My New Wildcat 22 Cal

[scope eye]

Great idea and great write up so far, can't wait for a range report!

Looks like this would have a bit more capacity than a 22-308, is that correct?

Yes it does it holds 7gr more powder than a 308 based cartridge, I have 55gr of RL22 topped of with a Sierra 77gr HPBT, or SMK for those in the know, just waiting for a firing pin to strike it, If a 22-243 can send them 3800 FPS there is no reason with they extra powder, these wont exit at 4000FPS.

Dean

[scope eye]

I got my hands on a set of 223 WSSM dies, those also worked very well for the neck and shoulder, you can never have to many options.

Dean

[Hotolds442]

No kidding! I'm temporarily seating bullets for the 6x55 in a 6.5x284 seater die until I get my 6br dies.

[BTSniper]

Just finished fire forming 140 pieces of Lapua brass for this awesome looking 22cal round. Used the Cream of Wheat method.

I'll have more to post soon.

BT

[ShaneG.]

Anyone do any load work yet and get speeds of 77/80g bullets?

[scope eye]

Hey Shane I was getting over 4000 FPS with sub 1/4 inch groupings, with a full case of RL22 & RL25 and those 77gr sierras, the 69gr were even nastier but did not have a chrono, but shot just as well.

Dean

[BTSniper]

Haven't done much shooting with this round yet but I was thinking about the reloading dies necessary to FL size this wildcat case...... you can use a 22BR to bump the shoulder back as necessary but the 22BR die will do nothing for the lower half of the case. You can't use a 6.5x55 die to FL size the case because the shoulder diameter is considerably smaller then the diameter of this wildcat round.

So I was thinking when it becomes necessary to size down the lower half of this round one could use a 45 Winchester pistol die, maybe even the trim die???? anyone have a 45 Winchester die that also loads for this wildcat? The 45wm pistol cal shows a rim diameter of .480, the same as the 6.5, not the smaller .473 of the US cases like the 30-06.

Any thoughts?

BT

[scope eye]

You could drill out the shoulder part of the die, at least that is what I was going to do when the time came.

Dean

[BTSniper]

The shoulder of the 6.5x55 die?

Maybe....... it would have to match the chamber of the erroader. The taper of the case wall of the erroader is less then the 6.5x55.

BT

[scope eye]

[QUOTE=BTSniper;286478]The shoulder of the 6.5x55 die?

Maybe....... it would have to match the chamber of the erroader. The taper of the case wall of the erroader is less then the 6.5x55.

Yes the 6.5 X 55 die, you said you wanted to do the lower part of the case.

Dean

[BTSniper]

Still.... the 22 errorder jacket taper doesn't match that of the 6.5x55 so your not going to be able to size much of the jacket without reforming it to the 6.5 taper?????? I'll have to look into it a bit more.

22 errorder shoulder diameter = .458

6.5x55 shoulder diameter = .435

BT

[ShaneG.]

I took a piece of O1 steel and drilled it straight through them ran my reamer in just enough to size down the lower portion and base. Kind of a pain using a bunch of different dies but it works.

[BTSniper]

Finally shot some live rounds down the 28" barrel, 12 twist with 69 grain Sierras. Loaded them up with 50 grains RL-22. Didn't crony the load, only breaking in the new barrel, and on that note let me say I'm pretty impressed with this McGowan barrel. Simply scrubbed the bore with a nylon brush then it was running clean patches by the 3rd patch! Clean! Very impressed! The 50 grain load looked to be middle of the road on pressure, probably still a little more to go, we shall see.

Got 20 rounds down the tube, now I'm going to send it off to be Nitride processed. Also picked up a 9 twist with 39 rounds down the tube I'm also going to send to be Nitride processed, see if we can extend the life of the "erroder!"

BT

[BTSniper]

Just got my 2 eroder barrels back from Black Nitride processing. Also sent in a CBI 300 WM match barrel. I got two of them cleaned up, all though the barrel look good on the inside I ran some patches threw the barrel with some flitz polish till patches came out clean.

I also sent in some of the nice Stainless lugs and barrel nuts from Jim at Northland and had them Black Nitride processed too. Everything looks great. This is the same shop I send my swage dies to for processing so I get a good deal, wish they had their FFL to do the action too. Maybe some day.

Had 20 rounds down the 28" 12 twist and 39 rounds down the 26" 9 twist.

I'll keep you guys posted.

BT

[bootsmcguire]

Just got my 2 eroder barrels back from Black Nitride processing. Also sent in a CBI 300 WM match barrel. I got two of them cleaned up, all though the barrel look good on the inside I ran some patches threw the barrel with some flitz polish till patches came out clean.

I also sent in some of the nice Stainless lugs and barrel nuts from Jim at Northland and had them Black Nitride processed too. Everything looks great. This is the same shop I send my swage dies to for processing so I get a good deal, wish they had their FFL to do the action too. Maybe some day.

Had 20 rounds down the 28" 12 twist and 39 rounds down the 26" 9 twist.

I'll keep you guys posted.

BT

Who did you go through if I may ask?

[BTSniper]

The same shop I send my swage dies to for my business. Unfortunately at this time I do not wish to give out that info but I'm positive any of the companies out there that offer the Black Nitride processing will do a great job.

BT

[bootsmcguire]

Totally understand. The couple companies I contacted need large orders and I was just wondering who was doing a few here and there.

[BTSniper]

Yes that is true, most companies have a minimum flat rate for processing a barrel. Would be kind of spendy for just one or two barrels. The company I use has the same high dollar minimum, I simply sent a couple barrels in with my last shipment of products.

I should be able to start working on some load development now.

BT

[sixonetonoffun]

For the record are you guys using .480 boltface with lapau brass? Or US brass and a standard .473 boltface?

[scooterf79]

Ive got the 6mm version, and my 473 savage bolt face fits the lapua brass just fine.....but the one I'm building is on a remage conversion and its taken a little bit of work to make the lapua brass fit it. So to answer your question, the regular standard savage bolt face will fit.
Scooter