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How strong are Valmet 412 double rifles? Would a 9.3x74R Valmet 412 make a good dangerous game rifle? I understand the 9.3x74r isn’t a “high” pressure cartridge. What kind of top performance can be expected? Since 9.3x62’s are allowed for such game as Cape Buffalo, can the same be said of the 9.3x74r?

Bugger,

The old-school 9.4x74R is almost exactly halfway between the 285grain factory loading for the 9.3x62 & the usual factory load for the .375 H&H Magnum & I would think is suitable for the same size/toughness of BIG/dangerous game, including Elephant.
(To me alone, the single handicap of the 9.3x74 is the HIGH cost of brass & factory ammo. Empty virgin cases are about 1.75 each & loaded ammo is about 4.00 each.= To my knowledge, NO American brass can be easily reformed into the 74mm Rimmed case. --- 9.3x62mm Mauser is easily fire-formed from .30-06 brass.)

Fwiw, I use exclusively LAKE CITY once-fired brass (from government M2 ball ammo) for fireforming rounds for my treasured Model 760 pump-rifle in 9.3x62mm, that Jessie at JES remodeled, for both JSP or GCCB loads. .The Remington pump-rifle wears a LEOPOLD 2.5X scope.
(I count myself LUCKY that a local Garand match shooter, who doesn't reload, GIVES me all of his Lake City once-fired brass.)

The 285 grain JSP at about 2400FPS by PRVI PARTIZAN (out of Serbia) or my homebrewed 285 grain GCCB at about 2000FPS are KILLERS on anything in the Western Hemisphere.
My trusty Model 760 is THE rifle that will make my trip next Fall to southern Africa for Cape Buffalo and (hopefully) a leopard.= I TRUST IT to do the job, if I do my part.


That said, I would think that a Valmet double-rifle in 9.3x74R OR a cape-gun in 9.3x74mm over a 12 gauge magnum shot barrel would be GREAT to hunt most any creature, anywhere on Planet Earth.
(Fwiw, I've ever owned exactly ONE Valmet firearm. = A .308WCF over a 12 gauge shotgun barrel. = It was a NICE & handy combination gun, too.)


BEST WISHES.

just my OPINIONS, tex

I would like to say I killed lots of game with my Valmet but only turkey has fallen. To the 12 gauge. My 9.3 barrel set hasn't been in line with any game yet. Just no whitetail has been dumb enough to want to die when I carried the 9.3. Would like to get to Texas for some hogs with the 9.3. I think they wouldn't like me at all. Seems like the 285 gr PRVI would be sufficient. A Veral Smith style WFN in 300 gr sounds good in a medium hard cast lead on pork.

Bugger,

LUCKY YOU. "rustyzipper" HAS a Valmet double-rifle with an extra set of 12 gauge barrels for his firearm. - You would be wise "to pick his brain" on specifics about the DR/DS combination, imo.

Fwiw, when I last hunted with a 9.3x74 was over 25 years ago, using a friend's 16x16x9.3 drilling, so I'm NO authority on either Valmet or the 9.3x74R.
(We were hunting wild boar & Red Deer in West Germany.)

Note: The German Luftwaffe could have selected ANY caliber for survival guns for their bomber pilots in the 1930s; the choice of the Luftwaffe was the 9.3x74 as the rifle caliber for their drillings.

yours, tex

I have had 9.3x62 rifles in both a Ruger Safari Classic bolt action and a rebarreled Ruger No.1-A, and 9.3x74R in a Ruger No.1-S. I have hand loaded extensively for, and have killed elk with, all three rifles. The only difference was that Hornady 9.3x62 brass was cheaper than that for the 9.3x74R, but it was also much less uniform and required more prep and some culling. Otherwise, there wasn't a dime's worth of difference in accuracy, chronographed velocities or terminal performance on game. Talking with PHs while hunting in Namibia, all three said that they regarded either cartridge as suitable for dangerous game, including buffalo.

Bugger; rustyzipper,

Fwiw, my favorite CB mold is from NOE (www.noebulletmolds.com). The order number is: 368-285-FN GC W3. Use the CG made for .375 caliber rifles, for best results.
(In my reformatted Remington Model 760, my homebrewed GCCB loads with make a 5-shot group that is a "single ragged hole" at 200M, if I do my part. - Your mileage may vary, as rifles are each "a law unto itself", when using CB.)
Recycled wheel-weights work FINE up to 2000FPS plus. NO "fancy alloys" are necessary for "practical hunting accuracy to 200M+.
(ANY 285 grain GCCB is A KILLER on Western hemisphere game, with the possible exception of the BIGGEST bears.)

Btw, for a small-medium game & plinking load, ANY of the bullet molds for 9x18mm MAKAROV pistols works WELL.

GOOD HUNTING to BOTH of you.

yours, tex

The only possible disavantage I can see to a Valmet double rifle is that reloading the lower barrel is slower than reloading a SXS--you have to make an extra motion to gap the barrels fully open for loading the bottom one. Unless you are in a fight with a real monster, I can't see any other problem. If you are, you need a backup, IMO.

My experience with Valmets in general is that they are nearly unbreakable and very good value for money, but I've only owned shotguns and combination guns (many, and still do). Those all WORK, and SHOOT and I have no reason to think the double rifles don't do both as well. Finns make and design good stuff.

Have used the 9.3x74r double barrels on several hogs. The 232 gr Norma load is a real hog slammer. My barrels are regulated (adjustable) for the Norma 232 load, and will place upper and lower about 1/2" apart at 65 yards. I also have 12/223 and 30-06/12 barrels as well as shot barrels. As all of my hunting is varmits the valmet is perfect for my use. Only complaint is they are a little heavy but, that has value when shooting 3" #4 buck. If I could only have one long gun it would be the 12/30-06.

Wallyfish,

I had one of the Valmet .308/12 gauge combination guns when I was stationed in USAREUR & would have been wise enough to have kept it.
(I traded it off for some cash & a Sako Finnwolf in .243WCF & traded that one off for a WWI-era 16x16x,22HP drilling.)

yours, tex