9.3x62 vs .375 h&h

[JeeperCreeper]

Well I appreciate all the help on the fmj vs hard cast vs solid debate

 

[Jim Watson]

Sorry for the drift. Your stated application does not call for non-expanding bullets or small caliber cast.

 

[Gun-Reck]

For animals that could threaten my food-chain status - 9.3x62.

Doesn't mean a .35 Whelen wouldn't do as well.

Big, heavy, and still reasonably shoot-able.

 

[Roverguy]

I like 375 Ruger. But it is definitely at, or perhaps beyond, my recoil limit. A classic rifle like the Model 70 in 375 H&H is very attractive; a mid-century icon. The current Model 70 Alaskan in 375 H&H is also a very classic rifle. Enjoy whichever you choose.

 

[luv2safari]

Not “legendary” (yet), but I went with a .375 Ruger. Got a good deal on a second hand Ruger 77 Hawkeye African.

The 375 Ruger is what H&H would come out with these days, had they not introduced the great 375 H&H back in the day.

I am a 9.3X62 lover, and I also feel warm and fuzzy about the 375 H&H. I currently have one trim and fast-pointing 98FN action Husqvarne in 9.3X62, a well used 98 FN action custon 375 that has had a Lot of metal shaved all over the rifle to make it a very light elk rifle built by a good local gunsmith 60 years ago, and a pre-64 Mdl 70 375 H&H; it was my dad's 30-06 that he shot with snow in the barrel many years ago. I got an original Mdl 70 375 barrel from my good friend Ray Atkinson and had Dennis Olson install the barrel. He indexed it to the open sights and put a rear safari sight on it, and he refinished the stock and blued the bottom metal parts. It looks like it should be in a hardware store in 1950 with new hanging tags on it.

I shot two cape buffalo with a 9,3X74R, the ballistic twin of the X62 with factory loads, so I have confidence in the 9.3X62.

That said, I would get the H&H for your purpose for three reasons. It has a similar trajectory to a 30-06 with factory 180gr bullets. Premium Ammo is readily available. It works! Neither have as objectionable recoil as a 338 Win Mag, IMO. The 338 RCM would not be a bad choice, however, but you Need an excuse...uhhh...reason to get another rifle.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

The 375 Ruger is what H&H would come out with these days, had they not introduced the great 375 H&H back in the day.

I am a 9.3X62 lover, and I also feel warm and fuzzy about the 375 H&H. I currently have one trim and fast-pointing 98FN action Husqvarne in 9.3X62, a well used 98 FN action custon 375 that has had a Lot of metal shaved all over the rifle to make it a very light elk rifle built by a good local gunsmith 60 years ago, and a pre-64 Mdl 70 375 H&H; it was my dad's 30-06 that he shot with snow in the barrel many years ago. I got an original Mdl 70 375 barrel from my good friend Ray Atkinson and had Dennis Olson install the barrel. He indexed it to the open sights and put a rear safari sight on it, and he refinished the stock and blued the bottom metal parts. It looks like it should be in a hardware store in 1950 with new hanging tags on it.

I shot two cape buffalo with a 9,3X74R, the ballistic twin of the X62 with factory loads, so I have confidence in the 9.3X62.

That said, I would get the H&H for your purpose for three reasons. It has a similar trajectory to a 30-06 with factory 180gr bullets. Premium Ammo is readily available. It works! Neither have as objectionable recoil as a 338 Win Mag, IMO. The 338 RCM would not be a bad choice, however, but you Need an excuse...uhhh...reason to get another rifle.

Oddly enough, in Alaska it seems that 9.3x62 is about as common as 375 H&H... Meaning only a few special shops have it in stock in small quantities and we can't order online, at least easily.

I really do wish the 338 RCM were supported by Ruger and Hornady. It's a brilliant little cartridge and I got 2 yukon moose with it so far.

Problem is, I have a cache of 200gr SST, but only 2 boxes of 185 GMX. And any handloads can't get close to Hornady's secret factory recipe. And factory ammo is non-existent and dead.

So I'm outta luck with premium bullets for my little mini mag 338.

I do think I'm leaning to the 9.3 though. What bullet did you use for your cape buffalo? And you like your Husky? I lost a bid online for one, I wasn't confident to bid further.

 

[OS/N]

For practical purposses I'd say a 30-06 or 300WM would be the best and the easier to find ammo or components for.

When you get above 220 grains and 2800fps you face the rules of deminishing returns and a sore shoulder. 338s and 375s become scarce or left on the rack because of this.

