My first Wildcat!

Well here is my first attempt at a wildcat cartridge!   Well almost I do have a 8mm-06.   This one is based off the .405 Win cartridge, necked down to 7mm.  Supposed to give me .280 AI performance out of a 17" Garry Reeder Encore Pistol barrel. 

I necked the brass down in a three step process running it through some 06 based cartridge dies (35 Whelen, 8mm, .280) without the decapping rods and expander balls.  I used the .280 rem die instead of my GNR die for the final size because my frame would lock up easier.  Once fire formed the frame locks up easy as well.  I'm using a bulk 140 grain bullets seated to the cannelure to fire form with 49.5 grains of H4350 for the charge. 

The other two cartridges are what it will look like when I'm done fire forming the rest of the cases.  I loaded the Ballistic tip to where the boat tail was just below the base of the neck.  Looked a little long but chambers without hitting the lands.  The other is the same bulk bullet loaded to the cannelure I used for the fire form loads.

According to the data I have 56 grains of H4350 and LR Magnum primer will push the NBT at 2900+ fps out of my barrel.  I didn't have any Mag primers so I worked loads from 54-57 grains of H4350 with CCI 200 primers.   We will see how good I'm able to shoot this pistol hopefully this weekend if weather cooperates! 

Might have to try it on an elk or deer this fall!  That is if I can get my shooting up to par with a Encore pistol.    Here is some pictures of my Encore pistol that I'll be shooting this cartridge from.

RobertMT wrote: Looks like it'll knock the heck out of them, I bet that dog'll bark.  Have you tried the accubond or partition, I've had much better success with either, on game than the BT.  I've found the accubond to be good long range bullet for game and not as fragile as the BT.

Not yet, planned on it but the BT's are what I got with the barrel, along with the brass and a set of dies.  I picked this up for about $375 as that is about what I traded was worth.  I've got data for the 160 grain partition.