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Long time lurker, first time post:

I've had a few drillings in the past, one an awesome double rifle drilling, Ed Kettner back action hammer, the other a hammerless Franz Kettner "normal" drilling. Both were 16 gauge with 9x57R rifle. Yes, I deeply regret selling the double rifle drilling but it was the reality in that time of life. I took a cow elk, antelope, mule deer, white tail, pheasants, blue grouse, sharpies, etc, with it so it fulfilled its destiny. I even shot a "barn yard" bull buffalo with the double rifle drilling but that wasn't hunting, just one of Ted Turner's extra bulls on a Montana ranch, shot over the hood of a pickup.

Now with kids leaving the house it's time to re-arm with another drilling! I have a question about rifle calibers.

Is there really a functional difference between the 9.3x72R and 8x57JR (.318 NOT .323JRS) under, say, 200 yards for deer sized animals? There are way more 9.3x72R drillings out there. I'd rather have an 8x57R for Montana's longer range shots but I'd hate to let the right drilling go if there's really no big difference in performance on game. I'm a believer in shot placement vs. magnumitis. However, I've never shot a 9.3x72R or 8x57R. I hand loaded the 9x57R by necking up 8x57R brass and using 250 g rain Hawk .356 dia bullets. They lumbered out of the barrel at a pedestrian 2,150 fps-ish and absolutely clobbered everything they hit. The buffalo took a few shots but that's like shooting a dinosaur.

Any advise would be appreciated and thank you very much.

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