Are The Wildcat's Dead

[bilmcc]

It seems 22 hornet is pretty rare. 257 Roberts, 35 Rem and 358 Win are not dead yet, although beasts who receive their charges are. I am having a set-trigger 8mm-06 resuscitated. Not much about that anywhere, although it seemed to be popular after the War.

 

[Spooksar]

22/6mm AI, 6.5/300 WSM, 240 Gibbs, 270 Gibbs, 280 AI, 8.5 Reb, 358/300 RUM,348 AI, 416 Taylor 338-06, and a 9.3/300 WSM. I kind of like Wildcats

 

[Ray B]

The "need" for "different" is obviously a basic human trait so there will likely always be "wildcats". media create hype, the gullible with some spending cash run out and buy the latest and greatest, then later wonder what happened

For reloaders the issue is not that a particular cartridge is discontinued/unavailable. The issue is: Is there a source of brass that can be formed to the desired shape? As such a prospective rifle should be chambered for a case formed from the "main" basic cases. There are a few exceptions where a non-main case size is so common that supply is not an issue (30-30, 6.5x55 & recently 404 & 416) but the preponderance of cartridges have one of three base diameters (parent cases .223, 30-06, 300Mag). There are factory and modified cases that have different base diameters but as munition companies trim their production costs, these different sizes tend to be the first ones eliminated.

 

[Don458]

I shoot one wildcat (416Taylor) and have a box full of odd balls (308 and 358 Norma and 450 Marlin). Just wondering if I'm not alone in the world of obscure and different cartridge choices? Please share if you dare to be different?

Not alone. 22 hornet , 250 savage,300 savage . 8x72R 50-70 And i use a single shot 10 gauge for turkeys and a parker 16 gauge for everything else with feathers . But i own about 6 12 gauge in all different configurations .I am looking for a 9.3x64 brenneke, may have it built by cz.

 

[crs]

Von Gruff,
What velocity do get with your 400 Lee Speed? And with what powders?

I ask because I load 400 grain Woodies in my .405 WCF and get just under 2100 fps out of my Winchester 1895 .405.

 

[fourfive8]

For reloaders the issue is not that a particular cartridge is discontinued/unavailable. The issue is: Is there a source of brass that can be formed to the desired shape? As such a prospective rifle should be chambered for a case formed from the "main" basic cases. There are a few exceptions where a non-main case size is so common that supply is not an issue (30-30, 6.5x55 & recently 404 & 416) but the preponderance of cartridges have one of three base diameters (parent cases .223, 30-06, 300Mag). There are factory and modified cases that have different base diameters but as munition companies trim their production costs, these different sizes tend to be the first ones eliminated.

I'm very familiar with how it works. I've owned and reloaded for and cast for and swaged for at least 37 different calibers since 1968. Many have been somewhat obscure calibers for shooting in old antique arms. It can be a hassle. There simply are no more significant ballistic niches to fill but human is what it is. Those who do not reload are the most affected by the pre-mature obscurity of many of these market hyped calibers. But even reloaders can get into a bind having to really scrounge for correctly head stamped brass if needed and/or spending $2-3 or more per case for some. DIY forming decent, usable brass for many calibers is easier said than done and mixing and matching headstamps is a practice I will leave to others, not to mention the possibility of legal requirements for the traveling hunter.

 

[nztimb]

Von Gruff,
What velocity do get with your 400 Lee Speed? And with what powders?

I ask because I load 400 grain Woodies in my .405 WCF and get just under 2100 fps out of my Winchester 1895 .405.

I have been shooting the 320gn Cast bullet from a mould I had made
I can take it to 2250 with H335 at 36K psi but in the main I shoot a plinking load of blue dot for 1600fps ! 18K psi and a bucket full of fun.

 

[Jay Bucher]

Gillettehunter I think you will love the 6.5 SS. I have a 6.5 Sherman. It great round. Shoots 140 @ 3100-3150 and not hard on brass.

Jay

 

[leslie hetrick]

`I have this FN commercial single shot action with a jeager trigger built into a 220swift imp, in the 50,s. I use it for groundhogs and crows, loading it under max at 3800 fps using a 52 gr HP bullet. it will shoot bug holes if you are up to it and it weights in at 11 lbs.

 

[Boyd Brooks]

`I have this FN commercial single shot action with a jeager trigger built into a 220swift imp, in the 50,s. I use it for groundhogs and crows, loading it under max at 3800 fps using a 52 gr HP bullet. it will shoot bug holes if you are up to it and it weights in at 11 lbs.

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I bet you pick up your quarry in two different spots with a dead centre hit!

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

My buddy Steve has talked about the 400 Whelen, however the lack of shoulder to keep the brass from the barrel has kept him from building one. Don't know that he thought about a 375 Whelen, will give him a heads up!He does shot the 35 Whelen and loves it for Moose!

