9.3x72r reload question.

coyotes220 · April 25, 2024, 12:39 AM

Has anyone ever reloaded 9.3x72r without the proper dies? They're high dollar IF you can find any. First I plan on trying .357 dies and a Lyman 358429 powder coated to .361 or 2 ish in my .366 slugged bore. Will be using universal decapper and hoping FL resizing won't be needed at the very low pressures. If that fails I'll be going another route. 9.3x57R? Maybe? I'm only guessing, that's why I'm wanting to draw from REAL experience.

**44 AMP** · April 25, 2024, 03:28 AM

I had to look that one up. If we are talking the same round, it is a long tapered case, (might be called straight because it has no shoulder) but it is tapered, not straight.

First questions, what rifle do you have and do you have boxer primed brass??

The .357 specs .379" at the case mouth. The data I have says the 9.3x70R is .386". Neck sizing using .357 dies is probably possible but the die is going to squeeze the 9.3 brass down further than it should.

My experience with cast bullets is that they should be bore size or better yet .001-.002 larger. .361-.362" bullets would be undersized for a .366" bore and poor accuracy and bad leading are the likely result.

9.3x57 is a rimless bottle necked case, and about a half inch shorter than 9.3x70R. 9.3x57R is the same case with a rim for single shot actions. Might be possible to set those dies to neck size the 70R case, I can't say for sure.

Getting a proper FL die set for your caliber is expensive, true, but how many sets are you going to buy. One, properly cared for will out last you, and it adds considerable value (and sales appeal) to your rifle if, in the future you decide to sell it.

Good Luck with your project, sorry I can't be of more help.

ligonierbill · April 25, 2024, 08:01 AM

You're talking the old blackpowder round, not the more modern 9.3x74R, correct? Here's a suggestion, based on my experience with what I call my 11.9x51R. The guy who sold it to me had a chamber cast and provided a partial box of 11.7x51R Danish. They fired OK, but the neck expanded more than that, and the bore slugged 0.470 (11.9 mm). I didn't size the fired cases at all. I found some 0.459 cast bullets at Buffalo Arms (350 grain, meant for the Danish) and paper patched them. Forget what I seated them with, but something close. The old buffalo hunters just hand seated their paper patched bullets. Loaded 60 gr 1 1/2Fg, and they work great. I've since cast some actual 0.470s but haven't tested them yet.

Buffalo Arms sells the onion skin paper needed, and I'm sure there are other sources. Paper patching requires a little practice, but is really pretty easy. I'm assuming you have fired cases.

coyotes220 · April 25, 2024, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ligonierbill

You're talking the old blackpowder round, not the more modern 9.3x74R, correct? Here's a suggestion, based on my experience with what I call my 11.9x51R. The guy who sold it to me had a chamber cast and provided a partial box of 11.7x51R Danish. They fired OK, but the neck expanded more than that, and the bore slugged 0.470 (11.9 mm). I didn't size the fired cases at all. I found some 0.459 cast bullets at Buffalo Arms (350 grain, meant for the Danish) and paper patched them. Forget what I seated them with, but something close. The old buffalo hunters just hand seated their paper patched bullets. Loaded 60 gr 1 1/2Fg, and they work great. I've since cast some actual 0.470s but haven't tested them yet.

Buffalo Arms sells the onion skin paper needed, and I'm sure there are other sources. Paper patching requires a little practice, but is really pretty easy. I'm assuming you have fired cases.

I often forget about the sales appeal you mentioned and concentrate on saving that buck. you bring up a very good point, most people want the proper dies. Finding them actually in stock is an issue thus far. Rifle is an under lever, break open single shot said to be of German origin. It's 9.3x72R (seventy two) and not the Sauer branded one, mine is just plain.9.3x72 Boxer brass. the Sauer one is different dimensions. I know that 357 mag dies and bullets will be a bit small but it's just a thought I've had that hasn't been tried yet and may be horrible if attempted. As for paper patching a smaller bullet I'm not opposed to it but would rather not because I'm already slow enough. I'll likely be looking for proper dies now that you mentioned the plus sides to it.

coyotes220 · April 25, 2024, 10:24 AM

And also looking for bullets or a mould of proper diameter.

coyotes220 · April 25, 2024, 10:27 AM

And I should've said I'm not totally opposed to paper patching, just a little opposed.

coyotes220 · April 25, 2024, 10:41 AM

The reply wasn't meant for you ligonierbill, my mistake. It was meant for 44 AMP. I was addressing things you didn't say.

stagpanther · April 25, 2024, 11:58 AM

CAUTION: The following post includes load data generated by calculation in QuickLOAD (QL) or Gordon Reloading Tool (GRT) software is based on particular powder lots, the assumption the primer is as mild as possible, and assumptions about component, chamber and gun geometry that may not correspond well to what you have. Such data should be approached by working up from published starting loads. USE THIS DATA AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The Firing Line, nor the staff of TFL, nor QL's author or distributor nor GRT's author assumes any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information or information derived from it.

ligonierbill · April 25, 2024, 12:15 PM

Buffalo Arms has CH4D dies. Not cheap, but you only buy them once.