 

[1948CJ2A]

From everything I've ready, the sweet spot for the 9.3x62 is the 286gr projectile. I handloaded some Hornady Interlocks in that weight. If you push the loads up around the max pressures, you can get 2300-2400 at the muzzle, which is pretty impressive for this cartridge IMO. I would have no hesitation taking it on a DG hunt, if I ever make one.

 

[LoonWulf]

Far be it from me to ever suggest against a new gun. But just perusing the data it looks like Hodgdon lists some loads that should get you within 50-100fps of the superformance ammo. Even considering they are using 24" tubes and i believe the factory RCMs were all reported from 20s.

IMO tho going to something like the 9.3 or .375 does give you almost another 50-100gr of bullet weight weight your disposal....should you really want it.

 

[Gun-Reck]

From everything I've ready, the sweet spot for the 9.3x62 is the 286gr projectile. I handloaded some Hornady Interlocks in that weight. If you push the loads up around the max pressures, you can get 2300-2400 at the muzzle, which is pretty impressive for this cartridge IMO. I would have no hesitation taking it on a DG hunt, if I ever make one.

Agree.

Settled on Hodgdon's single base Varget powder for both the Speer 270 gr. Hot-Cor and assorted 286 gr. loads.

The Speer bullet makes for an inexpensive utility/hog round.

Use the Hornady bullet for load development, and then either Norma or Swift bullets in the same weight for the good stuff.

And 2350 fps produced about all the equal and opposite reaction I care to endure in me fairly light rifle.

Slower, double base powders like Ramshot Big Game will allow one to up that considerably.

 

[silicosys4]

I have a .375H&H.
I will go against the grain here and say if I knew i would be facing dangerous game and I wasn't in Africa,
The .375 would be staying home and my SFAR would be coming along.
I'll take 20rds of 180gr .308 in a semi auto rifle any day.

 

[Gun-Reck]

I have a .375H&H.
I will go against the grain here and say if I knew i would be facing dangerous game and I wasn't in Africa,
The .375 would be staying home and my SFAR would be coming along.
I'll take 20rds of 180gr .308 in a semi auto rifle any day.

Yep.

An M1 rifle, loaded w/ a full 8-round clip of 168 gr. TSX .30-06, is also a problem-solver.

 

[luv2safari]

Oddly enough, in Alaska it seems that 9.3x62 is about as common as 375 H&H... Meaning only a few special shops have it in stock in small quantities and we can't order online, at least easily.

I really do wish the 338 RCM were supported by Ruger and Hornady. It's a brilliant little cartridge and I got 2 yukon moose with it so far.

Problem is, I have a cache of 200gr SST, but only 2 boxes of 185 GMX. And any handloads can't get close to Hornady's secret factory recipe. And factory ammo is non-existent and dead.

So I'm outta luck with premium bullets for my little mini mag 338.

I do think I'm leaning to the 9.3 though. What bullet did you use for your cape buffalo? And you like your Husky? I lost a bid online for one, I wasn't confident to bid further.

I killed one with a Simson drilling in 12/12/9.3X74R with a 285gr Norma Oryx, a heart shot. The bullet demolished the heart and was under the hide on the opposite side of a quartering shot at the rear tip of the right front leg. It went through and broke a middle left rib and on to the hide.

The other I got was with a Tikka 512 (Valmet 412 in essence), and I used my hand loaded 286gr Woodleigh soft for the first shot. I had 286 solids in hand, also. It was an almost duplicate shot to the one using the drilling. Both turned and ran about 100 yards, toppled over and gave the death grunt. It was the same scenario when I took my last with a 416 Rigby and 410 Woodleigh solids, very similar shots as the 9.3's.

I LOVE my Husqvarna 640 98 Mauser 9.3X62. It's the third one of these I've owned, the best being one worked over my Mike MacCabe in Colorado. This one was a steal from Simpson Ltd. They aren't making the same mistakes with the 9.3X62 anymore, however. Avoid the ones on surplus Swede 96's.

I have owned seven different X62's and all shot extremely accurately. I hated my CZ550 American. It shot great, and I liked the set trigger, but the stock configuration is awful on the CZ's. John Barsness has one he had the stock worked over extensively and swears by the rifle. He did what was necessary to the club of a stock. I also had two Ruger 77's, a Bauska barreled one on a VZ24 action that shot like a bench rest gun...almost, the one from MacCabe, and two other Husqvarnas on FN 98 actions.

