Thread: My 9.3x62...

...kicks the shit out of me.

Honestly, I thought I do recoil alright till now, but I suppose Im getting older. Anyway this bitch of the hunting forest will rise up and punch you in the face if you're inattentive. Sometimes, after the first two shots at the range, I can't hit a goddam thing. After six rounds I have a headache and want to go home.


It weighs 8.0 pounds exactly all up. It used to be Jakewire's rifle, but now I should shoot something with it because Owen would have liked that.

I could put a heavier scope on it. I could make it heavier by putting something in the stock. (Would you put it in the front or the rear of the stock? I assumed the rear, but it make more sense in the front. If I put more weight in the rear end - the Bitch will pivot faster and smack me in the head harder)


One could load it down I suppose, although I dont care to hobble things that way. At the moment I am loading 67 grains of 2209 behind a 285 grain PPU bullet for 2390 FPS. (I have another which is with 2207 and the same bullet at 2019 fps, which is noticably softer.)

What about lighter bullets - has anyone ever seen a 232 or 235 grain .366 bullet for sale anywhere?


I shoot it at the range as litttle as possible. I have taken it out for the roar last year, but the only thing I shot with it that trip was a rabbit. (It was a trophy rabbit.) Offhand its alright.




upper word

Try lead up in buttstock cavity. And do download it so you enjoy it again. Flinching sucks.

Norma make or used to a 232 gr bullet that was a joy to shoot and plenty for red deer

Just got given 45 9.3 cal. 286gn. Hornady SP_RP Interlocks. No use to me. 40 dollars includes post.

Limbsaver slip on recoil pad for one. I'd try that before adding weight.

Next thing is setup - almost looks like it is set up for open sights not a scope. A cheek riser of some sort strapped to the butt might make a large difference as it helps prevent the stock from colliding with your face. Little things, big difference... Might be an option to track down a cast type pill and download the thing, still be plenty for anything in NZ!

I load 56.5gr 2208 for 2270 fps in my 9.3x62 with 286gr prvi projectiles. I’ve got a limbsaver recoil pad on mine.

I have some Norma factory 232gr ammo. And I think I’ve got some lighter Woodleighs from memory will need to check. Hate the idea of making a 9.3 rifle heavier…

Originally Posted by No.3

Limbsaver slip on recoil pad for one. I'd try that before adding weight.

Next thing is setup - almost looks like it is set up for open sights not a scope. A cheek riser of some sort strapped to the butt might make a large difference as it helps prevent the stock from colliding with your face. Little things, big difference... Might be an option to track down a cast type pill and download the thing, still be plenty for anything in NZ!

I wondered the same. When I was using a couple of different 375 H&H's It was noticeable how much the stock drop changed the felt recoil.

Beautiful rifle though.

That recoil pad looks prehistoric it appears oxidised and perished. Go the limbsaver route maybe try a slip on one first.

Sellier and bellot makes an 193 grain projectile and I managed to get some 174 gr copper projectiles from Europe. But hélas too complicated to get here.
Robert from Tokoroa casts some lead projectiles in 9.3 and you could maybe shoot them with some trail boss. That will put deer down as well as anything else . Making a discret thread at the muzzle and using a muzzle forward suppressor would be an other option.

You could always just give it to me?

The getting older does affect how you notice recoil.
It is a bit like watching the young fellas at the local footy club.
Tackles that we used to relish ,shrug off would now flatten us.
I still like using the 30.06 on game but not on targets.
.243 is nicer now I am getting Winston's card in March.
I imagine the 9.3 recoil would be up there especially shooting prone.
That is a nice rifle though.

Could you try a slip-on recoil pad over the original one . It will make your LOP a bit longer but will make recoil a little easier to handle.

And maybe one of those Twin Needle type cheek risers that attach with straps and buckles. Made a difference to my 308 Norma Magnum Parker Hale - which weighs less than 8 pound......

I hate the idea of making it heavier although it's obviously how you can reduce recoil. But I hunt in the bush and anything over 8lbs I think is heavy these days. I dont hunt like they do with 9.3's in Africa and Australia, where you drive round in the landrover until you see something you want to shoot. I have to carry this sucker. And I have other rifles that are much lighter, so even though 8.5 pounds is not a big deal, it does mean that I simply choose a lighter rifle when I go. The heavier ones just dont get picked.

Lighter bullets is what I really want. Or I will use my light load with a 286g at 2000 fps. I looked up the original ballistics of the first loads that made the cartridge famous and it was about the same - 286g bullet at 2000 - 2100 fps.

The recoil pad is actually in good shape and working good. I had another 9.3 without a recoil pad once and it would literally bruise my shoulder and collar bone area, so I know the difference a good pad will make. People use to thik Id been in a car crash.
I dont think making a cheek riser will help, thats not whats bothering me, I dont mind if rifles jump in the air - that's lessoning recoil as I figure it, dissapating recoil energy in kicking if up, it doesnt hit me in the face with the stock comb, but I think I might have to move the scope further forward a bit though! I suppose its hard to describe, and also mental as all flinching is. The rifle is not actually hurting me. But I would describe the shooting of it off the bench as brutal. Ferocious.

I might have to make some kind of set up where I can stand up straight to bench it. Liek the British gunmakers used to do regulating big bore double barreled rifles.


Theres no way I am shooting The Bitch lying prone. No way...

Try the slip-on recoil pad. They are cheap as chips and it might make all the differance