New Wildcat

[Aardvark]

I was dinking around int the shop tonight and was loading some 8x57 loads.
I had some 308Win brass lying close by and had a brainf-rt.
I put a 308 case in the 8mm decapper/sizing die and easily punched the throat to 8mm.
Hmm!
I grabbed a 175gr rn and stuck it in the case and it seated nicely.
Now I need somebody in the know if a 308 chmbered rifle can merely be bored to .323?
Would the bullet chamber and shoot properly?
Here is a pic of the different ones.(Notice the 8/08 has no primer).

[LaOtto222]

You will need to contact a gunsmith that does rebores to find out for sure. I would think that they would not be able to do it. I think that a rechamber would help clean up the throat area. Like going to 8mm-06. The rebore jobs that I am aware of cost around $300 or so. It might not cost a whole lot more to buy a barrel in 8mm bore and chamber it for the new cartridge. A reamer might be a problem though. Federal has a new cartridge out that is based on the 308. It is the 338 Federal. It is the 308 necked up for .338 bullets. There is the 8mm-06 which is a semi-popular wildcat to, of course it will not fit short actions. Fun to contemplate the possibilities.

[gunnut69]

I doubt the rebore would work as there is not much metal being removed and those folks require a minimum amount be removed. I concur about the 338 Federal. That round has caught my attention as a really nice stopper for the local deer. Would not likely need the super bullets and should give bigger holes(in and out!!) which are good things.

[Kmrere42]

Hi,



I had a similar idea when working with a 7.62x25 Tokarev. I took a 38 special case and ran it up in the sizing die and had a nice 1/4" length neck.  It gave me an idea for an old Hopkins and Allen falling block in 44-40.  While keeping the pressures to special levels does anyone know how I could figure out what velocity I would be able to get out of a 20" barrel with a 100gr bullet?? 


Paul

[John Traveler]

As a rough estimate, you can compare your wildcat with the .32-20 winchester.  Powder capacity and chamber pressures should be very similar.  A look at reloading manuals should give you starting loads for that 100 grain bullet.

I would estimate a maximum of 1100-1200 fps for your 100 grain bullet.

A word of caution is advised:  Those old Hopkins & Allen falling blocks were weak actions made of relatively soft material, and were of marginal strength even when chambered for black powder .44-40 loads.  There is little point to progressively loading hotter and hotter looking for "pressure" indications because such a weak action would stretch or fail before primer extrusion or other warning signs show.

HTH
John