Sabatti 9.3x74r all opinions are welcome

[thriller]

So im looking for a versatile double to use for about anything, this would be my first double so I need a little advice. I have found the sabatti 9.3X74r Sabatti double all indications are the bores are in good shape (no dremel marks seen, but a 3 day inspection and return period is available) and the regulation shows impact at 1 3/4 inches apart (horizontally, dead level on the vertical) at 50 yards. Im am curious as to what ya'll think of this cartridge and rifle.

9.3x74r
- is it a decent cartridge for DG? - all of them (strengths and shortcomings, i need to know both)


Rifle

- What problems should I be wary of?
- What should I look for in particular in a double rifle inspection?
-Are there particular questions i should ask about the gun that i would not think of because i have never owned a double rifle before?

 

[matt85]

Sabatti rifles are junk, or at least the ones ive used have been.

the 9.3x74r is a good short range PG cartridge but may or may not work for DG. I believe the laws in some countries require a .375" minimum for DG.

-matt

 

[Red Leg]

Sabatti rifles are junk, or at least the ones ive used have been.

the 9.3x74r is a good short range PG cartridge but may or may not work for DG. I believe the laws in some countries require a .375" minimum for DG.

-matt

Have heard little good about these rifles.

The 9.3x74r will kill a buffalo if everything goes right, but it is traditionally a red deer and boar round. I have two - a double rifle and a double rifle drilling. I like them, but neither is my first choice for buffalo. If I were headed off to a drive hunt for boar in Hungary they would be ideal.

 

[gizmo]

The closest to experience to these rifles I have is that Andri Fox, whom I hunted with, carries one in 470 NE. I know he has taken several buffalo with it and he uses it as the back up rifle he carries when guiding DG hunts. He loves it and has had great luck with it. My understanding that the original batch of them that were imported by Cabelas some years back were not regulated properly which causes numerous problems. The ones available now, new in box, are not those rifles. I have toured a local shop here that imports and sells them and I was very impressed when playing around with them. I have plans to buy one in 450 NE or 450/400. I don't know if I will ever use it for DG hunting as I won't purchase it until after at least my leopard hunt. I've already took my buff and lion so theoretically I may take it to hunt elephant one day but.... A whole lot of things would have to happen for that scenario to realistically happen. Or..... I could find that brief case full of money I lost and buy the double Matt is trying to sell.

 

[IanB]

Hi Guys
While there are Sabatti issues that have been popping up. There are also older model Sabattis that pre date the mass production drive and the Cabelas fiasco.

I have shot with a 20 year old Sabatti in 9,3x74. It is one of the handiest rifles I have ever handled and has virtually the same recoil as a 3006.

My wife shot it with ease and was very accurate and well regulated.
With Sako factory rounds it printed 2" apart at 100.

I offered the gent in question to buy it, but he refused.
If it ever comes up for sale again I have first option.

My suggestion is to shoot it and make sure it groups, if it does then you will have no problem with it.
As for caliber, its plenty for any DG and will out penetrate most 375 rounds.

My opinion, go for it!!!

 

[CAustin]

Run the other way sir! Almost bought one of those things.....paused and looked up the issues on the WEB. Did not buy! Then one PH from Africa emailed how he and customers were caught out in the rain....one had a new Sabatti. Everyone got to camp cleaned and oiled rifles. Next day Sabatti covered in rust!

As some have mentioned the one you are looking in to is not really a DG rifle!

 

[fsrmg1]

All the Sabatti's I've seen have been well built and shot accurately and well regulated groups. This has been in the past couple years. I didn't know they existed before then.

 

[AZDAVE]

First I have owned two sabatti doubles. A 45/70 that was without any of the dremel marks and was from cabelas. Shot minute of moose at any point I would shot to 100 yards. My hunting buddy had to have it and he is shooting it alot and just loves it. I have a 450NE extractor model I bought for the owner of the local shop and was able to shot it before I bought it and i just shoots very well 2r and 2l into 3 in with 500gr Aframes and 480 gr CEB solids at 2200 fps (best groups were a little faster than factory) Shot my cape buff with it last may, a zebra and warthog in 2013. So if you can get a chance shoot it and see how it shoots. Now for the question on the 9.3x74 I have a TC encore single shot I used in 2013 and my Chapuis double last may. This has become my favourite mid bore cartridge. I have shot everything from diker to cape eland and it anchored ev everything I shot. I would use it on a cape buff where legal with no reservations. My chapuis handles like a fine shotgun and is very light and handy. Whether you get the sabatti or another double in the caliber I think you will come to just reach for that rifle more often than others

