Wildcat cartrige for handi

[aromakr]

Ok ! I've just become addicted to the Handi's. I love the old 9.3x74R cartridge, but haven't been able to fine a 9.3 barrel that I could stub, so I've got the idea to create a .35 caliber version of the old 9.3. by straightening the case some and improving the shoulder angle. I figured with the whelen barrel coming out in 2010 it would be a simple matter of re-chambering. Anyone have any thoughts on this and Ideas of where a reamer might be purchased.
Bob

[Spanky]

The Whelen is pretty darn good already. 



Spanky

[quickdtoo]

Yup, the Whelen is already a good round, lots more bullets available for it than the 9.3 too, Improve the Whelen instead, reamer and dies are already available, the Brown-Whelen looks like a good one to use, but dies would be a bit more expensive, I use my 35 Whelen seater die which I already had and just bought an Improved full length sizing die to save a little money. The 9.3 does look like an impressive round tho. 

Tim

http://ammoguide.com/cgi-bin/aicompare.cgi?sn=pgjFpWkJwg&loadset=130&xxglbl=1

http://ammoguide.com/?tool=bcompare&it=62%7c259%7c651%7c420

[aromakr]

Tim:
thanks for the links, did not know about that site. I wonder why they don't do comparisons with equal weight bullets. I did find a 35 based on the 9.3 case that looks good and I like the idea of the rimed case. Its the 35 DeVries.
thanks
Bob

[Fred M]

Most anything with a metric name, can be a paine to buy, the 9.3x74 is no exception. The case is not a very efficient one. It was mostly designed for the Drilling to keep the under/barrel slender. For a single shot rifle that is not a requirement.

A much better concept for your application would be a 358JDJ which is created from a 444 Marlin case. Thee 375JDJ is even better. Cases and bullets are easy to find and making the brass
is also very simple.

I have a 375Win in a Ruger#3 that I had thought to rechamber, but the 375Win is more than powerful enough for anything I hunt. This rifle has a 22" barrel and produces nearly 2400ft with a 225gr Hornady SP. That is almost as good the 9.3x74.

I would go for a JDJ in either caliber.

[quickdtoo]

Fred, I'm pushing 220gr jacketed bullets ~2400fps in my H&R 38-55 Target using 375Win data in Starline long brass, from the looks of the cases and easy of extraction I could easily go faster if I tried, but that's in a 28" barrel, but it's also likely too much for the soft point bullets I'm using, I haven't tried any hardcast yet which is still on the menu. 

Tim

[fish280]

9.3 bullets (.366) are a lot easier to come by nowadays ...

[fish280]

there's been a mighty resurgence of interest in the 9.3x63 round. you could always rechamber and re-bore a .30-'06 barrel ...

[fish280]

plenty o' brass around (.30-'06).

[Fred M]

the 9.3x74 has one more problem, many reborers don't have tools for the job, because there is little call for this caliber. Perhaps there are some bullets available but not anywhere near as .358 or .375. I was surprised that Ruger brought out their #1 model in 9.3x74. Supply by now has all but tried up only a few were made. I had ordered one but never got it.

Tim.
the 38-55 and a 28' barrel at 2400 with a a 220gr bullet is pretty
good. Your barrel must be close to .375. I get 2400 with a 22" barrel and a 225grSP Hornady, which is ouright whicket in that light #3. I am thinking taking it hunting in Nov. for at least one deer. Either one yours or mine are very close to the 9.3x74

[aromakr]

Guy's that why I want to neck the 9.3x74 down to .35 it has been done! its either called the .358x74R or the .35 DeVries. The cartridge is just slightly below the improved Whelen in performance, with the limited data availible, I'm sure that can be tweaked, but I'm hoping the rimed case will help accuracy in the handy.
Bob

[rockrat]

You could go with the 35 Winchester, but cut it for 405 Win rim size so you can use 405 win brass, or rechamber a 38-55 Handi barrel to 38-72Win.  You can push a 280gr to 2400fps and a bit beyond

[Fred M]

aromakr
but I'm hoping the rimed case will help accuracy in the handy.

This is simply wishfull thinking, as the most accurate cartridges are rimless and there are reasons for that. And that applies for a Handi with its stretchie reciever. Besides the 358JDJ, the 375Win and 38-55 are rimmed too.

If you ever want to have good reloading success you better have a good shoulder to head space on. This is particular tru in a Handi and that pertains to a rimless or a rimmed case. The rimmed cases have too much variations in rim thickness that is why you should head space on the shoulder.

The rimmed cases serve only one purpose and that is ejection or better extraction, but this too is only in theory because there is no trouble with rimless cases as far as extraction goes. That a single shot rifle has to have a rimmed case is utter nonsense and it is not a requisite.

You are picking a poor cartridge for your first wildcat experience
with a Handi.