HOT group of wildcats!

[dr galan]

Like many of you, I too have a love of reloading, target shooting and hunting. I've been reloading for over 33yrs and continue to learn from everyone's input and all the available data we have available. To say that I appreciate this forum is indeed an understatement. This group is great about exchanging real life experiences and we in turn save time and money in most cases. Therefore, I feel compelled to share the following. Kind of like "paying it forward".
Through networking on a different forum, I was blessed to meet a fellow from Canada who responded to my 338 Wildcat post and learned about a gentleman by the name of Rich Sherman. Mr Sherman is an avid outdoorsman who has invested a lot of time developing a line of wildcat cartridges that are worth everyone's time to learn about. Rich is very pleasant to talk to and is very well versed when it comes to all aspects of reloading and especially his cartridges. His website is: shermanwildcatcartridges.com He now has head stamped brass made by ADG available for purchase. In my opinion, this group of wildcats are some of the most impressive I've seen! I'm currently waiting on my 338SS and hope to have data soon.
Many blessing and warm wishes to all who read this!

-Doc

 

[SJB358]

Good to meet you. Thank you for the heads up.

 

[truck driver]

I've read the articles over on LRH and it does sound impressive for a non magnum based of the 280 Rem and the 270Win case.

 

[dr galan]

I'm really excited to share this info. Honestly, I'm surprised most of us haven't learned about these sooner. Rich is a super guy with a wealth of knowledge and always willing to help and answer questions.

 

[DrMike]

Appreciate the heads up. Pleased to make your acquaintance.

 

[dr galan]

Please to meet everyone on here. I think anytime you can match the performance of belted magnums with a long action or a true short action cartridge, that's surely making a statement.

 

[dr galan]

Just returned from the range and I couldn't be more satisfied!!...338SS proved to deliver "big boy" performance as expected. My rifle was built by Dennis Olson of Plains, MT and is a Tikka T3 rebarreled with a stainless Bartlein 3B 1:9.3 twist cut at 26" Terminator T3 brake. Action was pillar/epoxy bedded and recoil lug replaced with a Lumley titanium lug. Pachmyer decelerator pad and an Elay precision replacement trigger spring for a 1lb pull. Waiting on Mountain tactical long action billet magazine and replacement long action bolt stop to accommodate bullet seat length (3.070")

I did not reach max pressures today in any loads, so no telling how fast I'll be able to push the 250 Berger. I suspect I'll get real close to 2900' and this is what I think is nuts about the performance of a Sherman Wildcat!!.....all loads were accurate with 5 groups delivering bugholes and I mean one 338 hole . Oh almost forgot, recoil is like a .243 (maybe). The highlight of the day was having my 8yr old pull the trigger and nearly blowing the 10ring.

Sherman Wildcats my friends.......where speed and accuracy are in harmony!!!

 

[rgalan]

Some data from today

 

[rgalan]

More data

 

[nvbroncrider]

What's the dimensions on the case? Is it like a 338-06?

 

[dr galan]

The parent case is a SAUM. After fire forming, the case length is 1.930”. The capacity of this cartridge is very similar to the 338-06. However, the performance is undoubtably superior. The dimensions of this round allow you to use a short action with a magnum bolt face for the build. I would just make sure you had enough magazine clearance for seating those long bullets!

 

[truck driver]

The parent case is a SAUM. After fire forming, the case length is 1.930”. The capacity of this cartridge is very similar to the 338-06. However, the performance is undoubtably superior. The dimensions of this round allow you to use a short action with a magnum bolt face for the build. I would just make sure you had enough magazine clearance for seating those long bullets!

Funny I went back and checked my messages with Rich about his 338 Sherman and he based it off the 280 Remington or a 270 Win case.
When did he start using a SAUM case or is this a different version then the original?

 

[thatguySHM]

I've long looked at this chambering as I absolutely love the 338 caliber. SS stands for Sherman Short, all built off the RSAUM case. I believe it started with the 7mm but I may be wrong. Impressive ballistics for sure. He is starting to use ADG for brass, and with all the 6.5 Gap and cartridges like that popping up, I think brass will be around for awhile. I've talked with him through a few messages, extremely pleasant gentleman that's either shooting, machining or talking on the phone to the shooting community.

If brass wasn't close to $2.50 a piece, I'd probably have one. Gonna wait and see if that comes down with his immense popularity.

SHM

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[truck driver]

Okay I have read about the one based off the 280 Rem case and never saw the one designed with the SAUM case.

 

[SJB358]

Wouldn't the case capacity be exactly the same as a 338/06 Ackley? The case capacity of the 7 SAUM is exactly the same as the 280 Ackley, so it would stand the 338 based SAUM would be the same as the 338/06 Ackley. Do they throat the barrels differently than a standard? Just wondering cause those are some amazing speeds for the case capacity.

 

[IdahoCTD]

The Sherman is based on the longer 270/280 brass and is basically a maxed out Ackley. The shoulder is pushed forward from a normal Ackley to gain case capacity. A buddy and I did basically the same thing 25 years ago for a 6mm but used a 35 degree shoulder instead of a 40. The SS or Sherman Short is based on the 7RSAUM case with the shoulder pushed back to make a 40 degree shoulder which lengthens the neck and allows for shorter OAL's. It is blown out a bit and has roughly the same capacity as the parent case but allows for shorter OAL's. The RSAUM cases are pretty stout and that allows for pushing them hard while still getting good case life. Rich also tends to use stout cases for the Sherman, like RWS, to get the pressure and velocity up.

