The 9.3x74R is a rimmed, bottlenecked medium-bore cartridge first adopted by the Germans in 1900 and used in drillings, single-shot and double rifles for hunting big game such as red stags and moose.
The 9.3x74R is not listed in SAAMI’s rifle (Z299.4), handgun (Z299.3) or rimfire (Z299.1) standards, so there is no SAAMI reference velocity, pressure limit or test barrel to quote for it. This guide charts what the makers of the loads we stock publish for them instead, and compares the 9.3x74R with the 9.3 x 62, which SAAMI does standardise.
9.3x74R ballistics chart: manufacturer-published loads
These are the manufacturers’ own figures for specific loads we stock, taken from each maker’s page for the item number shown. There is no SAAMI reference for this cartridge, and each maker chose its own test barrel, so the figures should not be laid directly beside another brand’s.
Scroll the table sideways for the remaining columns.
| Load | Item no. | Bullet weight | Bullet | Muzzle velocity | Muzzle energy | Ballistic coefficient | Test barrel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Safari Swift A-Frame | 11-P9374SA | 286 gr | Safari Swift A-Frame | 2,360 fps | 3,537 ft-lb | .385, drag model not stated | Not published |
| Federal Safari Woodleigh Hydro Solid | 11-P9374WH | 286 gr | Safari Woodleigh Hydro Solid | 2,360 fps | 3,537 ft-lb | .260, drag model not stated | Not published |
| Norma Oryx | 20193322 | 285 gr | Oryx | 2,329 fps | 3,433 ft-lb | 0.356 G1 | 610 mm / 24 in |
Scroll the table sideways for the remaining columns.
| Load (test barrel) | Muzzle | 100 yd | 200 yd | 300 yd | 400 yd | 500 yd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal 286 gr (barrel not published) | 2,360 fps / 3,537 ft-lb | 2,147 fps / 2,928 ft-lb | 1,945 fps / 2,403 ft-lb | 1,756 fps / 1,959 ft-lb | 1,582 fps / 1,589 ft-lb | 1,423 fps / 1,285 ft-lb |
| Federal 286 gr (barrel not published) | 2,360 fps / 3,537 ft-lb | 2,049 fps / 2,666 ft-lb | 1,763 fps / 1,974 ft-lb | 1,509 fps / 1,446 ft-lb | 1,295 fps / 1,065 ft-lb | 1,133 fps / 815 ft-lb |
| Norma 285 gr (610 mm / 24 in) | 2,329 fps / 3,433 ft-lb | 2,101 fps / 2,793 ft-lb | 1,886 fps / 2,251 ft-lb | 1,687 fps / 1,801 ft-lb | Not published | Not published |
Scroll the table sideways for the remaining columns.
| Load (zero) | 100 yd | 200 yd | 300 yd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal 286 gr (100 yd zero) | 0 in | −6 in | −21.3 in |
| Federal 286 gr (100 yd zero) | 0 in | −6.8 in | −24.9 in |
What the numbers mean for a shot
The 3 loads charted above, from Federal and Norma, run from 285 to 286 grains, with published muzzle velocities of 2,329 to 2,360 fps and published muzzle energies of 3,433 to 3,537 ft-lb. Each maker fired its load in its own test barrel, so a difference between two brands can come from the barrel as well as the load. Downrange velocity, energy and drop appear only where a maker publishes them, and only out to the last range it publishes.
None of this is SAAMI data. Each product in our 9.3x74R ammo range lists whatever its maker publishes for that item.
Chamber and pressure
This page states no SAAMI pressure limit for the 9.3x74R. Fire 9.3x74R ammunition only in a firearm chambered for it, and follow both the ammunition maker’s and the firearm maker’s instructions. Several unrelated cartridges share a number, so match the full designation on the box to the marking on your barrel.
9.3x74R vs 9.3×62: what the data supports
A like-for-like comparison needs both cartridges measured the same way. SAAMI standardises the 9.3 x 62, so its figures come from one standard test barrel. The 9.3x74R has no SAAMI figures, so its numbers come from individual makers and their own barrels. The table sets them side by side with the source of each figure stated, and should be read that way.
Scroll the table sideways for the remaining columns.
| Specification | 9.3x74R | 9.3 x 62 |
|---|---|---|
| Listed by SAAMI | No | Yes |
| Maximum average pressure | Not published by SAAMI | 57,500 psi (SAAMI) |
| Bullet weights | 285 to 286 gr (loads we stock) | 286 to 286 gr (SAAMI reference loads) |
| Muzzle velocity | 2,329–2,360 fps (manufacturer-published, each in its own barrel) | 2,360–2,360 fps (SAAMI reference, 24.000 in test barrel) |
| Muzzle energy | 3,433–3,537 ft-lb (where the maker publishes it) | 3,536–3,536 ft-lb (computed from SAAMI velocity) |
What this cannot settle is which cartridge is more powerful in your rifle: the two columns come from different sources and different barrels. We stock the other side of this comparison too: 9.3×62 ammo.
9.3x74R ballistics questions
Does SAAMI standardise the 9.3x74R?
No. SAAMI’s rifle, handgun and rimfire standards do not list the 9.3x74R, so there is no SAAMI maximum pressure, reference velocity or test barrel for it. The figures on this page are the ones each maker publishes for its own loads.
What muzzle velocity do manufacturers publish for the 9.3x74R?
For the 3 loads we stock from Federal and Norma, the makers publish muzzle velocities from 2,329 to 2,360 fps, for bullet weights from 285 to 286 grains. Each maker measured its own load in its own test barrel, so these are not reference figures and are not directly comparable between brands.
Is the 9.3x74R more powerful than the 9.3 x 62?
The two cannot be compared like for like, because SAAMI publishes reference data for the 9.3 x 62 but not for the 9.3x74R. The 3 loads charted here for the 9.3x74R publish muzzle energies of 3,433 to 3,537 ft-lb, each in its maker’s own barrel, against SAAMI reference loads for the 9.3 x 62 that compute to 3,536 to 3,536 ft-lb from a 24.000 in test barrel.
What is the effective range of the 9.3x74R?
Effective range is not a published specification for the cartridge; it depends on the bullet, the load and the shooter. Where a maker publishes downrange velocity and energy for a load, the tables above show it, and only out to the last range that maker publishes.
How much does the 9.3x74R drop?
Where a maker publishes a trajectory, the trajectory table above gives the drop with the zero range stated. A drop figure is unusable without its zero, so use the table for the specific load.
Where to buy these loads
Hilltop Armory carries 9.3x74R ammunition from Federal, Norma, Lapua, Nosler, Prvi Partizan and Winchester. Browse the full 9.3x74R ammo range.
