280 Rem. Wildcat Info. Needed
A friend of mine brought me a reloaders box of cartridges asking me if I could identify them.
The brass is 280 Rem., but the bullet appears to be a 6mm. I've gone through my Cartridge Conversions Books (old and recent publications) and I can't find anything that even comes close.
I have not had time to completely measure the cartridge, and with the holidays that may not happen until January. However I thought I would pop the question out and see if anyone recognized the combination.
Safe and Happy Holiday's to All!!!
If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!
The brass is 280 Rem., but the bullet appears to be a 6mm. I've gone through my Cartridge Conversions Books (old and recent publications) and I can't find anything that even comes close.
I have not had time to completely measure the cartridge, and with the holidays that may not happen until January. However I thought I would pop the question out and see if anyone recognized the combination.
Safe and Happy Holiday's to All!!!
If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!
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I can't find it in my references, BUT! it strikes me that the cartridge your describing is a long gone, way, way, overbore WildCat known as the 6mm-06.
Nowadays folks who want to soup up the 6mm projectile use the .284 Winchester as a platform by necking it down to 6mm. I understand it's quite popular. Nothing changes under the sun though, it's still way overbore, no mater what brass there using.0 -
If the ID is 6mm,..then I agree it is a 6mm-06 on 280rem brass (same thing). Does it have a heavy shoulder angle or just the standard slow shoulder?
why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
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One of the local gunsmiths has been making 6mm/280 ackley improved groundhog rifles for several years. It is basically just the 280 ackley improved necked down to 6mm. Some of his clients swear by it on pasture poodles at long range. Being that much overbore really makes them barrel burners though. Can you say about 1000 rounds or so= toast. 0 -
pinhead,..that would be the 6mm-06AI round. That was the reason I asked if the shoulder was a 40degree or one of the standard 06 shoulder angles. The Ackley conversion makes for far better brass life.
why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
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JustC, in his later years Parker was a little disappointed in the fact that a lot of people were over touting his "improved" cartridges. He said that only a few of the "improved" cartridges actually worked out in practice. One of the best of the improved cases was the .257 Roberts Improved. It gives close to 25-06 velocity with less powder and that was what he wanted, velocity without a significant increase in powder charge. He prized effeciency over velocity but wanted both. That is why he thought so much of the .257 Improved and so little of the 30-06 improved. I wish I had kept the handwritten notes I received from him in the late 60's. He taught me much of what I know and he is just one of the long gone men that I learned from when I was getting started in reloading and wildcatting. 0 -
Pinhead,..I am not one of the guys who shares Parker's lack of enthusiasm for his LA cases. I have the 280AI (IMO one of his best) and the 6.5-06AI as well as a 6.5x55AI at the smith right now. I have seen some unbeleiveable speeds from the 06case with little of the traditional pressure signs,..including loose primer pockets. Maybe it's just personal preference but I LOVE my AI's and the benefits in the RUM category are really worth a look from the case life standpoint. My cases only go 6rnds in a match chamber but I would bet almost double with the AI shoulder[8D]
And not to hijack this thread,..but if this barrel is an AI chambering,..I would say to keep it and shoot it,...they are some impressive chamberings both at the load bench and the shooting bench. Just one guys opinion.
why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
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JustC, I did not mean to give the impression that I do not like the Ackley improved cartridges--I do. I have not used a lot of them but I did get the chance to fire a .257 Roberts AI and a 6mm Remington AI and was impressed with both, especially the .257. I also had the chance to fire and help chrono a 30/06 AI and the results were diappointing on that particular rifle. 4.5 grains of extra powder for a average of 65fps velocity gained did not excite me. I also had a friend who had a .35 Whelen which he sent off and had the 40 degree ackley shoulder and the shoulder length blown forward. It agave him a capacity increase of IMR4350 powder of about 5.2 grains and a velocity increase of about 120fps. Worthwhile on elk. I have a 1909 Argentine action which I have been thinking about using to make a 6.5/280AI. I would use the 280 improved case instead of 06 because I have several 30/06 rifles and don't want to get them mixed up by accident. Keep me posted on the 6.5 X 55 AI when you get it finished. I'll bet that is another one that will show good results. Jim 0 -
JIM,..i have stayed away from such rigs as the 30-06AI because they are,..as you have seen,..not worth it (except for brass life,..which is of no issue in the 30-06 to begin with). The 257rbts in the AI was Parker's favorite as far as gains,...but he was also a good friend of the 280AI (as am I with the performance mine has turned in). I find that they will operate at much higher pressures due to the shoulder angle,..but with extended brass life. I can'r wait to see what my 220swift does in an AI chamber[:D][8D]
I'll let you know as the 6.5x55AI comes along. Steve Shelp the gunsmith from NC shoots it in 1000yd comps and was one of the ones who convinced me to give it a good run. Mine is only a 26" tube,..but I am sure she will do the deed.
why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
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