Wildcat

[Bottom Fodder]

In todays times with the hundreds of cartridges what is considered a wildcat cartridges, back in the day it was any that no manufacture made and sold that cartridge. Some started life as a wildcat then some company started making and selling it so I guess at that point it was no longer a “wildcat”
what’s your thought

 

[Fast14riot]

Pretty much anything you need to form your own brass for, imo. Even a "basic" Ackley is still considered a wildcat in my book.

Cartridges like 22-250 were wildcats before they were standardized and presented to SAAMI, but then other wildcats like 6 International used to be very common and now are seldom seen and considered much more unusual these days.

All non standard chamberings I consider a wildcat. Just some more wild than others.

 

[JSH]

SAMMI is standard.
Heck, look how long the 6BR has been around, still a wildcat. Surprised the 6PPC/6ARC beat it to the finish line. Still cracks me up when the ARC is referred to as “new”. Change neck length a bit, move the shoulder forward/ back, woohoo look at me, I invented something.
Don’t get me wrong, the BRA and Dasher were a good improvement over the parent, 6 Dasher is one of the most accurate cartridges I have ever shot.

 

[Dgd6mm]

6mm Competition Match is a straight up Wildcat.

 

[K22]

If I remember correctly, the 22 250 started as a wildcat and was commercialized in the mid 60's. Before that, long range varmint hunters used the 220 Swift. The 22 250 is a great cartridge for long range varmint hunting but the Swift will do anything the 22 250 will and contrary to mythology, the 220 Swift is no harder on barrels than the 22 250 especially with judicious reloading and sensible firing sequences.

The Ackley Improved cartridges were the rage as I remember. But the improvement was more in the minds of gun writers than in actual practice. Few hunters could take any practical advantage of the slight gain in ballistics that the so-called improved cartridges offered.

The 222 Rem ruled the benchrest circuit until the "wildcat" BR family of cartridges were introduced.

It's a matter of semantics as to the term "wildcat cartridges" but I believe your definition is the one universally accepted, once a cartridge that was being custom made by gunsmiths is commercialized, it is no longer considered a wildcat.

 

[762plinker]

If I remember correctly, the 22 250 started as a wildcat and was commercialized in the mid 60's. Before that, long range varmint hunters used the 220 Swift. The 22 250 is a great cartridge for long range varmint hunting but the Swift will do anything the 22 250 will and contrary to mythology, the 220 Swift is no harder on barrels than the 22 250 especially with judicious reloading and sensible firing sequences.

The Ackley Improved cartridges were the rage as I remember. But the improvement was more in the minds of gun writers than in actual practice. Few hunters could take any practical advantage of the slight gain in ballistics that the so-called improved cartridges offered.

The 222 Rem ruled the benchrest circuit until the "wildcat" BR family of cartridges were introduced.

It's a matter of semantics as to the term "wildcat cartridges" but I believe your definition is the one universally accepted, once a cartridge that was being custom made by gunsmiths is commercialized, it is no longer considered a wildcat.

poor choice of words abbreviations...be went with wild cat PPC from the 220 russian, BR is typically 6 mm br or 7mm br......tho i think you meant benchrest..not brass

 

[C_Ackley]

You covered it. I like to think the best wildcats are those that squeeze more performance out of a particular platform than factory chamberings offer.

 

[NH30]

The Donaldson Wasp remains as a legit, easy to make, and useful wildcat. N

 

[swd]

Any non SAAMI/CIP cartridge that is formed from another case.

 

[NorCalMikie]

And with just about anything we can come up with now, someone has probably already built it.

 

[Steel Mover]

Today I shoot several cats, and have been shooting cats for many decades. I use the standard definition, a cartridge in its final form not made by a factory, never loaded by a factory and not offered by a factory as a standard loading.

I have long believed that hand loaders can and do produce more accurate ammunition than factories, not the volume of a factory, but for a given small amount, say 500 to 1k rounds for some, around 200 at a time for most. Making or developing a more accurate cartridge case is part of the process for many.

 

[Andy Work]

The 222 Rem ruled the benchrest circuit until the "wildcat" BR family of cartridges were introduced.

I believe the 222 was the dad until the PPCs were developed.

 

[mikecr]

'Wildcat' is different than 'Improved', while many cartridges are both.

 

[NorCalMikie]

"Improved" over what and according to Who??
What works for YOU may not work for the next guy.
And when you're out shooting and run out of ammo, you won't be popping into the local GS for more ammo.
So, you better load enough.
Stolen gun found in the creek. Odd ball chambering so no ammo available. Can't sell it, can't shoot it!! And anybody STUPID ENOUGH to steal your gun isn't interested in shooting it.

 

[mikecr]

A 300 whisper, various dangerous game cartridges, and 6PPC (for example) are not improved.
But nicely filling niches.
A 6 Dasher is improved, and it's a pretty good design.

 

[SteveOak]

A wildcat cartridge is one that is not now nor has ever been commercially produced.

 

[Fuj]

My current and most successful wildcats are the SA284 and 284-ELF.
Parent is the 284 Winchester. The SA284 I took to Ridgway 850-1000
yard VBR and made AAA shooter first time out. The ELF is meant for
short to midrange. I have it shooting in the 2's with a chassis stocked
Savage. I'm having fun !!

 

[Kalitrazescapee]

I have only one wildcat....it's a 6.5-280ai tight neck...40deg shoulder and fire forming gives case 8 GR more water capacity ...necks are turned..gunsmith who built it has passed...I have no family member at this time to pass it on to..not enough handloader or machinist . But it's a neat rifle to bring out.

 

[SeabeeKen]

As said before, If it is SAAMI approved, its not a wildcat. There are CIP approved rounds from Europe that arent approved by SAAMI that are considered wildcats here in the US. One that comes to mind is the 6XC.
I have a number of them around here, mainly Ackley Imp rounds

 

[bozo699]

I believe the 222 was the dad until the PPCs were developed.

^^^^^^^
Wayne