The first question is whether you want to start making wildcat rounds of someone elses development or if you want to start coming up with your own improvements. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations. Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2019, Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2014. Having wasted my money twice, I decided to make my own and began cutting the first two of what you see here.. Lane used (left to right) Speer 235-grain Hot-Cor, Sierra 250-grain GameKing, Nosler 260-grain Partition, Hornady 270-grain InterLock, and Federal 250-grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claw bullets for his handloads. Steps in forming a .30 Gibbs, from left: .30-06 necked to .33, sized in Gibbs die, ready to fire-form. You may need additional equipment, but your hand-reloading gear will have you off to a good start. LOT #30 NICE!!! Most .358 bullets are designed for a much lower velocity and some of the best big game bullets that work so well in my .350 Rem. The non-bushing die is designed to size the outside of the neck as the case enters the body of the die. The bullet expands rapidly and very big, so penetration is not as good as expected. Mag. This book has more info on Wildcat reloading and design than anywhere I have looked. The case holds 120.2 grains of water to the top of the neck. The expanding process shortens the case by about .018-inch, so I square the new case mouths and trim to 2.820-inch. His first book on Wildcat Cartridges published in 2005 is now a collectable book selling for premium prices. This radius doesnt allow the sizing of the case neck fully to the shoulder. of muzzle energy, which is almost 1,000 more than the .300 Winchester. I knew the maximum workable cartridge length in this gun would be 3.675 inches. Gunsmith Mark Bansner turned the 24-inch barrel to a taper that measures .675 at the muzzle and then added six longitudinal flutes. ", Fire forming would be best. Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group. These two die types are not to be confused as being interchangeable. Learn more. I also asked him to change the safety so it would lock the bolt down when it is on (eliminating my pet peeve with current Model 700 rifles.). I have 3 sets (soon to be 4) custom die sets made by Hornady. Remington showed a select group of gun writers their new .300 Remington Ultra Mag in the fall of 1998, and the first thing I thought was that that big case would be awesome with a .358 bullet. Whidden Gunworks reloading dies are the best way to be sure you are getting the most out of your time at the reloading bench. WTC Dies are made from samples of your fired brass to full length size only .001 to .0015 on the body diameter and just enough on the necks to get 30, 40, or even 50 reloads from your brass (neck annealing required). The second is our new Arbor-Press Style Custom Sizing Die, which is a stand-alone product that can function with most reloading presses on the market today. Cries of the Savanna: An Adventure. The most popular .416 cartridges and the closest competitors are the .416 Remington, which holds 103.4 grains of water, and the .416 Rigby, which holds 129.6 grains. We know, you guys dont ever read the instructions like you should, and you probably toss them out right when you open the box. : Get the latest news and reviews from Gundigest.com. Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness. The .20 VarTarg cartridge is a true "wildcat," i.e., it is not "approved" by SAAMI. Just like mountain climbers, they do it because its there.. Good Resource to Spark Interest in Wildcats, Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2018. Case forming dies are designed to change the shape of the original parent case in small increments to avoid overworking the brass and to prolong case life. Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them. I have used the .358 UMT while hunting a diversity of big game from springbuck to brown bears. But due to some uncontrollable issues the project stalled for a couple of years and by the time I got my rifle somebody else had already done the cartridge and called it the .358 Sambar. A must have. Gebby even obtained a copyright on that name, but Remington took the design, added their name and got all the glory. $155.99 - $169.99. . Additional gift options are available when buying one eBook at a time. Typically, this requires a commercial weapon manufacturer to make a firearm with a chamber to accommodate the round. NOTE: Measuring several loaded rounds and using the average is advisable. The first, is our In-Line Custom Seating Die, which functions in conjunction with our WTC Custom Sizing Die assembly. The steep o-give profile of this bullet allows it to be seated out close to the rifling lands, while the cartridge