Have 2 nice 30-06's in the vaults - one a great old M70 Pre-war that is one of my favorites. The other is a nicely customized 1917 Eddystone.

Decided having two of the same chambering isn't my bag, so am tinkering with the idea of rebarreling/rechambering the '17 into some wildcat version.

At my age and dislike for heavy recoiling rifles, and knowing most of the shooting will be from a bench at paper, have determined the caliber should be between .243/6mm and .264/6.5mm. This is because there is already a couple of 7mm's in there (along with a bevy of 6.5's).

Sorta shakes out to .243, .257 and .264.

Anything based on a 30-06 length case for the long action is 'way overbore in the .243 caliber and would quickly chew up the finest barrel. Something in the .257 is marginal, but the idea of another 25-06 Ack Imp is intrigueing. Used to have a Ruger #1 in that chambering, until a shooting friend talked me out of it. I've alreay stashed a 6.5x55, 6.5-257 Robt's Imp and a 6.5-06 in the vaults.

Anyone have any suggestions for something else that isn't a real weird wildcat - something that reamers and dies are fairly easy to come by?

How about an 8MM/06, or else a 35 Whelan? Might even consider a 280 Remington.

Lee L.

Have 2 nice 30-06's in the vaults - one a great old M70 Pre-war that is one of my favorites. The other is a nicely customized 1917 Eddystone.

Decided having two of the same chambering isn't my bag, so am tinkering with the idea of rebarreling/rechambering the '17 into some wildcat version.

At my age and dislike for heavy recoiling rifles, and knowing most of the shooting will be from a bench at paper, have determined the caliber should be between .243/6mm and .264/6.5mm. This is because there is already a couple of 7mm's in there (along with a bevy of 6.5's).

Sorta shakes out to .243, .257 and .264.

Anything based on a 30-06 length case for the long action is 'way overbore in the .243 caliber and would quickly chew up the finest barrel. Something in the .257 is marginal, but the idea of another 25-06 Ack Imp is intrigueing. Used to have a Ruger #1 in that chambering, until a shooting friend talked me out of it. I've alreay stashed a 6.5x55, 6.5-257 Robt's Imp and a 6.5-06 in the vaults.

Anyone have any suggestions for something else that isn't a real weird wildcat - something that reamers and dies are fairly easy to come by?


kdub,

Off the top of my head, here a few that come to mind:

1. .240 Weatherby Mag; The case head and the belt are the same as the '06 at .473". However, the case is .453" just above the belt making the powder capacity a little less than the '06 but more than the .243. With a 26" barrel the 70 grain Hornady Spire Point can be launched at 3900 fps, the 87 grain at 3600 fps and the 100 grain at 3400 fps. Based on the Hornady book, 3rd edition, the .240 Weatherby Mag is 100 fps faster than the non-Ackley 25-06 with comparable bullet weights. The 6mm/284 lags 200 fps behind the .240 Weatherby.

2. .257 Roberts Improved. You can shoot the standard .257 Roberts in a pinch. 100 grain SP at 3200 fps and a 120 grain HP at 2900 fps with a cartridge OAL of 2.990"

3. .257 Weatherby Mag. 100 gr. at 3600 fps

4. 6.5 Rem Mag is back. You can seat the bullets all the way out, therefore not infringing on the powder space.

5. .264 Win Mag. I have heard many of the "overbore" stories about this one. Using a 26" stainless steel barrel, barrel burnout should not be a problem unless you settle in on a dog town for a week or two.

6. Since the 1914 version of your 1917 was chambered in .303 British, it might be really interesting to chamber the '17 in .25 Krag Improved.

Last but not least, if the '17 is in very good condition you could sell it for enough money to buy a new Winchester Featherweight in .25 WSSM. You gotta love that little caliber with it's controlled round feeding in the Featherweight.

JJ

I've got a 1917 Eddystone Enfield in .22-250. Feeds fairly well for the short cartridge, very accurate with a Douglas barrel. Dad finished the stock.... a K-10 Weaver tops it off. A bit heavy for a hunting rifle, but lots of fun from the bench.

If it's in any kind of decent shape, will almost certainly be money ahead to trade/sell it, honestly. Barrel shank is larger than about anything else, and square barrel threads will have your gunsmith cussing at you.....

Well, at least you have plenty of possibilities!

