9.3 x 62 Mauser Journal, Waitati (2026)

10/10/2026

For those who can lay their hands on Swift A-Frame bullets, consider yourself fortunate to be able to hunt with one of the best bullets for tough animals.
Thank you Ricky Holbert for telling us more about your experiences.

01/07/2026

As promised, the fieldtest of Hornady"s 250gr ECX Monolithic bullet.

With the GMX now discontinued, it is clear that Hornady indeed might have a "Research and Development" program .
Thanks to Dayne Horrigan, we are able to post the tests of both GMX and the newer ECX for your perusal.

HORNADY 250gn ECX
LOAD: 61gns ADi 2208
By Dayne Horrigan

I struggled to see much difference in performance between the ECX's and GMX's at the distances I shoot animals at. I found the ECX slightly more consistent in weight retension.

VISUAL OBSERVATION:
Anyway, they performed well on the 32 boars, 2 dingos, 3 brumbies and one bull I took. Most animals dropped on the spot or travelled a short distance before going down.

PE*******ON:
Pe*******on was typical of this weight mono, boars shot broadside through the shoulder or angling shots the projectile didn't exit. The ECX exited on behind the shoulder shots on both boars and horses.
Overall it's not a bad pill.

Av retained weight was 200.8gns

CONCLUSION:

I've gone through what I've written about Hornady GMX's and ECX's and I've come up with very little to add.

The GMX has a pointed polymer tip where as the ECX has a flat polymer tip.

I do reckon the ECX is a slightly better bullet regarding consistency of the recovered bullet even though weight retention is less than the GMX's.

The ECX's mushrooms were more evenly formed whereas the GMX's were anything but.
Even sometimes both GMX and ECX'S would petal like a Barnes and other times they would partially mushroom but both had the habit of the frontal section tearing off especially when hitting bone.

I read somewhere, where it is said that the ECX was designed for rapid expansion with European and long range hunters in mind and I think it was supposed to retain at least 95% of it's weight. Maybe in gelatine but on meat and bone they don't.
*Once again contrary to what bullet makers state, both GMX and ECX's do not retain 95% of there weight when recovered from animals.

On gelatine blocks and other test media they do, as I've seen on Youtube where they cut out perfectly formed bullets, but in the field it can be quite different.

People often say to me, what more are you asking, the bullet did kill the animal. Yes it did and most of the time I'd hunt with that bullet again.

I look at it like this. The bullet maker states what their bullet will do and I put it through my tests both on game as well as pest animals and report my findings.

*I find with cup/core and bonded bullets, they perform mostly as expected where as monos still have problems that haven't been solved by some bullet makers.

Dayne

16/06/2026

Hello 9.3x62 Journal friends.
We are fortunate to be able to post reports about Hornady's journey with monolithic bullets.

Once again, Dayne Horrigan was kind enough to supply us with Real Life bullet performance on tough animals.

As you might know, Hornady discontinued the GMX bullet in favor of the ECX. Perhaps Dayne's reports better explains why it was necessary.
‐--------------------
HORNADY 250GN GMX
Load: 61gns ADi 2208
By Dayne Horrigan

During the testing of the GMX's I was fortunate to take 2 bulls, 2 brumby stallions, 2 dingoes and 34 boars.
As usual the maximum distance that an animal was taken was inside of 150m and the closest was 5m.

BOAR
The boars were taken with a variety of shot placements, most boars fell immediately or within a short distance. The GMX's exited on broadside shots.

On several boars that were taken with quartering shots, those taken with rear on shots, and with shots taken on angles of around 20 -30 degrees, the projectile didn't exit. During the autopsy, I found that the projectile sometimes stayed in tact with all petals expanded, or it had shed some petals and at times shed all petals.

A CHARGE
I did have a [bullet] fail on a boar that charged, the shot was taken at 5m it skimmed the boars head angling towards the centre of his body, entered his shoulder and split the skin open for 120mm then turned at 90 degrees and poked out through the skin backwards.

