9.3 X 74R anyone???

[fatelvis]

I just bought a beautiful nearly new Ruger #1 for a song, and know nothing about this cartridge, other than it is for big game and normally packs a whollup. Can anyone suggest a relatively soft shooting "target" load, using cast boolits, for punching paper? Thanks guys-

[richmanpoorman]

I have the same rifle. I use the 280 gr NOE bullet cast from wheelweights. 35 gr Varget
Either lubed w/SPG or grooves only PCed works fine. 2-3" groups at 100 @ 1600 fps.

My gun came with 3 boxes of the Hornady 300 gr Dangerous game ammo. Pulled a box to get cases. Then shot 3 factory to see how well gun shot. ZOWIE ! Wish it were a 1b or 1V ! Hornady factory put 3 in 1.5" was fine for hunting ..... not a varmint rifle !

This is what grove only PC looks like before sizing: (Full PC will force very deep seating)

[Ballistics in Scotland]

It is an extremely good cartridge for the purpose intended. The long bearing surface which that long neck permits is a big improvement on some of the jacketed-bullet rifles people use with cast bullets. While people like NOE do make moulds of .368 or thereabouts, I think it is within reasonable limits for sizing .375 ones. It should give a better balance of flat shooting, recoil and suitable for cast than the larger calibres, and if you want to try black powder, will be less subject to fouling.

[Cheshire Dave]

I have a Ruger #1 also. I've had best luck with 280 NOE GC cast from WW and water quenched with 45gr IMR 4895 with dacron filler.These gave 5/8 in groups at 50 yrds. Varget was also very good. 48gr Varget gave 2150 fps and good accuracy. The funnest load is a 375 RB sized to .368 and knurled with a file and lubed with soft lube that I just rubbed on with a stick of lube. 3gr of Titegroup gave me 5/8 inch groups at point of aim at 25 yrds. Great load for letting kids shoot the big rifle. Or big kids like me. I've also tried Paper Patched RCBS 200gr 35 caliber bullets without much success. Maybe a heavier bullet or more skill with PP. They would still make good short range deer loads at 35 Rem power levels.

[Reverend Al]

Too bad you're down in the US and I'm up in Canada since I have about 350 rounds of beautiful, once fired Norma 9.3x74R brass, and of course I can't ship any of it down to you thanks to the stupid ITAR cross border regulations on components including brass ...

[richmanpoorman]

Well I'm sure you know the 9.3x74 is the weapon of choice for ISIS !

[Ballistics in Scotland]

Even rifles of any kind are very rare in criminal use - terrorism, for loot or plain old crimes of passion. But if you restricted every kind of car but Toyotas, amount of speeding and even homicide by vehicle committed with Toyotas would go up.

I am surprised they don't insist on people having automatics, to stop them cheating their way out of leaving a specimen case on the scene.

[sharps4590]

A 9.3 X 74R is on my bucket list. Fine cartridge. A friend has a V/C double in that cartridge and I really liked it when he let me play with it.

[elk hunter]

The 9.3 x 74R is a great cartridge it's like a 35 Whelen with a rim. I have a Chapuis double in it and have taken several elk with it shooting 286 grain partitions, unfortunately the throats are so tight I've been unable to get the cast bullets from my NOE mould to chamber. The mould was supplied with .375 gas checks and they increase the base diameter just enough that they won't chamber even when run through a .367 die. I need to find a few true 9.3 gas checks to see if they will allow me to use the cast bullets for practice.

[Ballistics in Scotland]

Unless you are loading it to high intensity there is enough neck to do about as well with a disc of wax between two card ones. You can buy good wax sheet from www.mcmaster.com, or make it by floating it on top of hot water and letting it go cold.

[fatelvis]

Honestly, except when hunting, I would like to shoot the lightest target loads possible. What powder should I consider using behind an NOE cast boolit for a relatively soft recoiling target load? I guess something that would work well for the 45/70 would work equally well for this cartridge?


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[crash87]

I've had a No.1 for quite awhile now. NOE didn't have a 9.3 mold when I purchased mine, so I used Mountain Molds design software and came up with a 270 gr LFN gc'd bullet. I use IMR 3031, as I have found many uses for it in many cartridges that I shoot with cast. It has accounted for 3 hogs so far, and I might add, it was definitely a little over kill.
Anyway the go to powder for reduced loads seems to be Trail Boss. But unfortunately I have not tried it in the 9.3.
Crash87

[Good Cheer]

I have a Ruger #1 also. I've had best luck with 280 NOE GC cast from WW and water quenched with 45gr IMR 4895 with dacron filler.These gave 5/8 in groups at 50 yrds. Varget was also very good. 48gr Varget gave 2150 fps and good accuracy. The funnest load is a 375 RB sized to .368 and knurled with a file and lubed with soft lube that I just rubbed on with a stick of lube. 3gr of Titegroup gave me 5/8 inch groups at point of aim at 25 yrds. Great load for letting kids shoot the big rifle. Or big kids like me. I've also tried Paper Patched RCBS 200gr 35 caliber bullets without much success. Maybe a heavier bullet or more skill with PP. They would still make good short range deer loads at 35 Rem power levels.

I recently picked up a Lyman #358430 to try paper patching in mine.
So far the plan is to bump up soft slugs with FFg.

[Ballistics in Scotland]

Mountain Molds do good work, and their design utility is a delight. I like the way they put the current delivery time on their website, too. Their only snag is that their process requires a larger meplat than is undesirable on this rifle, with no tube magazine and considerable long-range potential.

[Good Cheer]

Honestly, except when hunting, I would like to shoot the lightest target loads possible. What powder should I consider using behind an NOE cast boolit for a relatively soft recoiling target load? I guess something that would work well for the 45/70 would work equally well for this cartridge?



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If you have some flake, something in the medium shotgun powder range (faster than Bluedot) approximately like Unique on the shelf... then if it was me, I'd start off with what was on hand and work up loads with it.
I'll pro'bly try putting some Unique behind that #358430 as well as creating miniature buffalo hunter rounds with the FFg.

[Sur-shot]

I like R-7 and AA-2015 in my 45-70 M 98. The powders can both push a 45-70 pretty hard, should do well in a stout 9.3x74 like the #1.
Ed

[NuJudge]

I've shot a lot of cast bullets using 2400 powder, the cast bullets being the plain based Lyman 366248, and various custom molds of about 280 grains. I never tried for more than 50 yard accuracy in my double rifle, and was concerned with the two barrels groups coinciding as much as accuracy. I will try to find my old loads.

[Ballistics in Scotland]

Trying to improve on the barrel regulation of a double is a bit like trying to make a revolver shoot to the right height. Increasing or reducing the powder charge makes the gun move more or less under recoil, whether upwards or outwards. It is a little more complicated by barrel flexure with the rifle than the revolve, but not much. The effect is about compensated for by the bullet leaving the muzzle sooner. Regulation of the barrels needs to be done by varying bullet weight.

[NorthMoccasin]

AA 5744 is my go to powder for cast in most calibers. 28.5 grains with the NOE 280gc gives 1" to 1.5" groups at 100 yd in my Ruger #1. Velocity is 1650fps. 9.3 gas checks are available from NOE. 33.5 grains gives similar accuracy at 1880fps.

[fatelvis]

Thanks for the replies guys! A question for those of you that have used Trailboss in the past...
Is there a minimum percentage Fill with this powder, or can it be loaded down until the boolit sticks in the bore?


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