 

[dr galan]

To address truck driver’s question. The Sherman is the long action wildcat while the Sherman Short is the short action wildcat version. Best place to read about them is in his website or simply call him.
Great point thatguySHM brings up regarding the price of brass. We are all hopeful that the demand and popularity will bring the price down. In the meantime, Rich speculates that the brass will be loadable 10x and this makes the per unit price somewhat more palatable, in my opinion.
I’m also a .338 nut and it was a clear no brainer to build this one. I can’t wait to put the first bull on the ground with this cannon

 

[nvbroncrider]

Yeah I was just seeing the numbers and was thinking you were pushing it pretty hard. I got a 338-06AI can get 64gr of H414 or CFE223 had it up to 2820 with 225's and it was a little too hot. Had to come down to 2750 so that's why I was questioning when something about using 280 or 270 cases were mentioned. I didn't think it was possible to get those numbers without having more case capacity. 225's at those speeds would be pushing it hard.

 

[dr galan]

Rich Sherman has been able to get the 250 Berger Elite Hunter up to 2970ish with the his .338 Sherman. To date his long action Sherman line’s ballistic performance has been matched by its Sherman Short equivalent. I agree that the numbers sound rather unreal but are very very real. I will be posting more data as I continue to work with it. It’s not often that you can reload a casing as many times as you can with these. So that’s a huge plus in my book . Less powder more loading potential..... lot better than some of my magnums that I can only load 3x at best.

 

[muleman]

I know it's not quite the same case(WSM is bigger) but it's darn close. My experience with the WSM and Rsaum cases are that they don't start showing pressure sign until well above 70k psi. i think your yanking on the Dragon's tail. Please be careful my friend.
Cartridge : .338/300 Win Short Mag [WSM]
Bullet : .338, 250, Berger Elite Hunt G7 #33554
Useable Case Capaci: 61.073 grain H2O = 3.965 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.810 inch = 71.37 mm
Barrel Length : 26.0 inch = 660.4 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder-17

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 85 50.40 2292 2917 35798 6800 98.8 1.634
-18.0 87 51.66 2347 3057 38377 6929 99.3 1.584
-16.0 90 52.92 2400 3199 41149 7042 99.7 1.534
-14.0 92 54.18 2454 3343 44133 7139 99.9 1.487
-12.0 94 55.44 2507 3488 47351 7217 100.0 1.441
-10.0 96 56.70 2559 3635 50819 7284 100.0 1.397
-08.0 98 57.96 2611 3783 54566 7348 100.0 1.355 ! Near Maximum !
-06.0 100 59.22 2662 3933 58620 7409 100.0 1.314 ! Near Maximum !
-04.0 102 60.48 2712 4084 63010 7468 100.0 1.275 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 105 61.74 2763 4237 67775 7523 100.0 1.238 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+00.0 107 63.00 2813 4392 72951 7576 100.0 1.202 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.0 109 64.26 2863 4549 78588 7625 100.0 1.167 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 111 65.52 2912 4709 84740 7670 100.0 1.133 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 113 66.78 2962 4870 91470 7712 100.0 1.101 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 115 68.04 3012 5035 98849 7750 100.0 1.069 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 117 69.30 3061 5202 106961 7783 100.0 1.039 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

If the case capacity and COAL are adjusted to SS length and RSAUM capacity it's even a little more scary.
Your speeds almost match QL predictions which mean your pressures are close too. Unless your shooting a 30" barrel.
Cartridge : .338/300 Win Short Mag [WSM]
Bullet : .338, 250, Berger Elite Hunt #33554
Useable Case Capaci: 60.539 grain H2O = 3.931 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.070 inch = 77.98 mm
Barrel Length : 26.0 inch = 660.4 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder-17

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 86 50.40 2295 2923 36348 6870 98.8 1.613
-18.0 88 51.66 2349 3064 38990 6999 99.3 1.563
-16.0 90 52.92 2403 3207 41832 7113 99.7 1.514
-14.0 93 54.18 2457 3351 44894 7208 99.9 1.466
-12.0 95 55.44 2510 3498 48196 7286 100.0 1.421
-10.0 97 56.70 2563 3646 51763 7352 100.0 1.377
-08.0 99 57.96 2615 3795 55619 7415 100.0 1.335 ! Near Maximum !
-06.0 101 59.22 2666 3946 59796 7476 100.0 1.295 ! Near Maximum !
-04.0 103 60.48 2717 4099 64326 7534 100.0 1.256 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
-02.0 105 61.74 2768 4253 69248 7589 100.0 1.219 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+00.0 108 63.00 2818 4409 74603 7640 100.0 1.183 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.0 110 64.26 2869 4568 80446 7688 100.0 1.149 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 112 65.52 2919 4728 86831 7733 100.0 1.115 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 114 66.78 2969 4892 93820 7773 100.0 1.083 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 116 68.04 3018 5058 101517 7809 100.0 1.052 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 118 69.30 3068 5227 109994 7840 100.0 1.022 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!