After returning from Africa and really enjoying the use of my 9,3x62 in the CZ550, I decided that I wanted to take my Encore next time. Having read up a lot on the functioning of single shot rifles, and with quite a bit of experience with them over the past few years, I decided that the rimmed 9,3x74R would be just about the perfect round in the Encore for African Plains game.

With a search on here, I found a member that had a 9,3x74R Reamer who offered to sell it to me. I jumped at the offer, and courtesy of the USPS, I had the reamer in hand shortly:




For Christmas that fall, I got a Shilen blank in 9,3 diameter. Not much to look at to start:



I sent it off to Bullberry in the spring to have it turned into a barrel. I order a 26" Heavy Sporter barrel, with 6 hole weaver base, Leupold QD Rings, XS Ghost Ring weaver back up sight and front blade.





Mounted on the frame and with Bullberry's woodwork (the wood I bought several years back with another barrel)



With a Leupold VXIII 1.5-5x20 Scope that my wife bought me for Christmas . . .



Once I got it all put together, I took it hunting - never got a chance at a buck late in the season, so I took this axis doe for the table.


Troy

nice looking rifle

Troy-

That's a gorgeous rifle in a terrific caliber. And seeing it from inception to finished product will make it even more special for you.

Of course, to continue to break it in properly, you're going to have to get after the wild hogs just a bit...

Bobby, I am impressed and will be interested to hear how this combo does in upcoming seasons.

Is this the rimmed version of the 9.3x62, in a rimmed caliber?

Troy,

Nice, very nice!

Cliff,

The 9.3x74R cartridge is not simply a rimmed version of the 9.3x62 when compared to say; a 7x64 Brenneke and a 7x65R. The two 9.3's are completely different cartridges.

If starting with a 9.3 barrel chambered for either catridge; if a conversion or re-chamber was desired fron one to the other you'd have to to whack off a good portion of the chamber area to clean it up.

Troy, thanks for posting this. I look forward to receiving the one I am making up for my wife in the next few months.

Folks, if you are interested, that reamer is going back to Bullberry for my wife's rifle, so they'll have it on hand if you want one.

That is one nice looking Encore rifle.

Why did you buy a barrel from Shilen direct instead of just ordering a barrel from Bullberry? Did you save money? How much was the barrel blank?

Big 5 -

part of it was that I had to pay for this piecemeal . . .

Also, b/c bullberry doesn't standard order 9,3 blanks, I don't think that they could have gotten their normal (bulk) rate. I don't recall exactly what the blank cost me, somewhere in the ballpark of $200, which is about what Bullberry knocked off my price.

Troy

Troy,
Nice gun. In particular the sights, I am learning. How do you like that scope?

MGM is making a 30/40 Krag barrel that will fit on a Contender and I've been looking at that scope for it.

That is a nice looking rifle
well done....

Troy,
I'm glad to see that you put the reamer to good use. Your rifle is prettier than mine, since I chose a stainless frame and stainless Douglas barrel. I'm using laminated wood, but your stock is much nicer looking. I went with 24" but wish I had gone with 26". I just didn't know how handy the Encores are.

My 9.3x74R Encore is perhaps the most fun rifle to shoot that I have. That reamer cut a near perfect chamber which made reloading great fun too. It's one of the easiest cartridges I have worked with in load development. I can't remember now all the loads I tried. I just tried the most likely powders, etc. from several manuals, and actually none of the loads were unsatisfactory. I do remember using IMR 4350 and some of those 286 gr Barnes bullets. WOW. The throat allows the long bullets to be seated way out there, with plenty still in the neck, giving a little more powder space. I liked the accuracy, but haven't shot any game with it yet.

I like this 9.3x74R - Encore combo much better than a 45-70 that I used to have. I can see why both cartridges have survived for so many years. Of course the 9.3 has a special place in double and single shot rifles only, which makes it even more amazing. Even in a modern single shot like the Encore, there is a certain nostalgic feeling from dropping one of those long slim cartridges in the chamber, and closing with a click.

I had a barrel made in 7x65R also, and I've not shot it much either. The chamber is very close tolerences too, so I'm expecting good results from handloads. You have given me incentive to get out there this summer and develop some good loads and hunt with both barrels next season.

Another barrel that I thought about is the 8x57R, but I just didn't get around to it. Besides, I'm not using the ones I have near enough. Still, that 8mm has just got to be a good choice.

KB

quote:

Originally posted by CARNE:
Troy,
Nice gun. In particular the sights, I am learning. How do you like that scope?

I like the scope a lot . . . it is very clear, and very hadndy.

quote:

Originally posted by Kabluewy:

I like this 9.3x74R - Encore combo much better than a 45-70 that I used to have. I can see why both cartridges have survived for so many years. Of course the 9.3 has a special place in double and single shot rifles only, which makes it even more amazing. Even in a modern single shot like the Encore, there is a certain nostalgic feeling from dropping one of those long slim cartridges in the chamber, and closing with a click.

I agree. I am really enjoying using this one, and I've been carrying it out hunting every couple of weeks this spring (there's a big Axis stag down here with my name on him).

quote:

Originally posted by Kabluewy:

I had a barrel made in 7x65R also, and I've not shot it much either. The chamber is very close tolerences too, so I'm expecting good results from handloads. You have given me incentive to get out there this summer and develop some good loads and hunt with both barrels next season.

The more I think about it, the more I want to get a barrell in 7x65R as well. You still have that reamer?

Troy

Yes, I have the reamer and it was made by Manson just like the 9.3x74R. The reamer is in storage, and I'm living in another city. I had to change jobs and move since I sold you the 9.3 reamer.

I do plan on going back to visit the storage building this summer, which is on a lot I own there. I want to ship all my reloading gear, rifles, and some other stuff here, so when I'm there I can fetch the 7x65R reamer and contact you to see if you are still interested.

Basically, the 9.3x74R and the 7x65R combo in a single shot is all a guy needs for general hunting, and a nice balance. I think they are very practical, and I don't understand why we have to go to custom barrels to get them.

KB