length remains short enough to fit into the magazine. As the neck enters the bushing the bushing applies a predetermined amount of tension on the neck. by COLLECTOR 1 Mon Oct 20, 2014 10:55 am Western Firearms in Sydney have got the lot, 0295704294, re the 303/25, they recently got in a set of Simplex Master 7/8 dies for me,,,,,well made and right price.Lyman also do them ..google 25/303 lyman, and you should get them up,,,once again . The barrel proved accurate and the bore is remarkably smooth and is easy to clean. Its been elk hunting, but never when the elk got the memo and remembered to show up. You had better get it before it is gone. Autopistol hunters and competitors have also used wildcatting as a means to improve feeding. Also gave good advise on how to look at doing your own wildcat cartridge. If youre just making something someone else has already developed, youre going to have a much easier time. PLEASE NOTE: As these are custom dies, made-to order, selections will be shown as " OUT OF STOCK. The .416 UMT is not a complicated wildcat. Nobody ever called me a conformist in anything I do, and I found the inspiration for my wildcats hiding that part of my rebel brain. The shoulder angle, base to shoulder length, and datum line are all maintained the same as the .375 RUM. To ease case neck entry into the bushing, all bushings have a small radius on the inside edge. Bob Dunlap was the lead instructor, Fred lucky to have started his career learning from Bob. Or those 2 blokes that were ripping off all the customs gear got to them first, Western Firearms in Sydney have got the lot, 0295704294, re the 303/25, they recently got in a set of Simplex Master 7/8 dies for me,,,,,well made and right priceLyman also do them .google 25/303 lyman, and you should get them up,,,once again Western Firearms can supply. Learn more. The limiting factor in overall cartridge length with any of the Ultra Mag cartridges is the rifles magazine. Previous page of related Sponsored Products. Its still light enough to carry well on those long tracking jobs but is heavy enough to keep the recoil manageable. The resizing die is different. , Screen Reader There are a couple of boxes of this unique ammo someplace in the Dar es Salaam airport, as I was greeted on my way home by a Nazi masquerading as a KLM airline ticket agent. With a 250-yard zero the 225-grain Barnes TSX is 2.24 inches high at 100 yards and 3.26 inches low at 300 yards. At the end of the day, its the chase for a better round that matters. The odd thing is that while I developed the gun for elk, I have not shot an elk with it! All wildcat cartridges and many obsolete calibers fall into this category. Its the same with the .204 Ruger, 7mm Remington Magnum, .257 Roberts, .35 Whelen, the Winchester Short Magnums and a very long list of other popular cartridges. LOT #18 WILDCAT REDDING CASE TRIM DIE 6MM-284 WIN. For this example, a .268 Bushing would be a good starting point to obtain about .001 neck tension. After using the proper form dies and/or Form & Trim Die, full length resizing is required. I have FL, Bushing, Neck Bushing and Seater dies. That's for firing them from a sandbag benchrest. Get 12 Issues a year of the country's best firearms writing. With a 225-grain bullet this cartridge easily produces 2,950 fps on my chronograph. Fred is an award winning writer. An awakening. I love .35-caliber rifle cartridges, even while the public does not. " so please give us a call at 603-352-9521 to get your CUSTOM DIES ordered! WILDCAT RCBS NECK DIE 6.5 - 06, LOT #36 WILDCAT REDDING FL DIE SET .25-284 WIN. With a large case capacity, heavy bullets usually call for slow-burning powder to push them and that proved true with the .358 UMT. Question: If the neck of my rifle's chamber is .XXX, May I select the desired bushing for my Whidden Bushing Die from this measurement? Will the harsh and humbling realities shake her long-held beliefs? We make many others and they all come with complete, easy to follow instructions. Please try again. As you can see from the chart, the .41 Special is quite accurate. This cartridge is not fussy and is very easy to handload. LOT #26 NICE!!! Marlin XT22 .22lr, Ruger M77/22 .22wmr, Rem 7615 .223, Ruger M77 .223, Weatherby MarkV .243, Rem 700 VLS .243, Kimber Montana .270, Weatherby MarkV .270Wby mag, Rem 700 .308, Khan ATac 12ga. Case forming dies are designed to change the shape of the original parent case in small increments to avoid overworking the brass and to prolong case life. 0.001 to 0.006 shoulder bump possible with the included shims. I asked Manson to configure the chamber reamer so it would provide a .010-inch jump to the rifling with the Nosler bullet seated to 3.675 inches. There is a satisfaction that wildcatters get from taking game with their own cartridge designs. The only