277 Wolverine!

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Anyone shooting one? I am, and I love it!

For those of you that haven't heard of it, the 277WLV is a 5.56 or .223 case shortened approximately 5mm and expanded to .277 diameter. The case forming process is nearly identical to 300 blackout.

I've been seeing great performance for such a small case out of my 16" 1:11" build with 90g bullets going 2700fps, and 110g bullets reaching 2500fps. The numbers I was getting were close enough to my 6.8spc that I couldn't justify keeping both, so I decided to stick with the option that uses milspec bolts and magazines with plentiful, inexpensive brass!

I also recently picked up a 10.5" 1:7 twist barrel for subsonic applications in an AR pistol build which will soon be an SBR. Some testing has already been done with favorable results using both 150 and 180g bullets traveling under 1100fps while functioning reliably. The thought is to be able to run a mag of subsonic followed by a mag of supersonic without changing anything on the gun and maintaining reliable cycling.

I have lots of loading and playing to do when this WI weather warms up, so I've been working to convert about 1,500pcs of 5.56 brass and am past the half way point.

If you haven't looked into the cartridge, I highly recommend it!

Here's my 16" build
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My 10.5" Pistol
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And my progress on the cabin fever project!
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Hey so I have continued to look at that as an option from my thread what was your source for a barrel or upper? and what was the cost? Dies? I assume you didn't have to fire form brass, did you anneal it before the case mouth expansion?

I have always wondered why the 6.8 didn't just do it this way to keep things simpler. My only qualm with switching is that I love my Ruger 6.8 so much I would have a tough time getting rid of her. It really is a great accurate and reliable rifle. doesn't look bad either.
 
Does the forming process change case volume significantly? Are your loads really hot, or could your chronograph be off?

The fastest 300 BO round I see is a 110g doubletap that does 2400 fps out of a 20" barrel. A 110g 30 caliber bullet should be faster than your 27 caliber 110g, which is doing 2500 fps out of a 16" barrel.

All the 223/300 BO loads I've seen top out around 1300-1400 ft-lbs out of a 20" barrel, while yours would be making 1500+ ft-lbs out of a 16" barrel. Don't get me wrong, I believe the numbers you've posted are what you've seen, but I would be surprised if they were reprouducible numbers.

For reference the 6.8 spc tops out around 1750 ft-lbs (95 grain at 2880 from a 20" barrel).
 
Hey so I have continued to look at that as an option from my thread what was your source for a barrel or upper? and what was the cost? Dies? I assume you didn't have to fire form brass, did you anneal it before the case mouth expansion?

I have always wondered why the 6.8 didn't just do it this way to keep things simpler. My only qualm with switching is that I love my Ruger 6.8 so much I would have a tough time getting rid of her. It really is a great accurate and reliable rifle. doesn't look bad either.

Barrels and dies can be bought from Mad Dog Weapon Systems directly. Right now the only dies available are Hornady but Lee is anticipated to make sets in the next few months. I just saw a post on facebook that MDWS is running a sale on the 18" stainless for $150. I'm considering grabbing one, thats a heck of a price on a McGowen barrel. I believe MidSouth Munitions and Suprpession solutions are currently building uppers in 277WLV as well.

No fire forming is necessary for the round. I've noticed that the shoulder gets a little sharper once fired, but has little effect on usable capacity of the case. I don't do any annealing until the last step of my brass preparation, and didn't even start doing that until a couple of weeks ago when I built my automatic case annealer.
 
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Does the forming process change case volume significantly? Are your loads really hot, or could your chronograph be off?

The fastest 300 BO round I see is a 110g doubletap that does 2400 fps out of a 20" barrel. A 110g 30 caliber bullet should be faster than your 27 caliber 110g, which is doing 2500 fps out of a 16" barrel.

All the 223/300 BO loads I've seen top out around 1300-1400 ft-lbs out of a 20" barrel, while yours would be making 1500+ ft-lbs out of a 16" barrel. Don't get me wrong, I believe the numbers you've posted are what you've seen, but I would be surprised if they were reprouducible numbers.

For reference the 6.8 spc tops out around 1750 ft-lbs (95 grain at 2880 from a 20" barrel).

Perhaps what I didn't make clear is the size difference between the 300blk case and the 277wlv. The WLV is approximately 5mm longer than the BLK. Average capacity of the WLV is 27.4g of water whereas the BLK averages about 24.3g of water. The ~3 grain difference in capacity is where the WLV gets the numbers that you are questioning. 2500fps with a 110g bullet is a very repeatable load, as many users have discovered.
 
