Wildcats (not the feline version)

advantage of having the short throat is I can have the option of loading the bullets to touch the rifling, which can sometimes improve accuracy alot.

WSSM case would be similar to a AI'd 308 family case, but seating a 250 gr. Nosler Partition in a 338 WSSM would take up alot of powder capacity I would think.

someone on AccurateReloading.com I think made a 416 WSM...
 
Like Why Not & Dan stated wildcats are just plain fun.I have had a few 22 K-Hornet,7x57AI,280AI,6-284,6.5-284 (when it was a wildcat)450 Ackley Magnum.The only one I have left is the 6-284.The 2 I liked best were the 7x57AI and the 450 Ackley,shot a moose with the 450 and a 500 grain hornady even recovered the bullet.My buddy was helping me skin it out and he found the bullet just under the hide.Told me that was the first time he ever found a golfball in a moose :wink:
 
I have a 6.5-06AI and a .280 AI. The .280 is a piece of cake, fireform and go. :D I did however have a bit of trouble making brass for the 6.5 :oops: Now that I have it running, I am getting the same results as Boonerbuck. You could'nt get that gun from my rack for nothing. :mrgreen:

As far as the WSSM, be careful, I have a .223 WSSM and feeding is a real problem. :roll: As a varmint gun I get away with it, but in .30 or .338 for hunting biggame could be a ####-up waiting to happen. :lol:
 
I've had three wildcats...so far.....a 7-08AI(that I subsequently rechambered to 284), a 25-284 that hes been mentioned elsewhere in this forum, and currently a 280AI....like them all. Also had a 375 Wtby which was sort of a wildcat I guess. I'll have more I know....maybe a 6-06AI or a 35SAUM........you never know... :roll:
 
but in .30 or .338 for hunting biggame could be a ####-up waiting to happen.
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Oh. That would be bad now wouldn't it! The other one that I can't believe I forgot is the .416 Taylor. It fits on a regular length action so a Stevens 200 and a barrel swap would do the trick. Maybe a 19" or 20" barrel fo a quick handling little carbine would be a good first project.
 
I've played with a few, and presently have a 223AI, 257 Roberts AI, a 280AI and a long necked 358 Norma. They are fun, but don't really provide tangible improvements over factory rounds.
 
Well now I am curious. I checked out Midway ( I have relatives in the USA) and they have Adams & Bennet barrels on sale for US$99 (I know, but it is my first time) in .416 Taylor. If I pick up an SIR .300 Win mag Stevens, I could have it done for less than $600. Not too shabby for a .416 methinks. :)
 
Here's my 2 cents:

250 Savage AI
257 Roberts AI
7x57 AI
280 AI

All great cartridges that involve little stuffing around in terms of case forming.
A friend has a 6.5WSM in a 1885 Browning and he finds it a tremedous cartridge but not everyone likes the WSM cartridges.
I kinda like the thought of the .416 Barnes(45-70 necked down to .416) but again, it's personal taste and you haven't spoken of the need for a rimmed cartridge which would be a factor if you were using a Marlin 1895GS action or Martini.
 
1899 said:
Well now I am curious. I checked out Midway ( I have relatives in the USA) and they have Adams & Bennet barrels on sale for US$99 (I know, but it is my first time) in .416 Taylor. If I pick up an SIR .300 Win mag Stevens, I could have it done for less than $600. Not too shabby for a .416 methinks. :)
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are A&B makeing prechambered/threded barrels to fit Savage action's now? I spoke with a few gunsmith's about their barrels and everyone agree they are very smooth inside. :D
 
The .338 was found to be too much bullet for the WSM case, the .325 is the limit for efficiency and velocity improvement over the belted magnums.

I really like the idea of a 6.5WSM for a wildcat... short action, low recoil, extended barrel life, and it is doing well in competitions... and we all know about the killing ability of the 6.5 bullet :idea:
 
BIGREDD said:
I really like the idea of a 6.5WSM for a wildcat... short action, low recoil, extended barrel life, and it is doing well in competitions... and we all know about the killing ability of the 6.5 bullet :idea:
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Talk to catnthehat then.....he's your man! :wink:
 
1899, is wildcatting practical, provide a material increase in performance, save money, stop hair loss? Not a hope BUT that's the whole point.

Wildcatting is THE cutting edge of reloading. This is where the experimenter and dreamer comes up with better mousetraps. Usually serve no real world purpose but that's not the point. It's a lot of fun and truly a hobby in and of itself.

Changing case dimensions, working with sizing/forming dies, fireforming, trimming, turning, reaming, basically cooking up something new and interesting, takes my range time to a whole new level. Bank account too.

I love wildcatting and will continue to do so. In fact, reached a point where I designed my own better mousetraps. One, the 6.5 Mystic, is actually unique and does give some real world benefits (at least in the eyes of the designer).

There are no wrong answers and certainly nothing much new. It's been or being done.

If you do play with the Savage/Stevens actions, wildcatting becomes a real breeze. You can get blanks, muck about with this and that, spin on the barrels and go see if you came up with anything worthwhile. Don't like it, spin off the barrel and go play with some other concept. All this in less then 20mins without the huge gunsmith bills.

It's a hoot and you will really learn alot about cartridges and how they work. Just be careful to not blow yourself up.

Ultramag, I doubt that your gunsmiths have seen any A&B barrels if they consider them smooth. I have played with a few and they are anything but smooth. Raw rifled barrels with a goodly amount of machine marks. Ultimately, that really doesn't matter as they can be smoothed out and shoot very well for the investment. Mine have been 1/2 MOA or better shooters.

Yes, Prechambered and threaded barrels are available for the Savage but access is sticky. MidwayUSA will not talk to anyone outside the US. There are other suppliers but you either have to export license them or go and pick them up stateside.

Enjoy...

Jerry
 
kombi1976 said:
I kinda like the thought of the .416 Barnes(45-70 necked down to .416) but again, it's personal taste and you haven't spoken of the need for a rimmed cartridge which would be a factor if you were using a Marlin 1895GS action or Martini.
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I bought a Greener Police shotgun with intentions to build a 45-70 from it, but I sure like the idea of the .416 Barnes. A different toy to play with for sure. I've already got a couple of 45-70's, and might get one of my Lee Enfields converted too, so to build a .416 Barnes on the Greener would be a nice change. 8) :D 8)
 
are A&B makeing prechambered/threded barrels to fit Savage action's now?
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Yes, but some are discontinued and so there are good deals to be had. .338-06 and .416 Taylor in C-M blued for US$99! :shock: Seems like a good way for a beginner to just mess around.
 
well I successfully formed my first batch of brass for my 25-284, it's not too hard of a process, and managed to not loose a single case out of the 100 I formed.

Loaded up a few rounds to try, 110 gr. Nosler Accubonds over H4831sc w/ Federal 210M match primers.

first group was .95", second group was .79"

25-284__002.jpg


I'm real happy! :D Velocity was 3177 fps out of my 24.5" tube

25-284__001.jpg


Thanks to Rembo, I'm running my first wildcat. m700 short action, Bevan King barrel, Bell & Carlson light varmint stock, Talley lightweights, and a Leupold VXII 4-12x40mm AO
 
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