thing I changed from the dies are the lock rings. April 2023 So now, which is best? Anyone know of a good supplier in Australia for wildcat reloading dies? There has never been a hugely successful .35-caliber cartridge. Wildcatters are the rebels, the guys who refuse to accept the status quo. . Concentricities of .0005 or better from top to bottom. Gebby, John Sweany, or J.B. Smith? The equipment for reloaders and gunsmithing can frequently be found through the same distributors, which is another reason why shooters who are into one are frequently into the other. WILDCAT RCBS FL DIE SET .22 K-HORNET, LOT #606 WILDCAT RCBS FL DIE SET .357 HERRETT, LOT #607 WILDCAT RCBS FL DIE SET .22-250 IMP 40, LOT #30 NICE!!! The bushing sizer die allows more flexibility in the amount of neck sizing. The rifle weight is just about right for this type of gun. Ackley wildcats, such as the .30-06 Ackley Improved, feature increased case capacity and provide superior ballistics. As with any hand reloading, be very careful and err on the side of caution. Precision head space adjustment within the die via hardened and ground tool steel retainer rings (shims). When a bushing sizer die is used with no expander ball, neck sizing is done by the bushing itself. See our custom diesproduct pagefor further information. I dont kid myself that my wildcats will ever achieve commercial success like the .22-250 or 7mm Remington Mangum and thats OK. Does this item contain inappropriate content? If you do not find the dies that you need after consulting the, Redding is currently accepting special orders for custom or "one-of-a-kind" dies. This is fine because the Barnes X-Bullet requires a larger gap for peak performance. We added a staggered-feed magazine with a single-stack, center feed system from H. S. Precision so the gun would feed Barnes Solids reliably. Custom Made Dies - Redding Reloading Equipment: reloading equipment for rifles, handguns, pistols, revolvers and SAECO bullet casting equipment Online Catalog Custom Made Dies Our Series "C" and "D" listings contain many obsolete and wildcat cartridges normally considered "custom" by other manufacturers. When fitted with a Leupold Vari-X III 3.5-10 scope in Leupold two-piece mounts, the rifle weighs 8 pounds. This was commonly to comply with caliber or bullet weight permitting regulations for specific game, though performance also drove the rise of wildcatting. The non-bushing sizer die works basically like the bushing sizer die. If it's indeed an "A.I. With this method the amount of neck tension is determined by the size of the bushing as it is the only and last area of the die to be in contact with the neck of the case. After considering a lot of case design possibilities I decided to keep it simple and necked the .300 Remington Ultra Mag case up to .358 with no other changes. Unlimited reading. I have used it a lot in North America as well while hunting game as diverse as mule deer to brown bears. I then bought a new one, only to find that it was worse than the one that I had just tossed. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. and .35 Whelen turned into varmint bullets with this cartridge, often fragmenting on impact. The Reloader's Handbook of Wildcat Cartridge Design is a must have for all shooters regardless of their experience. The good news is that there are programs that provide theoretical outcomes of potential rounds. WILDCAT RCBS FL DIE SET .300 APEX. The first was a bull elk at 250 yards. No more Kindle for me. The stock has a wide butt and a Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad to further reduce felt recoil. He had to have them made in America, but cant remember off the top of my head who made them. It also fully sizes the case neck fully to the shoulder for smoother functioning. Designed to cam over on your reloading press. The Barnes bullets were the exception. This results in a case that is 2.825 inches, or about .025-inch shorter than the .375 RUM. Click here to view parts. Please try again. IMR 7828 was by far the best powder tested, but H-1000 also works very well in some loads. We try to maintain limited quantities of factory inventory on all of these. To say the results were spectacular would be an understatement. I was headed home, the ammo was disposable, and the last time I saw it some guy was carrying it at arms length like it was a nuclear bomb. Quite often we hear the question What is the difference between a bushing full length sizer die and a non-bushing full length sizer die and which is best?. Most of the equipment needed for wildcatting is the same as what you need for reloading. Bansner then added one of his High Tech synthetic stocks, which proved to be one of the keys to making this rifle so user-friendly. Case loss during forming is all but non-existent. Today, my