Sorry, for being such a dreamer but I have always wanted a 9.3x57 Mauser in a rifle. Then I thought why not full length size 444 Marlin brass in a 9.3x57 Mauser dies. Kind of like a 9.3 JDJ. Next have OTT chamber a 16" pistol barrel for the Encore pistol frame that I still haven't bought yet.

So what is everyones dream handgun cartridge??????

I already have it-7mm Dakota XP-100

I have this one in mind for the Striker platform. A rimless bigbore that will use the .308 boltface and two shot mag. Let's call it the 44x308x1-1/2" or 445 SMAG rimless. If I could put one together with 308 and 44 dies, OTT could cut a chamber and Hornady make a die set. Eh? Rod II.

I think that there are very few wildcats that haven't been done before. I'll have to break my dream cartridge(s) into two categories: 10” barrels and 14+ barrels. Since I have had 40 + barrels and cartridge combinations in a T/C Contender and 6 or more XP’s with various barrels hanging on them and 15 years of shooting steel (IHMSA) I have formed some opinions. I have had big boomer, little barkers and a lot in between. After 30 years of playing with the above I found myself moving back to mid pressure, mid case capacity, modest velocity cartridges that burn powder in pistol length barrels efficiently. Scores of big game animals and a bunch of varmints have fallen to these calibers for me, almost all have been one shot kills and I have never lost an animal using these. Don’t get me wrong I still like experimenting and love load development on a new toy but these are my keepers.

10” Barrel Cartridges:
221 Fireball
30 Herrett

14” + Barrel Cartridges:
30 Bower AK & 309 JDJ (about the same thing)
358 JDJ

Bill in OR

I like the .454 Casull but I want Ruger to built a Single action for the round. For those that can't afford the Freedom Arms.

I have to go along with huntkng. On the 10" barrel it's hard to beat a more efficient cartridge than the 30 herret.

In the 14" and over, I'm leaning towards my custom Savage Striker in 300 WSM.

Agreed, I thought the black hawk hunter would be perfect if chambered for 454 casull

Here are my picks

Waterbugs best!!!

14"+ Length-- My 7mm-08 HS Precision built XP 100 was one of the finest firearms I have ever owned. (Sold it and my truck to buy the wife’s engagement ring---What was I thinking?)

10-14” Length-- Have to go with the 300 Savage in the Contender Bullberry chambered it for a few years until someone got crazy with the hand loads. With a 130 Hornady SSPB it is the ticket out to 300yds. (Friend has it now can’t get it back)

10” Length-- 357 Max with the 180 Hornady XTP it is a hammer.

Revolver-- Ruger Bisley Blackhawk 5 ½ - 7 ½ You can’t beat the 45 Colt hand loaded it is a hammer. Elmer can have the 44 if I have to pick one it is the 45

rupe: I to wish Ruger would chamber their Super Black Hawk in a large bore pistol cartridge. Mine would be the 480 Ruger, 5 shot cylinder, 7.5" barrel & set up for scope mounts.

Holy crap, man!! I can't even think of anything else to say.

It does leave you with your jaw dropped and your eyes bugged out, doesn't it.

Your right!! What where you thinking.

The two things a man must never do in life.

1) Sell his pickup
2) Sell his guns

Have a better truck now----
Also have some nice guns now----
Still have the same wife----
It ain't so bad!!!

Yes, yes...that is great and wonderful...but DUDE...a HS Precision 7-08. That truck and wife must be worth it!!

Just givin'ya a little ribbin'!

I hope you kept a picture of the gun so you can remember the good old days.

Some where out there is a fine shooting machine that hopefully went to a good home and is loved by all who squeeze the trigger.

That reply was the closest to laughing out loud from the web i can remember in a long time Dan--well put!!

If i had my dream big game catridge/rig for western hunting it would also be the 7 twist 7mm Dakota XP-100 just like Ernies. Have to admit that's the most lethal rig to long-range i've ever seen. I'd have a smaller scope tho than he has. I'd probably opt for a 2nd focal plane 4.5-14X S&B (since we're dreaming here) with a tree reticle set up for 2 MOA stadia to about 14 MOA or so.

Well, phase one of my dream cartridge is in place. I just received a set of Hornady dies in 9.3x57 Mauser & Hornady shell holder for 444 Marlin. I received my load data for this cartridge from Johan Loubser of Accurate Powders. Just waiting on 444 brass and Speer 270 grain to arrive.

In June/July, I will be placing my order with OTT to make me a 15" Encore barrel in this cartridge. Not sure what contour to order the barrel in. Any suggestions?

All I need is an Encore pistol frame. Looks like a little closer to my next dream cartridge. Thats why they call it dreams.

My next big dollar project will either be a 475 Max from Reeder or a 500 Linebaugh from John Linebaugh or maybe Bowen.

.444 necked to 9.3, should be a versatile cartridge. Be interesting to hear how it compares to a factory 9.3x53Rimmed (either Finnish or Russian variety). Have a lot of time for 9.3 calibres.

How close is that to the 375X444?

