9.3x74R vs .375 Flanged Magnum

[Hunter4752001]

Some years ago I bought a Baikal 9.3x74R O/U. It's somewhat agricultural but has given me a taste for doubles and for the calibre. What I want to do is upgrade to a better quality rifle in SxS with ejectors.
From a paper ballistics point of view, the 9.3x73R and the .375 Flanged Magnum are very similar. Although I haven't seen much info on heavy for calibre projectiles. Any thoughts or experience would be appreciated.

For me one issue is the availability of ammunition and components.

In my country I know I can reasonably easily get 9.3x74R cases, but haven't seen .375 Flanged Magnum around (until now I haven't been looking). .375 projectiles are much more widely available and in a greater variety of weights and construction.

What I don't know is how easily available factory ammo would be in Africa for each of these.

 

[Red Leg]

Realistically, there is little to chose between them with respect to actual performance on game. However, the .375 flanged is pretty much universally legal for DG in Africa - not so the 9.3. Factory loaded .375 flanged is relatively hard to find. In this country, Nosler loads it's 300 gr Partition in it, and it is currently available for about $8.00 US a round through places like Midway Arms. It would be very hard to find in the RSA. The 9.3x74R is a much more common caliber, with a large European following.

If you reload, the flanged .375 is a great option - particularly in a double where you likely will have to come up with a load that regulates in your new rifle. As you note, lots of bullet options out there. Unfortunately, .375 Flanged rifles are almost as scarce as the ammunition for them - though perhaps that is not the case down under?

 

[wesheltonj]

Norma does sell 375 flanged, but it’s not cheap.

 

[bruce moulds]

hunter,
you can find 9.3 bullets in oz - you just have to look harder.
brownells is one source if you are prepared to wait.
swift and barnes are to be found as is woodleigh and hornady and speer and norma if you ask a dealer to order for you.
the 286 swift would be a good all round bullet and one that might be likely to regulate in a double, as long as it was not set up for lighter bullets.
although the 9.3 x 74 is a little less powerful than the 375 flanged, use of good bullets in the 9.3 can narrow the gap.
bruce.

 

[AZDAVE]

They are almost a ballistic twins. factory loads in the 375 are 300gr at 2400fps, and the 9.3 is 286gr at 2380fps. My 9.3 double I have a 300gr Swift aframe load that is super accurate in my rifle. It is 2370fps at the muzzle. I have owned 4 different 9.3's and handled 50-60 others. the 375 Flanged I have only ever seen in person 3 of them and never had a opportunity to shot one. Both of these rounds will hunt any of the plains game and depending on country legal for dangerous game in the 9.3. The 375 meets the letter of the law in min of 375 for dangerous game hunts. Both should only be used on dangerous game by a very patient hunter that will wait for a good shot to the vitals and be a competent enough shot to make the shot under pressure. I would also make sure you and your PH are in agreement on you using either one on DG.

Ammo and brass are much easier to find for the 9.3's.

 

[bruce moulds]

dave, that 300 gn load sounds like a good one.
i can vouch for that bullet at 2400 fps on 600+ kg game.
it handles that game so well i would not hesitate to use it on somewhat heavier targets.
bruce.

 

[AZDAVE]

@bruce moulds It is very effective, I have shot everything from Klipspringer to cape Eland with my 9.3 and nothing has required more than one shot.

 

[Moosemind]

I love my little Borovnik 9.3x74R. Handles like a shotgun and kicks like a sissy.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

I have a Verney Carron O/U double 375 Flanged Magnum. Looking for Norma PH ammo for it, any idea where this can be bought in South Africa?

I love my little Borovnik 9.3x74R. Handles like a shotgun and kicks like a sissy.View attachment 268293

 

[Foxi]

I love my little Borovnik 9.3x74R. Handles like a shotgun and kicks like a sissy.View attachment 268293

ever used ?
a friend,former guide in Yukon Territory, has taken a double in 9.3 x74 R when he was backup for American bowhunters on Grizzly bear.

 

[Bushpig4Ever]

Interesting article: Krieghoff Big Five in .375 Flanged Magnum
https://www.all4shooters.com/en/sho...big-game-hunting-double-rifle-big-five-rifle/

 

[Major Khan]

Both are extremely efficient calibres . My clients ( usually continental European clients ) used to use the 9.3 × 74 Rimmed , to take forest Panthers up to 200 pounds weight in Nagpur. In Nagpur , a client shikaree could not legally use anything smaller than .375 Nitro Express for royal Bengal tigers and bisons . However , this law did not exist in other states of India , and the 9.3 × 74 Rimmed was very effective on royal Bengal tigers . It also worked reasonably well on the largest of gaurs , although shot placement had to be extremely critical . Back in those days , you could get them in combination guns( 1 rifle barrel and one shot gun barrel ) , side by side double barreled rifles and over under double barreled rifles .
Regarding the .375 Holland & Holland magnum ( flanged ) , the British company Kynamco lists factory loaded ammunition on their web site . You could perhaps purchase some and keep the cartridge cases to recycle once you fired them off ?
.375 bore bullets , as you say , are more widely available . Also , as Red Leg mentions , you could legally hunt with it , through out most ( if not all ) parts of Africa. It is also slightly more powerful than the 9.3 × 74 Rimmed , but only just .

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

I have both, Ruger No1 Tropical in 375 H&H magnum and Verney Carron O/U in 375 Flanged Magnum. The Ruger has taken various game including a Cape buffalo bull, the Verney is new and yet to be blooded. But of the two, despite iron sights, it shoots better, more accurate, due to excellent fit. I am hunting next month with the Verney and will post results.

 

[crs]

M Khan,
The more of this type post that I read, the more I appreciate my .405 WCF rifles!
Your grandfather knew what he was doing.