Hi guys,I've recently gotten bite by the reloading bug,which has sparked awild interest in wildcats.What books do you guys recommend I get to start learning,is there a book with all the wildcats listed in in and what they are made from?Are there any videos out there,that I should get,I wouldn't want to get hurt or blow-up a good rifle.

Slewfoot

There's no reason to think that wildcats are any more dangerous than driving the local freeways. In fact, probably less so. When's the last time you read in the papers about a mutiple wildcat pileup?

Anyway, if you're interested in the more modern wildcats, a publication like Ken Howell's DESIGNING AND FORMING CUSTOM CARTRIDGES is a good reference. CARTRIDGES OF THE WORLD (COTW) has a short section on some of the more popular wildcats along with some loading data. If interested in the older "classic" wildcats, ACKLEYS HANDBOOK is a good source but most of the information is outdated. The various Forums, like this one, that have a "Wildcat" section are good ways to keep right up to the minute.

New wildcats are born every day and no book can keep up to date. Also there is no good estimate of how many wildcat cartridges there are but most reamer makers will tell you that their lists of reamer prints will number in the thousands.

Good Luck

Ray

Quickload is a pretty handy tool. It lets you play what if, by changeing powder type and charge, which bullet and seated how far, and barrel length. It was about $150 last time I checked. http://www.neconos.com/
It shouldn't be used to get load data, you should always double check with published load info to see if your results are reasonable.
Ed says it doesn't work with large straight walled cases and lots of ball powder. ie 12 ga FH.
It has worked very well for me with regular rifle and pistol rounds.

Donnelly's book on cartridge conversions is focused on what you can make out of what. The wildcats are probably 15-20% of the entries. There is usually load data included. Make sure you get the updated version by Bryce Towsley.

regards,

Rich
NRA Life Member
DRSS

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
Donnelly's book on cartridge conversions is focused on what you can make out of what. The wildcats are probably 15-20% of the entries. There is usually load data included. Make sure you get the updated version by Bryce Towsley.

Is that the title?
I don't have that book, but did browse through once. There was one thing I remembered about makeing a longer case than what you could find. They sized the body down and then soldered a piece of brass tube on. I think they said it was good for 35-40ksi.
Last time I was at the hobby shop for music wire, I noticed that they had a large selection of thin brass tube. I picked up some small brass wire to use for brazeing on small things. It works pretty good.

My impressions of the books on wildcats I've read are recorded here, near the bottom of the page. Howell's book is the best, I feel, but sometimes he suggests a parent cartridge which isn't the best choice.

howell told me he was contacted by donnelly to work on a revised edition of his book. there were lots of error he found after it was printed. it still an exellent book. i dont think howell and him ever got together on it.

when you are dealing with brass tubing the alloy probably wont be suited for high pressure

"Handloaders Guide to Cartridge Conversions" by John Donnelley was published by Stoeger.

eddieharren,

that's the one!

Yeah, Donnelly did a lot of cut down this case to the web area length and solder brass tubing of "X" diameter over it kind of stuff. The only thing I really dislike is the use of 300/375H&H to make 2.5" magnums in lieu of 300WM and 30-06 to make 260 Rem, etc. It could use a thorough updating in that regard, and also some newer cartridges...but, you could do that every year.

It does stand as the largest and most complete reference book of its kind.

Rich
NRA Life Member
DRSS

A real good one, I'd say is: "Wildcat Catridges"
by Richard F. Simmons. published in 1947 by
William Morrow & Company, New York. Also, by McClelland and Stewart Ltd. Toronto. You may think it too ancient...but the great wildcatters such as P.O. Ackley, Gipson,Sedgley, Donaldson, Niedner,
Griffin & Howe, etc. have their wildcats there...and my interest was in the wildcats mostly by Ackley, Neidner, Gipson that were from the .30 Newton & .35 Newton parent cases. For a serious wildcatter, or someone wanting some good insight of wildcats...this smallish volume is a treasure. Unfortunately, it falls into the rare book catagory, and is usually pretty costly. Its one of those books that any serious shooter just plain enjoys reading...for its well written & has great information. In fact (can't say for sure...but one of the Honchos at Hornady & a tech pro has a volume...and also near reveres it. I can't say for sure, because he'd probably never admit it...but I think he got the idea for the .375 Ruger from this book's primo ideas. We had discussed some of the wildcats...
Another one I like is: "Wildcat Cartridges" by Fred Zeglin, it has an introduction by Wayne Van Zwoll who also liked the book...it is a volume that explains from a Pro Gunsmith's point of view what considerations to have when designing a wildcat & why. In that respect, it is different than most. The others mentioned are good to have...but these two I boost are a must have for anyone serious.
Best Regards,

Tom