18 replies to this topic

[clampdaddy]

Ok, just for fun, if you could design your own cartridge what would it be? What case would you use, how would you alter its shape, and what caliber would it be? Are there any existing cartridges that you think were done wrong or could be improved upon? Let's hear what you would build if you had access to all the machinery needed to make it happen.I'll start out with one that I think Winchester really messed up on. The .25 wssm. They call it a magnum but it barely reaches 25-06 velocities. If I had my way I'd ditch the squatty little wssm case and make a real .257 caliber magnum out of it by using the larger wsm case. If you're gonna call it a magnum then make it a magnum!The second one I would love to do is take the .375 ruger case and neck that bad boy down to .277 caliber. I'm thinking, something that beats .270 Weatherby velocities without the high ammo cost. Ok let's hear what kind of wildcat kittens you have in mind.

[Baja_Traveler]

Are there any existing cartridges that you think were done wrong or could be improved upon?

I'd take the .45 GAP production dies and melt them down. My ideal cartridge is already in existence, so no need to re-invent the wheel. The 6.5 has taken every animal on the planet. I'd keep my 6.5 x 54 Mannlicher first, or my 6.5 x 55 second...

[dangerranger]

Im starting to gather parts for a 17center fire rifle. probably a 17AI Hornet. I know its been done but thats what makes me drool this week. DR

[Frank]

I'll start out with one that I think Winchester really messed up on. The .25 wssm. They call it a magnum but it barely reaches 25-06 velocities. If I had my way I'd ditch the squatty little wssm case and make a real .257 caliber magnum out of it by using the larger wsm case. If you're gonna call it a magnum then make it a magnum!The second one I would love to do is take the .375 ruger case and neck that bad boy down to .277 caliber. I'm thinking, something that beats .270 Weatherby velocities without the high ammo cost.

Yep, both excellent points & Great ideas for a wildcat. I am a HUGE .277 cal fan, but not sure I would even want to shoot that tiger. I get little pleasure out of shooting my oldest son's lightweight 270 wsm & my shoulder is still sore from shooting it yesterday. Can you imagin what a wuss I would be with a .277/375? LOL While I have toyed with the idea of a wildcat for many years, including a 20/250, I really am not a fan of wildcats. I just figure there are too many excellent commercial rounds available without all that extra time, $$ & energy needed for a wildcat, & that will likely give little to no (practical) advantage over it's commercial peer. They're just not worth it to me, in other words.However, everyone should have a project &/or hobby that brings them pleasure, and if a wildcat round does that for them, then that is exactly what that individual should be doing of course. Different strokes for different folks. It's all good as they say. lolIf I had to guess what dia bullet I would build a wilcat on, it might be a .20, 224, 243, 264 or .277. Not sure what cases I would use. The 270 wsm case is a great one IMO, & may work for a .243 dia? Good ThreadFrank

[clampdaddy]

I'd take the .45 GAP production dies and melt them down.

You mind if I throw in the ruger compact magnum line and the .308 Marlin express while you have the smelter fired up?

[Bisley]

I would make a .30 caliber, that could be loaded light enough for small game if desired, but yet heavy enough to take down anything in North America. I would also make it available in ANY gun store, most hardware stores, and even many retail stores. The recoil would be tolerable, the powder selection would be large, and the bullet selection even larger. It would be the standard by which all new calibers are judged, and would stand the test of time by lasting for a hundred years or more. I think I would call it............. the .30-06........ I have nothing against wildcats, but what's the use of reinventing a wheel that rolls perfectly fine already? Just seems that all that money spent on custom dies, barrels, reamers, etc. could be put to way more use towards hunting with. But, again, I'm just a simple man with a simple plan K.I.S.S.

[Divernhunter]

The needs are all covered with far less than what we have now. However if I were to play with a wildcat I would take a 50Spotter/Tracer brass case and neck it to 6.5mm. That would be one heck of a mag and could really push 140-160gr bullets fast for long range hunting etc. Would be great with non-lead bullets where they work better the faster they are pushed.

