The 9.3×62mm (marketed in the United States as the 9.3×62mm Mauser) is a big game hunting cartridge developed in Germany by Otto Bock in 1905.[1] The 9.3×62mm is increasingly popular in the U.S., having been in use in Europe and Africa for a number of years.[1]
History[]
The 9.3×62mm was originally developed in Berlin by Otto Bock in 1905, as he intended to develop a hunting cartridge for the Model 1898 Mauser rifle.[2] Although those in Africa preferred to use military calibres (which were larger and more deadly than those for civillian use) governments banned people from purchasing military cartridges in overseas territories.[2] Bock's cartridge avoided this issue, as no military organisation adopted it, meaning that the peoples of Africa could purchase the 9.3×62mm cartridge for the purpose of hunting.[2]
Design Details[]
The 9.3×62mm was built from the ground up, with Bock designing an entirely new cartridge.[2] The cartridge features 1.3mm rim and a large rifle primer, as well as a 9.3mm diameter bullet.[2] The weight of the bullet varies from 231gr (15.0g) to 293gr (19.0g), which are capable of different velocities depending on their manufacturer.[2]
Performance[]
The 9.3×62mm is designed to hunt large game and animals such as zebra and wildebeest, so its performance figures are close to those of the .375 H&H Magnum, the most popular hunting cartridge.[2]
| Name | Muzzle Velocity (FPS) | Energy (ft/lbs) |
|---|---|---|
| 231gr (15.0g) Oryx | 2,625[2] | 3,550[2] |
| 250gr (16.2g) SP | 2,559[2] | 3,635[2] |
| 285gr (18.5g) SP | 2,362[2] | 3,543[2] |
| 293gr (19.0g) SP | 2,428[2] | 3,842[2] |
Variants[]
Although the 9.3×62mm is considered to be a rimmed cartridge, the 9.3×74R is considered to be the rimmed version of the cartridge.[2] This was spawned from the 9.3×72R cartridge, which was a black powder version of the 9.3×62mm.[2]