Maximum Weight.

All you have to know about heavier 9.3mm bullets for big game hunting.

We recently dedicated two long and detailed articles to the heavyweights still on the top of the wave after a century of life. Renewed interest in the 9.3mm calibers is mainly due to hunting and ballistic culture that finally does justice to these cartridges’ exceptional qualities .

In the old continent, ungulate’s population explosion has diverted many hunters towards the most exciting form of hunting of all: Driven Hunt. In this context 9.3 × 62 diffusion has become widespread, fueling a renewed research and development for dedicated bullets. Many hunters believe that this caliber is extremely excessive, being originally intended for larger and dangerous animals. Although this is true, field facts shows that light bullets designed to quicly dump energy in “European” weight games enhanche stopping power to highest levels, guaranteeing clean killing even with poor placements (almost common in battue) and above all ensuring so disabling injuries to significantly reduce runs and, what is worse, dogs wounding. Anyway, no caliber works miracles if hunter place shot on nails or tail: hunter must play his part, and well too.

There is no animal trampling the old continent able to survive the impact with a 286 grains round nose bullet. The exceptional combination of mass, energy, mild speed and sectional density are a real insurance policy. The heavier the game, the more exciting the performance, deep effect, fast killing. Anyone who has had the privilege to employ it on red deer or on large wild boars has experienced these peculiar abilities only to a small extent. Over the years, like any curious man, we have been lucky enough to try many ogives, coming to the conclusion that, for ordinary European purpose, 232-grain bullets and softer 247-250-grain ones are more than enough to dominate any hunting situation, takink away bears from the mix. There are praiseworthy exceptions, of course… splendid whimsical expresses who really don’t care to group light or “modern” design’s bullets in a worthy way. Anyway, since someone spent his time designing, producing and testing damn heavy and tough bullets, what can hold back a curious handloader from spending his cash on rare metals?  NOTHING!

In the past years we have found and tried a good number of bullets, anyway our eyes slipped always, lustful, on more stocky, long and somehow disturbing ones. The story that heavier bullets would had never work properly on european games after all it was just a story, and if it’s really useless and expensive to use them, on the other hand it’s damn fun and stimulating to search for best loads, make them accurate and reliable getting a nice headache every time.

Use of heavy, extremely tenacious bullets is surley a prerogative for African hunts. What gave impetus to Otto Bock creature was its ability to determine clean and safe kills on truly large and dangerous games, all coming with low cost and high safety, seen low operating pressure and conseguente few stress on weapon, hunter and bullets. What might seem a disadvantage to an inexperienced observer, low muzzle velocity, turned out to be the main advantage at the time, being able to achieve deeper penetration and energy dump emplying old bullets. While .375 H&H bullets suffered at times hardest impacts, failing often to guarantee effective penetration, less celebrated 9.3mm bullets achieved penetration, lethality and safety at popular prices without much fanfare. This precisely is the great argument of dispute, the great balance between bullet deformation, energy transfert and penetration trough tissues, organs and obstacles encountered. More than a science, it is a real alchemy, a melting pot in which chemistry, metallurgy, physics, mathematics and objective field knowledge convert. More than a century later, despite technical progress and advances in metallurgy and materials, small but not insignificant 9.3mm bullets gap over the eternal rivals in .375 still places them on the podium. Because if it is true that dangerous game bullets have become more resistant, tenacious and indestructible, even powders have become more performing, progressive, stable, and therefore able to significantly increase our cartridges performance. To date, without exceeding any safety threshold, the good 9.3 × 64 Brenneke is able to achieve better performances than the .375 H&H could a century ago, also counting on modern tough bullets. This is true for all calibers and guns of course, except for old glorious Express rifles, which continue to claim victims with the usual inexorable reliability using the same old ogives with which barrels were collimated (almost always..) .

To date, what perhaps most limits 9,3 × 62 on dangerous games in Africa, is the law. Some countries allow you to use it or one of his terrible cousins, others allow exceptions to regulations as long as hunter is obviously accompanied by PH able to guarantee a safe Back Up in case something shouldn’t go as hoped. Compared to much more energetic larger calibers, some aspects favor, on paper, its use even on dangerous animals. An European hunter, could easily employ the weapon he usually bears huntin deer and wild boar to target African preys, simply adjusting cartridge to the game. This is a huge advantage: maintaining the same muscle memory, recoil confidence, reloading habit under stress conditions,  the same sight system that we have been using for years are all comforts that greatly increase chances and safety while hunting. If compared to a heavy, long and difficult to operate under stress magnum action, the good old 9.3 × 62 provides lightness, reliability and mortality in a compact standard action. Modest operating pressure, a guarantee of fluid extraction especially in hot climates, is an aspect that should not be underestimated.

