234 Wildcat Family....ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY

c-fbmi said:
....., 22-6mm Rem (or X57), ..........
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A fellow I knew had a 5.6x57 - neat little cartridge. He had a fetish for different cartridges and Steyr Mannlichers. He had the 5.6x57, 6.5x68 and .300 H&H in Model Ms and Model S.
 
Okay guys, the bullet dies are less $ than anticipated, but will be 18 month delivery...........with a wait time like this I think I'll just order both the RBT/FB and a VLD at the same time. Marshal and I shall be discussing ogive length etc after the holidays and get the dies ordered. I have a tooling budget in mind and even ordering both bullet dies leaves me enough to purchase the barrel making tools and chambering tools.
So we will be able to make any bullet weight in a flat base, rebated boattail and VLD configuration..........let the games begin...........I'll have to look into, and seriously consider some pressure testing equipment if I really want to SAAMI this family of cartridges.

Well I guess I have talked myself into it...........the 2015, 23 caliber project is officially a GO This time I will actually keep notes on all that I do, unlike all my last experiments which I did for my exclusive knowledge, and make them available for all who are interested. Barrel life will also be monitored if I live long enough.
 
Got another question for you guys as to preference of cases, I could easily make this with a .473 base as well for the Penguin design, then any 57 mm cartridge could be run down, trimmed and fireformed, 6mm Rem, 257 Rob, even 7X57 or with more work and neck thinning even 30-06 or 270 could be used.................what say you????

Gonna have to buy me a bunch of Lapua 6.5X55 brass..........
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Sounds good.
 
I just happen to have pressure testing equipment I'll sell ya, it uses a strain gauge on the chamber and wires to a laptop.
I used it a few times testing the reaction of hard lead.


c-fbmi said:
Okay guys, the bullet dies are less $ than anticipated, but will be 18 month delivery...........with a wait time like this I think I'll just order both the RBT/FB and a VLD at the same time. Marshal and I shall be discussing ogive length etc after the holidays and get the dies ordered. I have a tooling budget in mind and even ordering both bullet dies leaves me enough to purchase the barrel making tools and chambering tools.
So we will be able to make any bullet weight in a flat base, rebated boattail and VLD configuration..........let the games begin...........I'll have to look into, and seriously consider some pressure testing equipment if I really want to SAAMI this family of cartridges.

Well I guess I have talked myself into it...........the 2015, 23 caliber project is officially a GO This time I will actually keep notes on all that I do, unlike all my last experiments which I did for my exclusive knowledge, and make them available for all who are interested. Barrel life will also be monitored if I live long enough.
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You gotta love it when a plan comes together!

I would be willing to make a financial contribution to this project, and perhaps others would also, if Doug would be willing to receive no-stings-attached donations to help fund this..........

Doug
 
Boomer said:
Oh-oh . . .

This from the 2013-2014 "Hunting Sheep in the Yukon" pamphlet I picked up last summer -

"Sheep, (like all other big game, other than Bison, Wolves, and Coyotes) must be hunted using a rifle with a calibre larger than .24 loaded with soft pointed ammunition, a muzzleloader larger than .45 calibre, or a bow with a draw weight not less than 20 kg loaded with broadhead arrows that are not less than 710 mm long. Shotguns 20 gauge or larger loaded with rifle slugs are also legal.

I'm looking around for the general big game regulation pamphlet to confirm this is correct and that the writer of the sheep hunting pamphlet did not simply round off to .24 on the assumption there is no .23.

Edited to add . . .
From the 2009-2010 regulations summery . . .

It is unlawful to hunt big game with:
- a crossbow,
- a pistol or revolver,
- a shotgun smaller than 20 gauge,
- a rifle calibre less than 6 mm [.24 calibre]; (a .22 calibre [5.6 mm] centerfire rifle may be used for wolves and coyotes),
- a muzzle loaded or black powder rifle less than 11.4 mm (.45 calibre),
- shotgun ammunition other than a slug,
- full metal-jacket bullets commonly known as "service ammunition", or
- a silencing device

Minimum firearm requirements applying to wood bison will be specified on the permit.

Then it goes on to talk about non toxic shot for migratory game birds, set guns, unsafe firearms, the definition of a firearm, and the definition of a loaded firearm.
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Can't use a crossbow? Weird
 
I would be willing to make a financial contribution to this project, and perhaps others would also, if Doug would be willing to receive no-stings-attached donations to help fund this..........
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I was thinking the same thing.