Boyd Brooks
If your buddy Steve still wants a 400 Whelen it's no problem with the shoulder.
Just start with the 35 Whelen AI, neck it up to 40 cal, SEAT a 40 cal bullet nose first into the case with an appropriate charge of fast burning powder.
The case must have the bullet in contact with the lands. When fire formed he will have more than enough shoulder.
Personally I have the 35 Whelen AI
The 22K Hornet and my personal favorite 25 cal made using ideas from, the Epps improved, 30/40 Krag improved and the idea of moving the shoulder from the Newton line of cartridges.
The final product is the 25/303 Epps Newton improved. The shoulder of the case is moved forward to give me a .257 length neck, 35 degree shoulder angle and blown out to minimal taper. Moving the shoulder forward and blowing out the case dramatically increased the case capacity.
This sounds like a lot of work but is in fact very easy to do. Three quarters neck size a 303 British case to 25 cal, load a cheap 100 grain projectile using the minimum load for that projectile in the 257 Roberts. Fired case is perfectly formed. On an SMLE No4 action it will beat the Roberts and go close to the 25 ought six. In the M17's or P14s it exceeds the 25/06 and even gives the 257 weatherby a shake up.
I do love wild cats let's see what other can come up with.
The 6.5 credemore is nothing more than a 250 savage AI with a different shoulder angle.
The 9.3/ 300 wsm was done by John Barsness and Charlie Disk and called the believe it or not the 9.3BS.
Cheers mate
Bob Nelson

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

My buddy Steve has talked about the 400 Whelen, however the lack of shoulder to keep the brass from the barrel has kept him from building one. Don't know that he thought about a 375 Whelen, will give him a heads up!He does shot the 35 Whelen and loves it for Moose!

@Boyd Brookes.
Tell your mate not to fear start with the 34 Whelen AI and neck it up. Shoulder problem solved.
Bob.

 

[Graham Hunter]

22/6mm AI, 6.5/300 WSM, 240 Gibbs, 270 Gibbs, 280 AI, 8.5 Reb, 358/300 RUM,348 AI, 416 Taylor 338-06, and a 9.3/300 WSM. I kind of like Wildcats

What is the 8.5 Reb?

 

[Gemsbok45]

I like a 300 Win Mag and a 416 Rem Mag for a Buff/ Plaingame or anything else.They have served me well with good quality bullets.Swift A-Frame.I Also like white bread!

 

[Spooksar]

What is the 8.5 Reb?

It’s a 338 on a blown out 30-06 case, it is a standard cartridge in Germany but a wildcat in North America. It is similar to what a 338 Gibbs would have been if Rocky Gibbs had made one. Mine is the only one I’ve seen, I bought it used along with a 9.3x64 off of a fellow that I think needed some money, they where oddball enough that I was intrigued by them.

 

[leslie hetrick]

i have been playing with this TC G1 in .375 JDJ, with 220 gr bullets, i have gotten to 2300 fps with out any pressure yet. i would like to get to 2500 fps, it should be a good deer killer. cases are made from 444 marlin cases, one easy pass thru the sizing die and they are ready to load and shoot. no fire forming needed.

 

[colorado]

Never been a wildcatter, though thought about the Ackley Improved for my 243

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

i have been playing with this TC G1 in .375 JDJ, with 220 gr bullets, i have gotten to 2300 fps with out any pressure yet. i would like to get to 2500 fps, it should be a good deer killer. cases are made from 444 marlin cases, one easy pass thru the sizing die and they are ready to load and shoot. no fire forming needed.

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@leslie hetrick
J D Jones used his 375 many many years ago in the northern territory of Australia the successfully hunt buffalo out here it worked extremely well. I just stuck with the 444 for deer hunting.
Bob

 

[flatwater bill]

4-5-8 said "There simply are no significant ballistic niches to fill...." and that is exactly correct. It wasn't always the case. Not when I was young. But he is spot on...all the cartridges we really need are available off of the shelf.....many of the cartridges listed above are not true wildcats anyway....just old or obscure....the best reason to own one is simply because you want to. But care must be taken in some African countries where the bbl stamp and the case-head must match......my own creation, the .264 EFH, took the world by storm years ago. Performance thrilled the lucky owners (both of them.) Hart still has the reamers, which are likely pristine. Nowadays, the 26 Nosler about duplicates its performance............FWB

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

4-5-8 said "There simply are no significant ballistic niches to fill...." and that is exactly correct. It wasn't always the case. Not when I was young. But he is spot on...all the cartridges we really need are available off of the shelf.....many of the cartridges listed above are not true wildcats anyway....just old or obscure....the best reason to own one is simply because you want to. But care must be taken in some African countries where the bbl stamp and the case-head must match......my own creation, the .264 EFH, took the world by storm years ago. Performance thrilled the lucky owners (both of them.) Hart still has the reamers, which are likely pristine. Nowadays, the 26 Nosler about duplicates its performance............FWB

@flatwater bill
What is your 264EFH sounds interesting.
Bob