Any Forum Members Into Wildcatting

[Dean Crawford]

Any one here reload or into Wildcat cartridges, I started by Ackley Improving everything I could then, I went to the dark side and started "Wildcating" the performance is bar none, I can't go back to a Sammi spec cartridge too much bullet drop.LOL here are a few of mine.
left to right 50 cal Dislocater, 338 Edge, 6.5 Remington Ultra Mag, 25 Remington Ultra Mag, 6mm Mach IV, 6mm-06AI, 6mmX55, 22X55 no custom dies are needed for these Wildcats, they are formed with off the shelf dies, which saves a lot of expense,

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As you can tell I like my RUMs 338 Edge, 300, 7mm, 270, 6.5mm, and 25 Cal

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Dean

 

[mlaboss]

This is pretty interesting! How do you form your wildcat cartridges with OTS dies?

 

[Dean Crawford]

The 50 Cal I use 500 S&W dies
The first die is for the neck and shoulder and the second is a gutted die for full length sizing
The 338 Edge I use 338 RUM & 375 RUM dies Made with 300 RUM brass
The 6.5 RUM I use 6.5 WSM & 7 RUM dies Made with 7mm RUM brass
The 25 RUM I use 25 WSSM & 7 RUM dies Made with 7mm RUM brass
The 6mm Mach IV I use 243 WSSM & 264 or 7mm Win Mag dies and brass
The 6mm-06AI I use 6BR dies and any 06 based brass
The 6.5 X 55 I use 6BR dies and 6.5 X55 swede brass, you can get Lapua brass for $70.00 per 100 It is the first case Lapua ever made, I like this case because it holds almost 10gr more powder than a 308 based case and still fits in a short action, and is always in stock even nowadays.
The 22 X 55 I use 22BR or 223 WSSM dies 6.5 X 55 brass it has to be necked down to 6mm first then 22cal.
I think I got everything if not let me know if you have any other questions.

Dean

 

[whatluck]

Sweet! What can you tell me about the 50 Dislocator? What gun shoots it, and what projectile and velocity do you get?

Also that 25 RUM reminds me of this

 

[atilla]

cool!

do you have stuff chambered for all of them? rifle pics!

 

[mlaboss]

The 50 Cal I use 500 S&W dies
The first die is for the neck and shoulder and the second is a gutted die for full length sizing
The 338 Edge I use 338 RUM & 375 RUM dies Made with 300 RUM brass
The 6.5 RUM I use 6.5 WSM & 7 RUM dies Made with 7mm RUM brass
The 25 RUM I use 25 WSSM& 7 RUM dies Made with 7mm RUM brass
The 6mm Mach IV I use 243 WSSM & 264 or 7mm Win Mag dies and brass
The 6mm-06AI I use 6BR dies and any 06 based brass
The 6.5 X 55 I use 6BR dies and 6.5 X55 swede brass, you can get Lapua brass for $70.00 per 100 It is the first case Lapua ever made, I like this case because it holds almost 10gr more powder than a 308 based case and still fits in a short action, and is always in stock even nowadays.
The 22 X 55 I use 22BR or 223 WSSM dies 6.5 X 55 brass it has to be necked down to 6mm first then 22cal.
I think I got everything if not let me know if you have any other questions.

Dean

Fascinating stuff!

How do you chamber barrels for your wildcats?

 

[Dean Crawford]

Sweet! What can you tell me about the 50 Dislocator? What gun shoots it, and what projectile and velocity do you get?

Also that 25 RUM reminds me of this

The 50 Dislocator as in "shoulder" is a pistol 50 cal, .501 Dia not .510 rifle Dia, like I said it uses 500 S&W dies and 375 Ruger basic brass, "Basic" meaning straight walled not necked down, and uses 500 S&W bullets from 250gr to 600gr I like they Hornady 300 FTXs, and in a 30" 20 twist barrel give me 3000FPS, these bullets have the BC of a brick, but in it's defense it is also like getting hit by a cinder block, it is on a Remington 700 action with thumbhole stock,

Dean

- - - Updated - - -

cool!

do you have stuff chambered for all of them? rifle pics!

They are all Remington 700 or savage 110 actions with thumbhole stocks.

 

[Dean Crawford]

cool!

do you have stuff chambered for all of them? rifle pics!

Yes they are all Remington 700 or Savage 110 actions in a Thumbhole stock,

Dean

 

[whatluck]

>300 grain
>3000 fps
~3 ft/TONS!!!1

lulz

So its a short action rem 700? Who made the barrel and bolt?

Also, have you seen this thread? This guy is awesome, and only seems to like to post at 3AM.

http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/threads/39751-!-GA-FH-Hairy-Shotgun-Rifle

 

[frenchman]

What kind of velocities are we talking about? What kind of bullet drop? Intrigued, so far, although the only wildcatting I've done was to hook up with some cougars.

