9.3x57mm

[filmjunkie4ever]

Anyone here have any experience with this cartridge? The 9.3x62 gets a lot of attention and rightly so, but his slightly shorter brother has been on my mind lately.

A <200 yard deer/elk/bear cartridge that can handle heavier bullets (232-270 ish are the range I’m most interested in) than a .30-06 with less recoil that can be housed in a small ring Mauser action. Brass can be easily formed from 8x57 brass too.

Your thoughts?

 

[8mm Enthusiast]

Don't have any experience with it. I believe they call it the "potato launcher" in Europe due to it's steeply curved ballistic trajectory arc and low velocity. I don't see why it wouldn't be a good option for close range deer and pigs/boar. Due to the low velocity it's probably best suited for traditional lead bullets rather than monolithic ones.

I personally wouldn't use it on elk and bear unless it was close range, within 100 yards or less. It is not in the same class as the 9.3x62 with the latter being proven on big and dangerous game around the world but the 9.3x57 is mainly used on wild boar in Europe. I believe.

 

[SJB358]

I have one and have loaded for it. I’ve used 232 Normas, 270 Speers, 250 ABs and some others in my old Husky. Mine has irons sights but I have not had any issues getting 2500 with H4895 from my rifle with 250 ABs. While not a 7 Rem, with the right set up, I’d feel fine killing or shooting at anything I’d shoot a 358 Win at.

 

[RememberBaker]

I have a 9x57 Mauser and I’ve necked up 8x57 brass for it. I also bought some 9.3x57 brass to neck down but I never did it. Somewhere I found some old German round nose 9mm rifle bullets.

 

[RL338]

Sounds like you have a donor rifle in mind. I say go for it.

 

[Blkram]

I have often wondered why there is such a marked difference in perception between the 9.3 x 57 vs the 9.3 x 62...
The 62 is good for DG in Africa in many countries, whereas the 57 gets poo-pooed as having limited power and performance.
All I can think is that they are comparing this just from the typical 285/286 gr bullet weights, in older actions where one must be cognizant of the pressure limits resulting in reduced velocities.
I would think that the 57 with the lighter bullets would do well, just as mentioned above with respect to the 358 Win as compared to the 35 Whelen.
If one kept the SD at or above 0.250 as recommended for reliable penetration, and retained velocities are up to par for reliable expansion on the targeted game animal, I would think it would work just fine for most of our big game animals. (Cannot find the SD spec for 232 gr bullets to share what it is; perhaps someone else has the info and can share?)

 

[8mm Enthusiast]

I have often wondered why there is such a marked difference in perception between the 9.3 x 57 vs the 9.3 x 62...
The 62 is good for DG in Africa in many countries, whereas the 57 gets poo-pooed as having limited power and performance.
All I can think is that they are comparing this just from the typical 285/286 gr bullet weights, in older actions where one must be cognizant of the pressure limits resulting in reduced velocities.
I would think that the 57 with the lighter bullets would do well, just as mentioned above with respect to the 358 Win as compared to the 35 Whelen.
If one kept the SD at or above 0.250 as recommended for reliable penetration, and retained velocities are up to par for reliable expansion on the targeted game animal, I would think it would work just fine for most of our big game animals. (Cannot find the SD spec for 232 gr bullets to share what it is; perhaps someone else has the info and can share?)

It's likely much more efficient as well considering how larger the diameter of the 9.3 is as compared to the 8x57 or 7x57 giving the powder greater surface area. Standardized limits out of concern for old actions keep these cartridges labeled with dogmatic "underpowered" reputations. It's probably a very good efficient cartridge if you can run it out of a modern action at higher pressures.