Ruger # 1 9.3X74 Cast Bullet Success!

[NorthMoccasin]

I recently picked up a Ruger #1 9.3X74 and ordered a Brass NOE 368-280FN RG4 gc with 3 sets of HP pins. The mold is a work of art! treated with Bullplate, bullets dropped easily right from the start. The Ruger shoots very well with jacketed, and equally well with this cast bullet. With AA5744 28.5 gr and 30.5 gr do very well, chronographing 1640fps and 1760fps respectively. Groups were shot @ 100 yards, 0.75" and 1.13" Sorry about the inverted pics, I don't know how to rotate them!

[Oklahoma Rebel]

could you show me a few more picks of those boolits in the case and a close up of aboolit. I am hoping to get a cz550 in 9.3X62 this late spring/early summer. that's the mold I am ggoing to get, glad I like it cuz not many others around

[NorthMoccasin]

Sure! I also use the 9.3 gc's from NOE

[NorthMoccasin]

BTW, I use a custom .368 H&I die, opened up from a lyman .364 die. Folks on this forum can do this for you or Lee will make a custom push thru die for you..

[sharps4590]

Well done North!!! What a wonderful old cartridge the 9.3 X 74R is.

[NorthMoccasin]

Thanks Sharps, my son has a Valmet O/U rifle in 9.3X74 so I started loading for that several years ago using jacketed and cast ( lyman 240 PB, I forget the number). When CDDN was closing out the Number 1's I had to get one. It s very accurate with the Speer 270, Hornady 286, Privi 286 and Norma 232. I feel my cast Cup Points and Hollow Points should do anything I need to do, unless I go to Africa with it! I really like that brass NOE mold with the 3 sets of pins:D. The Ruger chamber has minimum dimensions, so I expect brass life to be good.

[Good Cheer]

Thanks for posting.
This weekend the reloading room starts getting re-assembled.

Mine is a No.1 also.
Maybe soon I can get some paper patched results together and post some as well.
By the way, one of the things on my list to try out is a 358009 clone patched up and loaded with FFg.

[Tatume]

I use a mold by Veral Smith in my 9.3x74R Ruger No. 1. Mine has an XS Sights front and rear sight set installed. It shoots sub-inch groups at 100 yards. My load of H4895 runs the 275 grain GC bullet at 1850 FPS. I feel like the 9.3x74R cartridge is ideal for cast bullets, because of the long neck. It's also ideal for single shot rifles. I'm very pleased with mine, and I'm glad you're enjoying yours.

Take care, Tom

[elk hunter]

The 9.3 x 74 is a wonderful caliber of about the same power level as the 35 Whelen. I've taken several Elk and one deer with mine. I too have the NOE mould and gas checks, unfortunately they refuse to chamber in my Chapuis, they are too fat across the gas check area and I haven't had time to try to find a solution, possibly a smaller sizing die would do it.

[Tatume]

The 9.3 x 74 is a wonderful caliber of about the same power level as the 35 Whelen. I've taken several Elk and one deer with mine. I too have the NOE mould and gas checks, unfortunately they refuse to chamber in my Chapuis, they are too fat across the gas check area and I haven't had time to try to find a solution, possibly a smaller sizing die would do it.

You should check your case neck thickness. It could be that your necks have thickened, in which case reaming or outside turning would be in order. If you load a round with a commercial jacketed bullet and measure the outside diameter of the neck, it should be smaller than 0.391". If it is less, then your bullets, as you say, should be sized smaller.

[marlinman93]

The 9.3x74R is a great caliber that is even more versatile in a strong action like your Ruger #1! Really nice that Ruger made the #1 in this caliber, and that Hornady makes affordable brass for it too! I have a couple old guns I use 9.3x74R brass as donor to make loads, but I'd love to someday own a gun chambered for the round. I have a Husqvarna Type 33A that I was told was a 9.3x62R when I purchased it. But after slugging the bore, and doing a chamber cast, it turned out to be a 9.5, and not a 9.3 bore. Not a big deal, as I love the gun anyway, but still want a 9.3!
That's a great looking bullet your NOE mold drops, and appears you've worked up an accurate load!

[NorthMoccasin]

Elk Hunter, I haven't had a chance to hunt with mine yet. A trip to Alberta or Newfoundland to hunt moose is on my to do list. I have hunted moose, caribou and mountain goat in Alaska on a do-it-yourself basis twice in the distant past, using a 338. Too old for that kind of hunt these days! I really like the way the # 1 handles. BTW I have cured the dreaded Ruger #1 safety glitch on my #1 and my sons as well. They now eject brass properly!

[elk hunter]

I have two #1's the first one is a 243 Win. the best it will do is minute of coffee cup at 100 yards but, I did manage to get a couple of deer with it. I decided a couple of years ago that I was going to rebarrel it to 470 Nitro only because a friend had one and it was fun to shoot. I even have the barrel and reamer but, the friend gifted me his in 470 so I'm not sure what the 243 will end up being, probably a 450-400 3 1/4" as I have brass for it and want a double in that caliber. I like hunting with different types of rifles especially older singles and doubles.

[NorthMoccasin]

Elk Hunter, I had a #1a 270 years ago that shot about like your 243. I shot a few deer and an antelope with it but 2" groups just did not satisfy and it went down the road. An older (4 digit SN) #1 B in 22-250 was a moa rifle, but I moved away from groundhog country, and it went away in a trade for a Winchester 1895 30 US. Wish I had the 22-250 back! Still have the 1895 and its a keeper! I want to get a 450/400 someday.

[Bill*B]

Sounds like you latched on to a great cast bullet rifle!

[NorthMoccasin]

Yes Bill, I think its a keeper! My other go to CB rifles are a tang safety Ruger 77 338 with a old Lyman 33889 (250g GC) and another Ruger 77TS 358 win with a 232g GC from a NEI mold. I also have a contender carbine in 25/35 Ackley that is great with a Lyman 257418 (100g GC spitzer).

[Bill*B]

There's a Ruger .358 Winchester in my rack, too, and I like it - but cost no object (sadly, that's not the case!) I would sure be tempted to grab a 9.3X74R - that long neck just looks like it was designed to shoot cast.

[NorthMoccasin]

The 30/40 and 30/30 have nice long necks too. My Winchester 1895 30 US is a good CB rifle with Lymans 311299 and 311041. The 9.3 thumps the 200 yd gong with much more authority, however!:-)