Thoughts on the 93x74R in Ruger #1

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Fred M

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Recently I bought a 9.3x74R Ruger#1 but did not have many chances to use it much. The rifle is very accurate. I only have a box of Norma factory loads with 285gr Oryx bullets. The rifle is easy to shoot and the recoil is not bad.

I mounted an older 3-9 Burris Signature with elctro dot and posi lock in Ruger rings
qiuite heavy at 1.5lbs. Total weight 8.75 lbs.
The only objection I have is the heavy trigger. Not a big deal since I will lighten it in the near future.

Last summer I upgraded my Ruger#1 6.5x284 and installed a Kepplinger single set trigger which is a joy to shoot.

Problems, hard to get brass, bullets and loading dies. The rifle was not easy to find either.
I ordered one last year but never got it.
 
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Hello Fred M
Try TradeX for 9.3 bullets and dies..see link at top of this page..
PM me for possible brass source..
 
9.3 x 74

Good round. I and a couple of buddies each shoot this cartridge in o/u doubles. The #1 is a cheaper way to get into the round. It is not 'super' powerful, but is adequate for North America.
Collectively we have taken bear (grizz & blk) elk and moose with these without problem. The 286 bullet is good for penetration and up close stuff. The 250 grainers extend range a bit, however best performance with this cartridge is under 250 yds..it is not a long range round.

Hornady is now making ammo and Brass, as well as bullets. Try CLAY at prophet river (CGN sponsor) He usually has dies, brass, etc to feed this calibre, as well as the #1 rifles.

good luck!
 
I am slowly saving up for a double rifle as I've wanted one for some time now, but it has to be a quality rifle. The one that really caught my fancy is the Merkel 141 and 161. They are based on a small action and they weigh only 6.5lbs. The chambering of choice, imho, is the 9.3x74R.

VO909T.jpg



Here is a good article titled "Favorite Rifles and Terminal Performance: 9.3x74R" from African Outfitter magazine:



http://huntnetwork.net/modules/wfsection/article.php?articleid=494
 
iroc22 said:
I have always wanted to have a double rifle in the 9.3x74R.
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Chapuis also makes a relatively attainable SxS on a smaller frame, though not as compact as the Merkel. These little doubles go for ~$6,000-$7,000 for a basic version. Sabatti also makes one (listed on Trade-ex) but I can't find much info on it. One day soon...
 
585nyati said:
Hornady is now making ammo and Brass, as well as bullets. Try CLAY at prophet river (CGN sponsor) He usually has dies, brass, etc to feed this calibre, as well as the #1 rifles.

good luck!
Click to expand...
We've got lots of brass, ammo and dies. Out of rifles but expecting a couple of more in a couple of weeks.
 
1899 said:
Chapuis also makes a relatively attainable SxS on a smaller frame, though not as compact as the Merkel. These little doubles go for ~$6,000-$7,000 for a basic version. Sabatti also makes one (listed on Trade-ex) but I can't find much info on it. One day soon...
Click to expand...

I was hoping to see Baikal release their new SxS in 9.3x74R, but they'll probably just keep it in 'American' type calibers. Maybe one day I'll save enough for a Merkel.
 
iroc22 said:
I was hoping to see Baikal release their new SxS in 9.3x74R, but they'll probably just keep it in 'American' type calibers. Maybe one day I'll save enough for a Merkel.
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Have you handled a Baikal SxS? I did a long post on them when they first came out. Here is the short version - I'd rather never have a SxS than buy a Baikal SxS. It looks and feels as though I made it myself.
 
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9.3 x 74

The merkel is a good product. I have one in the model 140. A 2 barrel set, one in 375 H&H with claw mounts and Swarovski scope, and an extra barrel/forend set in 470NE. The model 141 of course is a little smaller scale and the big cal is 9.3 X 74. The doubles I originally referred to having in 9.3 x 74 are O/U types, not side by side. They are usually cheaper than a SxS and have fewer problems with POI with the two barrels as they are basicly built parallel instead of converging like a side by side,..Heym, Asper, beretta, and many other Italian makers produce the 9.3 x 74R in an O/U at quasi-reasonable prices.

Not as traditional I know, but nice guns just the same.

As to side by sides, the new Sabatti is receiving good reviews and is certainly priced right...Starting at $4300 in Canada, and a .500NE listed on Cabellas (US) at $4999.00.

The baikal?? well for the original $600 -$800, they were worth playing with,
but you didn't ever want anybody to SEE you with one.
 