Kicked by all these considerations, we decided to devote ourselves to some load development, cartridges that could be used, seen energy and bullets used, on large and very large games.

Unfortunately, we don’t have direct experiences about these hunting and beautiful scenarios, so far from our hunting reality. Ours will be just a stylistic exercise, for the moment, with the hope of being able to witness if our impressions were correct, one day.

Bullets we decided to test, therefore, will be the heaviest, toughest and most resistant that we have been able to find; Those that can guarantee penetration, expansion, depth and reliability at medium distances, suitable for overflowing vitality games with titanic strength. We don’t want to develop Plein Game cartridges, we want to churn out something suitable for the bush and its larger inhabitants. We have therefore accumulated experience with the long 325 grain Oryx, the pot-bellied 320 grain Woodleigh RNSN, the tough 300 grain A-Frame, the fascinating 300 grain Rhino Solid Shank, and the all-new amazing 286 grain Swift Break Away Solid. A small heritage that we have squandered through three calibers that need no further introduction: the stainless 9.3 × 62, the superlative 9,3×64 Brenneke and the royal 9,3x74R. A challenge in the challenge, for this intense and extensive test, was represented by obtainig loads able to achieve good accuracy with the same zeroing.

9,3x74R

ORYX 325 gr

Norma has been producing Oryx for years, bullets with core firmly welded to the mantle. It is certainly the most successful line from the Swedish company, available in practically all calibers. In 9.3mm Norma sells three ogives of different weight. The famous 232 grains, excellent for driven hunts and light game, the 286 grains excellent in any situation, and the heavy 325 grains. The latter, to date, are the heaviest 9.3mm bullets available on the market. Despite what one might think, it’s not a very hard ogive, but rather able to work perfectly at the typical speeds of this caliber even on medium-sized games. When we started experimenting with first loads, this was the subject of some emails with the Swedish technicians who had developed the bullet and who, with great availability,  followed my technical request. 325-grain Oryx was developed for moose hunting, a large animal even undermined with more modest calibers, and designed to progressively deform in controlled manner losing as little mass as possible. It’s not designed for high speeds, nor for extremely tough or dangerous animals. It certainly knocks down European and African giants, as long as the hunter does his part. We immediately decided to use it for driven hunting and for stalking, loading it in the 9,3x74R and hoping to reach a good compromise with barrels adjustment. Initially, according to the excellent Norma manual, we used N202 powder. Grouping was good,  speed expressed similar to that from commercial cartridges. We used this load for a season, with some satisfaction. As expected, for our hunting purpose, it turned out to be a not too performing cartridge, being able to express its potential only in close shots on larger animals. It proved to be very effective on frontal shots and on three-quarter shots both frontal and on fleeing animals. Bewildering penetration, coupled with the ability to rush in and dump energy, manage to quickly put at bay every animal trampling the old continent. Not too satisfied, however, we started a new experience. Being the case extremely long and roomy, and express’ barrels long enough (60 centimeters), a slower powder could provide a little more energy avoiding dangerous pressures. The good old 9.3x74R has 3400 bar as maximum operating pressure , but using break action guns it’s always a good idea not to exceed: first of all because barrels zeroing requires a certain speed to achieve good grouping at 70 yards. Secondly, stressing gun locking system with high pressure in hot climate is never a good idea if you need al your fingers.

Inevitably we ended up simulating a load employing the excellent MRP; with great surprise pressure values ​​remained suitable even above 500 kgm. So we had exorbitant energy conveyed by a very heavy bullet able to deform without losing mass, togheter with tipical instinctiveness and speed of over-and-under express: probably the perfect cartridge for hunting soft-skinned animals all over the world at close range. Sum of all fortunes, the 325-grain Oryx fired at over 700 ms at 50 meters produce perfect grouping: two perfectly aligned holes 4 cm apart.

