303 British Wildcat reamer info needed

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Last Post 04 September 2021
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bdrake71 posted this 01 September 2021

Anyone know how the 303-25 Wildcat chambers were reamed on the P14s in the past? Were the chambers cut with a 250 Savage reamer and then had the extractor cut on the barrel like a standard 303 Brit cartridge? I've got a P14 action, stock and now a set of new LEE 303-25 dies that I plan to marry up with a EA Shaw .257 caliber barrel since they will thread their heavy sporter barrels for P14 or M1917 rifles.

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delmarskid posted this 01 September 2021

It might be simpler to do 257 Weatherby

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pisco posted this 01 September 2021

There are 25 different 303-25 variables the one that is standard is the 303-25 falcon

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bdrake71 posted this 01 September 2021

Well... I love Wildcats but have you seen the price of 257 Weatherby brass lately? No thanks!

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bdrake71 posted this 01 September 2021

I'm finding that out! I'm waiting for a reply back from LEE on what version they based their dies off of before I commit to a reamer purchase.

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mashburn posted this 02 September 2021

Hello bdrake71

Contacting Lee is a very good idea because wildcat cartridge reloading dies can be very expensive. I love wildcats and due to the expense, I usually make my own dies, but as I get older, I'm getting very impatient when it comes to the time required to machine such critters. I'm a lot like the gun loony mentioned in the blog. I actually have wildcat dies that I've had for years and have never used them and probably never will, but I have them in case the need arises. But then again, I have used a lot of them. When I buy a unusual reamer I start my search for dies. Besides, it is a lot of fun, much more so than collecting cannon balls or something. Keep up the good work and get that wildcat built. We wildcatters are dwindling in number.

By the way, would you happen to have a Lee Metford laying around waiting for something to do. I'm interested in either a sporter or military Lee Metford.

Mashburn

David a. Cogburn

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Ken Campbell Iowa posted this 02 September 2021

...i have a few 257 wea brass ... well used, but pm me if

also a set of rcbs dies for 257 wea. ..

i am getting too old to shoot anything that loud ...

ken

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bdrake71 posted this 03 September 2021

LEE Customer Service was not the most helpful....I'll reform some new PRVI 303 Brit cases tomorrow and then measure the resulting reformed cases and then try to compare them to the several known 303-25 wildcat variations that I've found on the internet this week and then try to find a matching reamer to cut a proper chamber.

Brenda @ Lee Precision, Inc. Staff - 09/02/2021 18 pm
Bruce,

We develop our own reamer's in-house. We don't buy any off the shelf.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Brenda

Customer Service

Lee Precision, Inc.

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Standard Member

JeffinNZ posted this 03 September 2021

You should make a .25/303 Pygmy!

Cheers from New Zealand

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barra posted this 03 September 2021

Every gun plumber had their own reamer and loaded ammo.

‘There is a lot of close ones out there.

I neck sized mine only.

The twist was only good for 87 grners. In the sportco 303/25.

mine shot about 1 1/2 " at 100 yards.

fired maybe 50 rounds in 35 years owning it.

Sold it to someone ,nice thou no real recoil to it.

Just never jelled with it being left handed.

You could get a reamer then make a pound die for inline loading.

‘Maybe set it back a little for case sizing?

any 25 cal for neck sizing or make a set of "Wilson dies" for it.

Just a thought.

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bdrake71 posted this 04 September 2021

Drawing isn't scale and the numbers are messy (neck length is .258" not .238")
I measured up the reformed PRVI .303 Brass today. LEE got back again today and said they make their own reamers for their dies inhouse but wouldn't provide me a copy of their reamer print. It looks like they are close to a 303/25 Falcon specs but I'm going to do some more research as it will be several months before the barrel is ready and probably just as many months before I order a chamber reamer for this P14 Sporter project.