60’s/70’s European U/O’s in 9.3x74R?

[Certus]

Just browsing online and the 60’s/70’s U/O double rifles from Europe in 9.3x74R are reasonably affordable. Anyone use a Merkel or Heym from this era and how do they shoot? Regulated for what bullet weight? I’m sort of curious about them from a deer/pig hunting perspective, rather than African game. Preference would still be 286gr though. I like the idea of scoped, double trigger and ejectors for the above game.

Cheers,
Troy.

 

[mgstucson]

I have a Tikka 512 double 9.3x74r built in Italy. Regulation is adjustable. I imagine most fixed rifles were regulated for the 286gr bullets, but that is just a guess.

 

[Muskox]

Regulation will not be adjustable, there will be some information in German gunsmith code near the proof marks on any gun from that era.

Blaser, Krieghoff, Merkel, Heym, and Sauer and there will be tons of others. Simpson, Meffert, there are literally hundreds.

They are often priced in the $5000-8000 range, but they typically sell in America for sub-$3000 and most often $1800-2100. Some more beat up guns will be sub $1000.

Scope mounts could be claw (the absolute last choice) or EAW, or totally proprietary. If you have something with EAW mounts, you can contact NECG and send them your rifle and scope and they can order you the correct mounts from EAW.

If it is claw mounts or something proprietary, and the scope gives up the ghost you are probably a $1200-2400 project in getting new claw mounts put on a new scope.

There are also prism mounts, this wouldn't be the end of the world, but they are ugly.

 

[Muskox]

If you want a turn key gun, get a used B97 or B95 Blaser. The b95 is two single shot rifles, two pulls of the trigger does not equal two shots. the b97 is a proper double rifle. I don't think there are B95's that are same caliber double rifles (bergstutzen yes (different calibers). But you never know what kind of barrel swapping people have done.

 

[Olvast09]

Buy it. Scope it with a 1.5-6x (I like Leupold VX-3HD or Zeiss Conquest). Load it with 286gr Norma or Swift. Hunt pigs. You’ll wonder why you waited so long.

 

[odonata]

An O/U 9.3x74r popped up in the classifieds here this morning. It lasted about an hour before it was gone...

N

Post in thread 'Winchester Grand European XTR 9.3x74R'

Jun 2, 2026

sold pending payment

• NTO

• 

 

[R eight]

If you want a turn key gun, get a used B97 or B95 Blaser. The b95 is two single shot rifles, two pulls of the trigger does not equal two shots. the b97 is a proper double rifle. I don't think there are B95's that are same caliber double rifles (bergstutzen yes (different calibers). But you never know what kind of barrel swapping people have done.

There are two different models of the BB 97. One has adjustable regulation and the BB 97 Classic is fixed regulation. Pretty sure they offer extractor only. I think both have options for either double or single trigger models.

I’ve got a single trigger Classic extractor in 9.3 x 74 R. It’s a nice rifle.

 

[mgstucson]

This 9.3x74r is up for sale on GB. Current bid is under $1200. Built in Finland, 1982. I have no connection to this in any shape, form or fashion. The only thing that could make it better is double triggers, although the Valmet single selectible trigger is very solid and reliable. If you can find one, Valmet made a factory double trigger replacement kit for this rifle. I have 2 of these Valmet 412 rifles with factory double triggers installed, and several others with the single trigger. Everthing about these guns is well thought out, and built for function and reliability as a field piece, not a show piece. These rifles are actually built on the pattern of a Remington double from the 1930's IIRC.

 

[DmacD]

This 9.3x74r is up for sale on GB. Current bid is under $1200. Built in Finland, 1982. I have no connection to this in any shape, form or fashion. The only thing that could make it better is double triggers, although the Valmet single selectible trigger is very solid and reliable. If you can find one, Valmet made a factory double trigger replacement kit for this rifle. I have 2 of these Valmet 412 rifles with factory double triggers installed, and several others with the single trigger. Everthing about these guns is well thought out, and built for function and reliability as a field piece, not a show piece. These rifles are actually built on the pattern of a Remington double from the 1930's IIRC.

View attachment 770131

I own a version of this rifle as well. Mine is chambered in .308/.308 with a nice little Leupold 1-5 mounted on it. It came with a set of 20ga/20ga barrels too. The rifle is easy to regulate for, and pretty accurate. I was thinking that the setup would make for a really nice Moose hunting rig with a set of partridge/grouse barrels for in between.

 

[PerH]

This 9.3x74r is up for sale on GB. Current bid is under $1200. Built in Finland, 1982. I have no connection to this in any shape, form or fashion. The only thing that could make it better is double triggers, although the Valmet single selectible trigger is very solid and reliable. If you can find one, Valmet made a factory double trigger replacement kit for this rifle. I have 2 of these Valmet 412 rifles with factory double triggers installed, and several others with the single trigger. Everthing about these guns is well thought out, and built for function and reliability as a field piece, not a show piece. These rifles are actually built on the pattern of a Remington double from the 1930's IIRC.

View attachment 770131

That one has Clawmount , so likely used in Germany , Clawmount was almost mandatory for them for years .

 

[PerH]

I have a Tikka 512 double 9.3x74r built in Italy. Regulation is adjustable. I imagine most fixed rifles were regulated for the 286gr bullets, but that is just a guess.

Mine is 12/76 7x57R and dr .30-06

Next will be combo with 9,3 or 9,3 dr .