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My M46 has become my favourite hunting rifle - the one I now grab. In fact, I leaved a box of ammo in the truck - all I have to do is grab the rifle and go.

I was luckier than some - no cracks and descent bedding. I did relieve the area right behind the tang, just a few thou for a cushion - and, of course, removed that stupid steel tube.

You must check the bedding to ensure it's OK or in need of some glass. If it needs glass and you don't the stock will split, possibly the recoil lug area, behind the magazine and the tang as well. That goes for any rifle with poor bedding & a wooden stock.

I load 285 gr. at 2,200fps, 300gr. at 2,175fps, 270gr. at 2,300fps, 232gr. at 2,450fps and 225gr. at 2,550fps using H2895 and BLC2.

I used the 270gr. load a year ago last fall on a moose - worked just fine - 200yards elbow-rest over the truck hood - iron sights, dead moose. I now have a 3-9 M3200 Bushnell on it - all loads shoot 1 1/8" down to 1/2". It was built in 1929 and has .019" headspace. I make the brass fit before fireforming. Note that some of these, as mine, has excessive headspace which should be attended to to prevent case head separation. There is no CIP nor SAAMI standrd for the 9.3x57, although some use the 8x57 headspace specs for it.

Many of us with them use RP 8x57 new brass - I do. I neck them out straight, then neck them down for crush fit (0 headspace) before they are fired. No annealing has been necessary for these operations - no case loss. RP is good brass in 8x57 (many others too).

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Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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