9.3x74 project

[EDELWEISS]

Guys I need some advice.  Im thinking about starting a rechamber/rebore project to 9.3x74R.  My first thought is to use a 38-55 Target barrel because I like the longer length and heavy profile.  If the project is possible Id like to think about making it octagon.  If the Target barrel wont work than Id consider a heavy 30-06 or 308. 

If the 35 whelens were still available Id consider that as well; but I really like the heavy longer profile.

As far as the 9.3x 74 round, is low pressure; but powerful enough for anything.  Theres something about that big long cartridge that is calling me.  Ruger now has a No1 in 9.3, but theyre making the barrel to short and way too expensive. 

[quickdtoo]

The Target barrel is too big, 9.3mm = .366", a 26" 25-06 barrel would make a good donor, it's got enough barrel to go all the way to .375". A bigger problem will be finding a gunsmith that will bore to .366", mine doesn't.

He did a fine job making a .405 Winchester out of a Target barrel tho!!

Tim

[EDELWEISS]

Thanks, it was 405 barrel that got me thinking about other calibers.  I havent started the gunsmith search yet.  I guess youre right about the Target barrel, but it just seemed a good starting point.  I'll have to consider the others.  What am I missing, is the 25-06 a better donner than any of ther other bull barrels or arent they available right now.

If I use a bull barrel do you think theres enough left to put the octagonal flats on it?

I keep hearing about stubbing but Im not sure I understand the process.  Is that where a donner barrel is cut in front of the chamber and a new barrel is fitted inside?  Or am I totally confused?  If that works for Handies Ive GOT lots of other have to haves.......  Ive seen it done on SxS shotguns to turn them into some nice double rifles and thats with less metal to work with in the mono blocks. 

Alas Im just the "idea" guy with no machine shop training.....but I do know which thumb to hit when hanging a picture.....................

[PartsMan]

The 25-06 si not a bull but it is 26" long.(280 also)
If you want a bull barrel then the 24" ultras are as long as you get.(243,223)

[Drilling Man]

  The 9.3x74R is a great cartridge that that has harvested all of the dangerous game in the world.....

  I have a 9.3x74R double rifle, and as a project i came up with a 9.3x74R improved.  All it took was to rechamber the origional 9.3 to the improved, and i can still fire factory ammo in it if i want.

  You can see in the pict. the difference between a "factory" case, and the new "fire formed" case...  When it warms up a bit, i'll chronograph some loads and post the velocities.

  The loaded rounds are loaded with 286 NP's.

  DM

[quickdtoo]

You'd have to settle for a 24" bull barrel if using an H&R for the donor. I don't know if there'd be enough barrel to do flats after reboring to .366" as Fred did with his .257 Roberts Ultra. The stubbing may be your best option to have your cake and eat it too!!

Tim

[Mac11700]

Here's a place you might want to call that can re bore to this caliber...Talk with the owner Jim..or the gentleman who does 99% of the re boring Allen..http://www.deltagunshop.com/Clearwater/CW_news.html

Mac

[totallycustom]

Seems with the cost of a rebore it would probably be cheaper to get the Ruger or a bolt gun. I always thought the point of the Handi was to have a good rifle for cheap, when you do this it is no longer cheap and just as much as buying one already done.

-TC-

[quickdtoo]

Unless a fella wants something that no one else has, your user name should shine light on that way of thinking!!

Tim

[rockrat]

You could rechamber a 38-55 Handi to 38-72 Win. Make it so you can use reformed 405 Win. brass.  Only drawback is that dies are expensive.  Bad things about the conversion is that my 38-55 barrel mikes about .3802 groove dia. and nobody makes a jacketed bullet that size.  I am going to try a paper patch on some 270 gr .375 bullets and see what happens.  Got some 280 gr Hawk bullets over 2500fps, but that was a max load and too much for the .377" bullets.  At 1800fps, I got a 5/8" three shot group at 100yds.  Cast has been frustrating, but I am getting closer.  Only mould I have that casts that big is a Lee plain base mould.

[Mac11700]

Unless a fella wants something that no one else has, your user name should shine light on that way of thinking!!

Tim

We wouldn't know about that would we Tim

Mac

[quickdtoo]

Nope, not me, never, no way, nada!!!!

[EDELWEISS]

Guys thanks for all the suggestions!  I discovered 9.3x74R during my search for a double rifle.  Im still searching for the perfect DR.  In the short run I picked up a Bakail O/U 30-06, I sure do wish EAA was still bringing them in, atleast they listed 9.3 before the Remmy take over.  DrillingMan your Valmet looks great; but I dont think Im ready for the Improved.  Reloading is still mystical to me.  Its like changing the oil in my truck.  I can explain internal combustion but never have been brave enough to look under the hood.......

Im more than willing to give up the octongonal part of this project.  It was just a second thought anyway.  I have a couple of Handies and yes I do love them because they are cheap; but Ive never thought that wasnt enough reason not to dress them up a bit.  There are limits so I'll have to start counting.  One of the reasons I like Handies is because they are easy on the "wife tax".  Its much easier to deal with a few smaller costs rather than a hugh one.  Besides the design and anticipation are worth the wait.

I love the custom pieces.  First it was Quick's 45-120 BC that I had to have but I added a Dixie 32 brass scope and had the barrel lever curled over to more of a english side lever style and the hammer changed so it had more of a Sharps percussion look then finally a big schutzen style trigger guard.  Im in the planning stages of what to do with my O/U 30-06.  Im thinking about a full length Manlicher style handguard.

I dont get to hunt very often so when I do I like to have something that I had a hand in building, even if it was only cosmetic.  The 9.3 round will fill any needs I might have in the US or abroad, besides theres not likely to be another gun like it.  I may have to carve edelweises into the stock to be sure...

Can anyone shed light on the delivery time for a barrel from H&R.  I think 25-06 may be the way to go.  Then I'll add a set of express sights for flavor and some nice wood for style...

[Drilling Man]

  You can buy a used Valmet 412 9.3x74R double rifle, they are around forsale, and they put the Bikal's right to shame!  They are affordable too...

  The Valmet also allows you to buy shotgun bbls or combo bbls later on, as Valmet offered 26 different rifle and shotgun bbls for their 412 receivers as options...

  DM

[Mac11700]

I found this one...http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=66435595..and these too..http://bigfivehq.com/searchFrame.htm

I think I read where the 512 series replaced the 412..They are nice rifles..

Mac

[quickdtoo]

Can anyone shed light on the delivery time for a barrel from H&R. 

Someone just reported they received an accessory barrel yesterday, H&R got the frame mid December.

Tim

[Drilling Man]

I think I read where the 512 series replaced the 412..They are nice rifles..

  Valmet sold out all the tooling and designs of the 412's.  The new owner moved everything to Italy and renamed them 512's.  IMO the 412's are better guns than the 512's..

  DM