I'm not a guy who can afford to keep all these and will buy guns that interest me, use them a while, and send them down the road, so I can buy something else. I'm no dealer, just a limited-funds collector. I had to sell the MacCabe rifle to help fund cancer surgery, or it would have been my last 9.3X62, never to leave here.

If you're going to reload for the 9.3 Big Game is your friend!! It's almost unobtainium right now in one pound lots, however. I load 286gr Hornady Interlocks and 250gr Nosler AccuBonds, the AccuBonds being harder to get than a Nevada moose tag. I use the same powder drop for both, and I also load 286 Partitions, but I have a lot of the Hornadys, a years-ago bulk buy from Larry.

As you'll find, the 9.3X62 is a spooky accurate round that likes about anything you feed it. GREAT CHOICE!!

 

[luv2safari]

My present Husqvarna 9.3, the bottom rifle:

The MacCabe Husqvarna:
He replaced a buggered FN action with a 1908 Brazillian, trued, trigger job, re-blued, bedded action

Tikka 512 Set...9.3/9.3 and 12ga/9.3:

Simson Drilling:

 

[luv2safari]

Agree.

Settled on Hodgdon's single base Varget powder for both the Speer 270 gr. Hot-Cor and assorted 286 gr. loads.

The Speer bullet makes for an inexpensive utility/hog round.

Use the Hornady bullet for load development, and then either Norma or Swift bullets in the same weight for the good stuff.

And 2350 fps produced about all the equal and opposite reaction I care to endure in me fairly light rifle.

Slower, double base powders like Ramshot Big Game will allow one to up that considerably.

I am comfortably getting right at 2,470 fps with the Big Game and Interlocks. It's like it was designed for the 9.3.

I use the same powder drop for the 250 AB's and get right at 2,500. The Husqvarna Does Kick!

 

[GooseGestapo]

Personally, I don’t find the recoil from a .375Ruger to be all that bad.
I have a Ruger 77/MkII African. I did cut the stock 1-3/8” and fitted it with the Pachmayer 1” Old English Decelerator pad. It fits perfectly now and handles like a dream. I bought two boxes of factory Hornady 270’s and 200 cases.
I also scrounged a bit and found a LOT of component bullets ranging from 225gr Hornady PTSpt (a favorite!) , 235gr Speer, 250gr Sierra’s, 270gr Hornady RN’s, and 300gr Nosler Partition. I’ve got a lifetime supply.
Reloaded, it’s a very flexible cartridge and easily MOA accurate with bullets capable of such.
Even Mossberg chambers a rifle for it…

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The recoil from a full on factory load (100fps FASTER than a .375H&H) is about like a Duck and Pheasant 12ga 1-1/4oz load.
Noticeably less than a 1oz slug from a 12ga shotgun…

 

[Seamaster31]

I have hunted big game with 9.3x62, 375 H&H, 375 Ruger and a few of the larger cartridges. The 9.3x62 is my least favorite of them for heavy game. There is a large internet group of supporters of the 9.3x62 and it is common in the German areas of Africa and Europe. It seems like every farm in Namibia has one around somewhere, but less so in the other countries. I have used them extensively, but I just like the 375's much better.

If I had to start all over again with big medium rifles I would just buy a 375 Ruger and be happy.

 

[H&Hhunter]

I’ve killed a lot of critters with a .375 H&H to include Cape buffalo and moose. In fact the buffalo in my avatar was killed with one well placed 300 Gr TSX through the top of the heart. The .375 H&H has been low drama, highly effective, incredibly versatile and extremely deadly. The rifle is a M-70 stainless CRF. It’s been restocked in a McMillian.

The rifle/caliber combo Is an awesome confidence builder. I shot my shiras moose at 269 yards facing me, the 270gr TTSX bullet gave full length penetration and was found under the off side hindquarter under the hide. I’ve killed bull elk with that rifle at over 400 yards and used it to kill hundreds of feral hogs from mere feet to long range. It’s an excellent snap shooter as well as a precision rifle.

While the .375 H&H may not always be the perfect choice it’s never the wrong answer either, it’ll do anything you need from shooting the smallest critters to efficiently killing the largest mega fauna.

Case in point a friend shot a tiny little antelope called a Suni which weighs about 10 lbs with a .375H&H and a 300 Gr solid. There was almost no meat damage and we ate the little guy that night in camp. The next day the same rifle was used to kill a Cape Buffalo bull and later in the week a cow elephant. there just aren’t to many rifles that can match the versatility and usefulness of a .375H&H.