Let us know, PM if you want.

This will be the skookumest speed goat and LR 'yote rifle I've heard of.
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A dandy seal rifle as well.
 
WOW guys, I don't know what to say.........I really appreciate the support and any financial contributions would be appreciated and acknowledged in any write ups I may do on this family of 23 cal cartridges. I give you my word I won't back out or quit if anyone decides to donate to this project........I am truly awed !!!! I will do this without financial assistance but I will always accept financial help...........the tooling budget for bullet dies X2, drill, reamer and 2 buttons and chambering tooling will run about 5K which I expected, and am willing to do on my own. The whole program with 5 or 6 cartridges, brass, bullets and load testing, without pressure equipment will likely run about 10K. It's not like I'll have to sell my Ferrari to fund it, but financial help and a consortium of visionaries is always welcome, as far as I'm concerned.
 
brybenn said:
Not that I'd ever get one made but live the 473 Rim idea. Best of luck. What barrel length and contour are you going with?
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Sorry Brybenn.........missed the question earlier.......I will go with several likely, starting at 28" and work it down right to 20" to compare efficiencies of the different lengths. This is as easy as working up a good load and then chop and recrown the barrel one inch at a time and compare chronograph data........it's been my experience that the best load in a long barrel usually turns out to be the best load in a short barrel as well, until barrels get shorter than 18". Then SOMETIMES a powder change will get better velocity and accuracy.

For all around use likely a 24-26" on the 6.5X55 case, 243 case and the 284 case, but when capacity drops down to the 250 and 204 case 20-22" should be just fine.

As far as contour goes the sky is the limit from 1 1/4" cyl blank to whispy, what ever strikes my fancy that day, or someone wants when they buy a barrel. I think I said earlier I'll probably try a light sporter and a heavy varmint contour in 26-28" to check max velocities and accuracy potential. I'll also likely get Dennis (Guntech) to true up a couple of 700 actions for me, he does a fine job and turns 'em around in a couple weeks. His skills also far exceed mine in this manner of work, I am NOT a trained 'smith as is he, I've just learned a bunch through a couple of very experienced mentors and experience of trying chit on my own. Certain things such as action truing should be left to those who know what they are doing and have done lots...............

I have 3 - 700 actions to run this experiment on, a long .473 boltface action, a short .473 boltface action and a short .375 boltface action. The short .473 action has already been done by Dennis, so the other 2 will go out for the same work in a while.

I am seriously considering using a .473 base dia for the 6.5 case just to simplify things and so as to not have to modify my Rem bolt face, it is easy enough to do but not just yet. Besides I have about 400 new 6.5X55 small base cases made up with a .473 base dia that I was going to use for a silhouette rifle once upon a time, so seeing as I already have a lifetime supply of brass............it also makes it very easy to make brass from 6mm Rem or 257 Bob.
 
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c-fbmi said:
WOW guys, I don't know what to say.........I really appreciate the support and any financial contributions would be appreciated and acknowledged in any write ups I may do on this family of 23 cal cartridges. I give you my word I won't back out or quit if anyone decides to donate to this project........I am truly awed !!!! I will do this without financial assistance but I will always accept financial help...........the tooling budget for bullet dies X2, drill, reamer and 2 buttons and chambering tooling will run about 5K which I expected, and am willing to do on my own. The whole program with 5 or 6 cartridges, brass, bullets and load testing, without pressure equipment will likely run about 10K. It's not like I'll have to sell my Ferrari to fund it, but financial help and a consortium of visionaries is always welcome, as far as I'm concerned.
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OK Doug, I take it that you may be willing to accept a bit of financial help. I am not sure about the "consortium of visionaries" part though, this being Gun Nutz...

So fellow readers and vicarious adventurers, if we get fifty guys to chip in a hundred bucks each, that would get the tooling done. And yes of course I am putting my money where my mouth is, this is a VERY cool undertaking. I'd like to be a token part of it, beyond comments on this thread.

Doug
 
I am in for a hundred and maybe looking at a 234.X55 barrel if things work out///\\\\ if not then this is better entertainment than I can get in downtown Winkler for 100.00

Doug (C-FMBI) send me a PM when you want the EMT
 
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