Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa 9.3x74 on Ele and Cape Buff

Anyone here actually used this round on the really big stuff? I am considering getting a sXs in this caliber but hopefully first trying one out to see if my recoil concussion racked cranium and neck can take this level of recoil. If the 'ol bod can handle such just wondering who here has used this round, if anyone. Thanks for the replies. MARK

Dont worry do it shot placement is the key.

They make the sweetest and most pleasant of SxSs with about the proportions of a properly sized .410 SxS. Recoil is moderate which is to say .375-like to me in the 7.5 lb Chapuis I had.
Used Norma factory 286-gr Oryx on a buffalo heifer broadside at 100 yds as my only game experience. Perfect performance--30 yd jog and DRT.
I've read of there use on cape buff especially and I'm sure it can be done...but very carefully.

I killed 2 buffalo with mine in 2009. 286 gr Woodleigh PP soft bullets followed by solids. Chapuis double rifle. First was broadside, hit right above heart in the big vessels. He was down in about 50 yards and I put a finisher in him when we got to him. Recovered both bullets. Second buffalo was shot 4 times. I shot him in shoulder with a soft, followed by 2 solids in the opposite shoulder, then as he faced me another solid where his neck joined his shoulder. That one put him down. Recovered the 3 solids, never found the soft.

That is the statistical sampling of my only two buffalo and my rather limited experience with DG. IMHO, it will work quite well if bullets are placed in the right place. Sure, it is on the light side, but there have been horror stories of buffalo shot with much bigger calibers that wouldn't die. Your mileage may vary.

Pick your shot, with a premium bullet, and you should be fine on a buff - borderline - but fine. With the new Oryx and similar loads, it behaves a lot like a .375 flanged in its classic load. It would not be a primary choice for elephant. I have always thought a scoped 9.3x74 OU would be a very cool plains game rifle in any of the brush country destinations. It would be decisive on everything up through eland. I have a 30'06 in that configuration, and with TSX's it is equally effective, but that extra 40 - 80grs in bullet weight is interesting.

There is a fellow over at AR that posts under the monicker, "N E 450 NO 2". He's hunted Zim, several times and has killed both ele and buff with a dbl. 9.3x74R. You could go there, do a look up, and pm him.


maddog

Of course you "can" and the pictures here are more than adequate proof. I sure with shot placement and a good solid, it will take an elephant nicely. Personally I'd opt for something bigger and of course your PH can offer some guidance. jorge

I have a Krieghoff Classic double rifle in 9.3x74R that I bought when stationed in Germany. I topped it with a Ziess 1.5-6x42. It has got to be one of the sweetest handling guns I own. Like a previous poster mentioned....like a nice little .410 double barrel. Recoil is not all that bad. Seems to be more of a big shove than a quick slap. I am 5'6" and a whopping 155 and I handle it without any issues. My plan was to use it for the same type of trip that you are inquiring about. Well, on my way to Zombabwe the gun was confiscated in Frankfurt (later returned) due to a dumbass at the airlines misinterpeting the rules. I ended up having to hunt with a borrowed gun and the only "Big 5" I was able to shoot was a lion.
I have since shoot a few deer with this rifle and absolutely love this little thing.
Sorry I can't help you with your question but wanted to reply to let you know that I don't think that all countries will allow the use of the 9.3x74R for the big 5. Make sure you check before going.
Good Luck,
WW

I've shot a couple of water buffalo and a scrub bull with mine, and none took more than one more step. It would surely be a nice weapon for follow-up on leopard/lion.

Not to mention that I can see a double 9.3 in the whitetail woods, the moose willows, and fully capable in the dark timber for elk. Or, if you can close the gap, on a bison on the plains.

The 286-gr Oryx and the two recovered from this bison's off side.

Thanks for the photo and input. Nice bull and good bullet pics there.

Sold my 348AI this morning, thinking the 9.3x74 will replace it and my 416 Rigby. Maybe others in the safe as well.

Got me missing it too.

I believe "Will" over on AR has killed a couple tuskless with a Chapuis 9,3x74R.

Two cape buffalo with my Tikka 512 DT BBF in 12/9,3X74R. Both ran off 200 or so yards and expired. I was shooting 286 Woodleigh solids at the time.

This was the set..12/9,3 and 9,3/9,3



The bigger of the two...

How did the Tikka group at 50 yds?

Didn't even know that Tikka MADE such a thing. Cool. Now, if they would just set those barrels into correct position for a proper double rifle/shotgun......

I was able to regulate the barrels to shoot within 1 1/4" at 100 yards after a bunch of adjustment and a right load using IMR 4064. The center of the bottom barrel groups was at 5 o'clock, and the top barrel was at noon. The Valmet/Tikka barrels have elevation and windage adjustment. A very small change makes a big difference in point of impact.

The Woodleigh 286gr softs and solids shot the same spots, too.

It was tough to see these go back when I needed $$ for medical expenses. I took a decent kudu with the 12/9,3 set, also.

Very nice!

Just be careful....the 9.3 x 74 is NOT legal to hunt Buff and Elephant with in Zim!