doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Rimmed cartridge for North America?'s & opinions

A friend shot an elk with his 9.3x74R; it dropped without taking a step. It was only later he noticed a 3" sapling, 15 paces away, with a nice clean hole in the center.

Best,

C.

Thanks for all the replies,
There is a lots to choose from, now to look at the ballistics, reviews, and brass availability. I have been considering a falling block in 45-70gov till I saw a custom double falling block and fell in love. In single shot form 45-70 would be my choice. Now I have been trying rationalize getting one made. Being that it is a double gun I want it to be the most elegant but useful of cartridge as possible. As I plan on using it a great deal.
Again thanks for all the ideas.
Dan

The traditional European SS "stalking" rifle tended (s) to be a rather light elegant thing to make it ideal for, well, stalking. Like the Eastern US much of Germany and Austria where this style is popular is forested and hilly. Most of the continental middle-weights exist in a rimmed version to be optimized in combination guns and single shots.

My problem with the 45-70 is that a weapon to handle it comfortably is beyond what I would call a stalking rifle. Even a 9.3x74, which is a wonderful round, would need a platform with quite a bit of plain old weight.

A 30-30 in a custom single shot, however, could be built into a very elegant little thing indeed which will easily handle anything in the East. Because it is a single you could use any bullet design.

The #3 Ruger is light and quick handling although, in my opinion, too light for most big guys to shoot comfortably. My carbine is just a skosh over 6 pounds. One of my cousins that weighs 260 lbs shot it and the thing recoiled back and gave him a black eye.

Sorry the way a worded my last post It looked like I was still looking at a single shot. I am looking a Double falling block it looks like a Ruger #1 mated with a European double. It's called a Farquharson Double Rifle made by Bailey Bradshaw it screams to me midrange stalking cartridge. My first thoughts were 30-30 but if I am going custom I figured why not go all the way.
Dan

More sentiment than anything; the only big game I've taken is Newfoundland moose. I value the 7 X 57 performance so highly it would be my double rifle.

What would be the view of 8x57JR?

Berrien

If I wanted an American stalking rifle; then why not chamber the darned thing in an American cartridge. The 348 Win would be a great round; but ammo and brass are expensive and sometimes hard to find easily. A rimmed cartridge that has not been mentioned in the 444 Marlin; more than adequate for any hog or deer (and other critters) that roam the hills, hollows, and swamps of the south. The power, range, and accuracy of this cartridge has been much improved recently by Hornady in the development of their Leverevolution ammo line that now allows for a 265 grain pointed bullet. Most of today's rimmed rounds were designed for lever rifles; and if you go that route, I'd strongly encourage you to consider the recently introduced 338 Marlin Express. Loaded with Hornady's 200 grain LE round, this cartridge is the ballistic equal to the 30/06 180 gain factory loading out to 400 yards; it is supremely accurate, has modest recoil, and will absolutely flatten a whitetail deer (the only large game animal I've shot with this round). I've also read a number of posts where individuals reported one-shot kills on bear, hogs, elk, moose, and buffalo with the 338ME cartridge.

Topgun, My go to hog and deer gun is a H&R 45 colt carbine. I like the Hornady Leverevolution ammo in it along with some cast bullets. I have been looking at all my options 308 me, 357max, 445 supermax(brass is harder to get) 454 casull, 45-70gov, ect..... needed some more ideas because I have never had a custom gun and it's probably only one I'll will get and I want to make it count. so I'll add 338me and 444marlin to the list.
Dan

9.3x74R again. Let's hear the downside for this cartridge. All these weird suggestions don't take into consideration availability. The ubiquitous .45-70 is not bad, but the 9.3x74R is a much more versatile shell should you need it.

The new Sabattis from Cabelas are an unproven quantity, but they look like the deal of the century @ $2999 for an entry-level double rifle.
JR