I've been toying with the idea of building a wildcat for a few years. Recently, our local sporting goods storeowner's son finished gunsmith school in montana(can't recall the name of it. Anyway, they've got a lathe and shop mostly set up. This kid wants to build a portfolio, so he is dying to build something COOL. OK, questions are: DO I let a relatively green kid build a 257 or 6.5mm STW? those are good wildcats, but really for the brass/ammo issues a 7 RUM is better. a 6.5mm/300 RUM is a crazy idea, question there is where to get data, and is this rnd even useful, be running less than 750 rnd barrel life if treated well, maybe 1200 in a .855 barrel diameter. The other questions are: with a young smith like this, maybe a 338 RUM target rifle or necking a 300 RUM up to 44 or 45 might be a better and safer project. Or maybe just a nice 378Wby? Maybe more tolerance for preassure with the larger diameter bore to work with. I am kind of 30 cal wonder at the moment, with the exception of a 264 in pre 64 m70, a CZ 550 varmint 308, 300 wby mkV Deluxe & 30-378 Mk V accumk is all I have for rifles. So the larger bore might be fun. The other thing is I love guns, but have little technical knowledge in regards to action strength, rate of twist etc. I would favor a mauser 98, but can it fit the longer 8 rem or RUM cases?
Any suggestions??
OH yeah, I've got to get most of the material in canada or I'll be an old man by the time we get it across the border.
Any suggestions??
OH yeah, I've got to get most of the material in canada or I'll be an old man by the time we get it across the border.