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G'day all,
Well although I have said it before in another post, I had to respond. Several months ago I was looking to purchase my first double rifle and being a bit limited in the purchasing power, I was looking at the lower end of the market. After a kind offer from another member of this forum, I got to shoot half a dozen shots or so from his O&U Baikal in 9.3x74. I looked at the next up the price line at the one with the "pretty" high gloss stock complete with I believe imitation grain, for almost 3 x the price (Fabarm) The Baikal was certainly plainer and the machined checkering wasn't terribly
attractive, but the action was tight with what appeared to be a good fit apart from the but to action timber being a bit proud. I decided on the Baikal and after picking it up set to some loading. I won't quote exact loads here, but I put a few starting loads through first because I too was uncertain of the action strength. No problems picked up there so I progressed up to the load that would approximate the factory 9.3x74 ballistics.

In relation to the regulating device the only problem I had was OVER ADJUSTING, once I realized this fact I quickly had it grouping T & B 1.5 inches at 50m (bad mix there, sorry). I then adjusted my scope to centre of group 1" high at 50m and shot a few more groups for practice. Barring the first few groups over a folded jacket on the cat bonnet, all groups were shot how they would be when I hunt, standing with a side support of the nearest tree. I had loaded 60 rounds and used 55 of them in regulating, sighting in and practice and there were no problems of any sort.

My next days off work I went out to one of my local hunting spots and with only a short walk just on dusk spotted two Sambar hinds in the bottom of a gully at about 125m or so. They had seen me and started to move off slowly. I swung onto the low shoulder of the first and dropped it with a freestanding shot and 30 seconds later had cross hairs on the second one but did not take the shot as I was confident the first was down although out of sight. As it was the one I hit moved about 10m
before dropping.

So that is the extent of my experience with the Baikal 9.3 x 74 and it's sure plain but certainly not rubbish.

PS: I had a look at a beautiful Chapuis yesterday in 375 H&H and if I had $14,000 to spare I certainly would have been tempted. The entry level SxSmodel in 9.3 x 74 was quoted at $6,500AU,
and as much as I would like one I could not justify the extra $4,300 at this time and I am sure there are a lot of others members of this sight that would not call the Baikal crap, but value for money!

All the best and good shooting, Ian.

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