BRUMBY [Feral Horse]
The first brumby was taken with a shot behind the shoulder at close 150m. The GMX struck him behind the shoulder and exited in a similar spot on the opposite side. On impact the horse spun and raced off. Through the scope I could clearly see blood gushing from the wound and he went down within 100m. The second brumby was taken with the same shot but at just over 100m. Once again the horse raced off for 70m before falling.

BULL
- The first bull I took was trotting away at an angle at close to 120-130 m, the bullet hit him behind the shoulder dropping him instantly. I recovered the projectile from in front of the opposite side just in front of the shoulder, it had shed all petals.
- The second bull was taken at 50m with a point of the shoulder shot angling towards the edge of the opposite shoulder blade. On impact the bull froze on the spot, slowly he turned. As he did I broke his neck with the second GMX. The finishing shot exited, I recovered the first projectile from behind the shoulder, it had one petal still attached.

Average retained weight was 215.7 gns

04/06/2026

Subject: Verdigris PPU 9.3x62 am******on
by Laurie Colgrave

Following Dayne Horrigan having serious problems with his r***e, I took on board warnings about propellant breaking down, [Posted 12 July 2025 & 26 July 2025]

Initially I contacted the distributor, however I was redirected to my Gunshop. They took my PPU 9.3x62 am******on off me with a proposal for credit once the distributor looked at the am******on.

I had previously dismantled one box of 20, LOT 1303, based on the corrosion evident on the outside of my cases. My am******on had not deteriorated to the level shown by Dayne though, however every case had had telltale green corrosion at the case head on the inside as well as corrosion at the shoulder which impacted on the base of the bullet.

Additionally, most of the cases had a cloudy white covering on the inside of the case.
After nine months of inaction from the gunshop, I requested my am******on back & I began dismantling the cartridges to save both cases & projectiles. I have two Lots 1303 & 1604 the 1303 showing plenty of corrosion on the outside of the cases. I have dismantled 140 cartridges with the following findings:
• 98.0% of these cases were impacted by green corrosion
• the propellant was dull (as opposed to the usual shiny) to view & a percentage of the hulls were breaking down to smaller pieces with colour variations of propellant in each cartridge
• every single projectile was impacted with significant green corrosion
I retrieved 110 cases from the 140. I culled all cases where the corrosion had penetrated to the outside of the case & every case where the case head showed outside corrosion even minor. To clean these cases after projectile/primer removal, I found a battery drill with an oversize nylon barrel brush the most effective as the corrosion coating was well stuck to the case walls.

I have cleaned up the projectiles with a well worn 1000 grit sanding belt, although there are much better projectiles around they will do a job on lighter animals.

I expect the Lot 1604 am******on to be less affected based upon external appearance.
Greetings
Laurie Colgrave

26/04/2026

By: the late Rob Forrester

250gr Nosler Accubond
60grVihtavouri N540

We were going to just check my 9.3 loads for my CZ 9.3 before we start hunting this year. We were early, so I decided to just drive by and check the fields, as the renegade eland have been around creating damage to the crops. Lo-and-behold there were two bulls, the same two problem eland [that was causing trouble in the orchards]

They took off up the mountain but stopped to look back for a second or two. They were on Scott's side of the truck so he jumped out and took a rest on the door with my 9.3. We didnt have time to range so I told him it is about 250m; and as they turned to go, he sent a 250 gr Nosler Accubond through the rear one's shoulders; end of story. The bullet passed right through and we saw dust further on, where it had hit the slope. It was a good size mature bull.

RELOADING:
For reloads, SAKO and PMP cases are used. I get 60gr off Vihtavouri N540 behind a 250gr Accubond for 2550fps. The bullets are just touching the powder in PMP cases. PMP cases has the bigger volume for 9.3 x 62.

I have never used Somchem S341[IMR 4895 equivalent], I didn't feel it was good for the 9.3x62.

