Walker570 Posted November 2, 2021 Report Share Posted November 2, 2021 About 20 years ago I thought I would look at developing a wildcat cartr4idge. I had a number of friends in the USA who did have one or two in their collections. I looked at potential caese and of course was constrained a bit by being here in the UK. Eventualy I choe the 7x57 rimmed case and rew up some specificications. I had a friend in the North East of the USA who built barrels and actions, infact anyhting you needed almost by some fancy electr0 removal of material . I asked him if he could build me a barrel and chamber it for MY cartridge. Now I have used and owned a 257 Roberts which is a superb all round deer rifle and also a good varmint cartridge as well and this cartridge is based on the 7x57 Mauser case but unrimmed. I designated the barrel/ cartridge the 257 RRI (Roberts rimmed improved). Now when you start planning and building a wildcat you have a 50 50 chance of success IF YOU ARE LUCKY. I was lucky and my cartridge shoots very well indeed. The quater inchers are very much ignored by deer hunters but they will do the job the 25-06 being a prime example. My cartridge almost shows the performace of a 25-06. My friend in the USA also produced a full set of dies for me so I can load my own shells no problem. I also saw where he ahd done some barrels with the spark erosion system and asked him if he could do my barrel the same. No problem , he set it in the machine and left it overnight to do the job. I know there are a few every day cartridges today which started life as wildcats and the factories then turned them out. Anyone have a real interesting one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted November 2, 2021 Report Share Posted November 2, 2021 Blimey Nev, what speed does that go at? I bet it shoots flat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted November 2, 2021 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2021 No cartridge shoots flat... the apple from the tree proved that. It is about the same performace as a 25-06. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted November 2, 2021 Report Share Posted November 2, 2021 Just now, Walker570 said: No cartridge shoots flat... the apple from the tree proved that. It is about the same performace as a 25-06. I beg to differ, the 30mm Rarden could be aimed through the barrel at 800 yds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted November 2, 2021 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2021 Afraid the 'apple' still applies. Have not heard of anyone yet who can avoid gravity totally, other than space travel. and then it takes untold amount of energy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theshootist Posted November 3, 2021 Report Share Posted November 3, 2021 Very interesting indeed. The .22-250 I have would have originally arisen by a bright spark necking down the .250-3000 Savage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steel100 Posted November 10, 2021 Report Share Posted November 10, 2021 Don't have one myself, but a friend has a .25/.303 (.25/303??) from Australia. On a LE action and originally intended for swatting roos, I believe. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted November 10, 2021 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2021 12 minutes ago, Steel100 said: Don't have one myself, but a friend has a .25/.303 (.25/303??) from Australia. On a LE action and originally intended for swatting roos, I believe. Andy Yes, that is a popular cartridge out in Australia. I also have a 22 Bench Rest which I have to size from 6mm BR cases so I suppose a sort of wildcat along with my 375JDJ which at one time you could buy factory for in the USA but unheard of here I believe. Necked down 444 Marlin case. It is an awesome round and if you don't hold it properly it will bite at both ends, particularly in the 16 inch barrel I have on my Encore. . A lot of the cartridges we shoot today started off as wildcats, even the 243 Winchester, 257 |Roberts, 7-30 Waters, 25-06. It is great fun having the only cartridge in the world though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steel100 Posted November 16, 2021 Report Share Posted November 16, 2021 Well, it's never been easy to build your own wildcat in this country. Very conservative views and legislative difficulties making it a big pain. I've shot a .257 Ackley Improved built about 35 years ago for a friend of mine, using a Mauser action, Parker-Hale stock and personally imported Douglas barrel. My first three shots went into one oval under half an inch at 100yds. off a bag rest. You initially, mentioned starting from a 7X57R - another friend, who collects sporting rifles, has a couple of these. Oddly, one is a bolt-action sporter, re-barreled from 7.92X57. We couldn't work out why any one would deliberately, choose to spend money re-barreling a bolt gun to that calibre - unless they had a lot of 7X57R ammo! All good fun Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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