At first we experienced a slightly daring load, which was on the threshold of 5200 joules. Frankly, something slightly exaggerated, to be used strictly in winter and expecting a vigorous recoil. The 3200 bar expressed are not dangerous, but they suggest caution with temperatures. Having to use them in hot climates it is essential to reduce the dose and check for any signs of overpressure. Field test has always provided positive feedback: games killed quickly, with great meat respect, shocking penetration even in the most demanding shots. In driven hunts, it often happens to perform front shots on animals that literally overlook a few meters from the hunter, often presenting a rather elusive target. Penetration is a key aspect. Unless hitted in the brain, any animal shot in this way will tend to move away more or less sprawling. Being able to count on almost unstoppable penetration is a significant advantage. The Oryx has proven to be able to sharply grip and penetrate the entire game length, usually exiting the lower abdomen or even the anal mirror. A generously sized exit hole that quickly bleeds prey allows you to follow any injured animals without worries. We admit it candidly, it takes much less to get the same effect, but it’s interesting to witness how such heavy bullets work perfectly. The initial idea yo emply the heavy Oryx on the more sedate 9,3x74R proved to be valid, even if in the end this nice caliber is anything but not sedate… I would feel perfectly comfortable using this combination on very large animals. Mass, sectional density and good ballistic coefficient suggests that the long heavy oryx 325 can be comfortably used up to 100 meters when fired by an Express rifle, with decidedly excellent energy conservation and killing ability.

9.3X64

Here now come to the toughest of the triad. Born by Brenneke’s unsurpassed genius, this fine caliber has unfortunately never achieved notoriety it deserves. Reasons are essentially three. The main one is political and bureaucratic. In most African countries, the minimum caliber allowed to hunt Big 5 is .375. There is no physical, ballistic or real reason; after Second World War Allied wanted to knowingly erase all german traces from Africa, even from hunting field. For decades 9.3 × 62 had killed pachyderms, buffaloes, hippos, lions. At a certain point, due to political decision, it was no longer able to… Obviously the old 9.3 doesn’t know this, and continues to do its dirty work with same inexorable lethality. The other reason is purely economical:  the only weapons chambering this caliber were beautiful and expensive Mauser, Sauer, or better handcrafted guns produced by some of the best European gunsmiths. Nothing that a settler or a farmer could afford at low cost. The third problem, son of the other two, is the very low diffusion of commercial ammunition, an aspect that year after year has discouraged even stauncher supporters.

It is a real “crime” for various reasons. First of all it can be built on a standard action, being the case practically as long as 30.06, an important weight limiting factor, speeding up reloading and avoid feeding accidents too.  9.3mm bullets have better sectional density and significantly higher ballistic coefficient than those in .375. Modern, truly progressive powders are able to completely exploit roomy case while long barrels with optimized rifling work superbly with heavy bullets. Today it’s easy to far exceed performance that .375 H&H possessed in the 50s, with performing bullets and absolutely spectacular terminal effects. It therefore remains a mystery, after almost 70 years, why 9,3×64 still has secondary role. In the early 2000s, Steyr and Hornady attempted to revitalize original Brenneke’s design creating the .376 Steyr, an ingenious caliber born from 9,3×64 case and topped by .375 bullet. The market, however, did not reward this daring project;

Returning to our study, let’s see specifically tested bullets.

SWIFT A FRAME 300 GRAINS.

Simply great. Made in Quinter, Kansas, they have earned unassailable reputation over decades hunting in Africa. They are the only double-core bonded bullets on market, retaining 95% of the total mass even if subjected to terrible stress and impacts. Both cores are able to deform without breaking and separating. Unlike almost all competitors, there is no max speed beyond which they risk to breaks or separations between core and mantle can be expected. They are dedicated to large, robust games with outstanding, strong vitality.

They must guarantee extreme penetration, energy transfer and of course wide, straight and through permanent cavity.  300-grain bullets were used in the 9.3 × 62 to hunt large and dangerous games such as buffaloes, hippos and big cats; tossing them from 9.3 × 64 could generate much more exciting knockdowns, seen energy levels involved.  Higher speed could result in better expansion when impacting large bones, partially sacrificing penetration. With correct shot placement A frames achieve incredible penetration. Our loading study is inspired by an objective observation. Swift offers .375 H&H ammunitions with 300 grains A Frame, developing 5600 joules at the mouth. 

.375 A Frame bullet weighting 300 grains has significantly lower Sectional density and ballistic coefficient than those owned by .366 A Frame of same weight. So, simply duplicating this performance you will get a cartridge capable of doing everything the .375 does with the best commercial ammunition available, surely obtaining slightly higher results due to .366 bullets better ballistic qualities.

Our load performed damn well, producing an incredible grouping and vigorous but well manageable recoil, thanks to good stock’s ergonomics.