Vitavouri N540 is a much better and efficient powder than Somchem S341, I believe; it easily pushes 250gr bullets to 2600 with slightly compressed loads.

I seat the 250gr Nosler Accubond to cannelure and crimp with not even 1% compressed.
-
POST SCRIPT:
Prior to his passing, Rob and son Scott were hunting problem animals for farmers in the Bethlehem/ Fouriesburg regions.
This recount depicts a day in their lives. We hope you enjoyed it.

10/02/2026

The 7x57 Ma**er might be regarded "out of fashion", but I am proud to have been able to "rescue" this old hunting r***e.
"7x57 Ma**er is the definition of elegance with power. Accuracy, authority and comfort can live in the same cartridge."-
Gunman Ballistic

06/02/2026

Friends, this is the 2nd last post of Laurie Colgrave's adventures with the 9.3x62. We hope you are enjoying it so far and find useful information out of his valued contributions.

My Custom 9.3x62 Journey
[CONTINUED]
By Laurie Colgrave
*Trials

Photo included was provided by Dayne Horrigan - Scrub Bull hunted with 250gr Atomic 29 Monolithic bullet.

After reading about these bullets in the ‘9.3x62 Journal’, following Dayne Horrigan’s fantastic adventures in Cape York up north, I have recently trialled Atomic 29 monometal copper projectiles made in Australia.

The Oz Atomic 29 250gn bullets seem to perform on par with Woodleigh 286gn bullets. I use these bullets for heavy hoofed game like Water Buffalo and Scrub bulls (feral cattle) with great effect.

Like the similar Barnes X bullets (which I have not used) I have found the 250gn Atomic 29 bullets very reliable penetrators on heavy game at all practical ranges.

The additional benefit of these bullets is the flatter trajectory due to 800m/s (2624Fps) starting velocity. I have been told by the manufacturer of Atomic 29, Cameron Strachan, that these bullets will reliably expand at longer ranges, which until recently, has been restrictive for the Barnes X bullets.

*Cartridge Comparisons
338 Win Mag
Hunting scrub bulls and donkeys, I have used my 9.3x62 in tandem with my Sako AV .338 Wi******er Magnum. As you know, preference is a personal thing, I found that the r***es were quite close in weight, however the .338WM exhibited significantly more muzzle blast and felt recoil, which more than offset the advantage of slightly flatter trajectory out to 300m.

The cartridges performed similarly when using Woodleigh projectiles (.338 Win Mag 250gn vs 9.3 286gn) however, the 9.3 may bump them a bit harder in close. Consequently the .338WM has been moved on.

*308 Norma Magnum
When comparing the 9.3x62 to a .308 Norma Magnum on a recent hunting trip with a friend, the comparison had very negative outcomes for the .308 Norma as the bulls always took several back up shots to anchor them. These shots were taken 0-100m mostly on moving bulls using 220gn Woodleigh bullets which were penetrating adequately however, the impact reaction and the follow up run, took them hundreds of metres away. I thought the 300 Magnum class cartridge was insufficient for this sized animal in all but perfect shooting situations.

*416 Taylor
In addition, I use my ’98 .416 Taylor on water buffalo and scrub bulls occasionally. I find the .416 Taylor generally more decisive, however my lighter 9.3x62 supports the old 9.3 vs .375 H&H argument, as it [9.3] handles more fluently for quick, running shots.

At 0.5 kg lighter, it is less of a burden to carry all day.

31/01/2026

My Custom 9.3x62 Journey
By Laurie Colgrave
[CONTINUED]

*Heavy Bullets
My new 9.3x62 is accurate with almost any ammo I use. I am a handloader and experience that the r***e loves the Woodleigh 250gn, 286gn & 320gn pills made here in OZ. The Speer 270gn also shoots very accurately in my new 9.3x62.

When shooting buffalo bulls or big wild scrub bulls (‘bos taurus’) I mostly use the Woodleigh 286gn Protected Point (PP) at about 740m/s (2424fps) or the 320gn PP at about 720m/s (2362fps).

