The 9.3x62mm Mauser cartridge (r.) compared to the .30-'06 cartridge(l.). The 9.3x62mm Mauser became to the African farmer what the Winchester 94 in .30-30 was to the American cattle rancher. Photo courtesy Lapua.

Lapua ammunition is available on its website; a while back I took a moose in Sweden with Lapua’s 270-grain Naturalis (lead-free) load, and it worked just fine.

The Norma catalog lists two loads, 286-grain softnose at 2,360 fps and 231-grain PPC (Protected Power Cavity) at 2,600 fps. And even though it is difficult to come by, I’ll mention that RWS ammo is loaded with 258-, 285- and 293-grain bullets at respective velocity ratings of 2,560, 2,430 and 2,280 fps.

Those who prefer to stick with factory ammo are not exactly neglected, although some of it is not easy to come by. Nosler offers the 286-grain Partition at a velocity of 2,430 fps, and it is quite accurate in my rifle.

I first used the 9.3x62mm cartridge years ago while visiting the Sako factory in Riihimaki. While zeroing my rifle before a moose hunt after our factory tour, I was a surprised to see it consistently shoot three bullets inside an inch at 100 yards with Sako ammo loaded with a 225-grain bullet.

Thinking a heavier bullet might be a better choice for moose, I eventually sighted in the rifle with 286-grain ammo, and while groups fired with it were not as small, they were a lot smaller than a moose. Luck was with me, and after taking a nice bull with the rifle I become so fond of it I decided it just had to emigrate to America.

A great testament to the respect held by professional hunters of Africa for the 9.3x62mm took place during the 1950s, when Kenya game officials declared that the .375 H&H Magnum was the minimum cartridge that could legally be used on dangerous game. Written into the new law was one exception—hunters of experience who wished to continue using the 9.3x62mm Mauser for that purpose would be allowed to do so.