250 Hellraiser?

[shotgunner]

I was in a small gun shop yesterday. They had taken in a large lot of old guns and loading supplies, much of it in poor shape. One of the guns was a pre 64 model 70 in 257 Roberts! I was excited about it until I looked at the barrel. It had a very small stamping over the factory one that said " 250 Hellraiser" I have never heard of the wildcat. Has anyone got any info on it? Shotgunner

[Mikey]

shotgunner:  I looked in my Cartridges of the World last night but couldn't find anything on the 250 Hellraiser.  I would be tempted to go back and see if there is brass and dies available in the lot of stuff the dealer took in.

Since this rifle started life as a 257 I'm willing to bet the Hellraiser is a sharper shouldered version of the same. If the dealer does not have any of the brass or dies that came with the rifle I would try contacting die makers like RCBS, Lee, and others to see if anyone ever cut a set of dies in that caliber. 

If you get the rifle I would make a cerosafe casting of the chamber to see what the casing would look like and take it from there.  It sounds like the factory barrel was rechambered or the chamber was re-cut for this case.  Good luck and please let us know whatcha find.  Mikey.

[BruceP]

I checked my Wildcat Cartridges Vol. I and II and nothing there either.

Bruce

[Catfish]

I don`t have a listing for it in any of my book eather. I would guess that it ia very close to a more popular wildcat if just not a different name for one of them. If you really want to know get a chamber cast made and start mic ing. it.

[Mikey]

shotgunner - you can also fire-form a case to obtain the measurements and an indication of what the cartridge looks like.  If you know someone who reloads the 257, fill the case with powder and top it with chalk and that should fire-form the case to the chamber; you are basically making a blank cartridge. HTH.  Mikey.

[StrawHat]

shotgunner - you can also fire-form a case to obtain the measurements and an indication of what the cartridge looks like.  If you know someone who reloads the 257, fill the case with powder and top it with chalk and that should fire-form the case to the chamber; you are basically making a blank cartridge. HTH.  Mikey.

Mikey's advice is good if the barrel is original and not set back a thread or two.  Try the EMPTY in the chamber first.  If it fits go for the fireforming load  I don't recommend a full case of powder but it works for some.  Usually, I get by with a couple grains of a fast burner and just point it toward the sky.  Others have different recipes and hopefully you will find one you like.

[Mikey]

Strawhat - thanks for clarifying that.  Mikey.

[shotgunner]

I have a correction, that probably does not change much. In looking more closly. the letters are very small, it says HELLDIVER, not hellraiser. I told the guy he will need a chamber casting. Unless I can get it very reasonably I am going to pass, thought it is tempting. If it is a 257 improved it would be a good model 70 to hunt with. Shotgunner

PS thanks for the input

[Catfish]

The problem is that you have no idea if what the parrent case is. It could be a longer case like the 06. If the barrel has not been set back I would guess that the case is longer than the .257. 

[JustaShooter]

I googled "250 helldiver cartridge" (without the quotes) and the second result was this excerpt from Layne Simpson's Shooter's Handbook:

http://books.google.com/books?id=7l6ZaZTjvBgC&pg=PA236&lpg=PA236&dq=250+HELLDIVER+cartridge&source=web&ots=HvsBSr2hSB&sig=LeD-a49l_d3hbVK1knrljEGxMwM&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result

It says that the 250 Helldiver was one of a trio of cartridges developed by L.R. (Bob) Wallack and Frank Hubbard.  Maybe this will give you a starting point.

Good luck!

Just a Shooter