Wildcat Forming Brass From Parent Case

[Good]

Hey guys, many of you have experience forming something new from a parent case. I have a wildcat I've been working on for a few years that shortens the parent case (338 Lapua) a whole bunch, and I have a 3-D printed sample. How can I shorten a parent cartridge a whole lot, while introducing a new shoulder/neck in the body portion of the parent case? I probably need to call a reamer/die maker but I thought y'all might have it figured out and could help a first timer at least start down the road the right direction. I figure the necks will need a bunch of turning so have neck turning equipment. Thank you for your time.

 

[FEENIX]

Hey guys, many of you have experience forming something new from a parent case. I have a wildcat I've been working on for a few years that shortens the parent case (338 Lapua) a whole bunch, and I have a 3-D printed sample. How can I shorten a parent cartridge a whole lot, while introducing a new shoulder/neck in the body portion of the parent case? I probably need to call a reamer/die maker but I thought y'all might have it figured out and could help a first timer at least start down the road the right direction. I figure the necks will need a bunch of turning so have neck turning equipment. Thank you for your time.

How much is a bunch? I asked because you might be able to use a .338 NM case instead.

 

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

Hey guys, many of you have experience forming something new from a parent case. I have a wildcat I've been working on for a few years that shortens the parent case (338 Lapua) a whole bunch, and I have a 3-D printed sample. How can I shorten a parent cartridge a whole lot, while introducing a new shoulder/neck in the body portion of the parent case? I probably need to call a reamer/die maker but I thought y'all might have it figured out and could help a first timer at least start down the road the right direction. I figure the necks will need a bunch of turning so have neck turning equipment. Thank you for your time.

Good evening and hope that you and your family are doing well.
How much do you want to "Shorten" the case? Is it a .338LM? What is the caliber size, still a .338? What are you trying to accomplish? Is there another parent case that you can use to get you results (short mag)? Maybe there is already a Wildcat cartridge out there.

 

[Good]

Like half the case, the closest thing other than the Lapua or Norma to what I'm doing would be a would be a Lazzeroni short mag. Staying 338 for now.

 

[adam32+P]

Like half the case, the closest thing other than the Lapua or Norma to what I'm doing would be a would be a Lazzeroni short mag. Staying 338 for now.

Prometheus has done that, a short action Lapua.

@Swamplord

 

[Good]

got a link? I searched but my google fu is inadequate

 

[can1010]

you will need case forming dies. they can be made with your chamber reamer and die blanks to form the new neck and shoulder. it has to be done in multiple steps say .458, .416, .375, .338. you will also need annealing equipment as well as neck turning. plan on annealing multiple times and neck turning at least twice once at .416 and then .338 that will help with the doughnut you are going to get. also might consider an inside neck turner.
this is a very labor intense process, take your time and don't get frustrated you will ruin a lot of brass setting things up and perfecting your technique.

 

[FEENIX]

Prometheus has done that, a short action Lapua.

@Swamplord

got a link? I searched but my google fu is inadequate

He got banned.

He's in FB Precision Rifled Ordnance.

 

[Good]

you will need case forming dies. they can be made with your chamber reamer and die blanks to form the new neck and shoulder. it has to be done in multiple steps say .458, .416, .375, .338. you will also need annealing equipment as well as neck turning. plan on annealing multiple times and neck turning at least twice once at .416 and then .338 that will help with the doughnut you are going to get. also might consider an inside neck turner.
this is a very labor intense process, take your time and don't get frustrated you will ruin a lot of brass setting things up and perfecting your technique.

Excellent, thank you, I wonder how many steps it would take... Do you think the reamer manufacturer would know that?

I was literally asking custom rifle builders about this 10 years ago and it's been floating in my head for years before that. I've finally gained some traction, albeit still early stages. I'm going to have a few more rounds printed to try to tune OAL for reliable mag repeating. Then it's time for reamer/dies.

He got banned.

He's in FB Precision Rifled Ordnance.

aw, bummer

 

[FEENIX]

aw, bummer

Anyways, you need to resolve the brass length issue first. Fireforming is the easy part. I use hydraulic forming dies for my wildcats.

 

[Calvin45]

He got banned.

He's in FB Precision Rifled Ordnance.

Wait what? He got banned?

 

[Calvin45]

Good grief I can't keep up with who's in and who's been kicked out

 

[KRP]

I'd buy or build a case forming die like those that Skip Otto/Butch Lambert/Paul Becigneul/etc. make or used to make.

 

[Good]

It would be cool to have that setup on a progressive press, but yeah, that looks the bees knees.