 63.5 grains of RS60 tossed the long bullet to 760 ms, attesting 5600 joules energy with only of 3800 bar, complete combustion and total muzzle flash absence. 100% combustion is achieved well before the muzzle, so that target is clearly visible while shoting. Operating pressure is rather low while filling reach 92%, an extreme safety factor since even with very high temperatures this cartridge cannot generate overpressures, assuring fluid extraction and impeccable feeding. It would be theoretically possible to reach and exceed 6000 joules at the muzzle, but only with close to the maximum pressures. Never a great idea, especially if our cartridge is intended for dangerous games. Seen bullet behaviour, this load is able to guarantee superlative terminal performance, enough for largest African Games.

While developing cartridge particular attention was paid to its length. Free bore measurement reported zero space at 86.4 mmlength. Some sources consulted reported 84.2mm as the optimal OAL for 300-grain A Frame. It might seem like a coincidence, but it’s the same length RWS Vollmantel had with a much more stocky design than modern Swift. Mauser Europa 66 chamber is incredibly tight. It doesn’t leave much room for experiments: it was designed to accommodate the heavy TUG, the bullet RWS has stopped to for 50 years and which is still the workhorse used by the German company today. With this bullet old Europa 66 is absolutely accurate, despite commercial ammunitions from a few years ago were around 5800 Joules. Up to 300 meters you need a few compensation, while gret accuracy easily suggests use on large European games; using very long and stubby ogives, however, it tends to have some feeding problems. It happened to me a few years ago with belly Woodleigh 250 grain RNSP, which despite deliberately short cartridge, stuck terribly when reloading. To avoid such unfortunate events, we have adopted 81mm cartridge length; decidedly short but seen internal case volume it’s not a problem. Considering these aspects, probably 286 grain A Frame ogives would have been more suitable, greatly facilitating the task of obtaining trajectories compatible with Break Away Solid: the real challenge, in fact, was precisely this.

SWIFT BREAK AWAY SOLID 286 GRAINS.

So let’s come to these superlative and very expensive solids. I have been following the US company’s work on these promising Solids for some time.

The ingenious idea behind their development, simple and at the same time complicated, was a Solid bullet with the same A-Frame aerodynamic characteristics , so that the hunter could use both the deformable A Frame and the indestructible Break Away with same zeroing. As the name suggests, Break Away Solids are designed to produce totally through penetration and are specifically built to pierce most imposing bones, most fibrous tissues and largest muscle masses, avoiding trajectory alterations, leaving behind a permanent channel that quickly lead the game to inexorable death by exsanguination. The outward Break Away solids appearance could reminiscent Woodleigh’s Hidrostatically Stabilized one, but only at first sight. Apex is protected by a black plastic tip which greatly improves aerodynamics and feeding fluidity, completely jamming free. Below the tip, bullet’s top is concave, presuming that at high speeds it is able to generate Bubble effect, just like the Woodleigh competitors, which allows the bullets to blow a sort of frontal pressure cushion during its path trough game’s body. This usually create a wide permanent cavity larger than FMJ one. Swift engineers have paid particular attention to design. 

As it’s easy to verify, bearing surface is considerably reduced if compared to bullet’s length. This helps keeping pressure at bay, Achilles’ heel for most monolithic and solids, shockingly increasing precision: a more efficient and completamente system respect to bands. Advantage over Solid competitors is twofold: This is the only lead core solid available (competitors like Woodleigh Nosler and others are all monolithic), the only one showing an efficient friction reduction system without the typical old FMJ drawbacks, notoriously prone to trajectory deviation inside enormous games. Swift, confirmed in person at the phone,  developed these solids keeping in mind old Express rifles with a century of history; They are true doubles lovers and keen to make them even more efficient while preserving their efficiency. The goal has been achieved, Break Away Solids are damn accurate and pressure is not a problem. As already mentioned, finding them was complicated, but once arrived the real problem was developing handload from scratch, without any certain data, without recipes to copy or study. They are new, practically unavailable and there is no data about them on the web. Quick Load doesn’t report them, it simply ignores their existence. How to do?? The only way was to write a long email to the manufacturer. The response was quick: They asked for a telephone number to call. In the reply we explained that they would have to take an intercontinental call, but this didn’t seem to be a problem. Someone at Swift took the trouble to call a complete stranger on the other side of the Atlantic that afternoon, only to have a chat. In our opinion, this represents the highest seriousness level, the best customer care service ever. No company had ever taken our request to heart so much.  We gathered the necessary information from the long conversation; the suggestion was to try two grains less than 286 grains Swift A Frame. While speaking, my interlocutor candidly stated that he had used 286 grain ogives, chambered in 9.3 × 62, to hunt buffalos, with superlative results. Yes… because that’s the beauty: Break Away solid and A Frame of same weight, for each caliber, have same ballistic coefficient.  Being able to send them at the same speed we’ll have the same point of impact, at medium engagement distances, for both cartridges. The hunter can choose to use either one or the other indifferently, or rather to chamber an A Frame as first cartridge and Break Away solids as subsequent ammunitions to achieve total penetration, setup sometime used on large and dangerous games.

