Wildcat cartidge?

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Matt74

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Hey guys,

I'm doing some reading on reloading for the 25-20. One part of what I'm reading notes that "the .25-20 cartridge actually began as the first centerfire .25 caliber wildcat, the .25-20 Single-Shot in 1882."
I've seen this term here and there through the forum, and was wondering what a "wildcat" cartidge is?

Thanks,
Matt
 
It's a cartridge that was developed from an existing cartridge by somebody other than a commercial ammunion manufacturer. A lot of very popular commercial cartridges started out as 'wildcats. The .22-250, for example.
 
Thanks Sunray.

That's interesting. So, if the 25-20 was based on a wildcat cartridge, the 25-20 single shot...the 25-20 single shot would not have been made by a commercial ammo producer...had no idea. Any idea who made up this one?
Matt
 
Matt
The 25-20wcf was never a wildcat it was developed by Winchester by necking down a 32-20 in about 1893 for the new 1892 Winchester lever action. The 25-20 single shot is an entirely different case and was designed by a gun writer J Francis Rabbeth in 1882,there is also a 25-21(1897) and
25-25 (1895)Stevens and a 25-20 Marlin. The 25-20 single shot was the parent case for the popular wildcat the 22 lovell or R2. The 25-20wcf is the only survivor today. There a more wildcats than production cartridges the popular ones get adopted by the big companies. Ie 22 hornet, 22-250, 35 whelen etc.
 
Anyone know where the term "wildcat" itself actually came from? Was the first one of these calibers made used for hunting wildcats or something? Just a silly guess...
 
Likely from the old, old oil prospecting/drilling industry. A 'wildcat' oil well was one that didn't belong to any commercial oil company.
 
sunray said:
A lot of very popular commercial cartridges started out as 'wildcats. The .22-250, for example.
Click to expand...
The 22/250 is a very good example of a former wildcat. It is a 250 Savage necked down to 22caliber and eventually was made in factory form by Remington.

35 Whelen = 30/06 necked up to 358
280 Rem = 30/06 necked up to 284


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