219 Donaldson Wasp

tred1956

tred1956

Member
Just traded for a 219 Wasp in a 15 inch Contender. Was wandering if anyone had any experience in this caliber. I want to shoot heavier bullets. 70+ grain. Just looking for any info as to starting load, powder prefrence and expected velocity out of this combo.
Thanks in advance,
Doug
 
Holy smokes but that is a round you don't hear much of anymore! The .219 Wasp was more or less an improved .219 Zipper which in itself was basically a necked down .25/35 Winchester which derived from Winchester 30-30. Confusing, huh? In other words about as hard to find as an honest man in Obama's cabinet.

I have my doubts that your gun has a fast enough twist to handle bullets much over 55 grain or so. But if you want to try some 50 grain bullets then 27 or 28 grains of IMR 3031 will do for a start. If you have any IMR 4064 you may give 29 or 30 grains of that a try.

Mind you, this is some 50 year old load data but it should be pretty safe in your gun. You might drop it back a couple of grains to start off with just to be safe.

I hope that you have fun with it. I myself like oddball cartridges.
 
Thanks for the input. My barrel has a 1 in 8 twist, if I can just get enough velocity it should handle at least 75 grain or so I have been told. I am hoping someone with a 219 Wasp will chime in.

Safe shooting
Doug
 
I did chime in but the server issues on this site nixed my two cents worth. I had a Wasp barrel for my Contender a few years ago. Mine was not a 1/8 twist mine was a 1/12 twist so I can't help you much with heavy bullet info. Case forming can be a bit tricky and you will need form dies to make cases up. I made my own form dies but I know you can buy them as well. If you can find 25-35 Win brass that makes life much easier but 30-30 brass works too. If you have trouble with the case forming send me a PM and I can help. I have some old load data for 50-55 gr. bullets.....but it may take me some time to find it.

I also load for a 6mm 30-30 AI which is very similar and requires much of the same effort to get correct brass.
 
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Hi,
I have 7x30 Waters IMP, a 6.5x30-30AI, and a 25 Bullberry, so I am pretty familiar with the case forming. It can be PITB. Love those 30-30 based wildcats in a Contender. But anything worth having is worth working for. Mainly looking for a starting point with the heavy bullets so I don't overload the frame. Powder to use. And velocities I can expect.
Thanks
Doug
 


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