219 Donaldson Wasp - with a twist...

[257Roberts]

Hey folks, been a long while since Ive been on here. Ive had an idea for a custom project, and I need some help/advice with regards to selecting a chamber/throat reamer.

I am a bit of an old soul, very nostalic and appreciate competitive history. I shoot competive highpower prone and XTC, and primiarily use bolt actions, with an emphasis on the trusty old Winchester model 70. That said, I would like to rebarrel one of my model 70s into somewhat of an oddball cartridge, at least in modern times, the 219 Donaldson Wasp.

Now I know, Wasp doesnt exactly screem bolt action repeater, but from a single first prone standpoint, it doesnt really matter. However, the alteration I would like to do is use 225 Winchester brass, instead of 30-30 brass to delete the rim, and go to a 0.473 bolt face. I believe all other case body dimensions are the same, and any small imperfections would be formed out during the first firing anyways.

So my question is, can I order a "standard" long version 219 Donaldson Wasp reamer and just run the 225 Winchester brass? I dont believe anything in the rim/bolt area affects the chamber reamer anyways. Also, who would you recommend to make such a reamer? This is an odd enough duck, I plan to buy the reamer and send along to the gunsmith for chambering.

Lastly, I plan to shoot primarily 90gr bullets in this thing, and my belief is it should outperform a 22 Nosler. So my 2nd question is regarding to barrel twist and custom throating? Is 1:7 twist enough at Wasp/Nosler velocities, or should I go faster to say 1:6/5?? WIth regards to chamber throating, how is that done exactly, so the 90s can be seated out as to not take up too much powder space?

Thanks for all the advice!!!

 

[Sniperhandle]

225 Winchester is semi rimmed, So it does have a slight rim as opposed to rimless, It's a little more pronounced than the semi rimmed 220 swift.

 

[Webster]

Hey folks, been a long while since Ive been on here. Ive had an idea for a custom project, and I need some help/advice with regards to selecting a chamber/throat reamer.

I am a bit of an old soul, very nostalic and appreciate competitive history. I shoot competive highpower prone and XTC, and primiarily use bolt actions, with an emphasis on the trusty old Winchester model 70. That said, I would like to rebarrel one of my model 70s into somewhat of an oddball cartridge, at least in modern times, the 219 Donaldson Wasp.

Now I know, Wasp doesnt exactly screem bolt action repeater, but from a single first prone standpoint, it doesnt really matter. However, the alteration I would like to do is use 225 Winchester brass, instead of 30-30 brass to delete the rim, and go to a 0.473 bolt face. I believe all other case body dimensions are the same, and any small imperfections would be formed out during the first firing anyways.

So my question is, can I order a "standard" long version 219 Donaldson Wasp reamer and just run the 225 Winchester brass? I dont believe anything in the rim/bolt area affects the chamber reamer anyways. Also, who would you recommend to make such a reamer? This is an odd enough duck, I plan to buy the reamer and send along to the gunsmith for chambering.

Lastly, I plan to shoot primarily 90gr bullets in this thing, and my belief is it should outperform a 22 Nosler. So my 2nd question is regarding to barrel twist and custom throating? Is 1:7 twist enough at Wasp/Nosler velocities, or should I go faster to say 1:6/5?? WIth regards to chamber throating, how is that done exactly, so the 90s can be seated out as to not take up too much powder space?

Thanks for all the advice!!!

I would think your at a disadvantage with any 22 cartridge. Why not a 6BR or 6BRX for accuracy and better wind drift?

 

[D the D]

Yes, the 225 Winchester and the 219 Wasp have the same case head diameter of .422". You can form the Wasp by running 225 Winchester brass through your form dies the same as 219 Zipper or 30-30 cases.
Actually it's a good idea if using a bolt rifle. I wish I had done that instead of opening up my bolt and extractor.

 

[DaveTooley]

Do you have a life time supply of brass on hand already? Back in my 30 American days I turned rims down to fit .473 and .440" bolt faces.

 

[dellet]

30 Remington brass is basically a rimless 30-30. So 25, 30, 32 Remington shared the same case. Brass is tough, but not impossible to find, would work with sizing and trim only. .422” base and rim.

