The recent "Is it worth it" thread got me to thinking more seriously about another wildcat cartridge.

I have one more left handed Charles Daly mini Mauser action and haven't decided what to build on it yet. I have a 6mmx222 and am having fun with it. I thought for a while I'd build a 25/222 Copperhead but think it would be too easy to confuse the ammo between it and the 6mmx222. That has me thinking about the 221 Fireball opened up to 25 caliber.

I should say I don't have any interest in any wildcats on the 223 or 222 Remington Magnum in this action. The magazine length is such that any wildcats on either of those cases would have the bullets seated extremely deep in the case. The action is perfectly suited for 221 or 222 wildcats.

I'm thinking the 25/221 might be a fun, quiet little wildcat that would essentially duplicate or beat by a little, the 256 Winchester Magnum but in a bolt gun and using brass easily made from 223. I'm envisioning a little, mannlicher stocked, 21 inch barreled walking varminter.

Your thoughts are appreciated.

Mart

Only you know what will scratch that itch. I think it would be great but I would do a tad different case. I would want a 25 that would work in 233 mags with no special mods. Ideally start the neck at the shoulder/neck junction of the 223 (1.55"). The 223 neck diameter is almost the same diameter as the 257 bullet so no issues there with mags. I would want the same case taper and have a caliber length neck. Load bullets out to 2.25"+ and you would have quite the wild kitten. This would be a better cart than the 300 blackout for me. More range and a great variety of useable bullets that will work in existing mags.

Since you have AR type size restrictions, you may want to consider AR cartridges.









So whether you want a .25, .26, or .27 (6.35, 6.5, or 6.8).

Good Luck with your project.

Here is a possibility.Make a rimless .256 Win Mag using .223 or .222 cases. No expensive die. problem . I did a similar wild kitty with the 22 Jet on a #1 Ruger action. Top shelf performance. roger

Somewhere in the last couple issues of Australia's Guns &Game mag, there is an article on the 6.5 EGGS. EGGS standing for "efficient game getter short"
It was made on the 221 case and a 6.5x55 swede barrel in one of the small 222 length SAKO actions.
He got very respectable velocities with 120 grn bullets and shot a bunch of pigs with it.

Thanks for all the input. I'm still not sure what I'll do with the action but am exploring several options. I have vacillated between a 221 Fireball, 222 Remington, 204 Ruger, 300 Blackout, and 25 caliber wildcats on the 221 or 222.

I have a .221 Fireball Improved (FBI) that is a prairie dog slayer. We used a .223 rem imp reamer and stopped it short at fireball length. For a size die we cut down a .223 imp sizer to the correct length. Works very well and is my current favorite rifle. I use both fireball brass and cut down .223 brass, with equally good results.

After reading this, I am thinking a 6mm FBI may be in my future...hmmm

I did a quick search and saw that someone has done what I thought would be a good cart idea that I posted above and it is called a 25x40. I think it could be a quite capable cart with high BC bullets in the 100-120 grain range and soft lever action bullets for up close hunting.

You could try a 22/30 carbine. That's a nice little round for varmints/plinking. Even with pointy .224 tips you'd be short enough for that small action. You might have to put a bushing in the bolt face though.