CZ 550 in a 9.3 X 62

[JungleJim]

Thinking about ordering a CZ 550 in a 9.3 X 62. What are your opinions on this combination?

 

[FOTIS]

My buddy had one. What a rifle man! Shot 1 hole with the Nosler BT's.

 

[Wally]

My Dad has one and loves it. He used it to kill his 6x6 this year. The 250 AccuBond with RL15 did the trick. We had no problems finding a load for it.

Steve

 

[FOTIS]

My buddy also used RL15. Whatever works in the 35 whelen works here.

 

[JD338]

That should be a great combo for anything in NA or Plains Game in Africa.

JD338

 

[6ppcar]

I always wanted to try one , just never got around to it. I even bought my own chambering reamer and headspace gauges.

 

[CPT-Bob]

Jungle Jim, I just bought mine here in Germany (I am stationed here). That rifle is just an awesome caliber! It has extremely good ballistics, and yet doesn't tear your shoulder to shreds. One important thing that you must remember is that it is not a long distance shooter. 150 to 170 yards max. I am interested in hearing about the functions on the "American" version. I would appreciate you letting me know what type of safety you have and the trigger. Mine has a set trigger (works like a charm!) and also my rifle has a 3 position safety. They are: 1) Fire position 2) Safety on, but allowed to open the bolt to extract a bullet and 3) Safety on with the bolt locked. Let me know what loads you develop. I am going to be using 286 gn Nolser Partitions, Vihtavuori N-140 powder, Federal 210 Large Rifle Primers and Graf Brass.

Thanks!

Bob

 

[Nosler4]

Those are fantastic rifles that routinely shoot one hole right out of the box. Their factory set trigger works great and is easily adjustable, and the overall feel of the rifles is great and the 9.3x62 is more than enough for most game out to about 200 yards. We do alot of our 9.3 bullet testing out of the 9.3x62 because if it's "inherent accuracy." All in all, I'm sure you'd be happy.

 

[JungleJim]

Well, went into a local gun shop earlier this week to order a CZ 550 full stock in 9.3 X 62. Didn't quite work out that way. The dealer did not have any 9.3s in stock but had just got a new CZ 550 American in that day in 6.5 X 55 with a exceptionally nice piece of wood. Me being a sucker for nice wood with soft spot for the 6.5 X 55 and occasional impulse buyer, bought it. :grin:

Still thinking about the 9.3 X 62 in CZ 550 full stock. Mostly for a Moose hunt I have scheduled for Oct 08 in British Columbia, Canada.

CPT-Bob the CZ 550 American I just got has a normal trigger and a set trigger mode, a 2 position safety. In safety mode the bolt cannot be opened much like the old style Remington 700 safety.

The effective range of the 9.3 x 62 on large game may be something I need to study some more. I would like to have minimum effective range of 250 - 300 yards on animals such as Moose, Elk.

 

[JD338]

JungleJim

Congratulations on your new CZ in 6.5x55. Should be a shooter.

the 9.3x62 should be able to get you out to 300 yds with the right bullet and load. It is similar to the 35 Whelen in ballistics.

Consider this-
9.3x62 with the 250 gr AB, BC is .494
MV of 2500 fps ME is 3470 fpe
at 300 yds, VEL is 2002 and FPE is 2221
zero at 200 yds, you are +2.5" at 100 yds and -9.8" at 300 yds.

9.3x62 with the 286 gr PT, BC is .482
MV of 2400 fps ME is 3659 fpe
at 300 yds, VEL is 1906 and FPE is 2293
zero at 200 yds, you are +2.8" at 100 yds and -10.7" at 300 yds.

YMMV but it would seem to me that this is minute of moose to 300 yds
and these big slugs will give you a lot of penetration.

JD338

 

[BFaucett]

Thinking about ordering a CZ 550 in a 9.3 X 62. What are your opinions on this combination?

I really like mine! The 9.3x62 has become one of my favorite cartridges.

CZ 550 American in 9.3x62. Handload - 286 gr Woodleigh round nose at 2390 fps (58.0 gr of RL-15):

Some load data from the article "Medium Mediums" by John Barsness in the December-January 2008 issue (#250) of Handloader magazine:

From the article: An asterisk (*) denotes a “deer load,” somewhat reduced in velocity from maximum, and has a point of impact almost exactly the same as loads marked with two asterisks (**).

The effective range of the 9.3 x 62 on large game may be something I need to study some more. I would like to have minimum effective range of 250 - 300 yards on animals such as Moose, Elk.

Some comments by John Barsness from the "Medium Mediums" article:

"Many hunters do not use the more moderate medium mediums because they’re convinced (because a friend told them so, or they read it on the Internet) that a bullet started at 2,400 fps will not expand reliably at 200 yards, or even make it that far. This is bull. A heavy spitzer has a high ballistic coefficient – high enough that even when started at 2,400 fps it will still be going around 2,000 fps at 300 yards. This is enough for the bullet to expand even on a deer. When sighted in at 200 yards, bullet drop will be about a foot at 300. Just hold on the backline and down they come!"


Some load data I compiled when working up loads for my rifle:

Cheers!

-Bob F.

 

[JD338]

BFaucett

Congratulations on some beautiful trophies. Excellent report on the 9.3x62 and its ranging capabilities. The 9.3x62 and the 35 Whelen are very similar and both are very capable of 300 yds in the right hands.

JD338

 

[Wally]

I also used John Barsness's load recommendations in my Dad's CZ 550/9.3x62. I had no problems reaching 2650 fps with a 250 AccuBond. There were no pressure issues. It is definitely a 300 yard cartridge.

Steve

 

[CPT-Bob]

ALCON, I apologize if I misrepresented the 9.3x62 as a short range rifle. This caliber has been in my possession for about 4 weeks and I was going by the range limitations as told to me (my old reliable caliber is the 30.06). I am very glad to hear from you all that I have the capability to reach out to 300 yds! That is great! Even though I do not plan on trying that distance, I am glad to see that, if necesaary, I can punch out to that distance. Of course, this also means that I must practice, practice practice!! Very nice trophies!! I too just returned from Namibia in August '07. My trophies consist of Zebra, Kudu, Oryx and Hartebeest (all with a Rem 700 30.06). My 13 yr old son got an Oryx with the same 30.06 and he also collected a warthog and a hartebeest with a SAKO .270. Going back to the 9.3x62, my load plan is a 286 gn Nosler Partition, Vihtvuori N140 powder and Federal 210 LR primers. Thanks all!

 

[JungleJim]

Thanks for all the good information. Me thinks I need to get a 9.3 x 62 to try out. :grin:

BFaucett those are some nice trophies.

Does anyone have an idea how much velocity loss I would experience going from say a CZ 550 American 23.5" barrel in 9.3. To a CZ 550 Full stock 20.5" barrel in 9.3 using 250 or 286 grain bullets.

The full stock kind of looks like what I'm after because it is slightly more compact in length. I already have a Sako in 375 H&H with a 24.5" barrel so kind of after a more compact set up.

 

[JD338]

Does anyone have an idea how much velocity loss I would experience going from say a CZ 550 American 23.5" barrel in 9.3. To a CZ 550 Full stock 20.5" barrel in 9.3 using 250 or 286 grain bullets.

Only a chronograph will tell you exactly what the difference will be but I would guess about 75-1000 fps.

JD338