Our load provides 65 grains of RS60, achieving 780 ms and 5650 joules at the muzzle. It is possible to reach and exceed 6000 joules, overcoming 800ms. 65 cm barrel that usually accompanies 9.3 × 64 Brenneke guns, allows complete combustion even with slow burning powders. In this case, obtaining very high speeds is a great advantage: being a non-deformable bullet capable of causing tissue damage in proportion to speed, the higher the muzzle velocity the better the terminal ballistics. The shrewd handloader will seek for best compromise between precision, speed and pressure, always in relation to hunted game. Unlike A Frame, these Break Away didn’t generate any feeding problem. Even with 85.5mm OAL, there were no issues, anyway for practicality we went for 84 mm.

Developing these recipes took over a year, hindered several times by the pandemic and lockdowns that stopped our tests. We would have liked to show out penetration tests using live compatible models, but for the moment it hasn’t really been possible. We will return to this issue in future. However, a truly surprising fact emerges. The old 9.3 × 64 Brenneke, with these two superlative ogives and a modern and reliable powder like RS60, is able to replicate and in some ways exceed .375 H&H: objective data, at least on paper, which should be confirmed with direct field experience.

 It would be a great sign if Swift could propose, maybe as Custom product, commercial ammos with its bullets in 9.3 × 64 Brenneke and 9.3x74R.

It’s our opinion that many weapons are currently lying unused in dark blinds, precisely because there are no commercial ammunition to make them shine. To date, only Brenneke and RWS offer 9.3 × 64 cartridges, and none of theyr bullet could compare to Swift ones.

After a delicate study, we have come to squaring the circle. Aiming trough our Swarowski Z6i 1-6 × 24 EE, we obtained perfect grouping with the same zeroing at 70 meters, both on the Mouche and both very narrow. With these cartridges, it’s possible to shot A-Frames as first round, mortally wounding the game and exploiting its enormous disabling power, and then two, three Break Away Solid to obtain total penetration, even from unfavorable angles, to reach vitals speeding up bleeding. This result filled us with satisfaction.

RWS VOLLMANTEL 286 GRAINS.

We had to count this ammunition among the most efficient in the good Brenneke’s caliber, just for affect and respect.

We didn’t load them, we own a whole pack of original old Volmantells, superbly preserved and jealously guarded for years. They are beautiful, simply look like they came out of a documentary from safaris golden age. As the name suggests, they are fully jacketed and damn heavy lead bullets. In many texts and hunting reports these are described as the best ever marketed by RWS, very effective on huge animals and with surprising consistency. Vollmantel bullets, like other Germans of the period, have steel mantle and are incredibly accurate. We do not know which powder was used, we imagine one of the most progressive like 904, but we don’t have courage to sacrifice one to know how many grains they contained. We have kept them in a drawer for years, pulling them out from time to time just to admire. But for this test they could not miss, and we shot a few just to see if they were still good. And they are.

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9.3 × 62

We have discussed extensively in the article dedicated to this indefatigable workhorse, but we always return to talk about it willingly. It is certainly the most amazing and balanced medium caliber present in the current panorama, and for more than a century it has enjoyed unassailable reputation, something we would dare to define mythological. Although many are struggling to invent and fertilize ever new calibers and each time “good for any hunting”, our elderly gentleman has been killing worlwide all kind of game, from roe deer to elephants, for almost 120 years.

Recent powders and even more light lead-free high B.C. bullets enable today hunter to employ this robust all-rounder even at further distances. Far be it from us to debase and strip 9.3 × 62 from its real nature. It remains a brutal medium and heavy game killer, damnly effective for keeping large and dangerous animals at bay at short to medium distances. It will never be, and basically does not pretend to be, a real stopper nor a big bore caliber. It surely isn’t suitable to follow injured games in dense African bush nor to stop a buffalo nor an elephant charge; But it’s able to cleanly take down every animal walking on the globe if the hunter correctly place the shot, taking care to choose the right bullet. I highly recommend a beautiful book, “9.3 × 62 Mauser Journal”, a real Bible dedicated to this caliber. The latest edition, revised and corrected in all its parts, is a complete text full of absolutely useful advice: from bullet choice up to load datas, passing through numerous testimonials from professional guides and hunters; a lot of essential indications on shot placement on all major games, gigantic and dangerous.

