Some time ago, a thread was started here asking for loads - I found it through googling the 9.3x57, however a search here failed to find it. I also went back 10 pages without luck.

Few years back, I bought a M46 94/96 action'd 9.3x57 made by Husqavarna in 1929 from tradeexcanada. After some load development, this is what I found. Note that I keep a 3 ring binder on each rifle's load development - everyone should. The following, it is repeat from another forum, which is selectively attributed to Swedish rifles and ctgs. In fact, this is copied from a 'sticky' on loading data for the 9.3x57. Yes- it is my post.

Posted last Spring, 2010, on the gunboards forum.

Well, the snow cleared enough to expose the benches and allowed me to set up the chronograph for some testing. It was an exciting day to say the least.
; 1st of all, sized ned brass measured .466" on the web - the largest size area of the 9.3x57 case. I was using re-formed 8x57, as noted elsewhere in this thread. Note that size - .466"
: I did shoot acouple groups at 100 meters, hand held on the bags, but has scope slip in the rings and groups were nothing to write home about - best group was with the swaged 300gr. RN's (.367") at 1.8" for 3 shots.
; Winchester Large Rifle Primers used in all loads. Previously, I'd done some pressure testing and came up with these loads to try. None of these loads were excessive in my rifle as shown by the expansion of the web. However, while my chamber is long, it isn't large ie: the Web area is perfectly sized for the brass. This is not normal for any American made rifle in which some examples show up to .008" expansion at the web due to oversized chambers. OAL means over-all-length.This chamber is overlong by .019", not oversize in diameter. Here are my chrongraph results:
: 232gr. Norma Vulcan - 48.5gr. H335 2.990" OAL - 2,317fps - no case expansion
: 232gr. Norma Vulcan - 50.0gr. H335 2.990" OAL - 2,362fps - no case expansion
: 232gr. Norma Vulcan - 54.0gr. BLC2 2.990" OAL - 2,336fps - no case expansion
: 232gr. Norma Vulcan - 50.0gr. H4895 2.865" OAL - 2,442fps - .4662-" ie: .0002" expansion in one spot only.
: 232gr. Norma Vulcan - 52.0gr. H4895 2,990" OAL - 2,436fps - .4662"- ie: .0002" expansion in one spot only.
:220gr. Horn. FN .375 to .367" - 52.0gr. H4895 - ?OAL- 2,547fps no expansion
: 225gr. Horn.SP .375 to .367" - 52.0gr. H4895 - ? OAL- 2,558fps no expansion
: 260gr. Speer cup pointed 270gr.-45.8gr. H335 - 3.045" OAL -2,188fps - no expansion
: 270gr. Speer SemiRN - 50.0gr. BLC2 - 3.045" OAL - 2,111fps - no expansion
: 270gr. Speer SemiRN - 48.0gr. H4895 - 3.045" OAL - 2,268fps - 1 case out of 10 showed 1 ten thousanth inch expansion ie: .46610 in one spot
: 300gr. Horn. RN- swaged to .367" - 45.0gr. H4895 - 3.070" OAL - 2,170fps. 2 case out of 10 showed .4662" and 1 case showed .4661" expansion ring measurements - in one spot only. The rest showed no expansion at all.
: Although I did not get even 1/2 thou expansion over sized brass with the top loads shown, I prefer to not go any further in this M46 Husky. As noted earlier, my chamber is a tight one. In previous testing without the chronograph, I did get expansion of .001" in earlier testing, ie: to .467" in some re-formed .30/06 brass, but it was slightly larger than the 8mm brass to start with. I feel my goals have been met for good useable ballistics for this round. It will make a great iron sigthed guide rifle and hunting rifle for that matter. Now to sight in the 'irons'. The scope is off.
; The ballistics speak for themselves and the best loads will be duplicated at a later date and retested. The temperture yesterday was 6C, which is about 43F or there abouts, along with a 15mph wind. As I noted, the scope was sliding foreward in the rings until it contacted the rear sight - didn't see that until finished - however did not a big POI shift at one point. Groups were not great, but OK for a hunting rifle, regardless of the scope movement during shooting. The 300gr. swaged .375's went into 1.8" and the 270's with the top load of 48.0gr. H4895 logged 1.9" and 2.0". I am sure I can do likewise with just the irons, given a suitable aiming point.
: Best load ballistics:
: 232gr. Norma @ 2,436 fps (long seat for accuracy)
: 270gr. Speer @ 2,268 fps
: 300gr. Horn. Swaged @ 2,170fps - I was absoutely floored with this. This load exceeds the original 9.3x62 factory load using a 286gr.soft and solid at 2,175fps. The load John Taylor was impressed with for all African game.
: All of these loads develop from 3,057fpe to 3,270fpe if that interests you.
: Reduce all loads by at least 5% before attempting to use this data in your rifle. Pay particular attention to cartridge overall length. Seating deeper raises pressure over long seating.
: My rifle has a .470" groove diameter, a full .004" oversize. This in itself is a pressure relief valve.
: Note the difference in velocity AND charge using H4895 with the 232gr. Norma Vulcans. The only difference in the loads is the overall length and charge. Not how the longer seating depth produced the same velocity even though the charge was increased 2 gr. This shows the longer seating actually reduced pressure, requiring an extra 2gr. to match precious velocity and pressure. With these larger calibres, more is gained by seating out and therefore increasing the case capacity, than seating deeply and making the leade into a freebore. Seating out is usually the most accurate of the two systems. In smaller calibres, these roles reverse.
: These ballistics are OK for about 99% of one's hunting needs. The lighter swaged 225gr. SP's at 2,560fps and the 232gr. Normas at 2,436fps make shooting deer out to 300yards an easy propostion is set 3" high at 100.
: The 270 and 300gr. make easy trajectories for any moose or elk to a good 250 yards - if the shooter is capable and practised for either, deer or larger game. The 232gr. Norma and swaged 225gr. Hornady make for good smaller big game loads to 300 yards. I am sure they would both do a credible job on moose and elk too.
Last edited by Daryl S; 03-10-2008 at 06:07 PM. Reason: included "4895" with 232gr. Vulcans
Daryl

