Brass prices, in descending sequence:

8x75RS
8x65RS
9,3x74R
7x65R

Oh yes, there also is the exquisite and ultra-snobbish 9,3x65R Brenneke. See Harald Wolf's "Hatari Times" website.

Carcano

Sir,
suggest you re-consider the 9,3x74 ... especially for driven boar. Most driven game is encountered in forrest where 75 meters is already a long shot, and the 9,3x74 is deadly to easily 150 meters. For driven european game, just be careful not to use hard bullets.

I have used the 7x65R and 7x57R on boar and red deer and I can tell you there is a noticable difference in how game reacts when hit with the 9,3x74. Also, the 9,3 usually makes a good exit wound which creates a better blood trail. The 7mm bullets do not always exit. I have also used the 9,3x62 (very similar ballistics to 9,3x74) in Africa on game up to and including eland. With 286 gr soft nose bullets, both these calibers are real killers.

Many people here in Germany mount telescopic sights on their double rifles. This is because the light in deep forrest is not too good in winter and a scope really helps with game acquisition and sex/age determination. I have a little 2.75x scope mounted on my Jeffery sidexside 9,3x74. The gun is regulated w/o scope so the grouping of the two barrels w/ scope is only about 4 inches at 100 meters. However, by adjusting the scope to the right barrel, I have good accuracy (less than 2 MOA) and this is useable out to 150-200 meters or so.

At 150 meters, the sound of the impact of the 286 gr 9,3 roundnose can be clearly seen and heard.

As to lightness. A rifle that is too light does not swing as smoothly and reacts more abruptly in recoil. This can slow ability to make a second shot ... which is the hole point of a double.

For that long shot I would sight the scope to the LEFT barerel, which otherwise with normal use will be fired much less than the right one...

I would use a scope on it, 1,25-4x24 by any good European maker ( Swarovski, Kahles, Zeiss ) because it is quicker than open sights on anything above 25 m. O.k., its not so romantic and classic, but its the truth.

Hermann

I like my Chapuis S by S 9.3x74 (+Swaro 1.25-4x24 red dot) ,very handy, short and well-balanced. But if I am not hindered and can shoot beyond 150m, I trade it for a 300WM or WBY. I never tried and never trust it for long shots. It's my feeling.
I am using this handy Chapuis anytime when bow-hunting as a back-up, on a treestand or among the bushes during driven hunts.
My guide agreed my taking it in African to shoot red buffalos, I didn't dare it.
I don't think the 9.3x74 was designed for long shots.

Few years ago I found an old magazine about guns Elmer Keith had. One of them was double O/U (if remembered correctly) made in Ferlach and chambered in 338x74, made by necking down 9.3x74 and blowing it out to get standard bottle neck cartridge. I have no data about it, but on one of the websites, somebody mentioned that it�s comparable to 338 Winchester in performance. With excellent selection of 338 bullets, this cartridge, loaded with one of 250 grains good quality bullets, looks better than any other one for what I would like to hunt.

As for recoil, nicely integrated muzzle brake that will expel gasses mostly sideways, similar to Dave Gentry�s �Quite Muzzle Brake� (see http://www.gentrycustom.com/muzzlebrake.html ) would be the ticket for lighter rifle.

Regards, Onty.

I too recommend a 9,3x74R. I have been using a Chapuis for a little over 6 years and I am very happy with it. I have 2 scopes fited for it. One a Leupold 2.5-8 with the heavy duplex and a Swarovske 1.5-6 with the illuminated circle dot. I have taken game from raccoons, turkeys, coyotes, deer, pigs, and bobcats to black bears [2] water buck and kudu and several other African plains game. My 2 longest shots have been on a coyote, 271 yards [lazered after the shot] and a kudu in ZIM at 300 yards.
I have found it not too powerful on the small stuff and plenty enough on the big stuff. It is my favorite rifle for general purpose hunting of game smaller than buff. I like the 286 grain bullets best.
I can shoot it in the field as good as any bolt action.
It might not be my first choice as a sheep or goat rifle, but out to 250 yards it is as good as it gets, and if you know your trajectory you can stretch it to 300 as I have proven.
The Chapuis weighs 7 1/4 lbs with out scope, and handles very well.
The 7mms' and 8mm's are good calibers.... but the 9,3x74R is a GREAT calibre. In fact I think it is the best calibre for a double rifle under 40 cal on the planet.