The Joys of Rural Delivery and the 6mm Sidewinder

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So - stopped in a few shops today. Unfortunately ended up not buying anything - but that's another story entirely :banghead:

However, one place I was in, had this absolutely beautiful Custom Sako for the outrageous price of... $399...
Considering every other Sako in there was considerably more expensive, and in much worse shape - I had to figure out what the deal was. Gun handled beautifully, was light, action was solid and smooth - just, really nice all around.

The catch is - it was chambered in 6mm Sidewinder. I asked the guy about it since I've never heard of this round before, and he said all he really knew about it - is that it's a wildcat round. The rifle also came with a set of dies.

So - question is, *** is 6mm sidewinder? Anybody heard of this, know anything about it? Google turned up nothing.

On a side note - I ended up coming home empty handed despite a wallet full of credit cards, because of one silly little thing. I live on a Rural Mail Delivery route.
Since I live on a rural delivery route, I have a PO box. This also happens to be the same address on my government issued ID. If my gov't ID has a PO Box for the address, I have to go to the DMV and get a proof of physical address form. The guy at the shop was very nice, and told me the DMV is right down the street, and it'll only take a few minutes to get the paperwork. That's great, but it's Sunday... Oh yea, and I live an hour and a half away from the shops I went to, so it's not like i can just run back. :banghead:
 
really, a rural route mail. where do you live (general area IE W.MA is acceptable) if you dont mind me asking.

a few of my friends were in RR but in my state their regular address is on their ID.
 
I'm in Western NV - in the Sierra Nevada Mtns.
I don't live anywhere especially remote, but I am on top of a mountain, and we get a LOT of snow here.
For whatever reason, they put my PO Box on the license. I thought it was odd at the time, but nobody around here seems to even notice, until you try to buy a gun.
 
Yeah, I've had a situation like that where I moved, and didn't update my address on my DL yet... annoying.

Heck, that gun has probably been in there so long they'd sell it to you for $350 just to get it out of their sight. :) I'd never heard of 6mm Sidewinder, and all I'm seeing via Google is Airsoft stuff... :confused:
 
Heck, that gun has probably been in there so long they'd sell it to you for $350 just to get it out of their sight. I'd never heard of 6mm Sidewinder, and all I'm seeing via Google is Airsoft stuff...
Click to expand...

Yea - i got the airsoft stuff too. This definately ain't airsoft!

I considered for a moment after i got home, going back and offer something for it, and using it as a platform to build on. The action seemed unusually short though - not sure what i'd be able to do with it. It was one of those the rifles that just felt right when you handle it though.

Really not a good day overall. To make matters even better - now I get to go to the DMV.
 
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It makes sense that it was a short action a la the 6mmBR or something. I'm sure it would be a fun cartridge to load for if you're nerdy like that. :)

I really wonder what it looks like... :scrutiny:
 
I've heard of (read of) the 6mm Sidewinder but cannot remember where.

I want to say it was in "Shooting Times" magazine quite a while ago.

I would guess someone associated with "Handloader" magazine could help you.

Good Luck !
:cool:
 
Go over to 6mmBR.com and ask on the forums.

6mmBR is THE website for most guys into the precision shooting games(s). Custom actions, wildcat calibers and the like is the norm there.

If the guys at 6mmBR don't know about it... then it's a "one off" caliber that some gunsmith somewhere made and there is no telling the specs.

Best,
Swampy

Garands forever
 
$399 for a gorgeous Sako. I'd be all over that. What's a 6MM sidewinder? Who cares, you get the dies. :)
 
$399 for a gorgeous Sako. I'd be all over that. What's a 6MM sidewinder? Who cares, you get the dies
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+1 The action and stock are worth that and it would be fun to work up your own custom load for the 6mm sidewinder, what ever it is.:rolleyes:

Clint
 
I could not find 6mm Sidewinder in print or net references I have. Nor .22 or .25 Sidewinder, either, in case it was a 6mm "re-wildcat" of a different version.

Do you know which Sako action it is - boltface and length - to have an idea what the parent brass might be?
Is a Sako action and stock worth $399 to you?
Do you mind the reforming that goes into wildcatting?

Remember, a wise man once defined a bargain as something you don't need at a price you can't resist.
 
Remember, a wise man once defined a bargain as something you don't need at a price you can't resist.
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Well, another wise man said you can never have enough guns.:neener:

I sy jump on it. For that price, you can always rechamber it, if you can't find any specs for the cartridge. But another 1+ for 6mmBR.com, that is the place to ask.
 
ya know, it's really not worth it.
I don't have a suitable space for reloading where I live - so that rules out just keeping it a sidewinder (whatever that is) - and when you factor in the cost of modifying - all of the sudden it's not such a cheap rifle.
It might be worth it if I could nail down what exactly it was going to take to rework it, but the whole thing is just a big question mark right now.
 
I like Sako's and I like oddballs, so I would probably be fool enough to buy it. At regular prices I can only drool over them for the most part.
 
I like Sako's and I like oddballs, so I would probably be fool enough to buy it. At regular prices I can only drool over them for the most part.
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Call Cabella's Reno, NV store... I have no doubt it's still there.
 
Well apparently 6mm Sidewinder doesn't even exist, so why stop there? You could just buy it, and re-sell it to another store, telling them that it's a wildcat called 6.66mm Demonslayer.

You'd probably get a grand easy. :)
 
So, I don't know a bunch about reloading (yet), but if there are dies for this thing, doesn't it have to exist? Can a person get dies custom made for whatever goofball cartridge he pulls out of you know where?

PS- Good plan, KoB; I would call it .240 ZombieDRT
 
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Can a person get dies custom made for whatever goofball cartridge he pulls out of you know where?
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At the drop of a Visa card....... and the price of a phone call to a die / reamer maker.

Best regards,
Swampy

Garands forever
 
of course you need to know the parent cartridge too. or if you didnt you can fit in and fire form the closest thing you think it is and let the run out tell you what it might be.
 
If you're willing to pay for the reamers - I believe you can have custom barrels made in whatever kinda configuration you want as well.

Great thing about capitalism - you can get whatever the hell you want, for a price. :D

of course you need to know the parent cartridge too.
Click to expand...

That is one of the missing pieces of information that nobody knows...
 
The O.P. said it came with dies. Just loading or with forming not stated.

There are not too many choices for a parent case. If it is on the small (Vixen) action, it would most likely be based on a .222, .222 Magnum, or .223. Have to be an old one to be a 6mm x Hornet or Bee.
If it is on the medium (Forester) action, it woud probably be based on .308/.243.
If it is on the long (Finnbear) action, it would probably be on '06 brass or rarely a monster 6mm belted magnum.

Unfortunately, it is not listed in the Cabela's Reno Gun Library.
 
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