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Author Topic: .257 Handi Wildcat  (Read 1700 times)

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Offline only1asterisk

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.257 Handi Wildcat
« on: October 04, 2011, 07:46:10 AM »
I've been working on a deer rifle for my daughter to use.  I've got a couple of years, so it hasn't been on the front burner until I picked up some 220 Swift brass this weekend.  I've never been into centerfire .22's, but at $15/100 I bought all they had.   

I was originally planning to blow out the 6.5 Jap case with minimum body taper and 30 degree shoulder. However, taper expanding the neck of the Swift brass to .284 and necking it back down with a 6.5x54 die held .125 short makes a very convincing argument, especially since I already have the dies and brass.  Unfortunately, the neck of the Swift brass is too thick for .264 bullets after being formed as described, but it will hold a .257 bullet perfectly.

Case capacity should in the neighborhood of the .250 AI and 25 Souper.  The smaller case diameter should allow for full pressure operation in stubbed stubbed with minimum of 7/8 thread.

I'm thinking of calling it the .258 Emma.

David



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Offline thejanitor

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Re: .257 Handi Wildcat
« Reply #1 on: October 04, 2011, 10:21:25 AM »
The folks in the wildcat discussion forum would be all over this... Sounds cool. What barrel would you use to start with? 25-06 is a long case and I don't think the Roberts is a factory offering either (in handi rifle). And not knowing the swift case size maybe a roberts is too fat of a chamber already...?
Sorry- he already addressed a stub which would get around pretty much everything I typed... oops
 
Good Luck with the Emma. 
 thejanitor
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Offline dant

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Re: .257 Handi Wildcat
« Reply #2 on: October 07, 2011, 03:02:58 AM »
David, check out jd jones website, ssk already has a line of improved cartridges on the swift case, dies,etc available from jones. don't know if he works on handi rifles though. the 257 jdj or 6.5 jdj would be more options, but they're on 225 win brass, already done, again, dies available.
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Offline jedman

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Re: .257 Handi Wildcat
« Reply #3 on: October 10, 2011, 12:42:26 AM »
  David,   Your plan sounds good to me, being this is for the daughter and keeping it more compact consider starting with a 25-06 H & R handi barrel.      They are 26" and you can cut off the stub and reuse the origanal barrel and still come up with a 22" barrel length.           Jed
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Offline only1asterisk

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Re: .257 Handi Wildcat
« Reply #4 on: October 10, 2011, 04:33:42 AM »
Quote from: dant on October 07, 2011, 03:02:58 AM
David, check out jd jones website...

Oh, I'm familiar with JD and SSK.  The problem with the Mini-Dreadnough is the cost. $420 for the barrel,  $375 for a Contender frame and stock, $75 for dies.  Comes to a cost of over $900. 

I can get a 25-06 Handi for >$285 out the door.  The cost to do the stub will run me $180. Reamer will be $120 or so.  The dies I already have.  Call it $600.  I lose 100 fps or so to the Mini-Dreadnough, but that isn't important.
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Offline 41 magnum

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Re: .257 Handi Wildcat
« Reply #5 on: November 14, 2011, 03:08:52 PM »
cool daughter cartridge!
 
I'm cheating and building mine an existing mild but accurate cartridge, either a 6.5 Grendel or 6.5 Creedmore or 6.5/250 Savage on a short Mexican Mauser action and purple/black laminated thumbhole stock.
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Offline 3leggedturtle

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Re: .257 Handi Wildcat
« Reply #6 on: November 15, 2011, 06:51:52 PM »
Its called the 250 Cobra and CH4D has dies for it.  They were $75 when i looked at them about 1 1/2 years ago. Yes the 220 Swift is one the strongest brass cases made. Along with the 444 and 375 Win and 225 Win.  Was going to have  barrel made up for it , but bought  and older M99 250 Savage.
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Offline briannmilewis

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Re: .257 Handi Wildcat
« Reply #7 on: November 19, 2011, 06:08:31 PM »
This is a spoiler answer - just get a 357 mag handi barrel and ream it to 357 Max. Easier, cheaper and has the range and power of a 35 Rem, kid friendly. Unless of course, you just want to do a wildcat, I, of all folks on GBO with my 223 Short, can't argue with that.


Whatever you do, enjoy.
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Offline Jason F

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Re: .257 Handi Wildcat
« Reply #8 on: November 20, 2011, 02:39:45 AM »
SSK wont do anything to a handi but cut them down thats it
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Offline trotterlg

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Re: .257 Handi Wildcat
« Reply #9 on: November 20, 2011, 03:54:34 PM »
I just finished off building a 25-35 Handi barrel using a 25-06 and it turned out really nice.  Larry
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Offline briannmilewis

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Re: .257 Handi Wildcat
« Reply #10 on: November 21, 2011, 04:59:07 PM »
Larry, Pix?
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Offline trotterlg

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Re: .257 Handi Wildcat
« Reply #11 on: November 21, 2011, 07:34:57 PM »
No pictures, but I bet you will find a range report in a while over on the H&R board.  Larry
 
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