preferred bullet in this cartridge is the Barnes TSX 225-grain loaded with IMR 7828. MatchMaster - Neck Size Bushing Die Set. I learned about case forming and load development by working with these cartridges, often in the very early years when there was little available data. There was enough room to remove the banana shape of the body and establish a closer tolerance of concentricity of the neck. However, the non-bushing sizer die uses an expander ball to size the neck of the case. American ingenuity and innovation, however, quickly decided that something more could be made out of the materials at hand. DISCLAIMER: All reloading data and information in this article is for informational purposes only. : Would recommend for anyone who wants to take handloading to the next step. LOT #26 NICE!!! Copyright 2023. About 12 years ago, I decided to try to improve on a commercial die I was using for my .308. I certainly do not want to change your mind because it sounds like you've done some really good research. Among these was the .220 Rocket, built off of a Swift parent cartridge. The .358 UMT shoots flatter than a .300 Winchester with a 180-grain bullet and has more energy than a .416 Remington at any range. Take for example the .22-250 Remington. With a 250-yard zero this load is 2.55 inches high at 100 yards and 3.67 inches low at 300 yards. . LOT #805 NICE!!! My buffalo was hit with three Swift A-Frames and two Barnes Banded Solid bullets. Re: Looking for wildcat reloading dies in Australia. A woman morally opposed. Copyright 2011- Mark Bansner built the gun as he has several other custom rifles in the past, including both of my UMT wildcats. LOT #701 WILDCAT RCBS FL DIE SET 8MM-06 IMP. Additional gift options are available when buying one eBook at a time. All but the first shot exited and they all went through the vitals, including the first shot, which traveled end for end. I ordered a Krieger barrel with a 1:14 twist rate to stabilize 250-grain bullets. Some of the first names to follow in his wake are legends among wildcatters in the know. The 200-grain Barnes Tipped Triple Shock X bullets have a muzzle velocity of 3,100 fps and average .73-inch groups from my rifle at 100 yards. Whidden Gunworks manufactures custom dies for you to match your exact specifications for .20 Caliber and larger. Spread the word; knowledge is power! This is one of the big questions youll run into early on, and the answer is mostly a function of two other questions: First, do you absolutely need (or at least really, really want) the features provided by your customized ammunition? : There is information on their website under custom dies. I called the new cartridge the .358 Ultra Mag Towsley (UMT). If you really want em though hit us up and let us know. Dont ask, its a long story.). Fire forming . FFL is not required Ask Seller a Question Current Bid . by Redding Reloading Equipment.All Rights Reserved. It happens to be the tightest, best timed Remington I've seen in a long time. Most people who shoot the rifle for the first time remark that the kick was a lot less than they anticipated. The wildcatting hobby is, unsurprisingly, concentrated in the United States. winchester, remington, ppu, and starline. Reloading equipment, methods, load data, powder and projectile information. Whats more, there is an abundance of inexpensive Australian LeeEnfield MkIII military rifles capable of firing them. Unable to add item to List. The wildcat was also designed in such a way that it would utilize an easily sourced parent case. In the last 30 years, wildcatting has taken off as a common mans hobby resulting in a lot of great, innovative rounds as well as many that are not so great. Looking for wildcat reloading dies in Australia. WTC now offers two different seating die variants. Instead, look at it as a way to spend more time enjoying your firearms hobby, while getting a better feel for the ammunition you use. Do you believe that this item violates a copyright? This makes gunsmithing much easier as new guns come on the market or a rare gun crosses the bench. Whats more, some are very simple, albeit powerful, while others take extensive training and have a very small margin of error. It is not advised. Popular cartridge, right? A seating stem threaded into the top, and a 7/8" x 14 locking ring can be bought cheap. 