Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing 219 Donaldson Wasp reamer anyone?

I have a highwall in 219 Gipson wasp, and can't find dies for it but Donaldson dies are off-the-shelf. I bought some Donaldson brass and rather go thru casting the chamber and havi9ng RCBS make me dies for close to 300. I would rather have it rechambered to the Donaldson version, which would probably not require cutting threads.

I know that some of you are commercial smiths; any of you have a Donaldson reamer that would be willing to do this?

Amn alternative would be to rent the reamer and have my gunsmith buddy in OR do it for me; I'm going on a sage rat hunt with him in a few weeks. I'm in God's Country, (except for the $&%^*politicians) N.California

Thanks.

how about a .225 ?

Ed

JMBN,
Glad to see you're still working with the Wasp.
You might try CH/4D;they make custom dies,not as spendy as
RCBS. They make very good dies,I have several.
4D Reamer Rental lists Donaldson Wasp reamers for rent if
want to go that way.
Best wishes,
Waddie Bill

Ed- I thought of this and in fact have some .225 brass, and have access to a .225 reamer, but there might be a problem with extraction. The Wasp has a rim diameter of .506, and the .225 is only .473. I don't think the excess room around the rim would be a problem with pressure, but how about the extractor? Also, the Wasp rim is .073 thick and the .225 is .049. Looks to me that the barrel would have to be set back or the case would have to headspace on the shoulder, which I guess shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks Bill- good information. I emailed CH to see if they have the specs to make a Gipson.

Looks like renting a Donalson reamer might be the way to go, but I'll wait for a returnm from Ed to see if he has a good estimate re the extraction if using the .225.

If you went with the 225 you can still make brass from 30-30 or whatever you make Wasp brass from.

sounds like marc has the extraction figured out.

Ed

JMBN,

The 225 Win is basicly the old 219 Zipper Improved with a
smaller. thinner rim to work with a 30-06 type bolt face.
You could make cases from 30-30 or 25-35 brass that should
work in your Gipson bolt face. That gives you another option
Have fun!
Bill

Bill- thanks for the help, but I don't see the advantage in rechambering to a 225 for my use, which is mild loads for sage rats. I wan to park the hiwall with my 223 and 22BR, and I use light loads to give the barrels some life. The Wasp will give me all that I want. My shooting buddies are actually going more and more to Fireballs and 222s for the same reason.

Donaldson Wasp cases are available (I have 150 of them) at a reasonable price so I think I'll rent a Donaldson reamer and try to do the job by hand. If I screw it up, then I'll take it to a pro and then do the 225.

I much appreciate the advice, and also the lead to 4D.