There was the 22 Niedner magnum, both rimmed and rimless. The rimmed version parent case was 30-30 Win, rimless 30 Remington. That would be reasonably close to the Wasp.

The 30 Remington is the parent case for 6.8 SPC and .224 Valkyrie. Starline makes a 6.8 Basic case, but I think it’s too short. So off the shelf bolt should be easy.

 

[257Roberts]

Hey guys, thanks for the comments. Yes, I agree the 225 still has a semi-rim. Not practical really for XTC, but this gun will likely be 90% a prone fun gun. It will rarely get shot XTC, but could if i got desperate. Ive got many match rifles already, service, Creedmoor, 6.5x284, 308, just looking for something odd & unique I guess.

I already have Redding Wasp dies I stumbled in for a song a while back, including all the form dies. I have already tried forming 225 thru them, and it works pretty slick. I do have a really good supply of 225 brass, and alwasy looking for more.

So I think I have all the pieces, except the reamer and the barrel.
Back to the original question, is it as simple as ordering a 219 Donaldson Wasp reamer from a reputable supplier, regardless of brass used, and bullet used? Is the throat cut independently from the case body area? Old school Wasps were light bullets, but I plan on using 90grainers.

 

[DaveTooley]

You would have to/ be best to throat the barrel separately for 90's. You would probably need to confirm a few dimensions before ordering a reamer. I have a set of 219 Donaldson, Red Elliot reamers that I got from Ferris Pindell if you're interested.

 

[Yote Hunter]

Yes you will have to confirm dimensions mainly back at the rear area of the 225 Winchester brass. I could not get 225 Winchester brass to work because of this. 30 American worked great for me with the benefit of a small primer pocket.

 

[Steve Kostanich]

257
Get you reamer from JGS. The quality of their tools are exceptional. I just chambered a 6BRAI for a fellow and the chamber looked polished right off the reamer. The reamer was brand new.

Steve Kostanich

 

[Will Henry]

I did the same thing forty-five years ago, when I chambered a 788 Remington for the 219 Wasp. I used 225 brass to fit the .480 bolt face. I headspaced to the shoulder my die produced. Mine was done in a 14 twist, which was typical for a 22 for BR. It shot reasonably well, but not great (.300). The case capacity was about the same as a 22PPC. WH

 

[czroye]

Hey folks, been a long while since Ive been on here. Ive had an idea for a custom project, and I need some help/advice with regards to selecting a chamber/throat reamer.

I am a bit of an old soul, very nostalic and appreciate competitive history. I shoot competive highpower prone and XTC, and primiarily use bolt actions, with an emphasis on the trusty old Winchester model 70. That said, I would like to rebarrel one of my model 70s into somewhat of an oddball cartridge, at least in modern times, the 219 Donaldson Wasp.

Now I know, Wasp doesnt exactly screem bolt action repeater, but from a single first prone standpoint, it doesnt really matter. However, the alteration I would like to do is use 225 Winchester brass, instead of 30-30 brass to delete the rim, and go to a 0.473 bolt face. I believe all other case body dimensions are the same, and any small imperfections would be formed out during the first firing anyways.

So my question is, can I order a "standard" long version 219 Donaldson Wasp reamer and just run the 225 Winchester brass? I dont believe anything in the rim/bolt area affects the chamber reamer anyways. Also, who would you recommend to make such a reamer? This is an odd enough duck, I plan to buy the reamer and send along to the gunsmith for chambering.

Lastly, I plan to shoot primarily 90gr bullets in this thing, and my belief is it should outperform a 22 Nosler. So my 2nd question is regarding to barrel twist and custom throating? Is 1:7 twist enough at Wasp/Nosler velocities, or should I go faster to say 1:6/5?? WIth regards to chamber throating, how is that done exactly, so the 90s can be seated out as to not take up too much powder space?

Thanks for all the advice!!!

I will soon have in my possession 6.8 sps, 219 don wasp, 30 herrett,, brass that id either sell or trade for 225 winchester brass,, any takers offers? Roy

 

[czroye]

I will soon have in my possession 6.8 sps, 219 don wasp, 30 herrett,, brass that id either sell or trade for 225 winchester brass,, any takers offers? Roy