For reference the 6.8 spc tops out around 1750 ft-lbs (95 grain at 2880 from a 20" barrel).

Your numbers are a bit off for what hand loads will do. I get 2850fps with a 90gr bullet from a 12.5" barrel. The WLV numbers posted have been verified by multiple shooters using different barrel lengths and makers.
 
Your numbers are a bit off for what hand loads will do. I get 2850fps with a 90gr bullet from a 12.5" barrel. The WLV numbers posted have been verified by multiple shooters using different barrel lengths and makers.
I stand corrected with regard to the Wolverine.

With respect to the 6.8 spc, why the big difference between what hand loaders can achieve and what a commercial loader achieves -- does this all go back to the spc/spc ii specification debacle?
 
I stand corrected with regard to the Wolverine.

With respect to the 6.8 spc, why the big difference between what hand loaders can achieve and what a commercial loader achieves -- does this all go back to the spc/spc ii specification debacle?


I'm not an expert, but the short answer is yes. Combine a better chamber design with seating bullets out to 2.30" instead of 2.26" and the 6.8 really shows its potential. Commercial ammo is generally loaded for the SAAMI specs in order to be safe in any 6.8 barrel.
 
that is the one big failure of Ruger IMO they chambered it spec1 instead of just going with spec 2. decided it wasn't a big deal when I bought the rifle, but it has always remained in the back of my mind.
 
Well you cant debate the economy of it, but slower (weaker) than SPC aint a direction I'm gonna go in 277.

I do shoot X39 but thats just because its just so darned cheap.
 
Thats the great thing about ARs, Plenty of flavors for everyone!

However, SSA's factory 110 Sierra ProHunter load is measured at 2500FPS, which the WLV matches. Given the availability and cost difference between magazines, brass, and BCGs, I'd say the WLV has a lot going for it! Not to mention the subsonic aspect that is forthcoming..
 
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It's on my short list for sure! My 6.8 SPC is my favorite rifle, and I feel obligated to keep a 5.56 around, but I have a spare lower begging to be built.
 
I wish I had never seen this thread...

I have a .308 that I am going to shoot at a local match later this year. I'd like a semi auto to shoot next year and going forward. I don't have much desire to own a .308/AR-10 as I like standard receivers. I was seriously contemplating a 6.5 Grendel but now this cartridge has me thinking. The match is 300 yards on a man sized target, 20 rounds in X minutes.

Any chance this would be a good choice for this? I know guys shoot their AR's but it would seem that the lighter bullets would get tossed around by the wind a bit and I need all the ballistic advantage I can get.

Thanks for putting this up, I think. :)

C
 
I was at a 300 yard range in North GA this summer and spotted for a guy shooting a .277 Wolverine. Yes, no problem hitting man sized targets at 300. Our targets were 10" plates and hits were consistent.
 
I'm surprised at how close the numbers are to 6.8 SPC II.

Is there any reliable pressure tested load data from actual pressure test rigs (as opposed to strain gauges) available?

This idea really interests me, particularly the cost/availability factor, which pretty much killed the 6.8 for me.

What I don't understand, is why the original developers of the 6.8 SPC, who were reportedly very savvy "end user" types, didn't follow this path if it's so simple, effective and inexpensive?
 
It is simple, effective and inexpensive, but it also isn't as good. When you're backed with the spending power of the government and the real world need for improvement the added cost of 6.8SPC was probably worth the added performance. 277WLV is surprisingly awesome though.
 
I think this round will take off.......

It adds much needed range over the 300blk, while sharing most of the benefits


Does the 100g accubond, still seem like the best hunting ammo?
 
So I spent 5 minutes looking around the net. It seems that the biggest detractor, for me, is the lack of availability of inexpensive plinking bullets. .223 and 30 cal have factory "pulls" or surplus in abundance that can be loaded up cheap. The .277/6.8 bullets are all premium unless I'm missing something, which happens a lot.

C
 
That is mostly true of any surplus caliber, though Federal's recent addition of 6.8 SPC varieties has caused pulled 90 grain Gold Dots to start popping up at great prices too. A bonded PSP bullet in that weight seems like good medicine in a carbine of this wildcat.

For my 6.8 SPC I am sticking with match or bonded hunting bullets (110 gr). I find them comparably priced to the same in .224. I don't dirt blast with my 5.56 either.
 
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