I was looking at a Chapuis 9.3 X 74 Double. Any thoughts on the caliber? Need it? Nope! Want it, sigh.......

Jim

In "Rifles for Africa" Gregor Wood stated that he liked a Chapuis double rifle in 9.3X74R, because it was light and easy to handle. He carried one for 6 days and walked about 20 miles each day. I think most doubles built in this caliber are likewise light and handy. The ballistics are the same as the 9.3X62mm.

Nice caliber, have hear good reports about the make, get it

I have a Chapuis 9.3x74R and absolutely love this rifle. Mine is a UGExpress model but with the English style express sights and a Leopold 1.5-5x in EAW mounts. I shoot this rifle both with the scope and without, depending upon the scenario, and have nothing but praise for it. I shot my first deer, a sambar, with this rifle and am convinced that without the instantaneous second shot I would have lost the deer as the first shot, with the deer in full afterburner, was a little far back.

The 9.3x74R cartridge is an oldie but a goodie. Performance is virtually the same as the 9.3x62 which was one of the most widely used calibres in the 'old' Africa. The 9.3x74R it is sometimes described as being just a tad less powerful than the mighty .375H&H Magnum but it would be more accurate to say that it is roughly equivalent to a .35 Whelan and, with the right projectiles, can be used on a wide range of big game across the planet.

When you read back through the old African hunters' stories you often hear praise for cartridges such as the .350 Rigby (400/.350) which accounted for plenty of elephant, rhino and buffalo and the 9.3x74R is everything the .350 was, and more. This is particularly so when you consider that our propellents and our projectiles, today, are vastly superior to those used in the .350.

I own lots of rifles but, along with its' big brother (a Chapuis Brousse in .470NE), my Chapuis 9.3 is one rifle I will NEVER part with!

[ 02-03-2003, 14:43: Message edited by: BwanaBob ]

I've had three doubles chambered for 9.3X74R, and I now have a Merkel 140E 9.3X74R, and though I have bigger, and smaller doubles, this little Merkel has become my favorite rifle, and I seldom pick up anything else today!

The 9.3X74R doubles are used for buffalo on a lot of African hunts by European hunters. Ray says there are a lot of hunters useing it with the outfitters he books for, and he hasn't had any reports of failure with it. That along with Tayler's take on the cartridge, as well as my own, I'd not be opposed to useing it for Buffalo. Especailly in fairly open bush. For North America, I'd use it on anything walking!

You guys are VERY hard on my wallet.

Thanks for the input,

Jim

JBoutfishin Please check my many previous posts on my Chapuis 9.3x74R. It has become my most favorite rifle under 40 cal. Mine has a Leupold 2.5x8 scope in QD mounts. The scope goes on and off with no zero problems. I have shot most of the game with iron sights but it is nice to be able to use a scope when you want/need to. I have enough confidence in this rifle to take it and my 450 No2 to Africa in 2004. I will also Elk hunt with it in Colorado this year, if I draw a tag.