The volume is only available in English and can be purchased online in both paper and e-book form.

9.3×62 Mauser Journal

As repeatedly asserted, there is no animal trampling old continent and North America soil capable of surviving that a few minutes after receiving a 286 grain soft point bullet fired from a rifle chambered in 9.3 × 62 as long as it’s correctly placed. Could seem strange in the ” bonded bullet” age, but classic 18.5 grains soft point fired at the proven 700-720ms speed are lethal and damn efficient. While Certainly not outstanding on medium-sized European game, they become surprising on large and great vitality games such as adult male red deer and the big boars; Huntig big dangerous african and North american games, a good heavy bonded bullet could certainly be the perfect choice. We tested some of them of course.

Our test took place during this hot summer 2022, characterized by extreme drought and temperatures close to 40 °C; These conditions made it necessary to take some special attention during developing process: high temperatures sensibly raise pressures, so it’s s always better to start with high safety profile loads. Quickload, as always, helps a lot, since it can easily simulate this parameter as well. The cartridges we assembled were very accurate and safe, so we see no reason not to share our work. First we tried Rhino Solid Shank, then Woodleighs and finally Swift Break Away Solids.  Our M03 barrel has always been hot, impossible to cool it or in any case bring it back to more modest temperatures; nevertheless, shot groups produced were still sweet. The weapon had been previously zeroed with 286 grain soft point bullets, so point of impact is not optimal; we were interested in groups accuracy.

WOODLEIGH 320 GRAINS ROUND NOSE SOFT POINT.

Surprising at first sight. Long and stocky like pastels, their looks exude reliability. They are known for their penetration, energy dump and weight retention. Even centering big games’ heavy bones and muscle tissues, 320-grain weight ensures vital organs are reached from virtually every angle. They do not fear obstacles, vegetation, once they have passed the muzzle they are almost unstoppable. The Australian company, indicates bullet’s optimal operating speed on each package ; in this case between 2000 and 2200 feet second, that translated into metric means between 610 and 670 ms. Not a wide speed range, but these ogives summarize bonded bullets dictates on large and very large animals: Get closer to the prey, when you seem to be close enough, get still closer, shoot straight aiming important bones, preferably the shoulder, head or spine. The bullet will do the rest penetrating straight, engulfing organs, tissues, bones, cartilage, and causing a generous exit hole. They have only a flaw: they are difficult to find and expensive, but we assure you that they are really worth what they cost. We immediately excluded 9.3 × 64 from suitors. First of all, speeds obtainable were above the maximum recommended threshold; Australian soft points normally tolerate sustained speeds well, producing tasty over-expansions without losing weight. While this can enormously increase their lethality and energy transfer on large European games, on Big African games it could become a limit. As a bullet deforms, front surface increases, constituting a real penetration brake. If on one hand this transfers energy to the wild, on the other hand it limits damage limiting penetration into vital organs ( located deep in the ribcage) or in any case prevents projectile exit and conseguente more conspicuous blood loss. Each bullet is made to work at a certain speed, and only in that range will work correctly, obtaining right balance of energy dump and penetration: perfect balance is the secret, and that’s why our 9.3 × 62 is so efficient. The second reason we exclude Brenneke’s caliber is bullet’s shape. Just think that the shorter 250 grains have given us considerable disappointments while feeding, due to the extremely tight Europa 66 chamber. The candidates par excellence are obviously 9.3 × 62 and the equivalent 9.3x74R.

Achieving optimum speed is certainly not a problem, modern RS60 and RS70 are perfectly capable of handling complete combustion, squeezing every ms at the same time. Operating pressure is moderate, protecting hunter from accidents and ensuring perfect spent case extraction. Particular attention, as always when handling long and pot-bellied ogives, must be placed in cartridge over all length. We have to test fluidity while loading, maniacally if hunting potentially dangerous games. As always we will look for best accuracy, keeping in mind vital area size of game we are hunting. In this case, unexpected help comes from Vihtavuory website; theyr handloading page suggests 82mm as maximum cartridge length using the Australian 320grains. Some blank tests with inert cases made it possible to verify feeding fluidity, while quickload, as always, made it possible to obtain perfect and accurate dose in a few time. The assembled cartridge, working at 3500 bar, is stable and reliable up to above 40 °C.

