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Wildcatters

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Marksman LLC

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Sep 25, 2023
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Any of you guys have knowledge and experience with wildcatting a cartridge?
I have some ideas with an end goal in mind but im not sure if it is feasible. I dont have Quickload or Quickdesign so I'm just doing some preliminary research and planning.

My goal is to wildcat a 257 caliber cartridge with a .308 parent case that will shoot a 135 grain projectile at 3000 fps or better with a 20" or 22" bbl.

Looking at maybe a 35° or 40° shoulder and minimum body taper.

I think a close one would be the 25 souper but it doesn't seem to be refined enough to reach the speeds im after. A 25 souper improved would be the ticket.

Or even a necked up .243 AI would get closer to the goal. But its quite possible that what I'm after isn't possible on a short action standard bolt face but it would sure be nice if I could make it happen.
 
My thoughts are that with the 243/308 case those velocities regardless of barrel length may hard to achieve, you might give some thought to basing something off of the 6.5-284 case, years ago I met a fella shooting prairie dogs that was shooting a modified ( shortened 22-284 ) case, he was shooting 69 gr seirra's he had shortened the case to 308 win length, just a thought
 
Bret GRAVELINE Graveline said:
My thoughts are that with the 243/308 case those velocities regardless of barrel length may hard to achieve, you might give some thought to basing something off of the 6.5-284 case, years ago I met a fella shooting prairie dogs that was shooting a modified ( shortened 22-284 ) case, he was shooting 69 gr seirra's he had shortened the case to 308 win length, just a thought
Click to expand...
Sure but with the longer bullets isn't a 6.5-284 kind of a long coal in a short action?
 
I don't think you're gonna get that velocity with a 308 parent case. That's 260 AI territory with a 24"+ barrel and pushing it hard. Smaller bore and less barrel length I don't think you're gonna come close. If you want to push a 25 cal 135 at those speeds out of a 20-22" barrel I think I would be looking at either the 6.5 prc or saum as a parent case.
 
.7mm. said:
Sure but with the longer bullets isn't a 6.5-284 kind of a long coal in a short action?
Click to expand...
Yes, if you wish to stick with a standard bolt face choices are limited, the 284 case is .135 of A inch longer than the 243 and you would have to seat the bullets according to magazine length the increased diameter of the 284 case will still offer increased velocity over a long throated 243 length case, I've been shooting 257 Ackleys for forty plus years now, one of the rifles which is on its third barrel is a short action 700, I modified the receiver and mag box to run a cartridge length of 3.190, I've always shot 115 or 120 gr bullets. While all three barrels easily broke the 3000 fps mark and one broke 3100 fps, i dont feel that increasing the bullet weight another 15 grs in a case that that is a 1/4 of a inch longer the 243 is safely achievable, however I could be wrong, the 284 case has nearly the same capacity as a 06 case which I believe will give you the desired velocity.
 
a 257/6.5 PRC but it has a larger head diameter. The 284 case is one of the most inherently accurate cases I've ever used and should do well in 25 cal. I too love my 257 AI and also my 250 AI
 
.7mm. said:
Any of you guys have knowledge and experience with wildcatting a cartridge?
I have some ideas with an end goal in mind but im not sure if it is feasible. I dont have Quickload or Quickdesign so I'm just doing some preliminary research and planning.

My goal is to wildcat a 257 caliber cartridge with a .308 parent case that will shoot a 135 grain projectile at 3000 fps or better with a 20" or 22" bbl.

Looking at maybe a 35° or 40° shoulder and minimum body taper.

I think a close one would be the 25 souper but it doesn't seem to be refined enough to reach the speeds im after. A 25 souper improved would be the ticket.

Or even a necked up .243 AI would get closer to the goal. But its quite possible that what I'm after isn't possible on a short action standard bolt face but it would sure be nice if I could make it happen.
Click to expand...
25-06 will do what you want.
 
Are you married to a short action case? As in you already have the action.

IMO, your desired goal is pretty tough. My experience when planning such things is to provide more case capacity then the absolute minimum required. You never know when you get a slow barrel or one that pressures up quickly.

I'd be thinking about a 6.5x284, 6.5 PRC or 6.5 SAUM case as a good starting point. They won't work well in a short action but will provide the power you're looking for. At a minimum I'd be looking at a 260AI.
 
I agree with the above statements. If you have a long action, a 25-284 is great. Mine has a 25" Helix6 CF barrel with a 1-7.25" twist. It shoots the 131 BJ at 3160 FPS.
 
25-284 is what you seek. .281-282 bushing and you are good to go. Only decision would be if you are stuck on a short action or can snag a medium action? 7.5 twist barrel and you will be ready to rock.
 
I like the medium action 25.284 idea, has it already been done? Is there a reamer made already?

Also is there any improvement on case dimensions that could be made? The 30 degree shoulder looks good and body taper looks good already so it would be pretty much neck it down and go...no fire forming really.
 

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