9 . 3×62mm The 9 . 3×62mm ( in the USA also known as the 9 . 3×62 Mauser ) is an ' all - around firearms cartridge ' suitable for hunting larger species of animals in Africa , Europe , or North America . It was introduced by Otto Bock in 1905 . At a typical , its 286 grain standard load balances recoil and power for effective use at up to about 250m ( 275 yds ) . The CIP Maximum Average Pressure ( MAP ) for the 9 . 3×62mm is 390 MPa ( 56 , 500 PSI ) . The 9 . 3×62mm was developed around 1905 by Berlin gunmaker Otto Bock , who designed it to fit into the Model 1898 Mauser bolt - action rifle . African hunters and settlers often chose military rifles for their reliability and low cost , but governments fearful of colonial rebellions often banned military - caliber bolt - action magazine rifles and their ammunition . The 9 . 3×62mm was never a military cartridge and so never had this problem . Mausers in 9 . 3×62mm were inexpensive and reliable , too , so their popularity in Africa grew quickly and became widespread . The 9 . 3×74R is a rimmed 9 . 3 mm cartridge that evolved from the 9 . 3×72R black powder cartridge . The energy levels of the 9 . 3×62 and 9 . 3×74R cartridges are similar but in developmental terms are distinct as the cartridges are unrelated . The rimmed cartridge is slightly longer , allowing for lower pressure in the case while retaining muzzle velocity . The 9 . 3x62 is also the largest caliber you can fit in a standard action . Ammunition . The 9 . 3×62 was first loaded with a bullet at a muzzle velocity of 655 m / s ( 2 , 150 ft / s ) . After World War I some companies increased the velocity to around 730 m / s ( 2 , 400 ft / s ) , and brought out lighter bullets . Rifles set up for the original load must have their sights readjusted to shoot the newer load to point of aim . Adding to the confusion , loads at both velocities are available today . Several European firms load 9 . 3×62mm Mauser ammunition , including Lapua , Norma and RWS , PPU ( Prvi Partizan ) as well as PMP of South Africa , and it is widely available in Africa . Also in England , KYNOCH ( the Imperial Metal Industries [ Kynoch ] Limited , Birmingham 6 , England ) , the well - known cartridge manufacturer , produced ammunition , referring to the 9 . 3×62mm as the ' 9 . 3 mm Mauser ' . Typically it was loaded as ' a Metal Covered Soft Nose Bullet . with the base marked simply KYNOCH 9 . 3 mm . This is no longer listed by them . Elsewhere . The 9 . 3×62mm is popular in Europe , especially in the Nordic countries where it is primarily used for short - range forest hunts for moose . The rugged , inexpensive CZ 550 rifle became available in 9 . 3×62mm in North America in 2002 , and both are gaining a strong following there , as the cartridge has a slight power edge over the popular . 35 Whelen cartridge . Canadian hunters have long known about and used the 9 . 3×62mm cartridge to hunt all of the large game of Canada including bison , all the deer species and large bears . Surplus Scandinavian and European Mausers have been brought into Canada in 9 . 3 calibre since the early 1950s . In recent years , CZ series rifles , as well as Sako and Tikka of Finland have imported many rifles in 9 . 3×62mm calibre to Canada where demand continues to be high . Canadian handloaders too , have adopted this cartridge with open arms . The cartridge is very simple and easy to load with easily obtainable Norma , Lapua , Graf , and Sellier & Bellot brass . There is an excellent availability of good bullets from Nosler in accubonds and partitions ; Hornady recoil proof ; and Speer . Adequacy . The 9 . 3×62mm is ideal for eland , zebra , giraffe and wildebeest , and most who hunt in Africa consider it a viable all - around cartridge comparable to the . 338 Winchester Magnum , the 9 . 3×64mm Brenneke , the . 375 H & H Magnum and the . 404 Jeffery . The 9 . 3×62mm has taken cleanly every dangerous species on the continent . Though it is of smaller bore than the legal minimum for dangerous game in most countries , the . 375 calibre , many countries specifically make an exception for the 9 . 3×62mm . The 9 . 3×62mm is considered adequate for European and North American game that may become dangerous , such as feral hogs and the great bears . Sambar hunters in Australia are turning to the 9 . 3×62mm : due to the Howard ( Federal ) Government ' s 1996 ban on self - loading rifles , thousands of deer hunters at once needed bolt - action rifles which delivered one - shot knockdown power on Sambar deer , and the 9 . 3×62mm calibre has proven to be well up to that task . Rifle manufacturers ( for example , Sako ) now include the calibre in their standard model lineup , and most gunshops carry factory loads , although the price is still high compared to . 30 - 06 , at about A $ 35 . 00 per 20 versus A $ 25 . 00 . For the handloader most major manufacturers of bullets offer something for the 9 . 3mm . Barnes offers both their TSX bullets as well as their Banded Solids in both 250 and 286 grains , Nosler offers the Partition and Accubond . Swedish company Norma offers several bullets in 9 . 3mm including its bonded Oryx . As well Hornady and Speer both offer conventional softpoints . Swift offers their A - Frame in 250 and 300 grain weights . Australian bullet manufacturer Woodleigh , catering to the dangerous game hunter , offers its bullets in the widest range or weights and profiles ranging from a 250 grain softpoint to the buffalo - flattening 320 grain solid , there is also some interesting projectiles on offer from Cutting Edge bullets offering new technology on solid brass .