Wildcat Brass

[BodyPiercingByColt]

This was posted originally in the Gunsmithing & How-to section, but I was informed that I'd likely get more/better answers here.

How would I go about creating a new caliber, starting with the brass?
I'm already familiar (read: no hands-on experience but knowledge of process and tools) with swaging bullets. However, if only for R&D purposes, how would one go about creating the casings? Casting? Trimming, crimping, and turning already existing brass? Ordering online from some R&D lab company?

Specifically, how do the ammo manufacturers do it? Do they deep draw all of their cases?

[bumpo628]

First off, I've never done it before. Based on what I've read, your best bet is to find a donor case that is close to what you are looking for and modify it. A certain amount of modification can be done with dies and trimming. You may also need to fireform the cases to finish the transformation. You may also need to anneal the brass at some point in the process to reduce the stresses from working the brass so much.

For example, you can take a 30-06 case and size it up or down into numerous other cartridges:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.30-06_Springfield_Wildcat_Cartridges

Here is a thread that talks about fireforming as part of converting 30-06 to 338-06 Ackley Improved:

http://www.shootersforum.com/general-discussion/7247-338-06-ackley-improved.html

Hope this helps.

[Wrangler John]

https://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Shoo.../dp/9992948817 This is the bible.

The Handloaders Manual of Cartridge Conversions, John L. Donnelly (2011 revision) https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_n...ions&x=14&y=18

Wildcat Cartridges Combo Edition, Wolf Publishing

https://www.riflemagazine.com/catalog/detail.cfm?productid=92&subcategoryid=8

www.forsterproducts.comwww.ch4d.com especially the Specialty Dies link, they make belt forming and head swaging dies among others. Another source is Huntington Die Specialties www.huntingtons.com for RCBS weird dies and oddball brass.

To design a completely new cartridge you will need to start with a drawing of the case and chamber dimensions, this is best accomplished in collaboration with a reloading die manufacturer and a chambering reamer manufacturer. You will need reamers to cut the dies (some custom gunsmiths can ream a die blank to match a chamber) and a chambering reamer for the barrels. You may also want a custom matching set of headspace gauges ground. So there you have it, a rough idea of what can be done and where to look for information.