Custom 98 Mauser in 9.3x62

[Joe Vaquero]

I have the opportunity to buy a custom Mauser in 9.3x62. Has a Parker Hale heavy barrel with about 20 rounds fired through it. It's wearing a nice walnut Monte Carlo stock. I need some opinions on this caliber, quality of Parker Hale barrels, and whether the gun is worth the $350 asking price.

 

[Gordon]

Very much worth $350, Parker Hale barrels are at least better than average. You might like the heavier barrel when one of those wonderful 286 grain torpedoes launches IF yo are able to carry it !
The 9.3x 62 is gaining respect in the US because it is a bit better than the .35 Whelan , forms from 30-06 brass easily, and is a .375 H&H light really; perfect from deer to bison or large bear IMHO. The standard 286 grain bullet at 2500 fps penetrates everything wonderfully and is good for up to 300 yard shots, what else is to ask?

 

[Joe Vaquero]

Thanks for the info. If I do decide to pull the trigger on it (pun intended ) I'll try to post some pics on here. It also comes with 2 boxes of ammo, Hornady and Norma, as well as Hornady reloading dies.

 

[SaxonPig]

I am not a big fan of the caliber because of expensive bullets and the need to form cases. The rifle sounds beautiful. If you can live with dealing with a "custom" caliber then no problem.

 

[Gordon]

That FACTORY ammo is about $50 a box for the Norma and $30 for the Hornady. Ya got enough good cases there to go hunting many times!

 

[Dreamcast270mhz]

Mausers are absolutely beautiful to shoot. Never used this caliber though

 

[Joe Vaquero]

Saxon, that certainly is a concern. Most factory ammo is VERY expensive. You can get Prvi (spelling?) soft point ammo for less than $30 a box, but I'm not sure of the quality. From what I've read on the cartridge it is gaining in popularity in the U.S. which may or may not affect ammo prices.

 

[Dr.Rob]

That is a hell of a deal. The ammo can be pricy but I think Prvi makes some.

http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/produ...vi-partizan-285gr-sp-ammo/manufacturers_id/26

While you might not like the ballistics of this particular load you can reload the brass. Buy yourself 5 boxes to start and go from there.

 

[dirtyjim]

the rifle sounds like the ones that were cobbed together from scrap receivers that were found in the dumpster behind kimber and left over ph barrel blanks.
there's a seller on gb thats been peddling those as barreled actions for a few years and they are absolute junk.
take a good look at the scope mount holes on the receiver, most of his are way off.

 

[Float Pilot]

The 9.3x62mm has become much more popular here in Alaska over the past 5-6 years. Oddly enough Federal is now making commercial high grade hunt ammo for it, as is Norma.
It is a real thumper on big game.

Up here reloading components are actually fairly easy to find for the 9.3x62, plus brass and bullets are always available via the internet marketing sources.

 

[Joe Vaquero]

DirtyJim, I saw the "kimber" actions with PH barrels on Gunbroker today selling for $300. I will definitely check out the tapped receiver holes. There is currently a scope mounted. Is there anyway to establish alignment with the scope mounted (other than shooting it and sighting in the scope? The seller claimed 3" groups at 150 yds.

Also, is there an easy way to id a good or bad receiver? If it is a kimber will it be marked as such?

 

[dirtyjim]

most of the kimbers were marked on the barrels instead of the action. the guy had a ton of scrap actions and rejects he was trying to sell. since its already scoped look at where the mount is positioned on the front ring. his are positioned to far forward.

imho his barreled actions are not a good deal as they are & would only be marginal if the scope mount holes were d&t'd in the right place. if the barrels were turned to a sporting contour and the receivers were gew98's or 98/22's it would be a different story since you would have the beginnings of a proper sporting rifle.

 

[Kerf]

I think it's worth the $350.00, sight unseen. The 9.3 will make a good hog rifle for your neck of the woods.

A few years ago I picked up a 9.3x57 very cheap since no one knew anything about it, including me. And when I stopped back in that same gun store they had the same rifle in 9.3X 62, so I grabbed that one too. Later I was able to find a large supply of brass, speer bullets and dies on an auction, that surprisingly no one would bid on. Like someone else mentioned it's more better than the .35 Whelen Improved.

I mentioned the round to an old timer at work one day, thinking I would impress him, and he comes back with "we used to use it on cape buffalo all the time. It's a very popular caliber in the south of Africa." He served with an NGO in Africa for 20 years.

See keep your eyes peeled on the auction sites for a while and you may come up with a good deal on reloading supplies. The cartridge is pretty much under the radar still, I think.

Let's see some pix!!!

kerf

 

[Hizzie]

The 9.3x62 is almost as powerful as 375 H&H, as is it's rimmed equivalent 9.3x74R. The 9.3 is a near perfect fit for the Mauser 98 action. It is very popular in Europe for Red Stag and driven boar. It is not a long range round, it is designed to send a fairly heavy bulllet at modest velocity. There are several good bullets available for it from a couple of different manufacturers.

Do not confuse with 9.3x64 Brenekke which is much more powerful.

 

[Cosmoline]

It's a real sleeper of a cartridge and you got a heck of a deal assuming that custom job wasn't badly bungled. It's a very hard hitting package but still fits in standard size actions. As Hizzie says it's like a light .375 H&H in a much handier package. I've been wanting one of the CZ 550's in it for years.

 

[dirtyjim]

other than the barrel on this particular rifle being way to heavy its not a bad deal.
i don't think this one came from the guy on gb, the barrel may have but it doesn't look like one of his receivers.

i personaly would still pass on it since i can build the same thing with a barrel thats a more fitting contour for the caliber & a nicer bolt handle for the same or less money

 

[maxcontax]

9.3x62 has quite a pedigree as an all round cartridge in Africa, sort of their version of the 30-30. the cartridge itself just looks like a 30-06 on a High Protein diet. the secret of its success is a massive bullet with high sectional density, moving slower, so holding together and penetrating well. I carry mine in big bear country because although I actually have a date with Bambi, the bear may decide he wants the gutpile just about the time I'm cleaning up. The results from a 9.3 are very final and it is easier to shoot well because the recoil is less than a 375 Ouch & Ouch.

 

[maxcontax]

Parker Hale made alot of African rifles and were well regarded. The barrell needs to be inspected to be sure it doesn't have issues, but at $350 that's a steal. the cartridge is quite something when it comes to results.

 

[American PH]

I am an American PH working part of each year in East Cape Province, South Africa. 9.3x62 is my FAVORITE CALIBER. Dr Kevin ('doctari') Robertson who wrote the Safari Press 'The Perfect Shot' A shot placement guide for Africa has killed 650 cape buffalo with the 9.3x62 (his 9.3x62 rifle is a Brno made just after WWII - today we would call it a CZ 550, same company). As Kevin is a large animal Vet he knows what works in Africa. 9.3x62 is no longer allowed for dangerous game in S Africa (except for licensed PH's). I use it often there of the larger plains game; zebra, blue wildebeast, kudu, oryx etc. There is no better all around caliber for the USA if you need a rifle for both the deer size animals and the bigger stuff, like coastal brown bears. We load the 9.3 232gn soft spitzer at 2,700ft/sec! That is of course the original military load for the 150gn .30-'06. The 9.3 really puts the game down and for anyone allergic to the recoil of a .375 H&H it is just right. There are at least 4 manufacturers of brass and everyone now makes 9.3 bullets.

Im happy to advise on ballistics questions or on African hunting. I dont sell hunts or anything else, just give free advise and email addy to competent honest outfitters. I teach ballistics at the East Cape Professional Hunting School. American are welcome there as students.