9.3x62 vs 375 H&H

[Rick R]

I've got both, and they're very close in the real world. It's harder to find factory 9.3 ammo on the shelf here in the US but a friends safari was saved when the gun shop in Hoedspruit RSA had 9.3x62 after the airline lost half his luggage. It's very popular in a lot of places where people hunt big critters.

I shoot my 9.3 rifles more than my .375 either with reloads or factory , less powder, cheaper brass, less recoil.

I'd bet you'll enjoy either.

 

[Dresden]

There are differences today that did not exist in the past . Few people could afford a 375 H&H, even less could afford a 416 Rugby. Today a CZ 550 in 416 can be bought for $ 1500.00, Ruger 416 or 375 for $900.00, CZ550fs in 9.3x62 for $800.00. The best solution is just buy then all. I built a 35 Whelen for $400
And bought a used custom one for $800. Reloading makes all them affordable to practice shooting for reasonable cost.

 

[Dresden]

Lots of 9.3 opinions here, http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=134665

 

[481]

For me, it's the .375H&H. As a full power large/dangerous game round, since I reload for it, I can always back-off the throttle -propellant-wise and with lighter construction bullets- if I want to pursue lighter/thin-skinned game.

Since the 9.3 is already at its maximum, there is no where left for me to go (upwards) if I want to push into the realm of what the .375 can do.

 

[Dresden]

416 Ruger

I did the same thing with a 416 Ruger Alaskan, I load it down to the same as a 450-400 express rifle. This gives me plenty of power with light recoil in a carbine.
I like the Ruger Alaskan guns because they can take the worst of weather and still not suffer.
I bought the 416 as I reload 416 already.

 

[Rio Laxas]

While I love the .375 H&H, think it is an awesome round, and think that it is probably a better fit for most, I chose the 9.3x62 for a specific set of reasons. My go to rifle is a Blaser R8 in .30-06, which I chose for its ability to break down into a case that I can easily take on aircraft, be it a commercial flight or a bush plane. With a 9.3x62 barrel, I can use the same bolt head that is used for the .30-06 configuration. So to switch calibers, I need only change out the barrel (20 seconds) and the magazine insert (10 seconds). I've actually had no problems finding 9.3x62 ammo here in Anchorage (unlike virtually ever other caliber) during the shortage of the past year.

 

[481]

While I love the .375 H&H, think it is an awesome round, and think that it is probably a better fit for most, I chose the 9.3x62 for a specific set of reasons. My go to rifle is a Blaser R8 in .30-06, which I chose for its ability to break down into a case that I can easily take on aircraft, be it a commercial flight or a bush plane. With a 9.3x62 barrel, I can use the same bolt head that is used for the .30-06 configuration. So to switch calibers, I need only change out the barrel (20 seconds) and the magazine insert (10 seconds). I've actually had no problems finding 9.3x62 ammo here in Anchorage (unlike virtually ever other caliber) during the shortage of the past year.

It makes sense to "zig" when others are "zagging".

Cartridge popularity is a double-edged sword -sure there's tons of options for the popular ammo, but one must compete against the masses who have also opted for that caliber.

 

[JHansenAK47]

I've actually had no problems finding 9.3x62 ammo here in Anchorage (unlike virtually ever other caliber) during the shortage of the past year.

Alaska has more big bore users than anywhere else in the US. I don't how many people i've heard say they planned on using their 375, 416 or 458 in either Africa or Alaska.
Having moved from Utah i've gone from seeing occasional big bore rifles for sale to expecting to see them at Alaska gun stores.

I chose the 9.3x62 for a specific set of reasons. My go to rifle is a Blaser R8 in .30-06

Not a bad choice for anything in Alaska, while the 30.06 can still take anything up here down, a bigger bullet than 220 grain is worthwhile IMO for the big bears.

 

[ExAgoradzo]

Love the idea of a rifle with 2 barrels! That would be awesome! In an earlier post I talked about wanting a .30-06. The one I own doesn't shoot worth a darn. I really need to take it to someone to look at it.

9.3x62
What I like about this is that I think it would do just fine for the bear and elk, less recoiling, lighter rifle.

375
What I like about this is that I will never feel undergunned in my life again (I have no interest in an elephant or in African black death).

416
What I like about the 416 Rem Mag is that it is better than the 458 Win in a smaller package (but the recoil is comparatively worse). I think though that the recoil and the comparatively worse MPBR will decide against this for me. Not that the extra oomph wouldn't be nice to have against the lions and tigers and bears oh my.

Ultimately, it will be the rifle that makes the decision. I was looking today at the Mauser website and was lusting after the M12 in the 9.3. But I seriously doubt THAT will come out of any budget my wife has a say in. I saw the Montana Rifle Company AVR and had visions of that 375 putting down a brownie. At this moment I like it better than the Alaskan M70...but again, it will come down to cost and availability.

I am so itching to get my hands on one of these (leaning to 375 but as I said, open to the 9.3--it would go well with my Sako Swede). But at this moment I need to fight the temptation and think about work so I can get the money to buy it, and basic reloading equipment...

Love reading your comments,
Thanks,
Greg

 

[H&Hhunter]

My strong advice is to stay away from Montana Rifle Company products.