Yep - food for thought.

Don't want to go into the .30 caliber or higher due to stated non-desire of bench felt recoil. (Either older age wisdom or a wuss, whichever!)

The Weatherby's are all interesting, but have a couple of drawbacks. Mainly, the need for freebore and the specialized cases. Still a possibility, however.

Don't need a .280 Rem - already have a 7mm Rem Mag and a 7mm Dakota.

Mike's mention of the 22-250 struck a cord - hadn't thought of the .220 Swift AI. Same case head, can load 70 grainers if wanting a little heft, and a stainless bbl using under max loads should stretch the bbl life considerably. The new "cooler" burning powders will aid, also. The case has lots of capacity and isn't all that far out on the wildcat limb to make acquiring dies and brass prohibitive.

Does that sound doable for a bench gun? Plan on using the same stock, so barrel contour will have to match the present - may flute to help with heat dissipation.

Bet Shilen could rebarrel with one of their premium barrels fairly easily! :p

Switched bolts with a P-14 and had my 1917 rechambered to 300 Win Mag, no further mods required. It can be downloaded to 30-30, or loaded to Max. With the 190 grain bullet, it's a fine long range rifle, and 3/4 min of accuracy.

Lee L.

Appreciate all the comments -

Just got back from my local gunsmith. After thinking it over, was pretty centered on the .220 Swift AI. He agreed it would be a nice cartridge and he had the reamers for it.

We kept talking (my failing in a gunshop) and he mentioned how so many of his customers were going for the 6mm-284Win for their varmit and antelope/whitetail hunting. Kicked ballistics around for a while and what would have to be done.

Ended up leaving the barreled action with him and an order for a 6mm-284W in a 27" tube, 1:10 twist, contoured down to a .725 muzzle diameter and 8 cooling flutes, to stop 2" from the muzzle and 3 1/2" from the receiver ring. Will get a cryo cold treatment after fluting and prior to blueing. Supposed to be finished by late September in time for load development and sighting-in before deer season.

Now, to round up the dies, brass and buddits! :D

Have 2 nice 30-06's in the vaults - one a great old M70 Pre-war that is one of my favorites. The other is a nicely customized 1917 Eddystone.

Decided having two of the same chambering isn't my bag, so am tinkering with the idea of rebarreling/rechambering the '17 into some wildcat version.

At my age and dislike for heavy recoiling rifles, and knowing most of the shooting will be from a bench at paper, have determined the caliber should be between .243/6mm and .264/6.5mm. This is because there is already a couple of 7mm's in there (along with a bevy of 6.5's).

Sorta shakes out to .243, .257 and .264.

Anything based on a 30-06 length case for the long action is 'way overbore in the .243 caliber and would quickly chew up the finest barrel. Something in the .257 is marginal, but the idea of another 25-06 Ack Imp is intrigueing. Used to have a Ruger #1 in that chambering, until a shooting friend talked me out of it. I've alreay stashed a 6.5x55, 6.5-257 Robt's Imp and a 6.5-06 in the vaults.

Anyone have any suggestions for something else that isn't a real weird wildcat - something that reamers and dies are fairly easy to come by?

If that was me, I like the idea of the 25-06 in the regular version. Improved cartridges have their place I suppose, but I've always found too little improvement for the work involved. Funny how "too much work" increases as we get older. :D

Yup, had several of 25-06's - one in a Browning A-Bolt and two in a Ruger #1.

Nice chamberings and took several deer with them using the 117 gr Noslers. Never had a complaint. Problem was, every time someone at the range would see the targets I would leave for home minus the rifle and a pocket bulging with greenbacks.

Have a 6.5-06 now in a customized Brazilian Model 1908 action and it sufficies for all the hunting a 25-06 would be used for. Needed a chambering not already in the vaults.

.277/284 win

.277/284 win

Too late - the 'smith is supposed to have the 6mm-284 ready for pickup Thursday afternoon!

I am putting a barrel I got from Midway on by Mauser98. It's in 35 Whelen but I've decided to go with the 35 Brown-Whelen. It gives you about 200 fps over regular Whelen ballistics but can be handloaded to any range you want. If you already have some small bores, why not try a medium one.

Just a thought if your ruminating on 220 swift ...why not go for a 220 wilson arrow better case life and accuracy too.