Accuracy is really good, certainly more than enough to engage heavy games within 300 meters, a distance beyond which our beautiful caliber yields the scepter: we firmly believe in the responsibility that falls on every hunter the moment he pulls the trigger, the prey must have a rapid departure, human, as clean as possible; To recognize when it’s sacrosanct not to shoot and using the right gun is every responsible hunter main duty. One aspect is remarkable and interesting: when dealing with excellent Woodleighs, the speed range recommend by the company usually means excellent terminal effects together with great accuracy, and that’s a damn theorem when it comes to Round Nose. We must always keep in mind that these bullets come from an out of time era: when there were no radars, chronographs, ballistic calculators, any hunter had to load his cartridges obtaining good accuracy and having at his disposal quite rudimentary instruments: analogue scales, reloading manuals and “recipes” elaborated by friends and annotated in jealously guarded booklets. Powders were certainly not as constant and stable as today, and therefore obtaining a good cartridge, accurate and safe enough in a wide temperatures range, was a real alchemy, certainly much more complex than today. Bullets that forgave this technological gap were the best the hunter could wish for, so when you look at these long, clumsy and stocky, imagine how hard could be not few time ago and appreciate its undoubted qualities. In its reloading manuals, quite rare thing, Woodleigh doesn’t indicate a cartridge lenght, leaving this task to the handloader, but suggested doses are generally able to produce good precision even with lowest charges. Generally you don’t need to squeeze a few extra fps, because these bullets work damn well, warp, penetrate, and hold weight beautifully. Once you get the best accuracy, it will be enough to go hunting; bullet’s weight impedes flat trajectory, forget about grazing and dizzying speed, on the other hand they will be fullfilling whit iron sights, since it’s damn easy to achieve a good grouping within 100 meters. You will certainly be pleased to see how the 320 grains and the rounded profile from these excellent Australian bullets work in synergy, even when placement isn’t perfect.

RHINO SOLID SHANK 300 GR

Innovative and almost unique projectiles, both for design and construction. Produced in South Africa and imported in Europe from Esvo (Finland), the Solid Shank are in fact hybrids, halfway between a monolithic and a latest generation bonded.

https://www.esvo.fi/luodit/rhino-bullets

The dual-core construction ensures very deep penetration through muscles, bones and organs, and a constant and astounding energy transfer. In the smaller calibers they are meat respectful , able to penetrate deeply even employng rather low weights bullets. The front portion is basically a classic lead core tenaciously bonded to a thick, excellent copper jacket; after impact it opens into 4 square petals with sharp edges. The rear portion is nothing more than a non-deformable and very long copper monolith. Compared, for example, to Swift A-Frames of equal weight, they are about a quarter longer. Two cores in different materials, with very different specific weights, could create some stability problems: it must not have been easy to balance the bullet with an heavier than the tail frontal part. Design surely have taken a lot of effort, but result is simply extraordinary: the Solid Shanks are very accurate, sharp, penetrate straight and firmly like a hot knife through butter. The 300 grains bullet was specifically designed for typical 9.3×62 speeds, but they surely work worthily in the good 9.3x74R. Being exquisitely intended for large and potentially dangerous games, these excellent projectiles favor penetration over energy transfer: a projectile that deforms while penetrating will dissipate its energy in prey’s body; if deformation is continuous and progressive, at some point it will excessively limit penetration, soon becaming an impediment to reach vitals. The perfect big game hunting bullet must deform in a controlled way, without reach overexpansion, penetrate inexorably in depth and possibly create an exit hole speeding up bleeding. Solid Shank achieve this objective at the mild typical speed achieved by our beloved 9.3 × 62, resulting extremely effective even on giants such as Cape Bufalo. In excellent “9,3 × 62 Journal” Cape Buffalos’ hunts with these spectacular bullets, resistant and tenacious like games they are built for, are described in detail. For more than a century, the good 9,3 × 62 has represented the European interpretation of “Slow, Heavy and damn letal” concept.

