correct cast bullet for my rifle??

[rudyc]

Hello,

I'm real new to this cast bullet business and have a question:

I slugged the bore of my old 9.3 x72R German Drilling and it slugs .361. Huntington's has cast & lubed bullets designated for use in the 9.3x72R and their bullets are sized .365. Will they be safe to use in my rifle or will I need to re-size them to a smaller diameter?

Thanks,

rudyc

[sqlbullet]

If they chamber properly, they will be safe. The pressure needed to squeeze them down to .361 is minimal.

Whether they will shoot optimally is a different question. .004" is a lot of upset.

I would suggest trying them. If you get accuracy acceptable to your needs, then they are fine. If not, get a .362 or .363 sizing die.

[onesonek]

I would hazard a guess you measured the lands/bore of the slug? While that is important also, you want to know the groove diameter. I believe you want to be .001-.002" over groove diameter for the boolit. So long as it isn't so large to chamber in the throat, you should be fine. .365" seems small to me for a cast 9.3, but then that entirely depends on the rifle. My 9.3x74R has a .358 bore, and a .366" groove. I'm casting a .368-9" and sizing to .3675" as that is my throat limits. But your 72 could be and likely is entirely different.
If it is a .361" groove, then what sqbullet, said applies.
Unless of course, you are loading that drilling with black powder, then another set of rules come into play.
But that just seems like an aweful small groove measurement for a 9.3.

[rudyc]

onesonek,


I believe the 9.3x74 and the 9.3x72 have different sized bores. So far, everything I have been able to find tells me to stay away from bullets made for the other 9.3's and to stick with something made for the 72R.

thanks,

rudyc

[onesonek]

Ok, I admit I'm not up to speed on the 72R, just seems like a strange measurement for a 9.3.
If that loaded .365" chambers, I think it would be fine, otherwise run up through a .362-.363" die. You still want to be .001-.002" over your groove diameter of the barrel. But in a drilling I use the lowest powder charge/pressure, until I see what's what.
On another note, it might be a good idea to get a throat measurement as well.

[303Guy]

Boolit size is a function of throat fit, not pressure developed by the load. As long as there is a tiny bit of room for the case neck to chamber freely, it will release the boolit and and the boolit will swage down to fit the bore. You are going to work up your load anyway and in any event the top end load will be within chamber pressure ratings.

[Bret4207]

The other question is what do the Huntington boolits actually measure? They might have been run through a .365 sizer but what do they measure? And, are you're measuring instruments set the same as theirs- IOW what your mic says is .361 might be .363 with their mic or .359 witha ham handed operator running the thimble.

I'm afraid until you have both items in hand it's still up in the air. But the good thing is it's easy to size down!

[rudyc]

Ordered up the cast boolits from Huntingtons and will see how they measure up when they get here.

rudyc