Wildcat Cartridges

Patrick Ryan at Redding told me that one to items that Redding is making a standard stock item for 2010 is dies for the “260 Imp. 40”.  That translates as the 260 Ackley Improved to you and me.

We talked about popular wildcats they had made dies for recently.  The 6mm SPC was one that had seen some strong interest.  I am a firm believer that the pendulum has begun to swing away from huge cartridges with super case capacity.  Economics may enter into the change but more likely it is shooters learning that they don’t like recoil, and smaller cases are the easiest route away from recoil.

Ballistics from the 6mm SPC will fall right between the 6mm BR and the 6mm PPC so it is in a good family.  Accuracy should be awesome in a well built gun.  It’s not as short and fat as it’s cousins but that should not hinder result too much.  Like many things in life, its more about having faith than anything else.

Remington will offer 3 loadings to introduce this new cartridge.

Remington announced at the Shot Show 2009 that it would introduce a new cartridge for it’s AR platform. 

This cartridge is a 30 caliber on a shortened version of the 284 Winchester case, so it has a slightly rebated rim.  The rim diameter will be the same as a 308 or 30-06 as it appears now.  When asked about introduction a Remington Rep stated that the goal to have guns and ammo in stores is June of 2009.

It’s hard to come up with a new idea for a cartridge and even though Remington is in new territory here it is not unprecedented.  Frank C. Barnes, author of “Cartridges of the World” came up with the 308×1.5″ in the 1960’s.  This concept became the BR series of cartridges.  Remington has simply come up with a way to rework the BR concept to work in an AR-15 platform.  The advantage of the 30 AR is the increased case capacity allowed by the 284 case design.  By the way, the 450 Bushmaster is the same basic case based on preliminary information.

Factory load data for this short case indicate a 125 grain bullet at 2800 fps at the muzzle of a 24″ barrel.  It looks like case capacity will fall about half way between the 308×1.5″ and the 308 Winchester.  I have already started drawing my wildcats on this case.  Lets see what you guys can come up with?

Quality Cartridge offers a wide variety of custom formed and headstamped brass.  For the first time there is a supplier who can make headstamped brass for your wildcat without having to order 10,000 rounds or more.  This interview gives you a pretty good idea of the brass and services available to you from Quality Cartridge.

http://www.qual-cart.com/

Ron Reed of RAR in Oklahoma City is the source for a variety of 14 caliber products.  He is carrying cleaning rods and brushes, bullets, funnels, and last we talked he was planning to have some barrels in stock. 

Bill Eichelberger was a prolific wildcatter who specialized in calibers from .10 to .20.  He wrote an entire reloading manual just for 14 caliber cartridges.  His book includes 16 different cartridges in 14 caliber.  Probably the most popular of these are the 14/221 Walker and the 14 Hornet.  Everything  from a rim-fire on the long rifle case to giant magnum on the 222 Remington Magnum case are in the reloading manual, so there is something for everyone.

Ron plans to be the go-to source for 14 caliber.  Thought you wildcatters would like to know where to get these products.

Reed’s Ammunition & Research, LLC
1209 SW 129th St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73170
WWW.REEDSAMMO.COM