And when I say .375 H&H you can toss in the .375 Ruger because it’s an almost identical twin ballistically. The 9.3 is going to be a very close second but isn’t quite as efficient in range or on the heavy game side. Although it’s probably not a consideration in reality as they are that close. It used to be that some countries had a .375 diameter minimum for thick skinned dangerous game. Although I don’t think anybody actually enforces diameter and muzzle energy minimums any longer.

For sport hunting in AK the .375 is an excellent choice. The 9.3 is no slouch either. If it were me today I’d pick up a .375 Ruger throw it a useable stock, put a low power variable scope on it and go hunt anything in AK without the slightest hesitation.

 

[unspellable]

Rabbit loads: I have a load for the 375 H&H with a 270 grain hard cast bullet at 1300 fps, Will drill a small hole through a rabbit. If you can hit a rabbit with it, you can hit a buffalo with a heavy load.

 

[Gun-Reck]

I am comfortably getting right at 2,470 fps with the Big Game and Interlocks. It's like it was designed for the 9.3.

I use the same powder drop for the 250 AB's and get right at 2,500. The Husqvarna Does Kick!

Yeah, that's about 3875 ft-lbs at the muzzle, and 39 ft-lbs of recoil from an 8.5 lb. rifle.

286 gr. at 2350 was the original load, that made the cartridge's reputation, and is fine by me.

That load is ~ 3510, and 35, respectively.

More than enough power and fun for a .270 Winchester shooter.

 

[Russ57]

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The .375 is more versatile. Ammo is easier to come by here. It doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon. It you ever make it to Africa the 9.3 won't be legal in most areas. It would be hard to fault picking this caliber.

The 9.3 is enough for your needs. One would think it would have less recoil and more ammo capacity. Those are good things for your application. I like that it head spaces on the shoulder. It is popular across the pond so I don't think it will be going away either. For your needs I think it would be my choice.

Current production quality rifles in either caliber are going to be costly. Buying an older one seems prudent. Neither cartridge are considered barrel burners. Some great quality rifles in both calibers have been made for a long time. All things equal, I'd rather have a premium rifle from the past than a current production budget rifle.

PS I'm from Florida so what do I know about hunting brown bear.

 

[luv2safari]

9.3x62 Rifles

9.3x62 Rifles in stock, best price, no tax, free shipping - Call (570) 368-3920

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.375 H&H Mag Rifles

.375 H&H Mag Rifles in stock, best price, no tax, free shipping - Call (570) 368-3920

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The .375 is more versatile. Ammo is easier to come by here. It doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon. It you ever make it to Africa the 9.3 won't be legal in most areas. It would be hard to fault picking this caliber.

The 9.3 is enough for your needs. One would think it would have less recoil and more ammo capacity. Those are good things for your application. I like that it head spaces on the shoulder. It is popular across the pond so I don't think it will be going away either. For your needs I think it would be my choice.

Current production quality rifles in either caliber are going to be costly. Buying an older one seems prudent. Neither cartridge are considered barrel burners. Some great quality rifles in both calibers have been made for a long time. All things equal, I'd rather have a premium rifle from the past than a current production budget rifle.

PS I'm from Florida so what do I know about hunting brown bear.

In Africa a $20.00-$50.00 up front gratuity to the government game scout will let you shoot about anything reasonable. I know of several Zim buffalo taken cleanly with 338 Win Mag's and elephant shot with a 30-06. I once owned that '06; bought it from the elephant killer, a Rhodesian ex-pat friend here in NV.

Being legal with a 375 is a great excuse to get one.

 

[lemaymiami]

My brother lived up in Alaska for nearly 40 years and was a subsistence hunter during his lifetime... He had three of the 375 H&H rifles, preferring Nosler partition for ammo he did himself. He called that caliber the queen of the big game rifles and took moose, caribou, black bear, etc. with it yearly (not always able to get a moose each year - but that's hunting..). Wish he were still around... His moose were always at close quarters in heavy cover along hillsides. Where he lived and hunted, the interior of the state, grizzlies were expected to respond to any rifle shot so he never hunted alone and did have a few bears trying to take one of their kills while they were field dressing it (or returning to the kill with the tundra buggy they used which had a hoist for the dressing out process...). That was a bit more excitement than I'd be signing up for but I'm just a fisherman - not a hunter (Vietnam cured me of hunting - and I wasn't even a combat soldier at all...).

 

[js8588]

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[9x56MS]

The Tikka T3 is available in the 9.3x62 and reasonably priced to boot. I have the CZ 550 FS in 9.3x62 and absolutly love it. It is very accurate regardless of what you feed it.