[clampdaddy]

I would make a .30 caliber, that could be loaded light enough for small game if desired, but yet heavy enough to take down anything in North America. I would also make it available in ANY gun store, most hardware stores, and even many retail stores. The recoil would be tolerable, the powder selection would be large, and the bullet selection even larger. It would be the standard by which all new calibers are judged, and would stand the test of time by lasting for a hundred years or more. I think I would call it............. the .30-06........ I have nothing against wildcats, but what's the use of reinventing a wheel that rolls perfectly fine already? Just seems that all that money spent on custom dies, barrels, reamers, etc. could be put to way more use towards hunting with. But, again, I'm just a simple man with a simple plan K.I.S.S.

Oh, the wildcat you need is a .300 Whelen.

[Leonten]

I actually did have a very nice wildcat cartridge many many moons ago. The rifle had an 18" Douglas Barrel, Mauser 98 action, full length Mannlischer stock and Timney trigger. It was chambered for the 25/284. However, I already had (and still have) a Ruger M77 RL Ultra Light chambered for the 257 Roberts Ackley Improved. Both guns had identical performance, velocity, weight, accuracy etc. and were a pleasure to take to the field. Loaded, with scope, they tipped the scale at 7.5 lbs. A buddy of mine just had to have the 25/284 so I sold it to him for twice what I paid. That short 18" barrel just didn't do the cartridge justice. If I were going to have a rifle built, I'd start with a short action and use the 284 as the parent cartridge. The rifle would have a 22" barrel and since the action would be short I'd have the stock & fluted barrel as light as I could to end up with a nice mountain rifle. I'd blow out the shoulder of the case from 35 degrees to 40 degrees. Then neck down the cartridge to 6.5mm (.264). The 284 has the same power capacity as the 30/06, therefore I could duplicate any of the '06's offspring's performance in a shorter and lighter rifle. I'd choose the .264 mainly for the better Ballistic Coefficient in the different bullet weights. Today there are a number of great hunting bullet designs for the 6.5mm. I'll admit the 30 caliber has the greatest range of bullets, but the 6.5 has all the weights I'd need for my hunting purposes. This wildcat should exceed the performance of the 260 Remington by 100 to 150 fps. Anyway, that's what I'd build.....Your comments?

[clampdaddy]

So kinda like a 6.5-284 Ackley Improved? Sounds good to me.The .284 case would also be great for making a short action medium bore thumper. It could be necked up to .35 or .375 and it's larger diameter case would offer a shoulder that would headspace better than the .35 and .375 Whelen.

[Fjold]

Both the necked down WSM and Ruger cases would be seriously overbored and eat barrels like Wifezilla goes through cookies. The Remington SAUM necked down to 257 would be a good compromise.I would take the new 375 (or 416) Ruger and neck it up to .423. Why Ruger necked the 375 up to 416 where it competes with the 416 Remington and Rigby, I don't know. It's always going to be compared against them and lose. If Ruger would have gone to the .423 bore it's only comparison would have been to the 404 Jeffrey and the Jeffery requires a longer action than the 375 H&H.

[clampdaddy]

Both the necked down WSM and Ruger cases would be seriously overbored and eat barrels like Wifezilla goes through cookies. The Remington SAUM necked down to 257 would be a good compromise.

I like hot rods, can you tell? I hate the term "overboard". As far as I can tell that it just something that a guy who shoots a .250 savage can say to knock his buddies .257 Weatherby. Is the .250 more efficient, heck yeah, but the .257 is a superior big game hunting round no matter how "overbored" it is. A WSM case behind a .257 cal bullet shouldn't be any harder on a barrel than a .257 Weatherby. My .277x.375 Ruger creation may be a bit worse but a hunter should still get plenty of years out of a barrel.

[Shoot-it]

I was thinking of a 223 necked down to a 17 but it has been done all ready.

[Racink6]

I would like to design a non lead 233 thats worth a darn.

[Thumper Dunker]

I want it all. Maybe a 20 06 or 20 08.

[clampdaddy]

I would like to design a non lead 233 thats worth a darn.

Something between .224 and .243 caliber? That would be interesting.

[Kephers]

My neighbor growing up had a 30/30-6mm wildcat. Thing was awesome.

[clampdaddy]

I have a buddy that shoots one. His is built on a Savage 99 lever action.

[Kephers]

This one was a bolt action. 30/30 case necked down to a 6mm bullet.