585nyati said:
As to side by sides, the new Sabatti is receiving good reviews and is certainly priced right...Starting at $4300 in Canada, and a .500NE listed on Cabellas (US) at $4999.00.
Click to expand...

I've seen the Sabatti SxS in 9.3x74R for CDN$3399, which is a pretty reasonable price.

The nice thing with respect to POI is that the Merkel 141 and 161 have adjustable barrels, as does the Blaser IIRC.
 
For a while I thought the 9.3x74R was a dead beat in Canada since there were no replies. Like to thank everyone for their reoplies.

I am a big fan of the the Ruger#1 and have quite a few of them. I know the Merkel SXS is a fine quality build rifle. For my purposes the Ruger#1 is adequate in all respects.

I might be in luck for 50 new Norma brass.
I will call for the the dies at Prophet River. The might have the 285gr Oryx bullets too.

Thank you
Fred M.
 
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1899 said:
Have you handled a Baikal SxS? I did a long post on them when they first came out. Here is the short version - I'd rather never have a SxS than buy a Baikal SxS. It looks and feels as though I made it myself.
Click to expand...

No I've never handled one; never seen one in any gunshop. I have an older take-down 12 guage SxS Baikal and it's not too bad; nice tight action and nice engraving. I was hoping the new SxS rifles would be of okay quality.

To Fred M: RWS also makes brass for the 9.3x74R, so if you can find a shop that carries RWS, that's another option.
 
Ralph Martini carries RWS - also phone Bruno Gross of Alberta who can get most anything. Once you get a mitt full of brass (it is not that rare at all) - it wil last a long time. Being rimmed and not a type of round that you push to the nth degree (being in a double or single rifle) - it will last and last. hmm maybe less life in a Ruger single tho ---

It is another example of a round that was invented a long time ago that only now is being "discovered" by the North American market.

I shoot an old o/u BRNO in that caliber and it shoots endlessly one above the other. It loves a 286 gr Nosler or Norma over RL15. The trajectory is very acceptable. It hits with authority and takes large animals extremely well.

With 286 gr or 300 gr solids, it is a very usable dangerous game round in Africa.
 
1899 said:
I am slowly saving up for a double rifle as I've wanted one for some time now, but it has to be a quality rifle. The one that really caught my fancy is the Merkel 141 and 161. They are based on a small action and they weigh only 6.5lbs. The chambering of choice, imho, is the 9.3x74R.

VO909T.jpg



Here is a good article titled "Favorite Rifles and Terminal Performance: 9.3x74R" from African Outfitter magazine:



http://huntnetwork.net/modules/wfsection/article.php?articleid=494
Click to expand...



That 141 is regulated for 232g bullets. I know you can adjust the regulation but I am not sure if you can pull the bbls far enough togeter to get it to regulate 250's. And would you realy want to in a 6.5 lbs gun? Not sure most would be happy with only 232g out of their 9.3 still more than enough for deer and black bear. Not sure about penetration on moose.


A 20g frame double is actually very small, 1" center to center on the firing pins. The 141 in a 28g frame would be tiny! especially with the short bbls.. I would opt for a max of 8.57R in that tiny little gun actually 30-06 would be just fine even though it is high pressure and has no rim I would choose it or 7x65R which is a nice little cartridge but expensive brass.
 
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Finally I got the trigger honed to 32oz and the hammer milled to ala Moulds speed lock hammer, one slot and one 1/4" hole. The trigger is sweet now, no creep, smooth and no back lash. It is a slow job but well worthweil. One more job remains that is a Pachmyr Decelerator recoil pad.
This kind of rifle should come with one from the factory instead of that piece of rubber tire.
 
A few years back I owned a Tikka 412S express gun in 9.3X74R , but sold it when I was not able to shoot big guns any more.
The Tikka also had a set of 12 gauge barrels with 28 gauge tubes, and a QD scope mount.
The cartridge was a VERY accurate round.
Well, My son had a fit because he liked shooting it, and recently I traded two gubs back to the fella and my Tikka is on its way back!
I always liked that round, and loved the gun it is in.
it also has a jack screw for adjusting the bottom barrel, and a windage screw on the end.
The deal is you set the top barrel with the scope or iron sights, then adjust the bottom barrel to the top - the caveat being, that both barrels need to be tried several times to get in tune with each other!:confused:
it takes a while, but is worth it.
My FAIR express gun is regulated at the factory however and is non adjustable, for a 140 grain bullet ( 6.5X55) .
it does shoot 160's okay to 100 yards however.....
Cat
 
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