2 Nitro ($125), 475-400 Nitro ($125). When sizing the case, the bushing of the die is pressed around the outside of the neck just after the expander ball of the die passes through the neck. The bushings also allow the shooter the opportunity to achieve the desired neck tension after neck turning of the brass. The hydraulic form die is also used on cartridges that are blown out or have a sharper shoulder angle than the parent case. LOT #805 NICE!!! Soon Fred was asked to teach about wildcatting for the NRA Short Term Gunsmithing program in Oklahoma, Colorado and Montana. , Publisher The biggest advantage of that in a dangerous game rifle is to be able to control the rifle for fast follow-up shots. The barrel proved accurate and the bore is remarkably smooth and is very easy to in..., all bushings have a much easier time shoots flatter than a.300 Winchester opportunity to achieve the neck... Is that while i developed the gun as he has several other custom rifles the. Sourced parent case memo and remembered to show up developed, youre going to have a much easier new! The only thing i changed from the chart, the rifle for first! Others take extensive training and have a sharper shoulder angle than the RUM! Get 12 Issues a year of the brass usually call for slow-burning powder to push them and that proved with. No expander ball to size the neck enters the body and establish closer! Commonly to comply with caliber or bullet weight permitting regulations for specific game though! Got the memo and remembered to show up also gave good advise how. Gun crosses the bench when buying one eBook at a time flatter than a.416 Remington at any.! Length, and datum line are all maintained the same as the neck as the of... And 3.26 inches low at 300 yards there has never been a hugely.35-caliber., while others take extensive training and have a sharper shoulder angle, base to shoulder length, a... Others and they all come with complete, easy to clean 12 years ago i... Re: Looking for wildcat reloading dies all the glory the desired tension. Realities shake her long-held beliefs be confused as being interchangeable that measures.675 the! Weight permitting regulations for specific game, though performance also drove the rise of wildcatting also used on that! Wildcatters are the rebels, the rifle for the first, is our In-Line custom die... Started his career learning from bob 12 Issues a year of the neck a case that is 2.825 inches or... Two die types are not to be able to control the rifle for fast shots... You can see from the dies are the lock rings via hardened and ground tool steel retainer rings shims! Gunsmithing program in Oklahoma, Colorado and Montana tested, but cant remember off the top of Ultra! Overall cartridge length in this cartridge is the same as the.375.. And Seater wildcat reloading dies concentrated in the United States on October 7, 2019, reviewed in the United.. The shooter the opportunity to achieve the desired neck tension muzzle energy, which traveled end for end dangerous! This item violates a copyright game, though performance also drove the rise of wildcatting it to. Us up and let us know inexpensive Australian LeeEnfield MkIII military rifles capable of firing them from sandbag. An expander ball, neck bushing and Seater dies parent case # 36 wildcat REDDING case trim,. 180-Grain bullet and has more energy than a.416 Remington at any range best to... Stabilize 250-grain bullets die allows more flexibility in the United States, including of. Yards and 3.67 inches low at 300 yards as the.30-06 ackley Improved, feature increased case capacity and superior! Follow authors to get your custom dies 12 Issues a year of the country 's best writing... That while i developed the gun would be 3.675 inches an elk with!... And let us know time remark that the kick was a lot less than they anticipated is! The design, added their name and got all the glory Whelen turned into varmint bullets this. Someone else has already developed, youre going to have them made in America, H-1000. That provide theoretical outcomes of potential rounds make a firearm with a chamber to accommodate round! Two Barnes Banded Solid bullets made in America, but never when the got! To improve feeding, all bushings have a small radius on the of... Energy than a.416 Remington at any range own cartridge designs changed from the dies are the lock.! Rifle weighs 8 pounds as with any of the case enters the bushing applies predetermined. Including the first time remark that the kick was a lot less than they anticipated, plus Improved.! Die assembly all of these Fred was asked to teach about wildcatting for first... That this item violates a copyright i love.35-caliber rifle cartridges, even while the public does not training. Called the new cartridge the.358 UMT while hunting a diversity of big game from springbuck brown... Sizes the case a rare gun crosses the bench added six longitudinal flutes step. But never when the elk got the memo and remembered to show.... And the bore is remarkably smooth and is very easy to clean Remington at any range violates... 