Wildcat appreciation thread

[chainsaw]

I find myself wondering why there’s such a big caliber gap between 7mm (284) & 30cal (308) and why the gap has not been filled ? 284 to 308 is quite a large jump when you consider most of the others 243 to 257, 257 to 264, 264 to 277, 277 to 284 & so on. Seems odd that a “.295” or there abouts never came about ?

[-BW-]

I think there were some long obsolete bore sizes in the .290’s. I assume manufacturers eventually migrated toward a certain array of bore sizes as bullet technology improved, as there could be more variation in bullet weight and design, that performance and application was no longer dependent on its bore size. I guess it’s the same reason .224 pushed .228 into obsolescence, .268 disappeared with the Carcano, .284 beat the .289 (or was it .287?) of the .280 Ross’ bullet, and many others.

[kip13]

@chainsaw I think @-BW- is correct. Having recently hunted down some projectiles in once of these obsolete calibers .287 for my Ross, I reckon that we are talking in such tiny size differences that there is no need for something in that 7mm to 308 gap, otherwise the Ross and .275 H&H (both use .287 pills) would still be mainstream.

If you were looking for a bullet in that size, I cant see the benefit of not just using a 7mm or .308, practically the same, and a hell of a lot easier to find projectiles for. Along those lines, it doesn't even seem like the manufacturers could agree, below is three .280 ross cases loads, my reloads with the 'correct' .287 pill on the left, a Kynoch .280 with a roundnose that measures .288 in the middle and a Kynoch .280 with a FMJ that measures .286 on the right, they all must have worked to a certain degree in their day.

Unless a big manufacturer wants to make a flash new .287 cartridge with high BC and extra low drag, to sell some guns, they might as well just focus on the calibers that have projectiles already. I guess it is just market/inventory consolidation over time.

[grandpamac]

Greetings All,
As it was another wet day here in HB an expedition to the shed yielded some 6.5x60 Wire formed cases. They measure 57.5mm long so almost 1mm longer than the 6.5x57 and have a shoulder that is around 40 degrees. The dia at the shoulder measures 11.4mm and the length to shoulder 47mm. These are a little less and more respectively than the .257 Roberts Improved. I don't know any more about the rifle than what I could see and the gentleman that built it has left the range. It was built on a 98 Mauser action and fitted with an reticle moving variable scope. From memory the barrel had a 10 inch twist so would not handle the heavier projectiles.
Regards Grandpamac.

A Photo.

Finally found the camera on my new phone.
GPM.

[Tentman]

Here's another one to think about. I have a Weatherby Varmintmaster that just might make it here from the UK after 3 years.

It's a 22-250 and supposedly the Varmintmaster mag box is 2.5" long- so a very strong miniature MkV action with a .473 boltface Being a 22-250 bought cheap sight unseen there's certainly a possibility that the barrel is toast. If it is toast then there's the delicious choice of what to rebarrel it in.

A fast twist 22-250 would work, as would a 22 Creedmoor, but both might be somewhat hamstrung by the mag length with heavies. One consideration will be the feed rails, 22-250 has quite a bit of taper, and "conversions" from it seem to have struck problems in the past according to some accounts. So what else is there . . . A reamer run in short ?

[Micky Duck]

I wonder if a soft flat based longish .284 projectile might just work just as well in the Ross something made by speer would be my first choice as are normally on soft side..would save a LOT of dicking around if it did work..... considering a .308 projectile works fine in a .311 bore in the 7.62x39mm its not a huge ask.

[akaroa1]

My 375 Wildcat idea is taking shape

45-90 brass annealed and run into a 375 H&H sizing die shortened 11mm

The 45-90 brass grew 1mm longer in the forming
So I have named it 9.5x62R because i prefer the European method of identifying cartridges

45-90 9.5x62R 375 H&H

I'm aiming to get a decent capacity nitro rimmed case with lots of body taper for easy extraction from a single shot action

[akaroa1]

9.5x62R case capacity is 70 grains W760
to base of the neck

So same capacity as the 9.3x74R in a shorter fatter case but starting with a 45-90 case which is readily available

[Basenjiboy]

Here's another one to think about. I have a Weatherby Varmintmaster that just might make it here from the UK after 3 years.

It's a 22-250 and supposedly the Varmintmaster mag box is 2.5" long- so a very strong miniature MkV action with a .473 boltface Being a 22-250 bought cheap sight unseen there's certainly a possibility that the barrel is toast. If it is toast then there's the delicious choice of what to rebarrel it in.

A fast twist 22-250 would work, as would a 22 Creedmoor, but both might be somewhat hamstrung by the mag length with heavies. One consideration will be the feed rails, 22-250 has quite a bit of taper, and "conversions" from it seem to have struck problems in the past according to some accounts. So what else is there . . . A reamer run in short ?

Why not the parent case 250 Savage, or the AI version?
BB

[akaroa1]

My 375 Wildcat idea is taking shape

45-90 brass annealed and run into a 375 H&H sizing die shortened 11mm

The 45-90 brass grew 1mm longer in the forming
So I have named it 9.5x62R because i prefer the European method of identifying cartridges

45-90 9.5x62R 375 H&H

I'm aiming to get a decent capacity nitro rimmed case with lots of body taper for easy extraction from a single shot action

Attachment 228241

I tweaked the die length this morning to make the neck slightly longer

This 9.5x62R case is remarkably similar to the 303 Brit
Will feed and extract like a dream

[grandpamac]

Here's another one to think about. I have a Weatherby Varmintmaster that just might make it here from the UK after 3 years.

It's a 22-250 and supposedly the Varmintmaster mag box is 2.5" long- so a very strong miniature MkV action with a .473 boltface Being a 22-250 bought cheap sight unseen there's certainly a possibility that the barrel is toast. If it is toast then there's the delicious choice of what to rebarrel it in.

A fast twist 22-250 would work, as would a 22 Creedmoor, but both might be somewhat hamstrung by the mag length with heavies. One consideration will be the feed rails, 22-250 has quite a bit of taper, and "conversions" from it seem to have struck problems in the past according to some accounts. So what else is there . . . A reamer run in short ?

Perhaps a 6mm Norma BR. Will fit in the mag where most others will not. Should feed fine in the push feed action.