each way. Then almost $700 for a non-resident tag. I'm going to take the most efficient tool in my safe for the job. I'd kick myself if I had to pass up a shot with the rifle in my hand knowing I had one in the safe that would have worked.

Hunting whitetail and black bear at home is different. I quite often take other guns in my safe that are a bit of a handicap. But I enjoy using them and if I don't get a shot then it isn't a great loss.
 
That's a good thought. Leave the trusty '06 at home and bring the 9.3x62 as a back up and if I find myself hunting more in thicker timber it will see some use.
Ya the 9.3s are nice for heavy brush, not saying you can shoot through a bunch of bushes burnished better for that one stick you didn't see. Plus they won't run far, sucks dragging a animal out of the really thick stuff.
 
I am starting this mainly just for fun and information. I plan on taking my kids to Colorado in a few years when my daughter gets a bit older elk hunting. I plan on using my .300 win mag for the hunt but I after cleaning rifles from a range trip I glanced at my Hawkeye African 9.3x62 and wondered why not? It definitely has the ability to take much larger animals at a moderate range, but what if the only shot you have on the last day of the hunt is 250-300 yards across a valley could it do it? Maybe with noslers 250 gr accubond load??? Any thoughts?

I can guarantee you that at 500 yards that 250 Gr. 9.3 bullet will punch all the way through an elk from any angle. All you have to do is learn what your drop at various ranges are. I’d not hesitate one bit to carry a 9.3 in Colorado for elk. Here’s another little hint, coming from a long time Colorado elk hunter. Whether you are shooting a super flat round or a slower more arcing round. Don’t take shots that are to far. Guys think that elk always have to be shot cross canyon in another zip code when they come out west to hunt elk. That is absolutely false, I’ve killed a lot of elk over the years and have only shot a very few past 400 yards. Many have been inside of 200 yards in dark timber.

Just some food for thought.
 
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I can guarantee you that at 500 yards that 250 Gr. 9.3 bullet will punch all the way through an elk from any angle. All you have to do is learn what your drop at various ranges are. I’d not hesitate one bit to carry a 9.3 in Colorado for elk. Here’s another little hint, coming from a long time Colorado elk hunter. Whether you are shooting a super flat round or a slower more arcing round. Don’t take shots that are to far. Guys think that elk always have to shot cross canyon in another zip code when they come out west to hunt elk. That is absolutely false, I’ve killed a lot elk over the years and have only shot a very few past 400 yards. Many have been inside of 200 yards in dark timber.

Just some food for thought.
That's more what I'm used to as a Michigan deer hunter. The long range game is all new to me anyway. Here a 200yd shot is rare, most shots are with in 100. We are looking at hunting the Gunnison area and judging by the sat images it looks to be a lot of timber so I'm not really expecting too long of a shot. I just don't want to be that guy that drove for 3 days and paid for out of state tags to not see one within 300-400 yds. But I think if I do my part as a hunter I should be able to close that gap.
 
Currently i own two 9.3X62 rifles, a Ruger Number 1 and an old Mauser with a 27" barrel. Only animals i've killed with that caliber were a nice 7X7 elk 40 years ago and some wild hogs. The 9.3 drops large boar hogs like hot rocks. My rifles like the 250 grain Nosler Accubond bullet.
I like how mine shoots so much I have considered buying a second one. I haven't done it yet because it would be for a hunt that is sofar just a dream. I can have savage custom build me a stainless on a synthetic stock for a very reasonable price but it would only be justifiable if and when I can finally take that trip to Alaska
 
i shot my buffalo in africa with a 9.3x62 with a solid 260 gr bullet out of a MC rifle at 2500 fps, but i,m sure one of my 35 whelens would have done the same thing with a 250 gr solid bullet at 2500 fps. 8 thousands in bullets diamiter will not make a difference either way.
 
it does take a little money and a lot of planning. but not as much as you think. try a good elk-moose-brown bear hunt in north america. a few of the animals taken on six hunting trips to africa.
 

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I built a 9.3x62 on a Rem700 action I had in the safe. - Shaw barrel - and a old take off stock- built it as a black bear beater gun- but took a nice whitetail with it last year at 150 yards- He never took a step- IMG_20191116_122705437_HDR.jpg
 
What load do you use for black bear? I have a bear hunt in the upper peninsula here in Michigan next fall that I was going to use mine on. I was thinking of using the s&b 186gr soft point but just curios what you use
 
I loaded the Nosler Accubond 250gr - I would have to look and see what powder charge and get back to you- but that 286 gr you are talking about is a thumper and will take any black bear on the planet-
 
I loaded the Nosler Accubond 250gr - I would have to look and see what powder charge and get back to you- but that 286 gr you are talking about is a thumper and will take any black bear on the planet-
Thanks. We will be hunting over bait in thick forest so I was thinking the heavier slower bullet would be a safe bet for this particular hunt. The elk hunt I started the thread over I would use the nosler accubond load.
 
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