Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats What's your "Preferred" wildcat caliber

Lovely lass, she was..... firm thighs, supple, pouting breasts..... IIRC!!! Or was that the one we called Dairy Queen!?!?!?!?

We rarely got to pick our nickname.

Thanks for the post.

What was the distance you both were shooting, 100yds?

That's a caliber (22 Hornet) that I'd definitely like to get in on. This and .17 Hornet

Early load development, shot at 20 yards. Nearing the end of the journey at 50 yards....
My preferred load is a Lyman 311041 (9 BHN) with 5.2 Blue Dot. Average group at 50 is 1/2-3/4" for 5 shots.

You may be correct, but I was thinking it was the short haired Amazon blonde that likely would put the hurt on the Terminator with a simple glaring stare. She was a "wildcat" to be sure.

At least it wasn't the Wildebeast, or BAM

I built a 375 WSM on a Lone Peak action and have really, really enjoyed it. It is a hammer, even at low velocities.

Pretty benign in the "wildcat" realm but, the one I've shot the most is a 243AI. I had it made for F-Class about 15yrs ago. New Haven "FN" action close-out from CDNN, Brux MTU contour 1:8 in an adjustable A-3 McMillan. I shot it several seasons and let my buddy's kid shoot it for a season then I sort of fell out of shooting the matches. It's got 1400-1500 rounds through it, It doesn't clean as easy as it used to, and the throat has a significant lizard-like quality to it through a bore scope. However, it's still very accurate w/105's @ 3250fps and I haul it along when I shoot steel plates or prairie-dogs.

My other "wildcat" is even benigner, a 700 w/1:8 Krieger Sendero-taper in 223AI.

Before the 6mmC came about I built a 6mmSLR (Super Long range).

Basically a .243 with the shoulder pushed back:

https://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2015/07/the-6mm-super-lr-243-winchester-made-better/

Works pretty well, like a 6mmC +P

I've also got a .40-70W (M) from my BPCS competition days. Basically a .45-90 (2.4") necked down to emulate the .40-65, but keep a 408 grain bullet fully seated protecting the grease groves:



The guys that put it together designed the reamer using Starline .45-90 brass and a Brooks 408 grain, so the bullets could be slip fitted VS "seated".

My favourite:

.338-06

I've built two.....both long since gone

260 AI & 6XC both 8 twist Pac Nor barrels

For over 20 years my favorite elk and other big ungulate gun was my .30 Gibbs shooting 180 gr Partitions. I've since replaced it with my .300 Weatherby and 180 gr TTSX bullets.

Since the late '70s, my deer, antelope, and sheep rifle has been my .257 Ackley shooting 117 gr Sierra GameKing bullets.

Only one anymore is a 375/350 in a lightweight Mauser carbine. Thumper for sure! No big hand cannons anymore as the arthritis in my hands now won't allow them anymore.

Why limit yourself to Wildcats? Personally For the stated use I would have to go with something in 6mm. With the wildcat criteria I'll lead off with 6x45 with cheep abundant brass in mind. Though 6mm Grendel would allow you to step up the velocity a notable amount.

Though I feel you would do well to consider 6mm ARC if you can buy into the 6mm cartridge. Wide range of bullet options including the all copper choices. Hammer, Hornady 90 grain CX Barnes has some fine offerings as well. If you are stuck on cup & core I think you may find at least a dozen fine options from Partitions up to 108 grain Elite hunter. For your ranges I would give a 90 grain CX hard consideration. Just my 2 cents worth of thought on your question.

I appreciate the info, and I do like 6mm. I built an ar 6.5 grendel but really haven't shot it that much. I've been hooked on the 7-08 for a while. It's kinda like the best of both worlds on varmints and deer.
I liked my .243 but I started having deer travelling up to 20-25 yards after the hit. Before, I was dropping them where they stood. Still hitting the vitals but I guess the main reason was the distance of the shots and not enough umph to do more damage?
My .243 is great for deer and varmints too using 100g sp, but I'm a bit leery of dropping the grain weight for deer, even with the better bullet designs. It was just easier to step-up to the 7mm08. I'd certainly be in on the 6mm-SLR, strictly for varmints with lighter bullets. I believe it'd be a hoot for target shooting too. I have a .204, it's darn fast and flat. But I'm looking to something new (to me) that's fast, flat, accurate and many options on bullet weight. That's why I'm looking for tried and trued personal recommendations from people who have used or are still shooting their favorite wildcat caliber.

I’m sorry, favorite caliber? 7mm. That covers both .284 & .308.

If I didn't have a 257Roberts already, I'd have a 250 Savage Improved built instead.

The 6.5CM is better yet.

I have been dealing with Wildcats for over 50 years, for many different customers and dozens of different shells. In the last 55 years or so I have probably done well over 200 different rifles in wildcat chambers.

Because of that history I have NO favorite wildcat, and if a cartridge is a wildcat, it is by it's very existence NOT a favorite.
I fact such cartridge are on the opposite end of my "favorite" list.

Favorite wildcat cartridge is 6MM-284. Covers a lot of bases pretty well.

For your purposes, the 6BR, 6PPC, 30Harret, 300 Savage, or any other WC in those cases/capacities.
I've got most all the components I need for a 35WHln AI.
Not sure I'd want it in a pistol, but the idea of pistol bullets and cast lead at low velocity and light recoil for plinking or small game has its appeal.

.224”. Hint………..