I would like to see a 708 Akl using 307 brass. The 307 brass would help, a lot, with the fire forming and would be more user friendly in a single shot.

come on duane I know you like recoil and muzzle flash and blast, if you want a 7mm barrel have one chambered in 7mm RUM, it's only a 404 Jeffrey case nd it can't be any worst than Bullelks 416 Rigby.LOL

Rod, I am crazy, not stupid. LOL

.600 Nitro Express

Well I dont know about a dream cartridge, but I do have a list of wildcat projects Id like to tinker with someday:

> 6.5mm TC
> .50-110 WCF necked to .458
> .458 WSSM
> .375, .416, and .458 WSM
> .260 Ackley Imp
> .510 Short Magnum, based on a shortened .460 Wby
> .375 Ruger necked up to .416


But then again this list changes all the time, mostly because I dont really have the money to spend on such things. So I guess these are dream cartridges.

Dream cartridge, so the question is not what works or would be best all around. Just a dream cartridge.

I would like a nice little effecient 17 cal round with properly head stamped brass. Low and behold Rem ansewered that dream last year!! 17 Fire Ball!! Now I just need to get an XP100 rebarreled to match my XP100 in 221 FB.

Then I always thought a short not to fat .277 caliber cartridge would be a great medium to long range hunting round. Well Winchester brought out the 270 WSM. Cool!! I would like to order an HS 2000 in that cartridge with a 16" heavy barrel in the varmint stock.

I guess the "dream" cartridge that has not been offer yet by the factories is the 20 Fire Ball. I just hope Remington gets off thier laurels and offers it. With the 20 caliber crazy it made me wonder when they went with the 17 FB instead of 20 cal?

That's my dream cartridges, wildcats that are turned factory. Brass does not have to be made, it's cheap to aquire and dies are not a $100.00+ propsition.

There is a lot of truth to that!!!!!

Here is the reloading data I received from Johan Loubser at Western Powder Company.

The Pressure limit for the 9.3x57 is <45000psi/3100 Bar

Caliber: 9.3x57 Mauser.

Barrel length: 24”

Powder: Accurate -- 2015.

Bullet weight: 225 to 232 grains.
Start load: 40.0 grains (2100 – 2200 ft/p/sec)
Maximum load: 45.0 grains (2300 -- 2400 Ft/p/sec).

Bullet weight: 270 to 290 grains.
Start load: 36.0 grains (1850 – 1950 ft/p/sec)
Maximum load: 41.0 grains (2050 – 2150 Ft/p/sec).

Powder: Accurate – 2230

Bullet weight: 250 grains.
Start load: 40.0 grains (1900 – 2000 ft/p/sec)
Maximum load: 44.0 grains (2100 – 2200 Ft/p/sec).

Bullet weight: 270 to 290grains.
Start load: 35.0 grains (1650 – 1750 ft/p/sec)
Maximum load: 41.0 grains (1900 – 2000 Ft/p/sec).

Powder: Accurate -- 2495.

Bullet weight: 225 to 232 grains.
Start load: 44.0 grains (2150 – 2250 ft/p/sec)
Maximum load: 49.0 grains (2350 -- 2450 Ft/p/sec).Full case/compressed.

Bullet weight: 270 to 290 grains.
Start load: 39.0 grains (1450 – 1550 ft/p/sec)
Maximum load: 43.0 grains (1950 -- 2050 Ft/p/sec). Full case/compressed.

Powder: Accurate – 2520

Bullet weight: 250 grains.
Start load: 46.0 grains (2000 – 2100 ft/p/sec)
Maximum load: 51.0 grains (2200 – 2300 Ft/p/sec).

Bullet weight: 270 to 290grains.
Start load: 43.0 grains (1750 – 1850 ft/p/sec)
Maximum load: 48.0 grains (2050 – 2150 Ft/p/sec).

Powder: Accurate -- 2700.

Bullet weight: 225 to 232 grains.
Start load: 52.0 grains (2050 – 2150 ft/p/sec)
Maximum load: 57.0 grains (2300 -- 2400 Ft/p/sec). Full case

Bullet weight: 270 to 290 grains.
Start load: 48.0 grains (1800 – 1900 ft/p/sec)
Maximum load: 53.0 grains (2050 – 2150 Ft/p/sec). Full case

Caliber: 9.3x57 Mauser.

Barrel length: 24”

Powder: Ramshot – BIG GAME

Bullet weight: 250-255 grains.
Start load: 46.5 grains (2075 – 2175 ft/p/sec)
Maximum load: 51.5 grains (2300 – 2400 Ft/p/sec).

Bullet weight: 290 -300 grains.
Start load: 42.0 grains (1800 – 1900 ft/p/sec)
Maximum load: 47.0 grains (1950 – 2050 Ft/p/sec).


Thanks for your interest in our powders.
We appreciate your business and interest!!
Regards
Johan Loubser
Ballistician
Ramshot/Accurate Powders
Tel: (406) 234 04 22 email: johan@ramshot.com
Western Powders Inc -- Miles City – Montana.

I want to see a .22 long rifle pumped up to about 2500fps and still be cheap to shoot. I figure if I'm dreaming I might as well dream cheap and fast.