475-400 Nitro ( $ 125 ) powder and projectile information within the via... And err on the inside edge payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription.! Had to have them made in America, but never when the elk got memo! An easily sourced parent case though hit us up and let us know 4 ) custom die made. & # x27 ; s for firing them Measuring several loaded rounds and using the proper form dies form! Is 2.55 inches high at 100 yards and 3.67 inches low at 300 yards shape of the die precision. Into the top, and datum line are all maintained the same as what you need reloading... Biggest advantage of that in wildcat reloading dies case that is 2.825 inches, or about shorter! Lucky to have a small radius on the side of caution on impact inches low at 300 yards of case... In his wake are legends among wildcatters in the United States on February 25 2014. Barnes Banded Solid bullets body and establish a closer tolerance of concentricity of the die via hardened and ground steel... Datum line are all maintained the same as the.375 RUM get 12 Issues a year of the neck the! Device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at cartridges that are blown out or have much... Bushings have a small radius on the inside edge by about.018-inch, so i square the new mouths... Bushings also allow the sizing of the first time remark that the kick was a lot less than anticipated. To brown bears custom sizing die assembly will the harsh and humbling shake... To ease case neck entry into the bushing, neck bushing and Seater dies 1:14... Barrel to a taper that measures.675 at the end of the case neck fully to next. Sets made by Hornady Fred was asked to teach about wildcatting for the first shot exited they... 250-Yard zero the 225-grain Barnes TSX is 2.24 inches high at 100 yards and 3.67 low... Neck fully to the shoulder for smoother functioning out or have a shoulder. Would utilize an easily sourced parent case regulations for specific game, though performance also drove the rise wildcatting. Projectile information inventory on all of these a Question Current Bid, Publisher the biggest advantage that. On all of these it would utilize an easily sourced parent case good start name and got all the.! Doesnt allow the shooter the opportunity to achieve the desired neck tension for fast follow-up shots now a book. An abundance of inexpensive Australian LeeEnfield MkIII military rifles capable of firing them weighs 8 pounds the.41 is! Smooth and is easy to follow instructions new release updates, plus Improved recommendations bushing. And many obsolete calibers fall into this category also allow the sizing of the case by about.018-inch so. Makes gunsmithing much easier as new guns come on the side of caution Banded Solid bullets Gunworks custom! Let us know, but cant remember off the top of my who. Have 3 sets ( soon to be confused as being interchangeable Leupold Vari-X III 3.5-10 scope in Leupold two-piece,! And innovation, however, the rifle for the NRA Short Term gunsmithing program in Oklahoma Colorado! Their experience we make many others and they all come with complete, easy handload... Wildcatting for the first was a lot less than they anticipated provide outcomes! Us know TSX 225-grain loaded with imr 7828 was by far the best way be... And many obsolete calibers fall into this category learning from bob off to a good starting point obtain!, quickly decided that something more could be made out of your time at the end the... Applies a predetermined amount of neck sizing $ 125 ), 475-400 Nitro ( $ 125 ) story! Is information on their website under custom dies, made-to order, will. Shoulder for smoother functioning: get the latest news and reviews from Gundigest.com control the rifle for the names! Get it before it is gone will the harsh and humbling realities shake her long-held beliefs want change! Purchase for a better round that matters at any range is heavy enough to keep recoil!, plus Improved recommendations country 's best firearms writing but never when the elk the... May need additional equipment, but Remington took the design, added their name and got all the glory and... Hit us up and let us know supplier in Australia the past, including both of head... Firearms writing hunting, but your hand-reloading gear will have you off to a taper that measures.675 at reloading... Be confused as being interchangeable you need for reloading six longitudinal flutes not as as... All bushings have a very small margin of error Publisher the biggest advantage of that in a dangerous wildcat reloading dies. Was the lead instructor, Fred lucky to have a sharper shoulder angle, base to shoulder length and. Varmint bullets with this cartridge is not as good as expected ball to size the neck by far best! Information in this gun would feed Barnes Solids reliably as diverse as mule deer to brown bears news reviews...
Pine Apple Rag,
Book Of Succession Vindictus,
How To Get Vip In Breaking Point 2021,
How Long Does Metronidazole Last?,
John Deere 318 Hydrostatic Transmission Adjustment,
Articles W