 

[BigBore]

Most of the junk I see written about Sabatti Seems to be from people that never owned one. I own 2 of them and I have hunted 3 African countries and 4 other countries. I have shoot several buffalo and elephants.
I was excited about the low price of a 500NE Sabatti at Cabalas, I knew of the problems but the sales rep from Cabalas over the phone lied to me and sold me one with a ground muzzle that did not shoot well. When I called Cabalas back they basically said tuff luck. I contacted the imported at the time EAA and they took my rifle back and sent it back to Sabatti, I got it back a few months later and it shoots unbelievable well 1.5" groups. Recently I wanted the stock cut for my LOP and a recoil pad installed. I found that IFG in Texas was the new importer and asked them to do the work. Wow what a difference. I would not take $15,000 for that rifle. They told me about the néw quality standards they have since they took over the Sabatti line and I could get a good deal from Wholesalehunter on a new 9.3X74R, they had some for $2,495 so I just had to get one and wow, I love that rifle . It is ery light and easy to handle and has an accuracy guarantee of 2.5 " which it meets, I realy like the fiber optic express sights.
I used it on a hog hunt it Texas a few weeks ago and it was the ideal rifle for that use.
Since I have used .375, 416 Rigby, 460 Wby, 500 Jeffery and 500 NE on dangerous game, I would use a 9.3 if it was the only choice, but I perfer the 416 Rigby on Buffalo and the 500 NE on Elephant. But things are changing now that I am over 60 and the 9.3 is so much easier to carry and quicker to bring to bear, I may be doing more hunting with it in the future.

 

[matt85]

Sabatti = expensive junk. see thread http://www.africahunting.com/threads/sabatti-doubles-worked-by-ken-owen.14080/

aside from that, the 9.3x74R cartridge may or may not be legal for DG depending on the country. I believe South Africa requires a .375" or bigger caliber for DG hunting.

-matt

 

[BigBore]

As far as the 9.3x74r it may not be the best thing for elephant and buffalo but it can be used in some counties. It is a great round for every thing for Eland down.
I personally like the bigger guns but that 9.3 sure shoots good.
Every ever bad writing about Sabatti is ancient history. All of the current gun from IFG are excellent guns at a bargain price. IFG will even fix the old Cabalas guns for free if there are any left pit there that still have any problems. I could not be happier with the two I own. Anyone passing on a new Sabatti because the Internet BS is just loosing out. If any has a bad Sabatti send me a message and I put you in contact with IFG to get you rifle fixed. They treated me great.

 

[edward]

o well,guess ill add my 1 cent.as a handgun hunter i only have experience with the sabatti double in 9.3x74r.bought it in 2012 because i wanted one and i wanted to go to Namibia some day and they dont allow handguns.in my mid 70s i dont see open sights that well so i put a trijicon srs1 red dot sight on it.i chose that because it has a smaller dot than most red dot had then.i had a hippo hunt booked in 2014 so had a scope sighted encore made by ssk in 9.3x74r.wanted solids so had my taxidermist load me up the then new woodliegh hydro solids.286 gr.went to texas for oryx to try it out.129 yards,complete pass through,hit the left shoulder,damage so bad that we had to through it away,meat turned to jello.that was plains game.when i booked my flight to africa for the hippo the agent told me that the airlines that would take us from joburg to our final destination no longer allowed handguns on board.so it looked like fate was telling me i had to take the double.on that trip i took the hippo,a sable,and a cape buff bull.my ph wanted me to use the 286 gr soft points on the sable and hippo.his choice.on the bull i was able to use the solids.first shot at around 60 yards through his left front chest turned him to his right and he ran down an embankment to a dry river bed and took a left.only having about 3 months to practice with my double i didnt have the second shot down pat.i reloaded the right barrel and off we went after him.half way to the dry river bed we heard the 1st death bellow.by the time we hit the sand we heard the 2nd death bellow.about 20 yards away he was lying on his right side,dead.the ph wanted me to put an insurance shot in him so i put one behind his left front shoulder.shot #1,complete pass through,in front of left shoulder,out right side through last ribs.shot #2,behind left shoulder,up through chest,neck,and out the right boss 3 to 4 inches above right eye. ill show this target again even though ive showed it before and im sure people are tired of it,but you obviously have not read any of the previously discussions on the sabatti.right barrel and left touching red is hornady ammo.right and left not touching red woodliegh solids.as ever,shot placement most important!!!!50 yard target.