 

[Dean Crawford]

Fascinating stuff!

How do you chamber barrels for your wildcats?

There are two ways you can do this,
One you can get custom reamer made "big bucks"
or you use multiple reamers in several steps, it's more work and you have to know what you are doing, but cheaper than a custom made reamer.

Dean

 

[Stape]

I've messed around with wildcats as long as I've been into contenders. Some include the 30 Herrett, 357 Herrett, 7 TCU, 309 JDJ and 375 JDJ. All of them in pistol configuration with 14 in barrels except the Herretts, they are 10 inchers.

 

[Dean Crawford]

>300 grain
>3000 fps
~3 ft/TONS!!!1

lulz

So its a short action rem 700? Who made the barrel and bolt?

Also, have you seen this thread? This guy is awesome, and only seems to like to post at 3AM.

http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/threads/39751-!-GA-FH-Hairy-Shotgun-Rifle

That one is a long action, and started as a McGowen blank the bolt is a stock Remington, there is not as much bolt thrust as you think since it is a straight wall case.

Dean

 

[Dean Crawford]

What kind of velocities are we talking about? What kind of bullet drop? Intrigued, so far, although the only wildcatting I've done was to hook up with some cougars.

The 22 cal sends a Sierra 77gr HPBT over 4000fps, 26" 12 twist
The Mach IV sends a 105gr Amax over 4000fps and a 58gr Vmax over 5000fps, 30" 12 twist
The 25 RUM sends 85gr Noslers over 4700fps and 100gr noslers over 4300fps and 70gr blitz kings over 5000fps 30" 14 twist
The 338 Edge sends a 160gr Barnes TTSX Over 4200fps 32" 10 twist
There is no bullet drop until almost 500yards.

Dean

PS: you should see the vapor trail these things leave it looks like a tracer round.

 

[cockpitbob]

I had to learn reloading when I inherited my grandad's closet.

* 1917 Eddystone in 35-Whelen Improved.
* 1885 Winchester High Wall in R2-Lovell (it's a wildcat of a 22-3000 which is a wildcat of a 25-20SS)
* 30-40Krag: Not a wildcat, but the selection of ammo is piss poor so I load my own.

 

[mlaboss]

Holy crap! What kind of life do you get out of the barrels?

 

[frenchman]

The 22 cal sends a Sierra 77gr HPBT over 4000fps, 26" 12 twist
The Mach IV sends a 105gr Amax over 4000fps and a 58gr Vmax over 5000fps, 30" 12 twist
The 25 RUM sends 85gr Noslers over 4700fps and 100gr noslers over 4300fps and 70gr blitz kings over 5000fps 30" 14 twist
The 338 Edge sends a 160gr Barnes TTSX Over 4200fps 32" 10 twist
There is no bullet drop until almost 500yards.

Dean

PS: you should see the vapor trail these things leave it looks like a tracer round.

DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Dean Crawford]

Holy crap! What kind of life do you get out of the barrels?

For the first 500 rounds it is a match target rifle, then from 500 to 750 it is a good Varmint rifle, then from 750 to 1000 it is a hunting rifle, then I take the barrel off, cut an inch off they chamber end, and rechamber it you can do this 5 or 6 times, the rifling does not really wear out just the throat, that is why I start with a 30" barrel. when I first shoot it, it is a 1/4 moa then by 500 it opens up to over 1/2 moa and by the time I reach 1K it is over 1 moa.

Dean

 

[jefftk]

For the first 500 rounds it is a match target rifle, then from 500 to 750 it is a good Varmint rifle, then from 750 to 1000 it is a hunting rifle, then I take the barrel off, cut an inch off they chamber end, and rechamber it you can do this 5 or 6 times, the rifling does not really wear out just the throat, that is why I start with a 30" barrel. when I first shoot it, it is a 1/4 moa then by 500 it opens up to over 1/2 moa and by the time I reach 1K it is over 1 moa.

Dean

Does it regain 1/4 moa after you cut it and rechamber it?

 

[Dean Crawford]

Does it regain 1/4 moa after you cut it and rechamber it?

Yes it does, right back to 1/4 moa, and it is even better than when it was new, since the rifling is already broken in, less cooper fouling and easier cleaning among other stuff.

Dean

PS: it sorta like shock absorbers they wear out slowly, and then when you put new ones on, WOW.

 

[dhuze]

There is a guy at my club who always has something interesting in wildcat cartridges. One of his favorites is in .14. I believe that one is a necked down .223 case. I supply him with IMI cases because he said they are the best for that one. He has had them with a 4400 fps at the muzzle, but they were disintegrating before they got to the target so he had to slow them down to around 4000.