We deliberately chose the slowest powder that could comfortably fit our purpuse, the usual RS60 which allows unparalleled flexibility and consistency; use of slightly slow burning powders, especially employing at least 56 centimeters barrels, can squeeze a few more speed keeping pressure low and obtaining complete combustion at the same time. Muzzle rise could be a little more pronounced than other with faster powders, but we earn an extra guarantee in case we intend to hunt in hot climates. Being very long and having high mass, heavy Rhinos allow progressive powders to burn perfectly expressing all their potential. Solid Shank are belted projectiles, so pressure doesn’t easily reach dangerous values ​​unless you definitely exaggerate; anyway, hunting in isolated places and far from rescue an extra guarantee is always welcome. As usual We must pay attention not to give in to speed temptation, trying to find best balance between combustion, speed, accuracy and pressure. OAL chosen is obviously the maximum assuring perfect feeding fluidity, guaranteeing a more than safe free bore value. One particular aspect that puzzled us was bullet’s length. 

As mentioned before, 300 grains Rhinos are rather long and easily prone to engage rifling seen apical part’s profile.  We checked bullet’s length merely for curiosity, discovering that datas reported by quickload and the real ones were very different. Rhino 300-grain bullets in our possession are 33.6 mm long, while Quickload database declares 32.4; varying length, internal ballistic produced is considerably different: a charge considered safe can turn out to be at limit or out of scale one, profoundly modifying exterior ballistic too. It is not the first time that we have noticed slight differences, even if this time they could have caused dangerous overpressures: it is recommended to always check bullets’ datas, especially heavier and longer ones.

The considerable bullets length made it almost impossible to test Rhinos in 9.3 × 64 Brenneke. We have not been able to develop a cartridge that was accurate, smooth in loading, and at the same time reliable. We will try again in winter, when we will probably have to test a fine Mauser 98 in this caliber.

SWIFT BREAK AWAY SOLID 286 GRAINS.

As previously stated, these solids are likely to change game’s rules. Until their appearance, classic FMJs and the monolithic Solids shared the whole market. A Full Metal Jacket bullet consists of a lead core completely covered by a thick copper or steel mantle; By exquisitely military derivation, they have made Big Game Hunting history since origins. Being prone to crushing and deforming, especially when impacting on imposing bones, and consequently not guaranteeing a straight intra-body trajectory, old FMJ have some limits. Despite having a classic Round Nose profile they produce negligible energy dump respect to bonded semi jacketed bullets. Solids are normally monolithic projectiles, often showing wad or concave apical profile, built to ensure damn straight and deep penetration; releasing a good part of energy in theyr path, not deforming but generating a pressure wave in front of them while leaving behind a larger than classic FMJ permanent cavity is theyr usual behaviour. Studies in this direction, carried out exquisitely by Woodleigh, have paved the way for a completely new approach to the problem.

Swift’s contribution, as mentioned, is noteworthy: it’s the first lead core Solid bullet, showing innovative profile capable of generating deep and straight permanent cavities. As demonstrated by the previous test, trajectory is damn similar to that of excellent A Frame of same weight, an advantage not to be overlooked. As happened with 9.3 × 64, obtaining a fluid and linear feeding was a breeze, having these bullets an exceptional design: black polymer tip, with rounded profile, helps both round chambering and external ballistics. The accuracy obtained is almost embarrassing, they don’t splice barrel like solid copper bullet udually do, and field tests had excellent results. Swift proposes a commercial cartridge developing about 730 ms, able to duplicate 286 grain A Frame cartridge trajectory. 

If for over a century our stainless 9.3 × 62 was able to land pachyderms and buffaloes with classic FMJs, with Break Away Solids performance is raised up yet.

Load develope didn’t present any problem whatsoever. We employed usual RS60, standard RWS primers and PPU cases.

Range test, which took place under the scorching July sun, was satisfactory. Being the last cartridges of the day, barrel was very very hot, so this may have partly affected accuracy. However, it is our opinion that a 60cm berrel, instead of 56, could best express these solids potential; as demonstrated by 9.3 × 64 Brenneke experimet, longer barrels easily obtain optimal stabilization. As expected, we hope to soon verify this product goodness on the field, during a splendid day hunting.

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CONCLUSIONS.

Since we ha tested our loads with extremely high temperatures without any overpressure issue, we exceptionally decided to show you our scrap book. Always remember to check free bore value on your gun and start with caution your recipe. If it works well and safely on our weapon doesn’t mean that surely will do the same on yours.

ALL HANDLOADING DATA ARE GIVEN WITHOUT ANY RESPONSABILITY. HANDLOADING IS POTENTIALLY A DANGEROUS ACTIVITY.

 Always remember: there are bold handloaders, there are old handloaders, but no old bold handloaders.

Be carefull.