What Wildcat Would You Develop?
Well, since you asked....
I have a few I'd love to see.
First is a Dakota cartridge necked up to .416". Not the 416 Dakota, but a 2.5" case like the others.
I think this would be a great Chamber for those cheap milsurp Mausers still floating around, and would probably do what the 416 Rem does.
Second, 350 Rigby, Imp. Basically a "358 STA Beltless" as someone on another forum put it. Blow the base out to match the rim dia, minimal taper, 30deg shoulder. This, because I like the STA, and I like old cartridges, and I like beltless brass. Of course, it would cost serious $$ for brass, etc, so it'll never happen, but you didn't ask that part. :wink:
Third, A 358-338 Lapua Improved, particularly in a rifle throated to seat 310-gr bulelts out of the powder as much as possible.
Fourth, another 35 cal, a 358-416 Dakota. Baiscally the same as RUM with no rebated rim. I do believe I'd choose this one over the STA if it were available, as my "as-yet-theoretical" elk rig.
-All three of these 35's would make incredibly versatile big game cartridges, with really big bullets going around 2700 fps for griz, to 250 grainers at 2950+ for longer-than-I'll-ever-take shots at moose/elk, down to pistol bullets loaded down for deer in the brush (to make a point.)
Last, (and speaking of rebated rims) a 35-284, for a short action w/35 Whelen ballistics.
This one's probably been done, and I bet the heavier bullets didn't fair so well, but still sounds like a good idea.
I'd say the small-bore world has about zero holes I'm interested in filling; give me a 6.5x55 (or like), an '06, a big 35, a big 416 and a 45-70 and I'm done with centerfires (sad, I know.)
Since the 35 is really untapped for the most part, it leaves me some room for imagination.
