Hi guys,

What bullet have you found to be good on wild boar and other big game using a 9,3x74R?

My friend just got himself one, and was asking for recommendations.
RWS for sure is good but expensive; as is Norma.
Lapua's Naturalis is dandy, but looking at the discussions of monometals in doubles I would be hesitant to use them.

Here is my pallete:



(L-R): 293gr TUG, 270gr. Hirtenberger, 286gr. Norma Oryx, 286gr. CDP Factory, 286gr. CDP factory loaded for Fanzoi, and 265gr GSFN solid. I have loaded a batch of 230gr. GSHV lately (not on the pic).

IMO TUG is universal, Hirtenberger is pretty soft, Oryx would be perfect for boar, CDP's are a tad hard but should do good on biggest boars. 230 gr. GSHV's are very good as well.

P.S. On monos - I have shot a dozen 286gr. TSX's from my Merkel and it worked without problems and my friend shoots them in his Victor Sarasquetta double .375 H&H flanged - also check: Pappas on monos in doubles - Cal writes a double rifle coloumn in African hunter magazine.

quote:

IMO TUG is universal, Hirtenberger is pretty soft, Oryx would be perfect for boar, CDP's are a tad hard but should do good on biggest boars. 230 gr. GSHV's are very good as well.

I'm 100% in agreement with Mousie's ammo/bullet analysis.



I don't know if your friend reloads or has someone who could. A 20 Box of (quality, brand name) 9.3x74R's cartridges will give you a good case of Sticker Shock. RWS is the universal load but like you said - one week's pocket money goes down range in little time at the range. Norma isn't far behind, either. For value & performance on a budget Geco makes a resonable 9.3x74R cartridge although some claim the 250 gr. bullets are too soft, but I haven't found them so.

I can offer some opinions on four additional bullets.

My orginal stash of Nosler 250 gr. Ballistic Tips which have performed fantastic on large European Game. They are sadly, no more; having been replaced by Nosler Accubonds. Although I heven't tried the Nosler AB's yet I'm sure they also deliver the kind of perfomance everyone expects from a Nosler product.

I have a little trick of shortening Speer 270 gr. Semi-Spitzers and make 250 gr. Hollow Points out of them. Surprise! (since EVERYONE bashes this bullet), When used thusly and with a coupla grains less powder they have performed quite well. Haven't had one bounce off a Red Stag or Wild Boar yet.

The Woodliegh 250 gr. RN's are just fine, too but haven't delivered the accuracy the other bullets have for me yet but I'm talking nuances here, not practical hunting accuracy.

I have 200 of the new Hornady 286 gr. Spitzers and they are a VERY good bullet in this cartridge. They will, I'm sure become my #1 bullet in this cartridge when my Nosler BT's are depleted. Please correct me if I'm wrong but isn't Hornady making 9.3x74R ammunition using this bullet?

I shoot this cartridge in a Drilling and I'm in no big hurry to use monometal bullets; so I haven't tried Barnes', yet but then you'll not get much disappointment from pretty much anyone who has used their wares.

Our Regards to your Friend, who I'm sure will soon find the pleasures (other than ammo cost) of his new 9.3x74R!

Oryx or Mega bullets are top choice for Europe.
Mouse 93 said almost everything

RWS H-Mantles are good but do expect full penetration.

The relatively light Norma 232 grain Vulcan shoots very well and flat from my rifle, so does the Nosler 250 grain Ballistic Tip. I only killed game with the latter. I understand the Vulcan is now relabeled, same as the Nosler. I still do have some boxes...

Up to 100 meters the S&B 193 grain FP loaded to ~700 m/s does the job on most European animals when shot at the boiler room. Precision is not so good, though.

The 193 grain Degol still await testing.