How is this developing?

I am definitely up for giving a Oz$1,500 SxS in 9.3x74R a blast.

But, our only option appears to be 45/70.

All is not lost.

The fad for "Cowboy Action" shooting has brand new 45/90 ammo being produced by PMC (500gn slug at 1250fps) and by someone else whose name escapes me. Cheap brass must be in there somewhere.

I note that 45/90 chamber reamers are advertised at US$99. The only difference between 45/70 and 90 cases is 0.3 inches extra case. Apparently, this change is so minimal that one posting (on the site flogging the reamers mind you) says it could be done by hand, whatever that means.

My handy ballistics program tells me that if you load the 45/90 to just under Malin lever action presure levels you should be able get a 400 gn SN Woodleigh moving at 2,000fps easy (Barnes has listed a 400gn Solid)

This gives 3" high at 100yds and 4.5" low at 200yds, not bad.

Depending on the freebore you have to play with and what the action handling a 30-06 actually means (load it right up to Marlin lever action levels?), 2,150fps with the 400gn may be entirely realistic, this would give you the classic NE trajectory 3" high at 100yds 3" low at 200yds.

That's aiming and punching almost (leaving sectional density aside, a big leave) like the real thing. At the very least it has thin skined DG written all over it.

A 500gn slug starting out at 1700fps giving 3" high at 100yds and 3" low at 175yds is not to be dissmissed lightly.

And you can tinker with the regulation yourself, the merits of this rifles system, dubious or otherwise, remain to be seen.

Looks like I'm trying real hard to talk myself into this, consider me officially interested.

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