 

[epoletna]

I've owned both; carried both in Africa. I prefer the .375 H&H. Better availability of ammo in the US and even in Africa when I hunted there (admittedly quite a few years ago). I used the H&H on everything up to elephant and was never undergunned.

The only reason I hear that makes any argument at all for the 9.3 is reduced recoil and I really don't find the .375 H&H uncomfortable for the first box of ammo. After that, both get to be uncomfortable.

 

[Rick R]

H&H,

What don't you like about Montana's products? My .416 Remington is built on a Montana action and it's about the slickest action I've ever seen. Fed empty brass 100% right out of the box, seems to be pretty bullet proof. Given that it's an early production and action only.

ExAgoradzo,

Have you thought about having a rifle built to your specs? The local Cabela's has a CZ in .375 that someone had worked over and restocked with a Brockman's express stock. It's a nice rifle albeit a bit chunky for my taste, bet someone was in love with it until they just HAD to have a double rifle or something equally pricey.

 

[ExAgoradzo]

Rick,
Actually I hadn't thought of that. Last night in bed I looked at several: Sako, CZ, Kimber, Ruger, and Browning. I kept coming back to the M70 AK. Now they are not making it in SS Lam, when this happens it will probably just be a deal where I get what is available...

Are you suggesting I buy an action and have someone put it together with everything else? If I get $2000 to get gun, glass, and ammo for a long time I'll be lucky.

Thanks for the questions,
Greg

 

[H&Hhunter]

Rick

I've owned several rifles built on MRC actions. First off their actions come out of the factory ROUGH and need ton of finish work to make them right. I've got no time for that kind of poor quality. BUT the final deal killer for me was on a .458 Lott that I bought from Brockmans which was also built on a MRC. Long story short, I had fired about 100 rounds through it before taking it to Africa on a Cape buffalo hunt. When I got to Africa and sighted it in it quit going bang after the first two rounds fired. I wound up using my back up gun.

Upon returning to the USA I sent the rifle back to Brockman. MRC informed me and Jim Brockman that I got one of the actions with the bad firing pin springs no big deal. That was the final straw for me. Between the rough unfinished actions they were putting out and that little Easter Egg I am done with MRC. If they knew about a problem with their firing pin springs they should have said something and made it right. To many excuses and surprise issues on MRC products for my tastes.

Several top end gun smiths that I know also strongly advise to stay away from MRC actions and refuse to build a rifle on the MRC. They are simply to low quality to build a decent gun on.

 

[Rick R]

ExAgoradzo,

Actions for the 9.3x62 are easy, .375H&H a bit harder and more expensive. With patience you can find a donor rifle then buy barrel, sights, scope, stock over time if the original equipment doesn't suit you. I let a NIB Whitworth barreled action in .375 get past me at a gun show a few years ago because I didn't have $600 in my pocket, should have whipped out a card. It would have been a great start but I've never seen one since.

H&H,

I've had very good luck with my Montana action but it had an unusual provenance. So far it's had a couple hundred rounds thru it with two misfires that were apparently me learning to load belted cartridges. It's the smoothest action I've ever seen, but sometimes even a blind hog finds an acorn.

 

[H&Hhunter]

Rick,

with two misfires that were apparently me learning to load belted cartridges.

Could you expand on that ^^^ a little bit? I am not understanding what you are getting at there.

 

[Rick R]

I wasn't seating the primers deeply enough, quit using my RCBS priming tool and took a bit more care and the problem hasn't surfaced since. I've fired some factory ammo (all .416 Remington is priced at $Ouch.00/round) and everything was fine.

 

[H&Hhunter]

I wasn't seating the primers deeply enough, quit using my RCBS priming tool and took a bit more care and the problem hasn't surfaced since.

That will do it for sure. I had the same issue using a Lee hand primer at one time and switched over to a bench mounted primer seating tool. Problem solved. FYI improper primer depth will affect any round not just belted rounds.

 

[badnova]

375 H&H
Haven't been to Africa but my fiends like the .416
I shot an big elk with a shoulder shot at 150 yds. 270 gr. Hornady and it literally
put the hoofs in the air
yummy

 

[ExAgoradzo]

Which 416?

Did it put your hooves in the air too?

Greg

 

[tahoe2]

I'm late to the show and it seems all your questions have been answered. As for opinions, everybody has one ... you know the rest, just joking.

The 9.3 was created in 1905 by a German named Bock for the German colonies in Africa at the time, and is a splendid cartridge that is both versatile
and powerful (232, 250, 286, 300 grn bullets) while doing so with lower pressures. It can and has taken everything in Africa in the hands of a skilled marksman.

The 375 H&H, Now that's a whole new Class of Power, developed in 1912 by Holland & Holland as an answer to the 9.3, working at higher pressures and
increased velocities by about 300 fps per weight bullet and also heavier bullets than the 9.3 can handle (350, 375 grn etc...) it also increased stopping
power by a much greater margin then paper would dictate.

The 9.3x64 Brenneke (developed in 1927) gets closer but is still not quite there. But as this is in regards 62 vs 375, I personally think the 62 is well up
to the task of the Big Browns, Moose, or anything else on this continent; (and I wish I had one!!)

If I were going to Africa I would take a 375 or bigger!!