Feel Like I Opened a Time Capsule in Reloading

[Gargoyle]

Back in 2010 I got a CZ 550 Magnum Manlicher. Amazing all the things that transpired the last 12yrs while this gun has been sitting in the cabinet. I had dreams back then of going on Safari in Africa and wanted a thumper like the 9.3X62 especially after reading all about the history of the cartridge. I topped it with a Burris 1.75-5 Safari LPVO post reticle. Back then that was industry leading short range scope. Anyway, Africa was never in the cards. (I was in Nairobi Kenya for 18 months as a young man and had an absolute blast back then, just wasn't a hunter yet and only did photo safaris) I know...LOL

Pull it out of the cabinet tonight and for shiggles I checked out my loads from back then. Mid 90s to early 00s factory rifles had such long freebore it wasn't common to check the distance to lands. When I did check, it would require seating the bullet only 1/8" inside the case neck, so I would just load to book length and let fly. Tweaked the loads by powder and primers. Well, I decided to check the freebore in that CZ 550 tonight. YUP! It is so long I wouldn't even attempt a load and the length surpasses the magazine length.

I saved the targets from back then and the gun shot 250gr Accubonds, and 286gr Hornadys with Varget and AA2520 into ragged holes. COAL was "to cannelure". I decided to seat the bullets so the base were even with the bottom of the necks, optimal case capacity and use of the case neck. This grew the COAL .010". Why not, right?! It's going to be fun to get this gun out again and see how it does with these changes. Took a couple pics to show the .366" bullet to the .308".

 

[SeabeeKen]

My 9.3 x62 shoots very tight groups. Great round

 

[JSH]

A true classic cartridge that is overlooked by many.

 

[TIMO]

Yes,
I agree with everyone a great cartridge. Your story sounds a little like mine, I never made it to Africa though. I bought my 9.3 while stationed in Germany with the Army, bought factory ammo every time I could find it but have not fired enough rounds over the years to start reloading for it. It is a hammer and turns a few heads at the range. I need to get it out and shoot it (have plenty of factory ammo) just to enjoy a classic cartridge.

Tim

 

[FNSafari]

The 9.3x62 is a thumper bkz of the bullet diameter and weight. Its a rather tame thumper and easy on the shoulder, sort of in the class of a 35 Whalen imo.