Thread: A gunsmith question

It doesn't cost a dog $1150 to lick his balls or rocket though

I say this without impertinence, because 'Why?' is often found within this topic... If you have to ask why, when contemplating building a wildcat, then wildcats are probably not for you. If designing your own project excites you and it's not a problem to spend the money to make it a reality, then you're a wildcatter.

I say, go forth young man, and wildcat to your heart's content!

Originally Posted by -BW-

I say this without impertinence, because 'Why?' is often found within this topic... If you have to ask why, when contemplating building a wildcat, then wildcats are probably not for you. If designing your own project excites you and it's not a problem to spend the money to make it a reality, then you're a wildcatter.

I say, go forth young man, and wildcat to your heart's content!

I second this. The fact is you can kill anything in NZ with a good old fashioned 308, yet here we all are chasing something "better". Remember that it's often the journey and not the destination that is rewarding.

To answer your question, a custom reamer and die set will cost a bit, plus the fitting cost of the barrel, if it were me, I would not be messing around with an old barrel, or even a unfired factory barrel. I would pay a bit more for a Trueflite, then you know it should shoot good.

Originally Posted by Dicko

It doesn't cost a dog $1150 to lick his balls or rocket though

if it did, would he still do it? very likely

Originally Posted by -BW-

I say, go forth young man, and wildcat to your heart's content!

I would be fascinated to know what percent of Wildcat Musings become Wildcat Reality ?
Less than 1% or is that wildly optimistic ?

I have a Wildcat project on going.
I have the barrel, brass, chamber reamer and sizer die and I still haven't moved forward with it.
I only lack a suitable action to build it on.

Similarly I have brought quite a few New Old Stock barrels and parts lately that are in the 20 to 40 year old range.
Musing and accumulating parts for a project rifle build are very similar to Wildcat Musings.
Except the accumulation and building of projects might have a 1st owner completion rate as high as 10%

Originally Posted by akaroa1

I would be fascinated to know what percent of Wildcat Musings become Wildcat Reality ?
Less than 1% or is that wildly optimistic ?

I have a Wildcat project on going.
I have the barrel, brass, chamber reamer and sizer die and I still haven't moved forward with it.
I only lack a suitable action to build it on.

Similarly I have brought quite a few New Old Stock barrels and parts lately that are in the 20 to 40 year old range.
Musing and accumulating parts for a project rifle build are very similar to Wildcat Musings.
Except the accumulation and building of projects might have a 1st owner completion rate as high as 10%

Yeah 1% is probably optimistic.. Ive up dreamt up dozens but only made 1, and I haven't even finished it properly. Still.. already working on plans for the second one haha

Originally Posted by chainsaw

Toying with a wild cat idea, a 270 based on SAUM or 6.5 PRC. My question - is it possible to rechamber a 270 bbl to work with the shorter, fatter SAUM or PRC case format ? A bit like turning a 708 into 284

so sort of a wsm but not a wsm????

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

so sort of a wsm but not a wsm????

Yes, a short action 270 but burning 60ish gn powder not 70ish like wsm. Just taking advantage of the new efficient cartridges like 6.5 PRC.

So ,some time back,I posed the question,could you create a 270 rem mag??? The answer was yes and by using 6.5 reamer then finishing neck etc using 270 one run in deeper..... So your theoretical chamber would be easy for smith to do.run in smaller reamer them finish neck with .270 reamer....I believe if you post three?? Cases to reloading die makers,they will create dies for you.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

I believe if you post three?? Cases to reloading die makers,they will create dies for you.

I looked into the prices, and Redding quoted me $600USD for a custom two die set. That is before post if I remember correctly, I have the price breakdown in an email somewhere.
Lee is much cheaper, I think closer to $350ish before post.

You could reduce this cost by ordering a die reamer along with your chamber reamer, and die blanks. Then have the gunsmith who cuts your chamber also cut your die set.

Gunworks have the reamers to do a 6.8prc/6.8 western

6.8 PRC....there you go,job done lol