My New Wildcat 22 Cal

[Hotolds442]

That's about what the 6mm AI holds powder-wise, and it pushes a 70 close to 4000. With the additional .05 neck length of the 6mm, you're able to get just a tad more usable powder space in your wildcat. The 6AI trims out to about .07 longer, so the x55 has more room to seat longer bullets in the mag box. I see some good benefits with the x55 wildcat. I sent Jim a pm asking him what he thought about a 6x55, we'll see what he has to say. I just may have to go that route instead of the 6AI.

[scope eye]

That's about what the 6mm AI holds powder-wise, and it pushes a 70 close to 4000. With the additional .05 neck length of the 6mm, you're able to get just a tad more usable powder space in your wildcat. The 6AI trims out to about .07 longer, so the x55 has more room to seat longer bullets in the mag box. I see some good benefits with the x55 wildcat. I sent Jim a pm asking him what he thought about a 6x55, we'll see what he has to say. I just may have to go that route instead of the 6AI.


At the risk of repeating myself, don't forget the Lapua brass, that was a big factor for me anyways.

Dean

PS: I don't know what the max length, I could have gotten away with, but with after I finished sizing them they were 2.180" so I trimmed them to 2.165"

[Hotolds442]

At the risk of repeating myself, don't forget the Lapua brass, that was a big factor for me anyways.
Dean


good point!

[Apache]

I see this has attracted some attention!!!

This is one that I did quite some time ago and have always liked. I did a short write up on it in my website.

As Dean has said.....it's the Lapua brass that gives this wildcat it's legs.

The actual case capacity is within 2 grains of the 6mm Remington AI after being fire formed....but by using the Lapua brass it has several advantages over the Remington that it's worth while to me.

[Hotolds442]

The wheels are now in motion.......
Brass is ordered, and dies are on their way.
Dean, are you running this on the short, or the long action?

[scope eye]

The wheels are now in motion.......
Brass is ordered, and I'm looking for dies.
Dean, are you running this on the short, or the long action?

A Short action, as far as dies all you need, is a 6.5X55 a 243 and a 22-250, or a bushing setup if you have it.

Dean

[Hotolds442]

I'm going with the 6x55, so I should be able to get by with a 6BR die set according to Jim.

[scope eye]

I'm going with the 6x55, so I should be able to get by with a 6BR die set according to Jim.

I was not able to form it with a set of 22br dies, and ruined 3 pcs of new Lapua brass, before going with the 22-250.

Dean

[Hotolds442]

I'm anticipating the same fate and will probably step the brass down through a set of 250 savage dies first. But if you didn't lose any cases on the first pass with the 243 dies, I may just go straight to 6mm with them. Even though the Lapua brass is reasonably cheap, I don't want to throw any away prematurely. How does the Lapua brass fit on the .473 bolt head? My bolt head measures .478, which only leaves .005 clearance. If you can push a 77 at 4000, I should be able to push a 75 at 4000 also, that's right where I was pushing 55 Noslers in the 243. Here doggie doggie! That'll leave a mark. :tea:

[scope eye]

I'm anticipating the same fate and will probably step the brass down through a set of 250 savage dies first. But if you didn't lose any cases on the first pass with the 243 dies, I may just go straight to 6mm with them. Even though the Lapua brass is reasonably cheap, I don't want to throw any away prematurely. How does the Lapua brass fit on the .473 bolt head? My bolt head measures .478, which only leaves .005 clearance. If you can push a 77 at 4000, I should be able to push a 75 at 4000 also, that's right where I was pushing 55 Noslers in the 243. Here doggie doggie! That'll leave a mark. :tea:

No I did not loose any brass in the 243 process, it was when I went to 22br dies, it turns out the neck is to thick and would need to be turned, and I do not own any neck turning tools, it is not that the 22-250 is a compromise, the brass came out great no donuts blems markings or nothing, on all 97 of them!@#$%^&* the brass fits the bolt head nice and snug, which will come in real handy with those hard bolt lifts, I am going to incur with the loads I am going to stuff up it's woohoo, LOL

Dean

[Hotolds442]

That's good news, looks like I'm set to resize in one step. Jim estimates I'll be pushing 105's at 3400-3500 based on his experimentation with the chambering, easily 400fps over a 6mm Remington,I'm stoked!

