Haven't done a whole lot of reloading yet and the powder families are something I'm trying to learn more about.
Based on my internet searches here and on other sites, I've seen several powders come up repeatedly when loading the 9.3x74R is discussed: IMR 4064, 4350, 4831, Reloder-15, Varget, Vihtavuori N135, 140, 540, Norma 202.
To potentially compound things, this is a double rifle. Notes that came with the rifle mention load data, but from the early 1980s so there may be options available now that didn't exist then. The load the rifle was found to shoot with calls for 286gr bullets w/ 57.3 grains of IMR 4064, which from what I've read is a MAX load. I've also read that this powder is temperature-sensitive and when I get over to Africa it might be better to have something where temp is less of an issue. The notes don't mention what else was tried.
To top all of this off, I don't have any powder at hand so I'll be buying everything fresh (I know this is going to be expensive and difficult to even find some of these nowadays).
FWIW, I do have fresh RWS cases and found 500 WLR primers locally which I'll use to start.
If any of you who have experience w/ the 9.3x74R would perhaps help me rank list these (or other) powders it would be a big help as I shop around.
Sorry for the long-winded post, just trying to give as much background as I can and if I've left important info out, please let me know.
Thanks,
Bill

A double rifle is a law on itself and one has to duplicate the load (powder/bullet/velocity) it was regulated with, so that both bbls. shoot together. Since your rifle already came with loading data, you should use it (starting with a reduced charge, of course). Also, a double rifle must not be rested when test-fired. Shoot from the shoulder, with elbows resting only (recoil must duplicate offhand shooting, lest you modify barrel time). I would advise your posting your questions on the double rifle forum as handloading for a double rifle is much more complex than for a single bbl. gun.

I got good results with Vihta N140 which is also the powder Lapua recommends on their website for this caliber and most bullet weights.

I shoot a single rifle barrel combo in that caliber, not a double.

quote:

Originally posted by Andre Mertens:
A double rifle is a law on itself and one has to duplicate the load (powder/bullet/velocity) it was regulated with, so that both bbls. shoot together. Since your rifle already came with loading data, you should use it (starting with a reduced charge, of course). Also, a double rifle must not be rested when test-fired. Shoot from the shoulder, with elbows resting only (recoil must duplicate offhand shooting, lest you modify barrel time). I would advise your posting your questions on the double rifle forum as handloading for a double rifle is much more complex than for a single bbl. gun.

Andre is correct:
To find a load which will regulate, you may have to work with the muzzle velocities of the loads. I would try IMR 4064, and start with a load that is supposed to give factory velocities. Then, if the barrels are crossing, I'd reduce the powder charge slightly however many times it takes to get the barrels shooting together. IF the barrels are shooting away from each other, the MV must be increased to the point the barrels shoot together. All this must be done without exceeding the pressure limits of the gun. BUT IMR 4064 should work well in the 9.3X74R.

"I would try IMR 4064, and start with a load that is supposed to give factory velocities. Then, if the barrels are crossing, I'd reduce the powder charge slightly however many times it takes to get the barrels shooting together. IF the barrels are shooting away from each other, the MV must be increased to the point the barrels shoot together. All this must be done without exceeding the pressure limits of the gun. BUT IMR 4064 should work well in the 9.3X74R."

Thanks all for the recs so far. Familiar in theory (if not practice yet w/ double regulation). To ask another way, I don't like the fact that the load that supposedly works in 4064 is at or above MAX. These were recorded at 65F and from what I've read about 4064, if I shoot this load at ambient temps over 100F I would be driving pressures even higher. Am I reading this wrong or is this not an issue? It seems that it would be nice to find a powder that would give similar results more in the middle of the load range. . .
Thanks,
Bill