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Common uses: Big Game, Dangerous Game
| Type | rifle (centerfire) |
| Typical load | 286gr Federal Cape-Shok Swift A-Frame |
| Muzzle velocity | 2360 fps |
| Muzzle energy | 3538 ft-lb |
| Published G1 ballistic coefficient | 0.385 |
| Case length | 62 mm |
| Overall length | 84 mm |
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Drop (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2360 | 3536 | -1.5 |
| 100 | 2144 | 2919 | 0 |
| 200 | 1940 | 2389 | -6.1 |
| 300 | 1749 | 1942 | -21.5 |
| 400 | 1572 | 1569 | -48.2 |
| 500 | 1413 | 1267 | -89.1 |
At 1,000 yards, 9.3x62 (286gr at 2360 fps, 100 yd zero, standard conditions) has a modeled come-up of about 61.0 MOA / 17.7 MIL, retaining 959 fps (subsonic).
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | State | Drop (in) | Elev (MOA) | Elev (MIL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 | 1749 | Supersonic | -21.5 | 6.8 | 1.99 |
| 400 | 1572 | Supersonic | -48.2 | 11.5 | 3.35 |
| 500 | 1413 | Supersonic | -89.2 | 17.0 | 4.95 |
| 600 | 1274 | Transonic | -147.6 | 23.5 | 6.83 |
| 700 | 1161 | Transonic | -227.3 | 31.0 | 9.02 |
| 800 | 1074 | Subsonic | -333.1 | 39.8 | 11.57 |
| 900 | 1010 | Subsonic | -468.8 | 49.8 | 14.47 |
| 1000 | 959 | Subsonic | -638.8 | 61.0 | 17.74 |
Extended predictions beyond 500 yards are modeled from the same G1 engine — useful for initial DOPE, but outside the 500-yard manufacturer-table validation audit. Confirm with observed DOPE, especially near transonic.
A retained-energy reference only — not a shoot/don't-shoot distance. Real effective range depends on your accuracy, shot placement, bullet construction, and conditions. The ~1,000 ft-lb (deer-sized) and ~1,500 ft-lb (elk-sized) figures are commonly cited rules of thumb, not standards.
Your barrel, ammunition lot, and conditions will differ — always verify against the manufacturer's data and your own rifle.
The 9.3x62 is prized as a versatile, no-nonsense big-game cartridge that delivers heavy-bullet stopping power from a standard bolt action with notably manageable recoil. Its classic 286-grain load produces performance broadly comparable to the .375 H&H Magnum but with less muzzle blast and kick, and it fits ordinary-length rifles rather than requiring a long magnum action. In Africa it remains a mainstay for buffalo, eland, and other heavy game. It falls below the .375-bore legal minimum some countries impose for dangerous game, though others set a lower minimum or none at all, so its legality varies by jurisdiction. Its main limitations are a relatively arcing trajectory and modest ballistic coefficient that keep it best suited to short and moderate ranges rather than long-distance work. Over a century after its introduction it retains a devoted following in Europe and Africa, and factory ammunition and rifles from major makers keep it in steady use today.
Designed in 1905 by German gunmaker Otto Bock, the 9.3x62 pairs a rimless, bottlenecked case with a .366-inch bullet sized to feed and function in the standard-length Mauser 98 action. Bock's goal was an affordable, hard-hitting big-game round that any hunter could shoot in an inexpensive, off-the-shelf sporting rifle rather than a costly custom magnum. It became enormously popular among European hunters and among settlers in Germany's African colonies, where it earned a reputation as a reliable all-around cartridge for game up to the largest and most dangerous animals.
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