Shadow9mm · April 25, 2024, 01:26 PM

Hornady will make you custom dies if you send them 3 pieces of brass fired in your gun. You can get individual dies or sets. https://www.hornady.com/reloading/dies/custom-dies#!/

coyotes220 · April 25, 2024, 02:55 PM

I seen buffalo arms dies but they appear to be for a .360 bullet, mine barrel slugged.366. Id love to read the specs on that 9.3x57 but it's too blurry. If I could a die to seat and crimp I'd be golden. I hope FL resizing won't be needed

stagpanther · April 25, 2024, 03:03 PM

Just enlarge the page--should be able to make it out.

coyotes220 · April 25, 2024, 11:52 PM

I can see it when expanded just good enough to see it's the bottle neck 9.3x57r, not the straight wall, tapered case i speak of. A seating/crimping die for it might work on my 9.3x72 though, bullet diameter and outside mouth diameter being the only important measurements. I was hoping to bump into someone who has actually done it to confirm.

April 25, 2024, 12:39 AM	#1
coyotes220 Member Join Date: June 3, 2019 Posts: 17	9.3x72r reload question. Has anyone ever reloaded 9.3x72r without the proper dies? They're high dollar IF you can find any. First I plan on trying .357 dies and a Lyman 358429 powder coated to .361 or 2 ish in my .366 slugged bore. Will be using universal decapper and hoping FL resizing won't be needed at the very low pressures. If that fails I'll be going another route. 9.3x57R? Maybe? I'm only guessing, that's why I'm wanting to draw from REAL experience.

April 25, 2024, 03:28 AM	#2
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,906	I had to look that one up. If we are talking the same round, it is a long tapered case, (might be called straight because it has no shoulder) but it is tapered, not straight. First questions, what rifle do you have and do you have boxer primed brass?? The .357 specs .379" at the case mouth. The data I have says the 9.3x70R is .386". Neck sizing using .357 dies is probably possible but the die is going to squeeze the 9.3 brass down further than it should. My experience with cast bullets is that they should be bore size or better yet .001-.002 larger. .361-.362" bullets would be undersized for a .366" bore and poor accuracy and bad leading are the likely result. 9.3x57 is a rimless bottle necked case, and about a half inch shorter than 9.3x70R. 9.3x57R is the same case with a rim for single shot actions. Might be possible to set those dies to neck size the 70R case, I can't say for sure. Getting a proper FL die set for your caliber is expensive, true, but how many sets are you going to buy. One, properly cared for will out last you, and it adds considerable value (and sales appeal) to your rifle if, in the future you decide to sell it. Good Luck with your project, sorry I can't be of more help. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

April 25, 2024, 01:26 PM	#10
Shadow9mm Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2012 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 3,986	Hornady will make you custom dies if you send them 3 pieces of brass fired in your gun. You can get individual dies or sets. https://www.hornady.com/reloading/dies/custom-dies#!/ __________________ I don't believe in "range fodder" that is why I reload.

April 25, 2024, 03:03 PM	#12
stagpanther Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2014 Posts: 11,861	Just enlarge the page--should be able to make it out. __________________ "Everyone speaks gun."--Robert O'Neill *I am NOT an expert--I do not have any formal experience or certification in firearms use or testing; use any information I post at your own risk!*

April 25, 2024, 08:01 AM	#3
ligonierbill Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Posts: 2,463	You're talking the old blackpowder round, not the more modern 9.3x74R, correct? Here's a suggestion, based on my experience with what I call my 11.9x51R. The guy who sold it to me had a chamber cast and provided a partial box of 11.7x51R Danish. They fired OK, but the neck expanded more than that, and the bore slugged 0.470 (11.9 mm). I didn't size the fired cases at all. I found some 0.459 cast bullets at Buffalo Arms (350 grain, meant for the Danish) and paper patched them. Forget what I seated them with, but something close. The old buffalo hunters just hand seated their paper patched bullets. Loaded 60 gr 1 1/2Fg, and they work great. I've since cast some actual 0.470s but haven't tested them yet. Buffalo Arms sells the onion skin paper needed, and I'm sure there are other sources. Paper patching requires a little practice, but is really pretty easy. I'm assuming you have fired cases.

April 25, 2024, 10:24 AM	#5
coyotes220 Member Join Date: June 3, 2019 Posts: 17	And also looking for bullets or a mould of proper diameter.

April 25, 2024, 10:27 AM	#6
coyotes220 Member Join Date: June 3, 2019 Posts: 17	And I should've said I'm not totally opposed to paper patching, just a little opposed.

April 25, 2024, 10:41 AM	#7
coyotes220 Member Join Date: June 3, 2019 Posts: 17	The reply wasn't meant for you ligonierbill, my mistake. It was meant for 44 AMP. I was addressing things you didn't say.

April 25, 2024, 12:15 PM	#9
ligonierbill Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Posts: 2,463	Buffalo Arms has CH4D dies. Not cheap, but you only buy them once.

April 25, 2024, 02:55 PM	#11
coyotes220 Member Join Date: June 3, 2019 Posts: 17	I seen buffalo arms dies but they appear to be for a .360 bullet, mine barrel slugged.366. Id love to read the specs on that 9.3x57 but it's too blurry. If I could a die to seat and crimp I'd be golden. I hope FL resizing won't be needed

April 25, 2024, 11:52 PM	#13
coyotes220 Member Join Date: June 3, 2019 Posts: 17	I can see it when expanded just good enough to see it's the bottle neck 9.3x57r, not the straight wall, tapered case i speak of. A seating/crimping die for it might work on my 9.3x72 though, bullet diameter and outside mouth diameter being the only important measurements. I was hoping to bump into someone who has actually done it to confirm.