9.3x62, and mauser wildcats...

[brian923]

i am wanting to rechamber my mauser. i am looking at a coupledifferent rounds. i would like to use it for a not so seen cartridge. (i.e. 308, 30-06, 270 win...)

i have been doing a little reading about the 9.3x62 mauser round. i hear its a really good round used in africa and europe for all but the biggest animlas. not that it couldnt though. i was wondering if anyone hear uses one, and what you think of it. even if you dont have one, should i stay with the tried and true 8x57, or change it up and go with the 9.3x62.

this brings me to my next question... does anyone know of any wildcats based off of the 8x57 mauser round? its hard to seacrh for this, because all i can get is copier dimensions.

i would think that this cartridge has been played with, at least a little. its been around for 100 years!! i am thinking maybe a 6, or 6.5 version of the round. like a 260 on steroids?(i dont know if it would be any better than a 260 improved, but it is 6 mm longer, although i do not know the exact differeance in water volum between the 8x57 and .308)

let me know what you guys think, i am kinda guessing that the 6mm version of the 8x57 round might just duplicate the 6mm-06, but i dont know. maybe im onto the "next best thing"

thanks guys, brian

 

[highorder]

for factory cartridges, you have the 9x57 (.356 dia bullets, obsolete) 9.3x57, and the 9.5x57?

you want a rare wildcat? try the .358x57

 

[Jim Watson]

It has all been done, and long ago.

6mm x 8mm? The real 6x57 has been sold in Europe, the 6mm Remington is so close as to make no difference.

6.5 x 8mm? They call that the 6.5x57, never adopted by an army that I know of, the niche was filled, but there are sporting rifles.

Etc., etc.

9.3x62 is a pretty good bear bumper. So is a 9x57, 9.3x57, or a 9.5x57.

 

[Il Duca]

I can't rattle off ballistics for the 9.3x62 but I often hear it compared to the .375 H&H. They are the minimum calibers to hunt in some areas of Africa I'm told. I have been thinking of building a 9.3x62 Mauser for some time now to compliment my .375 H&H P17.

 

[Kerf]

I vote for the 9.3x57.

Feeling the need for something a little different are you? Well, the 9.3x62 will certainly fill the bill.

CZ chambers one of their excellent rifles for that round. I have both the 9.3x57 and the 9.3x62. I found a deal on dies and brass on one of the gun auction sites so I can reload for it. Speer makes a .366 270-gr bullet for reloading. (If you do reload, stick with the Norma brass. I know it’s expensive, but you buy 100 cases and that will last forever.) Not a gun that you want to shoot off the bench all day. And you’re not using it to shoot ground hogs. I shoot mine off hand at 50, 100 and 200 yds quite a bit. It’s all you need out to 200 yds. It’s my go to rifle. Not a lot of drift in that bullet. Sold my .35 Whelen and 338.06 when I found the 9.3 about twenty years ago. Great for deer at close quarters and in brush, more suitable for moose and elk.
I thought I’d wow them a work one day and mentioned I shoot the 9.3, figuring they never heard of such an oddball cartridge. My buddy comes back with “Yeah. That’s a great round. That’s what we’d use on cape buffalo.” He lived in Africa for a decade or two. I forgot. But you can load it down for deer sized game, and it’s good in the brush. You give up 200-300 fps with 9.3x57, as opposed to the 9.3x62 but, you won’t miss it.

Or, if you’re leaning to a mid-bore, the 6.5-06 is great. The 100 gr hollow points in the 6.5-06 for ground hogs have about the same trajectory as your 55 gr 22-250. And they have a lot less wind drift. So, the ground hogs aren’t safe out to 400 yds. As some have learned the hard way. Or should I say not learned, since they’re dead. And, you can load the 120’s for antelope and small deer for long-range shots and the 140 –160 grs for heavier game. I use mine a lot, a 6.5-06. I’ve shot out three barrels and when this next one goes, I think I’ll rebarrel it to 6.5x57, hoping for a little longer barrel life. I use to think that the 06 was the ideal case size, but the 9.3x57 kind’a opened my eyes abit.

I know making a choice like this is hard, so I hope this helps. You pays your money and takes your choice. Ain’t freedom grand boys….

Kerf

 

[db_tanker]

hmm...dunno bout you all, but that 358x57 sounds like a neat mid-ground between a 358 winnie and a 35 whelen.



And there ARE still some 356 dia bullets out there for the 356 Winchester...although the velocities might be greater than what the bullet is designed for.


what about say the 338x57? I would imagine a larger variety of bullets available, and performance very close to the 338-06.


I am thinking that it would fit the bill of unique.

D

 

[ThomasT]

You could rechamber to the 8mm-06. A 30-06 necked up to .323 and still use your existing barrel.

My 8x57 has a looong throat. This would eliminate that if your rifle ha the same set up. I believe the dies are common and the conversion should be fairly cheap.

 

[buttrap]

That would be my pick too. 8mm-06.

 

[highorder]

Introduced in 1982, the .356 Winchester was developed in parallel with the .307 Winchester. They are both based on the same case; the .356 version, despite its nomenclature, accepts standard .358" diameter bullets.

per Chuck Hawks.


also, the .338x57 is the ballistic twin of the 8x57 Mauser. a wildcat without a purpose.