Pe*******on of the 286gn bullet is adequate in close (50m-) with bullets getting to the opposite side of the chest cavity, I have not achieved full pe*******on on any of these bigger blokes to date.

The Round Nose soft point Woodleigh bullets are tremendous, however they prefer lower impact velocities which can limit my flexibility if I am encountering brumbies or donkeys where ranges in open country can be as far as 300m.
I have loaded some FMJ & Woodleigh Hydros for back-up however I have not needed this insurance to date due to the effectiveness of the Woodleigh Soft Point bullets.

*Light Bullets
When shooting smaller animals like brumbies & donkeys a shot on the shoulder(upper leg) is very emphatic. They drop at the shot and expire almost immediately.
As the 9.3x62 is more than sufficient for boar, any shot to the central chest area has immediate effect. Of course, these fellas are often encountered on the run where a shot is landing a bit further back, it will anchor them in 20-30m. When using lighter soft nose bullets in 232g - 250gn weights the results on boar is very dynamic, they just get clobbered.
[TO BE CONTINUED]

24/01/2026

My Custom 9.3x62 Journey
By Laurie Colgrave
[Continued]

In a reasonable weight r***e less than 4.0kg, loaded with scope & sling the 9.3x62 Cartridge offers effective dispatch of large bovines right down to boar.
IN THE FIELD
*Shot Placement
I have [since] adjusted my shot placement after previously shooting for behind the shoulder.

Where shots behind the leg (through lungs) result in more back-up shooting as well as the animal travelling hundreds of metres before going down. I now find that big buffalo and scrub bulls taking shots through the upper leg rarely move more than 10m after the shot, generally circling away from the injured leg and going down quite quickly. Additionally, quicker dispatch means less likelihood of an unfortunate confrontation.

In terms of shot placement, I now shoot directly above the front leg, just above the position of the heart and below the scapula when shooting bovine. This allows some insurance if my shot is not perfect whilst delivering a bullet to the vitals when shooting side on (preferred).

However, if the side on shot cannot be achieved, the 9.3x62 delivers plenty of pe*******on and whack with front-on lower chest shots to allow for quick kill.

[TO BE CONTINUED]

14/01/2026

My Custom 9.3x62 Journey
[Continued]

By Laurie Colgrave

I used the old Tikka for many years. It was reliable with plenty of notches and was only sold recently. But having had occasional feed problems with the Tikka, the Tikka was not an ideal r***e for hunting dangerous game however. It eventually lead me to building a purpose built r***e in my new favourite calibre, 9.3x62; so the custom-build emerged with the goal of an African Safari.

I met a fussy gunsmith called Charlie Curley. He runs Custom R***e Co. in Townsville. Charlie guided me through the extensive custom build process and we agreed that we both liked the classic ‘Rigby’ style r***es of 100 years ago with the Ma**er ’98 action as the platform. The stock is English walnut, grown in Victoria, Australia. The work was done by Tasmanian artisan Gordon Cusens.

As I wish to eventually pass on the r***e to one of my sons the details of the build were developed jointly as the build progressed; but with focus on practicality for hard use with the desired aesthetics.

LEFT: A Water buffalo that fell to a 250gr Atomic 29 bullet

*Sights
I have used my r***e with its express sights, with a 1.75-6x32 Leupold scope as well as an Aimpoint red dot when chasing hard running feral boar. My recently acquired side by side Merkel 140 in 9.3x74R does most of the open-sight work.
Each sight has its strength however my aging eyes prefer the scope. I use the Talley quick detachable mount system to interchange scope whenever the environment changes & the red dot is more suitable (ie. running game in thicker cover).
[TO BE CONTINUED]

9.3 x 62 Mauser Journal

10/10/2026

01/07/2026

16/06/2026

04/06/2026

26/04/2026

10/02/2026

06/02/2026

31/01/2026

24/01/2026

14/01/2026

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Listing takedown request