Thanks Biggs300. I'm a handloader fan and did find John Barsness's and Ken Water's articles on the 9.3x62. I ended up doing the first tests with Ramshot Big Game and RL-15. I started with the 270 Gr Speer and the 286 Gr. Barnes banded solids.
I sighted in the CZ-550 American Medium (1-10" 23.6" barrel), with a 4-12x Nikon Monarch, using some 285 Gr Privi factory loads.
I then ran initial test loads, using Privi cases, and S&B LR primers. All tests were on a dirty bore. I noted the higher velocity/charge groups shifted up and to the right as charges went up. Tests started with a cool bore, then 5 were shot from the blind mag successively. Some extra rounds were fired as I explored the initial 5 shot groups shifting up and to the right, to verify that indeed that is what the group did.
Note that
there is no lab tested data available from Western Powders on Ramshot Big Game for 9.3x62mm Mauser.
USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the OP/writer, The High Road, nor the staff of THR assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.
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Speer 270 Gr SP tests - Privi brass, S&B LR brass, 3.280" OAL
Ramshot Big Game - Groups progressively went up and to the right with the charge weight.
Charge/Notes
62.0 Gr. - 1.25 MOA
63.0 Gr. - 1 flyer expanded a 6 shot group to 2.3 MOA, 5 shots w/in 1.1" @ 100...flyer may have been pulled. Group shifted 1/2" inch to the right, perhaps 1/4" up.
64.0 Gr. - 2.5 MOA 8-shot Group, the center shifted 1" up, and 1.5" to the right of the 62.0 Gr group.
65.0 Gr. - 2 MOA 9 shot group, 3 in same hole, center of group shifted 2" up, and 2" right of 62.0 Gr Group 2508 fps.
RL-15 - Only one charge weight tested this time around.
Charge/Notes
58.0 Gr. - 1.1 MOA 5 shot group. Group was centered 1.25" right of factory Privi and 62.0 Gr Big Game load. 2452 fps.
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286 Gr. Barnes Banded Solid, RL-15, Privi brass, S&B LR, 3.150" OAL
57.5 Gr - 2.5 MOA 9 shot group centered (left to right) with factory Privi and 62.0 Gr Big Game Group but 1" lower.
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Factory Privi 285 Gr. SP. 1.5 MOA, 1" lower on POI from 62.0 Gr Big Game/Speer load.
All in all, there is still a lot of work to do. I need to test the Hornady Interlocks, the Nosler Partitions, and I'd like to try magnum primers and a small bit of factory crimp with the ball (Big Game) powder. I'm very curious on the groups going up/right with increasing charge weight.
Still, I could go with the 62.0 Gr Big Game load for deer right now, or the 58.0 Gr RL-15 load with a sight adjustment.
I'm very happy with the rifle. I had wanted a 4x scope on the rifle initially, but the old Monarch 4x12 might do just fine. The set trigger is great.