In addition to these loads, I further worked with H4895 as well as BLC2 with 270 and 232gr/225gr. bullets- 56.0gr. BLC2 pretty much duplicated the higher H4895 loads, ie; 2,550fps 225gr. and 2,440fps with 232gr.

270 Speer- 53.0gr. BLC2 - 2,300fps - 8x57 RP
270 Speer- 48.5gr. H4895 - 2,300fps - 8x57 RP


Any time you see a backed-out primer you are seeing:
: 1/. an action which has excessive headspace (excessively long chamber-body - or
: 2/. you have physically introduced excessive headspace on that ctg. by artificially shoving the shoulder back yourself.
: This really has nothing to do with the dies used, or the manufacturer of the dies used. All dies are capable of shoving the shoulder back if you bottom the shell holder against the die's base. If you have a maximun chamber (long within tolerances) and a minimum die (short within tolerances), you can actually inadvertainly shove the shoudler back, up to an amazing .075". I've seen it happen. This is a situation that is ripe for a case head separation at worse or excessively thinning the case at the web, in best case senarios. If you shove the sholder back again, it will probably separate or show the ring indicating insipient case head separation. Separations have nothing to do with pressure and everything to do with headspace - rifle and/or ctg.
: You can safely load ammo for rifles that have chambers with excessive headspace (up to about .040") by first opening up the case then sizing to produce a false shoulder for headspacing. When making my .375/06 and 9.3x62 brass from '06 brass, I first neck them up to .40", then back down to headspace on the new shoulder. After making up 50 9.3x57 cases, I've come to the conclusion I'd have been better off necking the 8x57's up to .40 as well, virtually straight, then back down to get a good solid shoulder. The shoulder produced äfter using the .375 expander is a bit small and easily crushed by the cam action of the bolt, so is not capable of doing it's job properly, in my opinion. I'll re-due the brass before testing. With tapered expanders, this is a one-step job, as easy as any FL sizing job. I use STOS lube for this job as it's the best I've found.
; STOS is sold by Ponsness Warren as a high pressure lube. Imperial die wax is also good. Both wipe off easily, unlike some case lubes. I just roll the cases between my palms covered with an old towel - 10 at a time.
; This picture shows left to right - 8x57 then 8x57 necked up to 9.3x57 then 9.3x57 necked up to .41x57, then .41x57 necked back down to 9.3x57 with the shoulder moved forward .019" due to headspace in chamber. This was done lubing both the inside and outside of the case(for Fl only). I then necked up 5 8x57 brand new brass to .41x57 in one pass, then back down to 9.3x57. At this time, the necks could use annealing, but previous experience with other ctgs. has shown they will take 2 or 3 firings before this becomes necessary. I have necked old, several times loaded .30/06 brass up to .41cal., then back down to .375, fireformed them to .375/06IMP then fired them 3times without any splits. Prudence says they should all be annealed before this time.
: A tapered expander is used for necking up operations, much the same shape, but longer than the one in a set of Hornady dies. This is mounted in any expander-die body. .458 expanders for cases like the .45/70 are handy to have as they can be turned for 3/8" then gently tapered for this work, yet still work with the .45 cal rifles.




Here are the neck expanders I use - either /or.

Hope this helps those of you who've purchased these remarkable rifles from tradeexcanada. They are wonderful hunting rifles - deer or moose/elk to 300yards, easily. Year ago, I took a mose withmine, 270 Speer at 2,300fps mv- 200yards open sights. It was an easy, 1/4tering-on shot- elbow rest on the truck hood. The oose went down in his tacks, then got up and walked perhaps 25 yards - that was it. The impact velocity would have been just over 1,800fps. You don't need high velocity, with dieameter and weight.