There's not really a Forum for this request so I'll start here.

I like to collect wildcat cartridges and I have several from the 1950s that I need bullets for. They are 6mm (or 243) but have been loaded with modern bullets which detract from their looks and collectability. So, does anyone have a box, or even a handful, of Speer, Hornady, or Sierra soft point bullets from the 1945 to 1955 era? Weight isn't important. Not hollow point but Soft Point.

joyray@frontiernet.net

Thanks

Ray

I have a very very old box of 30 cal 180gr Hornady Spire Points, strange looking bullets, could let you have a couple of those. Also have a bunch of 50, 53gr match and 55gr 22 cal Herter bullets; 85 and 100gr 24 cal Herter and 87, 100 and 117gr 25 cal Herter and a few 180gr 30 cal Herter. If you want a few, pm me.

The 244 (6mm) Rem and 243 were first marketed about 1954 or 1955. Prior to that there would have been no market for 6mm bullets so I doubt that there were any in production prior to 1955.

ire

There were 6mm cartridges before the 243W and 244R. Mostly wildcats. Both of those factory cartridges started life as wildcats even though Win and Rem will not admit it. The 240 Page and 240 Rockchucker for example.

I'm not sure what those guys used, probably hand made bullets, but there were some readily available commercial bullets too. I'll take any that date close to that era. Better than a 1955 cartridge with a red Nosler Ballistic Tip.

Ray

.240 H&H Flanged -- 100 gr bullet at 2775 fps
and the
.240 H&H Belted Rimless (aka .240 Apex) -- 100 gr bullet at 2900 fps



Both are from the 1920s.

see:
http://www.kynochammunition.co.uk/
http://www.chuckhawks.com/240Apex.htm

And, I believe Mauser came out with the 6x57 Mauser (different from the 6.5x57 Mauser) in the mid 1890s though I haven't read much information about the cartridge. (Very similar to the 6mm Remington as both are based on a 57mm case length.)

But, let's not forget about the .236 Lee Navy (aka 6mm Lee) cartridge and Model 1895 Lee rifle.

see:
http://www.spanamwar.com/lee.htm
http://www.winchestercollector.org/guns/1895-lee.shtml

-Bob F.

I understand there were a few 6MMs back then but not enough to support Sierra, Hornady and Speer producing bullets for them before the .243 was introduced.

All those rounds together would not have sold 1000 bullets in the US

ire

You're right about outfits such as Speer, Hornady and Sierra not making 243 bullets until after the 243W and 244R were introduced. I don't have catalogs from 1954 or 1955 but would suspect that they were producing them soon thereafter. Guys like Sisk made 6mm bullets on special order as did Barnes, I think. Western made and sold it's O.P.E. in the 1930s. And it was possible to order from overseas as did guys like Elmer Keith for the odd sizes like .333". I suspect that most 6mm bullets before 1955 were hand made by guys like Sisk, Lovell, Huntington, etc. During WW II, of course, about the only bullets you could buy were 22s made from copper 22 RF cases. That's one of the reasons the 22 caliber varmint rifles were so popular then - they were about the only way an average guy could shoot.

Ray

quote:

Originally posted by ireload2:
I understand there were a few 6MMs back then but not enough to support Sierra, Hornady and Speer producing bullets for them before the .243 was introduced. ...

True (at least for the North American market). I was just trying to point out that 6mm cartridges have been around for a while.

Cheers!
-Bob F.

If I may chime in here, I'd be very interested in some .257 diameter Winchester bullets 60 grain OPE if anyone has any.

They was loaded in the 256 Win Mag and in the 25-20 for a while.

I have several boxes of "SISK" .224 bullets late 40's vintage. If anyone is interested I would part with a few boxes. They are new un-opened boxes.
I have a box or two of opened boxes as well. I will check for .243 diameters and see what I may have.

Snellstrom

PM sent

Ray

i have some things that might help. i don't know how old they are.
Speer 6mm 80gr spitzer hot-cor
Hornady 6mm 100gr spire point with cannelure
i also have a few Speer .257 60gr spire point if they would be of any use to you. my e-mail is wflocke@hometc.com if these interest you.

e-mail sent

Thanks Jigger

Ray