The 9.3x62 is a very popular medium bore cartridge in Europe and Africa that is finally catching on in North America. In power it is similar to the .350 Remington Magnum. In appearance it looks much like the .35 Whelen, but it offers better penetration than either. It is probably more useful than both and may be the best medium bore cartridge ever devised.

It is a rimless cartridge with a bottleneck case that uses 9.3mm (.366") diameter bullets. The cartridge headspaces on the case's small 17.5 degree shoulder. The rim diameter is a standard .470" and brass can be formed from .35 Whelen cases. Maximum case length is 2.441" and the COL is 3.29". Like the .35 Whelen, the 9.3x62 can have headspace problems if cases are not resized very carefully.

Factory loads are available from Sako, A-Square, Norma and perhaps other sources. Norma offers the most factory loads for the 9.3x62, a total of four. Two of the Norma factory loads come with 286 grain bullets, a Plastic Point and an Alaska. Both claim a MV of 2362 fps and a ME of 3544 ft. lbs. Norma also offers two factory loads with 232 grain bullets. These have a listed MV of 2625 fps and a ME of 3535 ft. lbs.

The 9.3x62 is handloaded in Europe and also in North America. I am not familiar with the 9.3mm/.366" bullets available in Europe, but in the US Speer offers a 270 grain Semi-Spitzer in their Hot-Cor line, Nosler offers 250 and 286 grain bullets and Hornady offers 286 grain bullets. The sectional density (SD) of the Speer 270 grain bullet is .288. Barnes offers X-bullets in 250 grain (SD = .267) and 286 grain (SD = .305) weights.

The data in the Speer Reloading Manual No. 13 shows that their 270 grain bullet can be driven to a MV of 2486 fps by 60.0 grains of IMR 4350 powder, and 2550 fps by 64.0 grains of IMR 4350. These loads used reformed Winchester brass and CCI 250 primers and were tested in a rifle with a 26" barrel.

Note: A full length article about the 9.3x62 can be found on the Rifle Cartridge Page.