Wildcat Rounds

[scratcherky]

Excuse my seemingly dumb question, but just what defines a wildcat round? I see A1 rounds talked about a lot in this forum, but are they really wildcat? Just where is the dividing line?

[tammons]

Basically just a cartridge that is not made by a manufacturer.

IE the 338-06 was a wildcat until Weatherby legitimized it.

[GaCop]

Wildcats fill a percieved void in caliber choices/performance. Wildcatting was quite popular in the 50s, 60s and 70s. Current factory calibers pretty much fill the voids now but, it doesn't stop a true "wildcatter" from trying to improve on a cartridge.

[helotaxi]

I think that a better technical definition is a round that is not approved by SAAMI in the US or CIP in Europe. In other words there are no official dimensions or pressures associated with it.