Wildcat Cartridges

There has been a lot of noise and confusion around the 6.5 Grendel® and the similar cartridges that have sprung up around it. Two have surfaced that bear a closer look. The 6.5 BPC has become “the” bolt action chambering that can safely fire Grendel ammo. The differences in the chamber dimensions are minor; the 6.5 BPC was developed by Jim Borden and Dr. Louis Palmisano, the latter of PPC fame. The newest entry into this race is the 264 LBC-AR™ from Les Bear Custom, as the name implies this

Headstamped brass by Hornady

chambering is optimized for the AR platform. The biggest difference between these variations is that fact that the latter two are open use, in other words, anyone can chamber for them, like any factory cartridge.

Some sources call the BPC and the LBC cartridges “improved”. When you compare the drawings this is improved label is pretty hard to understand. There is little difference aside from the tolerances for case expansion, and the throat design. They do have a 30 degree shoulder verses a 28 degree shoulder on the Grendel, however, this will not provide any noticeable change in ballistics as the volume of the case is virtually unchanged. In fact, 2 degrees is barely outside the tolerance limits that most tool makers offer.

Ammo for the 264 LBC-AR

Black Hills Ammunition has new loads being built exclusively for Les Baer Custom at his request and with his assistance in load development. The .264 LBC-AR is loaded with a 123-grain Hornady A-Max bullet is available exclusively from Les Baer Custom. It’s designed for use in Les Baer Custom rifles as well as rifles of other manufacturers, and will also perform in rifles chambered for the 6.5 Grendel cartridge. The brass is produced by Hornady and head stamped .264 LBC-AR. Naturally this brass could be sized in a 6.5 BPC die and used for rifles so chambered.

Hornady fans have some new bullets to look at this year.  The ballistics boys at Hornady are in the process of building their line of expanding monolithic solid bullets, known as the GMX® Bullets.  This year they introduced the 6mm GMX®, weighing in at 80 grains. 

Constructed of Gilding Metal these bullets have been tested at a wide range of velocities for expansion.  Velocities from 2000 to 3400 feet per second have been tested the bullets expand up to 1.5 times their original diameter and still retain 95% of their original weight.

So why is this news?  Well, if your one of those folks who just has to use your 6mm for deer or antelope, this kind of bullet will penetrate deep and still shed energy in the target.

There are a few more of these bullets in the R&D phase right now.  The .257, .264 (6.5mm), and a .308 bullet for the 30-30 are expected to be the next in line to hit the market.  These are lead free bullets, so they will be good news for the left coast.

Shot Show Friday the 16th, Hornady is offering ammo for two new cartridges this year that make a couple of wildcats obsolete.  First is the 338 Marlin Express, which is essentially the 308 Marlin Express necked up to 338.  The loading offered now is a 200 grain bullet at 2565 fps, that compares to the 338 Federal sort of poorly as the Federal pushes a 200 grain bullet at 2700 fps.  However, the 338 Marlin Express works in a standard 336 Marlin.

The other new Hornady cartridge that is killing  a fairly popular wildcat is the 416 Ruger, based on the 375 Ruger case.  Two loadings are listed for this cartidge with 400 grain bullets.  One loading is an expaning bullet the other is a solid.  So much for the 416/375 Ruger.  I guess the boys are Ruger really do pay attentions to the discussion boards, this has been a pretty popular wildcat the last couple of years.  In addition to the 416 Ruger, Hornady is also offering 375 Ruger Basic brass, this should be a popular choice since it can be used to form any wildcat on the Ruger case.

Hornady is also offering some classic cartridges, the 470 Nitro Express, 500 Nitro Express, and the 404 Jeffery.  That is not the limit of the Hornady offerings, they have been pretty prolific this year.

In the September-October 1970 Issue of Handloader magazine Ken Waters reported on a “new” cartridge, the 228 Hawk.  This cartridge was developed by R&M Chronograph Service of Selma, CA.  For all intents and purposes the 228 Hawk was little more than a modernized version of the 22 Newton.

The Newton used a .227-.228″ bullet and was based on the 7×57 case.  The whole idea behind the 22 Newton was to use a 90 grain bullet at about 3000 fps for deer class animals.  Many states today do not allow the use of 22 caliber rifle for hunting big game, this is a direct result of Hunters using the wrong bullet (too light) in cartridges designed for 70 to 90 grain bullets.  The caliber list would include 22 Savage Hi-Power, 22 Newton, 228 Hawk, 228 Ackley Magnum, 224 Clark, and 224 TTH.

Newton was limited by the powders available in 1914, he claimed velicities of 3100 fps, this velocity is atainable today with similar cartridges we see 80 grain bullets being pushed at 3550 fps.  Ken Waters found that his particular 228 Hawk rifle would drive a .2275″ 84 grain Schwartz hollow point up to 3200 fps.  Schwartz bullets were custom made by a gunsmith from Michigan by the name of Wayne Schwartz.  Hornady currently makes a 70 grain bullet but it is made for the Savage Hi-Power and will not hold up to the velocity of this hot rod.  Huntington’s is carrying some 60 and 70 grain custom bullets, the too are listed as being made for the Hi-Power. 

Today to take full advantage of the 228 Hawk, the 22 Newton, or the 228 Ackley magnum you would have to make your own bullets.  These hyper velocity cartridges required a tough bullet with a thick jacket.  6mm jackets might be resized for the .228 providing a thicker jacket.

Newton was the first the play with the concept of a large capacity case for a 22 with heavy bullets for deer class hunting.  Guys like Jerry Gebby, and P.O. Ackley followed up on the Newton concept as better powders became available.  The 228 Hawk came on the scene in about 1970, other similar cartridges are the 22-243 Middlestead, 224 Clark, and most recently added to the club is the 224 Texas Trophy Hunter (TTH); the last three are .224 caliber cartridges and with 80 grain bullets and the correct twist can be pretty amazing cartridges.   Do you feel the need for speed!?