9.3 x 72 Sauer

[mooncoon]

Does anyone out there load for the 9.3 x 72 Sauer cartridge. I have a drilling with that caliber and am looking for some idea of moderate loads for this obsolete black powder cartridge. I am currently forming shells using 38-55 loads as a guideline.

cheers mooncoon

 

[ben hunchak]

This was orig. a black powder cart. using a 186gr. lead bullet, so any 9.3 bullet with a full case(drop tubed) of 2fg or 3fg, a wad, proper BP lube on bullet. The other option is the formula use of Trail Boss powder(70% of case volume, but only for str. or tapered cases(not shouldered)). M.T. Chambers produces bullets for these types of cals.

 

[mooncoon]

The question is not so much how to load black powder but looking for someone who has shot the caliber using smokeless loads. I made a mold some time ago, that fits the gun and currently am forming a few cases using a load of green dot that I use in my 38-55. Hopefully will make it up to the range tomorrow to try a few shots for accuracy. I still have to finish the sizing die and make a seating die for the shell.

cheers mooncoon

 

[david doyle]

that must be a nice rifle/drilling, I knew an old nazi down your way that had one over 16gauge, he shot factory ammo that was available to him from somewhere ? Black tails don't get up after being shot with a 9.3mm bullets and meat damage was minimal.

 

[WR1894]

I have a cape gun in 16/9.3X72, it came with loads that were shot in it and I have fired a few with no problems
245 cast bullets 20 grains of 4198 and wads
200 grain jacketed bullets 35 grains of 3031
John

 

[mooncoon]

Thanks WR, I will have to try those powders and see how they perform. I got impatient and took the gun to the range today and fired my 6 shells with sort of mixed results. The Sauer shell is a lot fatter at the base than a 72R so I lined the first 3/8" of the base of a 72R shell with a 44-40 shell and fire formed them. Trouble is that a chamber cast suggests the real length of the Sauer shell at least in this gun is around 75 mm or more long and fire forming shortens my shells to about 70 mm.
I use 9.5 grains of green dot in my 38-55 so I did the same with the drilling and at 25 yards the 4 shots I fired grouped in two pairs a little over 1" apart. The surprising thing is that two shots with black powder were 6" apart or more which I found very surprising, plus several inches lower. Noticeably more recoil with black powder as well.
The slugs I used were 240 grains cast ones shortened on the lathe because the rifling twist will only stabilize a bullet to about .79" long. I think I might try hollow basing some and see if I can stabilize the longer bullets. One problem with this gun is the chamber area for the neck of the shell and the throat are sort of a long taper and I doubt that even a factory Sauer shell would come close to the rifling
I think the gun is going to be fun to shoot eventually but I still have some work to do on it. I am currently making a forend iron and still have to make the wooden forestock plus need to make a spring to keep the opening lever shut but I am advancing slowly and crudely but advancing.
The forend iron is not pretty but it works :>)

cheers mooncoon