My First Foray into Wildcatting

[Jeff Higgins]

The shooters out there will be familiar with the term "wildcat cartridge". These are cartridges for which no factory ammunition is available. They are made by necking existing cases up or down to accept larger or smaller diameter bullets, by removing the taper from a case to increase its capacity, by moving the shoulder further forward to increase capacity, etc. P.O. Ackley was famous for his "improved" cartridges that generally employed the latter two approaches. Many current factory loads started out as wildcats, such as the .257 Roberts (the 7mm Mauser case necked down to .257 caliber), the .25-'06 (.30-'06 necked down to .257 caliber) and others.

So, I figured I'd take the plunge. Not content with any old run of the mill wildcat, I decided to "go big or go home". I'm still waiting for the rifle. I'm gonna put a 40" barrel with a 12" twist in .22 caliber on a #1 action. Why so long? Well, it's going to need some room to burn all of that powder...

Here's what I'll be loading. It's the .50 BMG case necked down to .22 caliber. Starting loads are about 240 grains of the slowest of the slow burning powders with a 50 grain bullet. Should be good for somewhere in the neighborhood of 12,000 fps.

I understand the biggest challenge to be getting a barrel to actually last long enough to work up a load, much less get the scope zeroed. It has a reputation as a "barrel burner". That's o.k., though, I've been playing with the .220 Swift for 40 years, and it has a similar reputation. I've only burned through three barrels on mine, so I think I'm up to the task.

Meet the .22 Eargeschplitten Loudenboomer. I realize most of you have probably never heard of it, that it occupies one of the deeper niche corners of the handloading world. That's kind of where I like to play, though, so I'm really looking forward to working with this one.

[KFC911]

Rut-roh !

[gwood]

That cartridge is going to generate very high chamber pressures. Better have Mark Serbu build you a custom receiver.

[masraum]

I'm assuming this is kind of like putting a big block chevy in a Nash Metropolitan. Not a good idea, and only done just because it's technically possible and a bit ridiculous.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Gee, it is April first, isn't it?

Sshhhhh. Don't spoil it!

[fanaudical]

I was believing this until the third paragraph...

[Jeff Hail]

Powerful. Up there with the 17mm Mufuh and the 6mm Biggin.

[island911]

My grandmother told us about those Eargeschplitten Loudenboomers back in her day as a helicopter mechanic in WW2.

All part of of California's effort to reduce lead content in munitions.

[herr_oberst]

"Today, I haff gutt newss,
Undt, I haff bat newss."

(Rolling thunder is at 435)

[craigster59]

"You picked the wrong day to be a Chipmunk!".

[Bill Douglas]

What could possibly go wrong...

Excellent April fools for us boys.

[MBAtarga]

I was going hook, line and sinker for it - then realized the day it was posted!

[VenezianBlau 87]

Same here!

[GH85Carrera]

That shell in the photo would be a cool shell to keep on a desk or on display for a conversation starter at an office.

[Rikao4]

must be cumbersome in the shower..
but effective for clearing out those little Higgies...

Rika