A gutted 6.5x55 sizing die and a 6br seating die and I'm ready. I have no desire to turn necks either.
Have you tried the Lapua brass in a RCBS #3 shellholder? I saw somewhere that a #2 works better.

[scope eye]

That's good news, looks like I'm set to resize in one step. Jim estimates I'll be pushing 105's at 3400-3500 based on his experimentation with the chambering, easily 400fps over a 6mm Remington,I'm stoked!

A gutted 6.5x55 sizing die and a 6br seating die and I'm ready. I have no desire to turn necks either.
Have you tried the Lapua brass in a RCBS #3 shellholder? I saw somewhere that a #2 works better.

I am using a #3 and it works great, a #2 is for 308 - 270 and would not fit, and I have several brands of them,
I just realized you are doing a 6mm version OK now that makes sense, I have no doubt about the 3400 - 3500 FPS.

Dean

[Hotolds442]

I am using a #3 and it works great, a #2 is for 308 - 270 and would not fit, and I have several brands of them,
I just realized you are doing a 6mm version OK now that makes sense, I have no doubt about the 3400 - 3500 FPS.

Dean
You got your 2 & 3 swapped. #3 is 308/270, #2 is 30/30. I'm assuming the 30/30 shellholder is what you're using?

[scope eye]

That's weird, I have two RCBS #3 one fits one and one fits they other, go figure.

Dean

[Hotolds442]

So which is it then? The number 3?
or the number #3? Lol

[Hotolds442]

6x55 dies arrived yesterday, Lapua brass will be here today. The barrel is a ways out yet, at least 2 weeks, probably more.
I'm on the fence right now whether to order a 6br sizing die or just use a 243 for neck sizing, I'll let Jim make that decision.
I'll load up some 75's and start getting things ready for load development, still need to find a donor action.

[scope eye]

6x55 dies arrived yesterday, Lapua brass will be here today. The barrel is a ways out yet, at least 2 weeks, probably more.
I'm on the fence right now whether to order a 6br sizing die or just use a 243 for neck sizing, I'll let Jim make that decision.
I'll load up some 75's and start getting things ready for load development, still need to find a donor action.


So what is your starting load going to be with those 75gr bullets, I would be looking at somewhere in the 52gr to 55gr of RL17 or H4350, or you could use 243AI load data that would be a good reference point.

Dean

[Hotolds442]

I'll start at 52gr of H4350, one round each in increments of .3gr to find pressure signs with the VMax, Sierra 75gr HP, and the Hornady 75gr HP. From there I'll start shooting 5 round groups looking at group size with incremental charge weights based on the findings in the first test. Once I find a couple of good loads, I'll play with seating depth and hopefully shrink the group size even more.

[scope eye]

I'll start at 52gr of H4350, one round each in increments of .3gr to find pressure signs with the VMax, Sierra 75gr HP, and the Hornady 75gr HP. From there I'll start shooting 5 round groups looking at group size with incremental charge weights based on the findings in the first test. Once I find a couple of good loads, I'll play with seating depth and hopefully shrink the group size even more.

You will be fine I am running 60gr of RL17 with a 75gr Vmax in my 6mm-06AI, I know it is not the same cartridge, but it is still 60gr of RL17 with a 75gr bullet in a 6mm hole, so there is some relevance.

Dean

[Hotolds442]

And the 6AI/6x55 are nearly identical in case capacity. 52gr may be too low of a starting point if you're getting 60 grains without pressure. Maybe I'll go .5 increments on the pressure check.