9.3x57

I have examined both of the and I am as sure as I can be without metalurgical analysis or confirmation from the factory. Am I certain enough to recommend such to a third person, no I am not hence my comments in the last post.
From a production point of view, to change the composition of an alloy in the forgeing from one model to another, whilst it might save a few rubels would then cost much more in processing having to constantly identify one fron another during manufacture. My wife is Russian and having travelled there a lot the chances of a factory worker staying sober long enough to do that is slim !
I have seen a heck of a lot of Biaikal product as they are very common here for knockaround guns and although some are so cosmetically worn as to be a joke I have never seen one that is fuctionally damaged to any significant degree.
I see no reason that they would do it anymore than changing the composition from a .223 to a .30-06

That is my best take on it

REgards