IS 9.3x62 POSSIBLE?

[EDELWEISS]

Now that Im fully adicted to "handies", (...its not my fault , its a disease...); Im starting to wunder about other calibers.  Since the 35 Wehlen is available I was thinking it might be possible to convert one to 9.3X62mm.  If not a straight conversion then possibly another barrel could be complety reborred or re lined to 9.3mm.

I'll be the first to admit that I dont have enough knowledge to make a final decision about this, thats why Im coming to you all.  I chose 9.3 because its exotic here in the US and its generally accepted as a minimum for dangerous game in Africa.  An alternative is 9.3x74R, its even lower pressure than the shorter rimless 62mm.

Any comments or suggestions for gunsmiths willing and able to do this work?

[Mac11700]

I look at this cartridge closely before opting to go with my 338-06 conversion. The case is a little shorter than the 30-06 case I believe...and if not mistaken the rim is a wee bit smaller too.While for me the 9.3x62 would be a cool cartridge to have in a Handi...it wouldn't fill the role I wanted as a true dual cartridge...and I wanted a 26" barrel to achive the highest velocity with it as well.Converting a 25-06 barrel was relatively easy for Wayne York of Oregungunsmithing with the 338...and mine turned out superb...he does great work.....Not to talk you out of the cartridge...the bullet selection is much better with the 338.....and the velocities achieved with the "deer" weight bullets is just awsome...Quickdtoo is working up some loads for the heavier bullets and so we should here something on that pretty soon...I'm working with the lighter weights right now...and as soon as my home remodeling is done...and if we don't have anymore damaging storms I'll be reporting on mine this month...I have a bunch of shooting to accomplish and am looking forward to getting back to the range...

[EDELWEISS]

This is still in the "wundering" stage for me, so please feel free to steer me in approiate directions.  Reloading is something for magicians and wild cats are reserved for the high priests of that order.  Everyone tells me how easy it is; but Im convinced thats only to draw me into another "addiction"...  Thats why Im sticking to factory ammo.  Strangely enough, my favorite shop has both 9.3x62 and 9.3x74R, although only a couple boxes of each.

From my limited reading on the subject both seem capable of taking any game Im likely to hunt.  I was thinking that a 35 wehlen barrel could be re bored to the slight difference.   Id actually prefer a heavier weight barrel; but the 35 seems so easy that its worth discussing here atleast.

[Fred M]

You can't rebore a 35 Whelen to 9.3, there is not enough metal to rebore, ream and and cut rifling, besides the 35Wh has only a 22" barrel and it is not a heavy contour.

A 280 Rem or a 25-06 would work both have 26" barrels. I think a 24" bull barrel in 223 would  be my choice for a rebore job to 9.3 x64 not 62. Now you have an international best seller. But the 64 may be a bit much for ground hogs in a Handi?
The 62 would better suited for smal varmints.

Both the 62 and the 64 are long time world wide favorates and easier to get a variaty of factory ammo, unlike the 35 Whelen for which you might be lucky to find one brand.

[PeterCartwright]

As for the difference in dimensions between the .30-06 and the 9.3X62, I know that folks have been using the '06 case (or now, probably the .35 Whelen) to form 9.2X62 for a long time.  In fact, I have a couple of Speer manuals which recommend that.  Also, remember that the body of the 9.3X62 is longer than the body of the '06 which gives the Euro/African favorite a bit of an edge in powder capacity.  No, it's not a bean field rifle, but all in all, it's a pretty neat and efficient cartridge for those who want a lot of thump at routine game getting ranges.  Sounds to me like a neat project.

I have a VZ24 action I'm saving for a project that, like you, leaves me debating between the Whelen, the .338-06 or the good old 9.3X62.  Personally, I think any of the three would fill a wonderful niche for climbing around in the black timber after elk or slogging through wet thickets after moose or even hunting black bears over bait.  (There I go, day dreaming again).  And yeah, they would certainly handle whitetails, too.

[Fred M]

Peter.
Correction please. The 30-06 in metric measure is 7.62x63 in other words the case  is one millimeter longer than the 9.3x62 (2.441). The 06 is 2.496" or 63.44mm.
Se Mac's drawing.

[PeterCartwright]

Fred, thanks for the correction.  I apparently didn't make myself as clear as I should.  It is the BODY of the 9.3X62 case that is longer-not it's OAL.  It's just a function of the case shape of the 9.3X62 as opposed to the good old '06 and it's family.  Put another way, if Edelweis were to look at  .30-06,  .35 Whelen and a 9.3X62 cases standing side by side, he'd see that the SHOULDER of the 9.3 rides higher on the case.  It's that slight difference in case shape that gives the 9.3 a bit more capacity.

Better?

[EDELWEISS]

Thanks guys!  This is one of "those" projects that Ive been kicking around since I got 'bitten' by handies.  I really like the exotic touch when it comes to factory rounds.  I dont reload, and sadly I dont get much range time; so paying a few extra bucks for the rounds doesnt hurt nearly as much. 

More and more it seems Im spending my time coming up with design and cometic changes for my gun projects.  This way atleast I can fool myself that Im still into my guns even if I dont have the oppertunity to shoot as often as Id like....  Im currently working with a gunsmith doing some mods to a Buffalo Classic.  Once thats done this might just be my next project.  This is just another reason I'll never go 'cold turkey' off the handies.  I can have a ball with my modifications and I still have a few pennies left over.

Ive hunted bear over bait in Canada with a 30-06 from a ground stand.  I wasnt nervous until the first shot failed to drop him from 30 yards.  I never would have thought Id be tracking a black bear in the woods at that range.  Luckily he didnt go far and the next shot was realy just insurance; but it convinced me that bigger would have been better.

[captdp]

I don't think that it can be done. I don't believe that the grooves can be 'cleaned up'. I believe that the bores are too close. Is the muzzle diamater of the 35 the same as a 280? One can make a barrel too thin. capt david

[quickdtoo]

Either the 26" .25-06 or .280 barrel would be an ideal donor, the .366" bore of the 9.3 would be fine, I've got a .338-06 -Square Ultra made from a .25-06 barrel, works fine. Wayne York, the smith who did the barrels for both Mac and I, said we could go to .375-06 if we wanted to, and I may still do that when I get the urge!! H&R uses Green Mountain barrel blanks from what we have ascertained from H&R, so I would like to think they're made of good stuff.

Tim

[Mac11700]

Either the 26" .25-06 or .280 barrel would be an ideal donor, the .366" bore of the 9.3 would be fine, I've got a .338-06 -Square Ultra made from a .25-06 barrel, works fine. Wayne York, the smith who did the barrels for both Mac and I, said we could go to .375-06 if we wanted to, and I may still do that when I get the urge!! H&R uses Green Mountain barrel blanks from what we have ascertained from H&R, so I would like to think they're made of good stuff.

Tim

Same here Tim...having all 26" custom barrels from Wayne wouldn't hurt my feelings one bit ...let's see...we can do the whole family tree with the 06' case and a few extra from the 26" 25-06 barrel..6.5-06....270Winchester...7mm JRS...30-06...338-06..375-06.Then we can start work on redoing the 24" 223 barrels...some perrinial favorites and new entries come to mind there...257 Roberts..270 Redding..308 Winchester..338 Federal..9.3x62...358 Winchester...awwww yes...the choices available to us ehh...

[Hackleback]

I think that I have seen seeme reamers in 9.3 American (9.3-06).  Take 30-06 brass and neck up to 9.3.  I think it was a reamer rental company out of Grants Pass Oregon