9.3 x74

[gadwall]

Anyone out there have one.  Someday I am going to spend the money and get a game gun (drilling) in 16 x 16 x 9.3x74.

[addicted]

I see them around. They call 9.3x74 the Foresters Cartridge because Foresters dont like to track things, they want it to die right there. There is a double rifle here that I've been goggling.


http://www.frankonia.de/B3+BDB+%22de+Luxe%22%2C+mit+Doppelabzug+und+R%C3%BCckstecher/Merkel/Ansicht.html?Artikelnummer=136388&lastSelected=f_s_kaliber&f_s_kaliber=9%2C3x74+R&navCategoryId=6748

[Skillet]

Came within a hair's breadth of picking up a Ruger #1 in this round.  Was going to experiment with paper patched cast lead boolits in it.  It definitely has a "cool factor", being an old rimmed cartridge with quite a history on the Continent.  Definitely a tinkerer's round.

[AWS]

Addicted, I believe that the 9.3x72R is that cartridge referred to as the " Foresters cartridge" it is the most popular cartridge in Pre-WW-II drillings and dates from the 1890's, still loaded and imported by S&B to this country and Norma brass is available from Huntingtons..  The 9.3x74R is a larger rimmed cartridge that is in the 375 H&H class of cartridges and suitable for use in Africa

My 16x16x9.3x72R Drilling


L to R 375 Win, 35 Whelen, 9.3x72R

[MtnMuley]

Now Gad, why in the heck would you want that in your neck of the woods......

[gadwall]

Mtn Muley-

Not for out here.  I just happen to like drillings and that would be a good one for the whitetail woods where I hunt.

Gad

[wadu1]

I like the 9.3X74 for a rimmed shell, I shoot a 9.3X62. Both are old time but still pack a punch nothing wrong with them. Everyone want's a newer round like a 375 H&H or a 338. For me a 9.3 will be just fine and easy to load and loaded ammo is easy to find if you know where to look. I wouls love a SXS 12 over the 74 or the 62. 

[addicted]

9.3x62 is a sweet deal. Like a 35 whelen on horse steroids.  I will be ordering a 9.3x62 barrel for my blaser by the end of the year.

[AWS]

A few random thoughts on drillings. 

A double 12 over any rifle can be a large cumbersome weapon, a double 16 or 20ga over a rifle barrel seems to feel much better for me and there isn't much that a 12ga can do that a 16ga or 20 can't do as well.

The 9.3x74R while sounding like impressive round is really a lot more than is needed, unless your planning a trip to Africa or hunting big bears in AK a 7x57R, 7x65R, 30R Blaser or 8x57R would be more than adequate for deer, bear or elk in the lower 48 and most of the rest of the world and a lot more fun to shoot.  For my 16x16x7x57R drilling I have 139gr bullets for deer, 173gr bullets for larger game and an ample supply of Brenneke 16ga slugs and buckshot.

You hear many say they would love to have a drilling but they are too expensive,  There are a lot of used drillings in this country and are quite affordable considering you are getting a very high quality rifle and shotgun for that price.  There are any number of them under $2500 you just have to weed through a number of pigs to find one.  Don't be put off by 2.5" shotgun chambers as ammo is readily available and MEC even makes a 2.5" conversion for their 600 loader  I don't even bother loading any 2 3/4" shells for my 16's or 12's and just shoot 2 1/2" loads.  Also 7x57R, 7x65R and 8x57R ammo can be found for around $20/bx(20rnds)

links

Simpsons is importing a number of drillings from Europe, many have serious problems but some deals can be found

http://www.simpsonltd.com/advanced_search_result.php?search_in_description=1&keywords=drilling&osCsid=b82906e51b66c69e1c5b415b19e3b9b7&x=0&y=6

Guns international guns are higher priced but it isn't an auction site so you can haggle.

http://www.gunsinternational.com/Drilling-Combination-Guns.cfm?cat_id=290&start_row=1

[gadwall]

I agree that the 9.3 x 74 is more than needed for most situations but the only reason I need to have one is the same as gun nuts all over the world.....   Because I want one.

[wadu1]

"A few random thoughts on drillings", remember these guns are not designed  for North American stalking. Short walks, stands and driven game if I had the $$$ I would get one in a heart beat. I read a quote about 9.3's they are "over kill for daisy's and not big enough for a T-Rex". I have used one for bear and elk one shot on each, great round for anything in North America.  Remember a 9.3 is just a 36 caliber, a 9.3X62 is close to a 35 Whelan and a 9.3X74R is almost 375 H&H

[AWS]

Actually they work very well for American hunting, for still hunting deer my 7x57R drilling works great, I built a set of low claw rings and mounted a low power scope close to the rib and it handles like a DGR, it is very fast handling with a pair of slugs in the shotgun barresl and a 139gr bullet I have the range for a long shot and power for close in work.  Load a 175gr round nose, a slug and a round of buckshot and I have a great bear/cougar calling rig that won't wreck a coyote or bobcat that comes in close.  On they way back to the truck I can slip in a couple of loads of 6's and hunt grouse, pheasant or ducks.  For open country or stand hunting  it has a pre-sighted 6x48mm Nicklel scope that I can just pop on.

JP Sauer 16x16x7x57R Weaver K-1.5


My 6.5x58R Drilling is a great coyote calling rig for down in the tall sage, grease wood or manzanitas, heavy shot in the shotgun and a 90gr in the rifle I'm good from my shoelaces to 200+ yards.  Again it wears a low power variable mounted low for fast handling.  The option to pick up a duck or pheasant for dinner on the way back from the stand is nice.

[gadwall]

Actually they work very well for American hunting, for still hunting deer my 7x57R drilling works great, I built a set of low claw rings and mounted a low power scope close to the rib and it handles like a DGR, it is very fast handling with a pair of slugs in the shotgun barresl and a 139gr bullet I have the range for a long shot and power for close in work.  Load a 175gr round nose, a slug and a round of buckshot and I have a great bear/cougar calling rig that won't wreck a coyote or bobcat that comes in close.  On they way back to the truck I can slip in a couple of loads of 6's and hunt grouse, pheasant or ducks.  For open country or stand hunting  it has a pre-sighted 6x48mm Nicklel scope that I can just pop on.

That's why I want one.  We all have our reasons and most of the time I don't think we really need a reason!!

JP Sauer 16x16x7x57R Weaver K-1.5


My 6.5x58R Drilling is a great coyote calling rig for down in the tall sage, grease wood or manzanitas, heavy shot in the shotgun and a 90gr in the rifle I'm good from my shoelaces to 200+ yards.  Again it wears a low power variable mounted low for fast handling.  The option to pick up a duck or pheasant for dinner on the way back from the stand is nice.