 

[ntomsw]

Awesome thread.

 

[Dean Crawford]

There is a guy at my club who always has something interesting in wildcat cartridges. One of his favorites is in .14. I believe that one is a necked down .223 case. I supply him with IMI cases because he said they are the best for that one. He has had them with a 4400 fps at the muzzle, but they were disintegrating before they got to the target so he had to slow them down to around 4000.

That is because his twist rate was to fast, and the exiting bullet was not traveling to fast but spinning to fast rpm wise, in twist rates a low number usually under 10 is a fast twist rate, it is a fine line to make these work and borders insanity.

Dean

 

[Fixxah]

I have a Wildcat reloaders bible that was a friend's. Pretty amazing what can be made if you're so inclined.

-Proud to be dad every day, a licensed plumber most days, and wish I was a shoemaker on others.

 

[ColdDayInHell]

The 22 cal sends a Sierra 77gr HPBT over 4000fps, 26" 12 twist
The Mach IV sends a 105gr Amax over 4000fps and a 58gr Vmax over 5000fps, 30" 12 twist
The 25 RUM sends 85gr Noslers over 4700fps and 100gr noslers over 4300fps and 70gr blitz kings over 5000fps 30" 14 twist
The 338 Edge sends a 160gr Barnes TTSX Over 4200fps 32" 10 twist
There is no bullet drop until almost 500yards.

Dean

PS: you should see the vapor trail these things leave it looks like a tracer round.

Holy shit!!!!!!

 

[Dean Crawford]

Holy shit!!!!!!

Actually the velocity numbers I get, are even higher than what I posted, but I will leave them at that, I would probably lose credibility if I did, I have had shooters move five benches away at the range, when they see the numbers on the chrono, and mumble something to they effect dude your dangerous,LOL in full disclosure the 50 cal is not a 1/4 moa set up it is more like 1/2 moa but who cares the bullet is a 1/2 inch diameter anyway,LOL I am still fine tuning the load on that one, which usually means more powder, I will post a pic typical of what one of rigs looks like, as soon as my daughter gets home.

Dean

 

[Almostelmo]

I've never heard of wildcatting and my mind is now blown.

This thread is awesome.

 

[Dean Crawford]

I've never heard of wildcatting and my mind is now blown.

This thread is awesome.

If anyone cares to invite me to there favorite range, I will gladly bring some of my toys, and we can have a play date,LOL
please do not hold me responsible, when I have to smack you to bring you back, when you go into shock,LOL

Dean

PS: I hear all the time, "I am bored with this gun" I do not know what that is like and have trouble identifying with that, because it has yet to happen to me.

 

[dcmdon]

The 22 cal sends a Sierra 77gr HPBT over 4000fps, 26" 12 twist
The Mach IV sends a 105gr Amax over 4000fps and a 58gr Vmax over 5000fps, 30" 12 twist
The 25 RUM sends 85gr Noslers over 4700fps and 100gr noslers over 4300fps and 70gr blitz kings over 5000fps 30" 14 twist
The 338 Edge sends a 160gr Barnes TTSX Over 4200fps 32" 10 twist
There is no bullet drop until almost 500yards.

Dean

PS: you should see the vapor trail these things leave it looks like a tracer round.

Do you get more than 500 shots before a barrel is shot out? Ha.

This is amazing performance. But people should understand that when you push a small bullet out of a huge case full of powder, barrel life is a fraction of a more standard caliber. The sad thing is I bet some of those .25s are a real pleasure to shoot in volume.

 

[Dean Crawford]

Do you get more than 500 shots before a barrel is shot out? Ha.

This is amazing performance. But people should understand that when you push a small bullet out of a huge case full of powder, barrel life is a fraction of a more standard caliber. The sad thing is I bet some of those .25s are a real pleasure to shoot in volume.

See post #19,
If you think about it, it is no different than a guy that puts a supercharger on his car, or anything else that is high performance, what would you rather drive a mini van or a Winston Cup car, it has a reduce life span but you get out of it is pure enjoyment, and like I said in in post #19 I set it back It's about $100.00, and I am good to go again for another 500 to 1000 rounds, and like I said no custom reamers dies or brass, it's blue collar Wildcating that is what I do, I have set up rigs for many of friends and family, and my machinist he is awesome he is retired now, but he use to machine stuff for nuclear subs and B2 bombers and everything in between, it's funny when I tell him the tolerances I want for a chamber, he laughs and says with those tolerances most planes would not get off the ground, so I am not really worried about your dopey chamber,LOL so I have come to the the conclusion an F117 has tighter clearances than my Savage Varmint rifle,LOL

Dean

PS: if you have a Savage or a Remington or most anything else, you also can have one of these and get into Wildcatting.