9,3x74R on Elephant

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hunter 89

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Is it possible to kill an elephant with the 9.3x74R (286 grain with 2400 fps Barnes Banded Solids)?
I know that it is not permitted but I would be very interested to know whether it would generally be sufficient if the shot was placed well?
Thanks for our answers!
 
An friend of mine, a former PH in Africa, stopped an attacking Asian elephant in Malaysia with the cartridge 9,3x74R and a frontal brain shot. Basically, the cartridge 9,3x74R can do more or less the same thing as the cartridges 9,3x62 or even 375 H&H magnum. After a perfect shot placement into the brain, a lot is possible with various cartridges, also with smaller ones, but you cannot make any mistakes. I would only try something like that in an emergency case when nothing else is available or if I want to play with my tool and then to trust the PH for the rest of the work. We have much better cartridges available for elephant hunting nowadays, so that such hunts don't have to end in unnecessary animal cruelty.
 
KO factor multiplies bullet weight (measured in grains) by muzzle velocity (measured in feet per second) by bullet diameter (measured in inches) and then divides the product by 7,000, converting the value from grains to pounds and giving a numerical value from 0 to ~150 for normal hunting cartridges. Expressed as a fraction, the Taylor KO Factor is:
Taylor Knock Out Formula

For hunting elephants, a Taylor Knock-Out (TKO) factor of at least 40 is generally considered the minimum for a reliable and effective kill. However, it's important to understand that TKO factor is a measure of a cartridge's ability to cause concussion and incapacitation, and while a high TKO factor is desirable, it doesn't guarantee a clean, humane kill.

I have never hunted an elephant, but like the study and science & debate this topic seems to bring.
I would say that I would be comfortable with a .40 cal + , when dealing with a hippopotamus or elephant
 
It seems to me that there is no point in shooting the largest African animals with calibers that are not fully designed for this. As noted in the comments, there are better cartridges for this.

My friend got all the big five in 9.3x62 caliber. This is about the same as the 9.3x74R. So this is certainly possible. But he is a very serious hunter who has got a wide variety of game on all continents. And his experience is different from that of an ordinary hunter.

And Karamoja Bell could shoot elephants with a small caliber as much as he wanted. Elephants in his time were not worth the huge amount of money that they are now. He had the opportunity to experiment and improve his skills. That was his job. But it's hardly advisable these days.

Of course, PH will back you up. But that's the thing, you need to shoot your elephant yourself and leave a good impression of it. And with the 9.3x74R, things may not go according to plan.
 
I have never taken an elephant - but as Doctari comments in his book he culled 650 buff with a 9.3x62 - so effective yes - optimal nope - but you pays your money and takes your choice !
 
SRvet said:
On the basis that Bell killed elephants with 6.5x54 and thousands have been culled with the 7.62x51 and an R1 rifle then yes it would work.
Click to expand...
Please don’t misinterpret me as suggesting the 9.3 is ideal …. I do not believe it is but if that is the only firearm available it could be made to work.
 
hunter 89 said:
Is it possible to kill an elephant with the 9.3x74R (286 grain with 2400 fps Barnes Banded Solids)?
I know that it is not permitted but I would be very interested to know whether it would generally be sufficient if the shot was placed well?
Thanks for our answers!
Click to expand...
Yes, it is. It would be an relatively poor choice for body shots on the big bulls. But a properly constructed 9.3mm solid (such as the 280Gr Cutting Edge Bullets flat nosed monolithic brass Safari Solid) traveling at a velocity of 2360 FPS can safely down an elephant with a brain shot from any angle.
cuttingedgebullets.com

.366/9.3mm 280gr Safari Solid - 50ct

50ct This 9.3MM/.366" diameter 280 grain Safari Solid™ hunting bullet is designed for Bolt Action Rifles as well as Double Rifles. Design incorporates 3 + 1 band configuration for reduced barrel strain. It has the 67% Meplat BBW#13™ nose profile which has proven to give the deepest penetration...
cuttingedgebullets.com cuttingedgebullets.com

Your margin for error is quite low however, because initial shot placement must be extremely critical. The 9.3x74mmR used to be an extremely popular all-round caliber for mixed bag hunting in the Belgian Congo back in the good old days up until 1960. Including on elephants.
 
Certainly possible and in a number of countries perfectly legal. It is by no means a stopping rifle if that is your question.
 
Craig Boddington, whose advice I trust for too many reasons to list here, says the following:

"The old 9.3x62mm and 9.3x74R in double rifles is very, very minimally adequate for elephant. It may be legal in areas where 9.3s are allowed, but you're pushing the limit. And that’s really as low as you should ever consider going for elephant hunting today."

In other words, yes. It will kill an elephant under ideal conditions, and clearly it has been done sufficiently for him to include it in his comments. But the reverse will also be true--a .700 NE under the least ideal conditions will make you wish you put all your affairs in order prior to your elephant safari.
 
I have shot 2 elephants with barnes banded solids in the 9.3x62 and 2 elephants with the 375 H&H.
The most recent with the 9.3 was a large bodied bull with the side brain shot. The bullet was found on the opposite side of the skull against the skin. The other with the 9.3 was a tuskless cow frontal brain shot and the bullet was found in the neck, having fully penetrated the skull.

I do not think the additional 14 grains of bullet and a little extra velocity of the 375 would have made any difference.

What does make a difference for me is reduced recoil and studying proper shot placement.

They do not make caliber large enough to compensate for poor shot placement when hunting elephant.
 
Cooper65 said:
They do not make caliber large enough to compensate for poor shot placement when hunting elephant.
Click to expand...

Not true, you can miss the brain and then a big bore make the difference. Aside from that, sometime you have to shoot an elephant with body shot so that the use of a big bore make also a great difference.
 
2400 fps seems like a lot to ask of a cartridge with a max pressure of 49K PSI
 
Yes the 9.3x74 will effectively penetrate the frontal or side brain shot. Shot placement is king with any round on elephant!!! My 9.3x74 with 286 and 300gr solids regulates at 2380 and 2365fps respectfully. Within pressure limits. There are better rounds available for elephant in my opinion. If you decide to hunt one MAKE sure you are exacting on your shot placement and have the concurrence of your PH as if you blow the shot the PH will have to sort out the wounded animal.
 
pilar said:
​
KO factor multiplies bullet weight (measured in grains) by muzzle velocity (measured in feet per second) by bullet diameter (measured in inches) and then divides the product by 7,000, converting the value from grains to pounds and giving a numerical value from 0 to ~150 for normal hunting cartridges. Expressed as a fraction, the Taylor KO Factor is:

Taylor Knock Out Formula

For hunting elephants, a Taylor Knock-Out (TKO) factor of at least 40 is generally considered the minimum for a reliable and effective kill. However, it's important to understand that TKO factor is a measure of a cartridge's ability to cause concussion and incapacitation, and while a high TKO factor is desirable, it doesn't guarantee a clean, humane kill.

I have never hunted an elephant, but like the study and science & debate this topic seems to bring.
I would say that I would be comfortable with a .40 cal + , when dealing with a hippopotamus or elephant
Click to expand...
@pilar
Going by those calculations then the 35 Whelen loaded with 310gn bullets at 2,455fps give a TKO of 39.
Very close to the 40.
Would it be suitable, maybe in an emergency.
Would it be advisable, definitely not.
Does this make it suitable for elephants, NO
I personally think the TKO numbers can be used to confuse people as to what is suitable for all conditions not just ideal conditions.
Bob
 
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