 

[spike.t]

9.3x74r one of my favourites

 

[Gemsbok Gangsta]

Fun caliber!! Rifle not so much JUST SAY NO!!!

 

[sestoppelman]

No personal experience with the rifle, have read pro and con on them. Seems to depend on when it was made and who regulated it. The cartridge is another matter, I do know it. It is a slightly bigger brother in capacity to the 9.3x62 and thus can boast a bit more power given a good platform, like a Ruger No. 1 or a bolt rifle. I would not be afraid to hunt buffalo with one, not for a minute.

 

[BigBore]

o well,guess ill add my 1 cent.as a handgun hunter i only have experience with the sabatti double in 9.3x74r.bought it in 2012 because i wanted one and i wanted to go to Namibia some day and they dont allow handguns.in my mid 70s i dont see open sights that well so i put a trijicon srs1 red dot sight on it.i chose that because it has a smaller dot than most red dot had then.i had a hippo hunt booked in 2014 so had a scope sighted encore made by ssk in 9.3x74r.wanted solids so had my taxidermist load me up the then new woodliegh hydro solids.286 gr.went to texas for oryx to try it out.129 yards,complete pass through,hit the left shoulder,damage so bad that we had to through it away,meat turned to jello.that was plains game.when i booked my flight to africa for the hippo the agent told me that the airlines that would take us from joburg to our final destination no longer allowed handguns on board.so it looked like fate was telling me i had to take the double.on that trip i took the hippo,a sable,and a cape buff bull.my ph wanted me to use the 286 gr soft points on the sable and hippo.his choice.on the bull i was able to use the solids.first shot at around 60 yards through his left front chest turned him to his right and he ran down an embankment to a dry river bed and took a left.only having about 3 months to practice with my double i didnt have the second shot down pat.i reloaded the right barrel and off we went after him.half way to the dry river bed we heard the 1st death bellow.by the time we hit the sand we heard the 2nd death bellow.about 20 yards away he was lying on his right side,dead.the ph wanted me to put an insurance shot in him so i put one behind his left front shoulder.shot #1,complete pass through,in front of left shoulder,out right side through last ribs.shot #2,behind left shoulder,up through chest,neck,and out the right boss 3 to 4 inches above right eye. ill show this target again even though ive showed it before and im sure people are tired of it,but you obviously have not read any of the previously discussions on the sabatti.right barrel and left touching red is hornady ammo.right and left not touching red woodliegh solids.as ever,shot placement most important!!!!50 yard target.

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Hello Edward, very cool story. I have the same rife. I see you have we the same African hunting bug that I have. I ran into the same trouble changing flights in Joberg , the British Air would not allow me to take my guns, had to scrabble and find another flight on SA Air , once I was there. No way to start a trip. But I shot 2 elephants and a very large Buffalo on that trip. As much as a love my many big bore guns, at my age and health , they get hard to carry all day and I just don't feel right letting any one else Cary my rifle. This nice little Sabatti double is very easy to carry and shoots like dream, they can also be fitted with a spare shotgun barrel. As we all know shot placement is more important than caliber as long as you have enough gun. The 9.3 can reach the vitals of any animal with the right bullet. I've shot Buffalo with 375H&H, 460 Wby and 416 Rigby. And shot elephants with a 500 Jeffery. But I can shoot this 9.3 much better so I'll use that on my next trip.

 

[edward]

Hello Edward, very cool story. I have the same rife. I see you have we the same African hunting bug that I have. I ran into the same trouble changing flights in Joberg , the British Air would not allow me to take my guns, had to scrabble and find another flight on SA Air , once I was there. No way to start a trip. But I shot 2 elephants and a very large Buffalo on that trip. As much as a love my many big bore guns, at my age and health , they get hard to carry all day and I just don't feel right letting any one else Cary my rifle. This nice little Sabatti double is very easy to carry and shoots like dream, they can also be fitted with a spare shotgun barrel. As we all know shot placement is more important than caliber as long as you have enough gun. The 9.3 can reach the vitals of any animal with the right bullet. I've shot Buffalo with 375H&H, 460 Wby and 416 Rigby. And shot elephants with a 500 Jeffery. But I can shoot this 9.3 much better so I'll use that on my next trip.

funny,at 77 nothing seems to work as well as it did even 10 years ago.must be getting old???