Looking to Learn - 219 Donaldson Wasp

[chuckshooter]

360DW and some 357 max that was cut down.
Forget what it is referred to as but there are some using 357 and 38 special necked to22.

I think its call 22 jet,

 

[JSH]

I think its call 22 jet,

Nope it is a wildcat.

My bad 30 Reece is what I was thinking of. May have been a 22

 

[219DW]

1 30-30
2 1st die, .325 dia.
3 2nd die, .284 dia, trim to about 1.820 length
4 3rd die, .260 dia.
5 FL .219 Wasp die, .2223 expander(makes a good fit on my neck turner pilot), neck turn to .245 dia
6 .219 Wasp NK die with .237 and then .228 bushings, trim to 1.770 length, loaded with 31.0gr Varget and 39gr BK
7 fireformed .204 Wasp
I made the form dies almost 20 years ago when I was a tool and die maker and had access to some really nice machinery. The 1st die was a .44 mag seater that I inserted. The 2nd and 3rd were .225WW dies that I opened up the neck dia. and changed the shoulder angle with a wire EDM and ram EDM.
My Redding .219 Wasp neck die was converted to a bushing die by JLC Precision in Iowa. I use a Forster case trimmer and neck turner.

JHS,
I copied this from a thread on Saubier and pasted it here.
I modified the dies to make .219 brass back in the early 90's. I retired in 99 before I needed the neck die converted to a bushing. Jim Carstenson at JLC Precision did my .219 neck, 6.5 Bullberry Imp. FL and my .30 Herret neck dies. Don't know if he's still in business. I know at one time RCBS made a set of form dies for the .219 Wasp.
After that first time in S.D. with the No.1 in .204 Wasp I was convinced that a 39gr SBK or 40gr V-Max at 4000 to 4100 fps was the ultimate PD rifle. I could see hits with the scope on 20 power with a 12 lb. rifle.
Dave

 

[Webster]

I had my eye on an early Winchester bolt action target rifle chambered in this round, and it went higher than I wanted. In hindsight, I probably should have just bit the bullet and bid higher, anyways...cant fix it now.

That said, I've been reading up on this cartridge and I am strongly considering building one. I like the odd & different stuff, well, because I am odd & different too! Would like to do a bolt gun, preferable something for dual purpose competition and varmint hunting. The rimmed cartridge bothers me a little, but its obviously been done before. I have also read where some folks either use 225 Winchester brass, or turn rims, in order to use a standard 0.473" bolt face, with a "semi-rimmed" case design.

I've been thinking about finding a Savage Model 340 in 30-30 and rebarreling, or finding an old 225 Winchester and rebarreling. I've got in mind something like 308 length action, fast twist barrel shooting heavy bullets. Repeater would be cool. Should be a little more horsepower that a 224 Valkyrie if I understand things correctly.

Id be interested in any experience, suggestions, load data, or anything folks want to share about it.
Anybody out there built a fast twist wasp?

If you want to shoot in competition why would you pick calibers that were never known to be accurate and put the barrels on 80 YO deer hunting rifles. I chambered two rifles, one 6BR and one 6BRX for ground hogs. 6BRA is also very accurate. Buy a premium barrel that's popular in serious competition (Brux, Kreiger, Broughton, Shilen ect. Both of my rifles easily shoot groups under 400" any load with a good bullet. I shoot a lot off a bench but I would never consider shooting even in local competition. I would finish last every time. You probably need to shoot all your groups close to .25" to place well even at local club matches. I see a lot of people on this website buying barrels from companies I never heard of. Maybe they are cheaper. I spent a lot of money for my barrels.

 

[tred1956]

Love the Wasp. Mine is a 16 inch OTT Contender barrel. When I do my part, it is awesome. Bought a set of Redding form dies and they are a joy to make LOL. Put them all in a Redding T-7 Turret press and it goes pretty quick with VERY FEW lost cases.
Had a 219 Zipper (Bottom Picture is of Both) but decided to stick with the Wasp. Mine is the Long Version
Good luck with it
Doug

 

[D the D]

Started watching this thread with interest since I just loaded up a ladder using VV N135 and Sierra 52g HPBT and 50g Spitzers. Will take her to the range next week.
I've been shooting my Wasp with 4064 and H4895 since the mid-80s. It's a single shot built on a Mauser action with a 26" bull barrel. I have a ton of N135 and N140, but no IMR or Hodgdon powders at the moment.

Has anyone considered trying Ramshot TAC?

 

[1911nut]

Started watching this thread with interest since I just loaded up a ladder using VV N135 and Sierra 52g HPBT and 50g Spitzers. Will take her to the range next week.
I've been shooting my Wasp with 4064 and H4895 since the mid-80s. It's a single shot built on a Mauser action with a 26" bull barrel. I have a ton of N135 and N140, but no IMR or Hodgdon powders at the moment.

Has anyone considered trying Ramshot TAC?

Please report on how the N135 / 52g Sierra shoots.