Need a recommendation for a left-hand bolt action to build a 219 Donaldson Wasp (sometimes based on a 219 Zipper or 30/30 Winchester case).

Think the world has a terrible shortage in this area.

Any thoughts ?

Hammer

The primary reason for the .219 Donaldson Wasp was bench rest shooting. If that's what its for then Nesika and others sell LH bolts.

If it's for hunting then the Ruger #1's are all left hand rifles.

Most modern benchrest cartridges are rimless, e.g., the PPC, the Rem BR, the 222 Remington family. The 219 Donaldson Wasp is from before the 1950s and is a rimmed case.

Will Nesikas handle a rimmed cartridge ?

Hammer

It's best to call the action mfg first and then get it in writting for what it will do. The match shooting guys here are now sweet on the RPA. Check them out.

www.rpa-eng.com

If I wanted to build a 219 Wasp (instead of the nearly identical but rimless 22PPC)I would build it on a standard bolt face (.473)and turn the rims and headspace on the shoulder. I built myself one about 25 years ago and used 225 Winchester brass to better fit the Remington 788 bolt.
Any of the actions with a non rotating extractor are easily adaptable to rimmed cartridges (M70, Ruger 77, MRC, Mauser etc.)
The easier thing is to simply go with that 22PPC. Of course you won't have the pleasure(?)of forming the Wasp brass. Regards, Bill.

Thanks for the ideas.

The objective is not to build something equivalent or even better than a 219 Donaldson Wasp, but to actually build a true 219 Donaldson Wasp with original cartridge cases.

Hammer

Hammer,
I know how you feel, I get crap about rechambering a 340 Savage .222 REM barrel to 219 Zipper and putting it on a
30-30 325 action. I have a 788 REM 30-30 that I am going to get a good barrel for and make another one. Too bad you need a left hand.

mr

Good luck on the 219 Wasp, they are a lot of fun. I just recently sold mine and still have a few pieces of brass left over, (100 I think) Let me know if you can use them. Smokey

Smokey,



Would love to have your 100 pieces of 219 brass. But I don't know what the legal hassles of importing it from Canada would be. And don't want to needlessly excite any legal authorities these days. So I guess I will pass.



Hammer

What about converting a Browning 1885 single shot action ? One that was originally a 30/30 Winchester...

Does anyone know about the general accuracy of rifles -- factory or custom -- built on this action ?

Hammer

Hammer,
If it's unprimed brass, there shouldn't be any issues involved on the U.S. side.

As for the 1885, it's a nice rifle, but very expensive. As with most rifles with two-piece stocks, good accuracy can be difficult to achieve.

Are you only interested in falling blocks, or would other actions work for you? For example, a T/C Contender or Encore in carbine or rifle would be pretty simple to put together in .219 DW.

George

I don't think you'd give up much by using a Marlin 336. I am planning that for mine.

George S

The Thompson Center route would not be traditional enough. The Marlin lever action approach might be.

Hammer

It would work equally well in another lever gun but the Marlins are a little easier to get shooting well. If you develop an interest, Brockman might be the guy to go to.

I recently sold a 1950's vintage bench-rest rifle (made by Morgan) in that cartridge, and it would still shoot 1/4" groups with today's components. It was built on a Mauser '98 action with a Mashburn trigger, and had a 1960 vintage B&L 6x24 scope. I also just sold (this one actually about 2 years ago) a similar rifle built on a Hi-Wall.

Lastly I still have a 1965 .225 Winchester M70 Varmint, wearing a 24-X Model 2400 scope.

They are ("were" in the case of the Mauser & Hi-Wall) great fun rifles and still pretty danged good varminters.

Were it me doing it again, I'd either go with the Hi-Wall action again, or build me a nice Mauser sporter. Given the current inexpensive availability of Mauser actions, that'd be a real easy way to go...unless you have access to an older M54 or M70 action (then you could make a sporter that would really be something). Especially nice if you discombubulated the magazine and put it back together with the the rear and front sides slightly slanted forward. Then you could feed from the mag with no worries about the rim of a top cartridge getting behind the rim of the cartridge under it.

The hardest part is converting the action to a port side-er, but if you really want it to be the way most lefty bolt "customs" were in the 30's, 40's and 50's, then just stock it for left hand use, and leave the bolt handle where it is. It's probably not for rapid fire events at Perry anyway...

Or, you could just go with a .225 Winchester on a current lefty bolt gun. Except for rim diameter, it is very, very similar. Stocked with a real wood stock and a polished barrel/matte receiver, it would still look very classy.

Good luck whatever you try.

AC

Just a thought and far . . . FAR from a bolt gun, but several folks out there that are chambering barrels for the Encore have the Donaldson reamer.
The Encore does NOT care which side you are stuffing the cartridge in from!

Mine is on a Remington Rolling Block and shoots far better than I can hold.

How about a Martini action? Sinle shot but they can be had cheap. A used Ruger 77 Shorty would be another for a 220 Swift might get you in the ball park. I dont know if they make a lefty cause all my bolts are on the correct side. If you learned to shoot right handed these choices would be easier, LOL.