The Textbook for Experimental Cartridge Design No matter yourreloading goals, Wildcat Cartridges, The Reloader's Handbook of WildcatCartridge Design, 2nd Edition, is the mostcomprehensive reference available for designing, building, loading and shootingwildcat cartridges. Calibers span the gamut, from the tiny .10 caliber to thebrawny .50 cal. There is something for every interest! Following the firstedition's success, this completely updated edition adds three new chapters,including modernized wildcats, recently developed proprietary and factorycartridges, ammunition sources, and options for procuring .22 rimfire ammo whenit is not commercially available, plus brass sources and specialty suppliers. Inside You'll Find: · Dimensioneddrawings and loading data · Detailedcartridge descriptions and performance · Historicalwildcat cartridges and new designs · Wildcatsvs. improved cartridges · Tooling,supplies and suppliers · P.O.Ackley and other wildcatter profiles! In WildcatCartridges, The Reloader's Handbook of Wildcat Cartridge Design, 2ndEdition, learn how to make your own reamers and reloading diesand design new cartridges, whether your goal is increased velocity, improvedaccuracy, more extended range, or better terminal performance on game!

The Reloader's Handbook of Wildcat Cartridge Design is a must have for all shooters regardless of their experience. For the hunter with one gun or collector with many, you will find valuable information on accuracy, designing, building, loading and shooting wildcats. Calibers start with the tiny .10 ranging to some brawny .50 calibers; there is something for every interest.Self reliant shooters and gunsmiths will learn how to make their own reamers and reloading dies in this book. If you desire to try out a new cartridge design you can be testing the new design in a day or two instead of weeks or months.Dimensioned drawings and loading data accompany cartridge descriptions. Historical cartridges as well as the newest and most popular designs are included. Chapters about important cartridge designers like P.O. Ackley, Jerry Gebby, Rocky Gibbs, and Charles Newton are important resources for the reloader and shooter alike."It's a rare technical treatise that draws you in with illustration, or that keeps you with an easy flow of chat that, were it lifted from print, might pop up at any gun counter or handloading bench. Wayne van Zwoll"For anyone interested in wildcat cartridges, this is a "must have" book. It's thorough, and it's up to date." Larry S. Sterett, Gun Week"One of the problems collectors often encounter when they purchase custom-made sporting rifles is the absence of commercially made ammunition for those arms... This book offers hope to just those collectors.Written by a professional gunsmith and cartridge maker, it examines the history of "wildcat cartridge" development. In addition to discussing vintage designs, such as those developed by P.O. Ackley, Jerry Gebby, and Charles Newton, the book covers more recent work carried out by Estergaard, Gibbs, Z-Hat, and more." Herbert G. Houze, Man at Arms Magazine, Vol. 28, No. 4, 2006"This is a fantastic book on American wildcats, US loads and much more. A must have for wildcatters and gunsmiths." Big Bore Journal, No. 18, June 2006

Firearms Reloading the history, manufacture, data for wildcat (Non-Factory) Ammunition.

2022 Reprint of the 1962 Edition. Exact facsimile of the original edition and not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. Profusely illustrated with photos of actual cartridges and dimensions. Illustrated Edition of 1959 in Facsimile. This is one of the classic descriptions of wildcat cartridges, first published in 1949 and revised and expanded in this 1962 edition. This is Ackley's major effort at tackling the loading data, theory, and practice of wildcat cartridges. A wildcat cartridge, often shortened to wildcat, is a custom cartridge for which ammunition and/or firearms are not mass-produced. These cartridges are often created in order to optimize a certain performance characteristic (such as the power, size, or efficiency) of an existing commercial cartridge. Developing and using wildcat cartridges does not generally serve a purpose in military or law enforcement; it is more a hobby for serious shooting, hunting, gunsmithing and handloading enthusiasts, particularly in the United States.

Illustrated Edition of 1959 in Facsimile. This is the first edition of one of the classic descriptions of wildcat cartridges, first published in 1949. Though revised and updated in 1962, this is Ackley's first effort at tackling the loading data, theory, and practice of wildcat cartridges. A wildcat cartridge, often shortened to wildcat, is a custom cartridge for which ammunition and/or firearms are not mass-produced. These cartridges are often created in order to optimize a certain performance characteristic (such as the power, size, or efficiency) of an existing commercial cartridge. Developing and using wildcat cartridges does not generally serve a purpose in military or law enforcement; it is more a hobby for serious shooting, hunting, gunsmithing and handloading enthusiasts, particularly in the United States.

Learn what works, what doesn't work, and why!Following the numerous chapters on the science and safety of cartridge reloading, there are over 200 pages of rifle cartridge loads and another 20 pages of handgun cartridge loads to help handloaders get the most out of their cartridges. Handbook for Shooters & Reloaders has been the quintessential guide for cartridge reloaders since 1962. Widely renowned in reloading and wildcat circles, this book culminates decades of reloading experience and cartridge development by P. O. Ackley and a number of contributing writers. Backed by extensive research, the information contained in this first volume provides comprehensive information on wildcat cartridges and covers basic to advanced techniques that remain timeless.

This treatise discusses Ackley Improved cartridges. We will not teach you how to install and chamber a barrel here, we handle that information in, "Chambering Rifle Barrels for Accuracy". In this book we will in detail help you to understand the special details related to chambering for Ackley Improved designs.P.O. Ackley is the undisputed King of Improved cartridges and maybe of wildcats in general. He was active in gunsmithing from 1936 until his passing in 1989. Ackley was probably not the originator of fireformed "improved" cartridge designs, but he was definitely the guy who popularized it, and more importantly P.O. Ackley standardized the improved cartridge concept. What I mean by that is that he created a simple understandable headspace method for these designs.You will learn how to apply these simple principals.