.277 Wolverine

.277 Wolverine
Type Rifle
Place of origin United States
Production history
Designer Mark Kexel, Mad Dog Weapon Systems, Inc.
Designed 2014
Specifications
Parent case 5.56×45mm NATO
Case type Rimless, Bottleneck
Bullet diameter 0.277 in (7.04 mm)
Neck diameter 0.3089 in (7.85 mm)
Shoulder diameter 0.356 in (9.04 mm)
Base diameter 0.377 in (9.58 mm)
Rim diameter 0.378 in (9.60 mm)
Case length 1.530-1.535 in (38.86 mm, trim) to 1.545 in (39.24 mm, max.)
Overall length 2.26 in (57.40 mm) max. COAL (typical)
Rifling twist 1:7 (subsonic/supersonic), 1:11 (supersonic)
Primer type Small rifle
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy
85 gr (6 g) 2,800 ft/s (850 m/s) 1,480 ft⋅lbf (2,010 J)
90 gr (6 g) 2,750 ft/s (840 m/s) 1,510 ft⋅lbf (2,050 J)
95 gr (6 g) 2,650 ft/s (810 m/s) 1,480 ft⋅lbf (2,010 J)
100 gr (6 g) 2,600 ft/s (790 m/s) 1,500 ft⋅lbf (2,000 J)
110 gr (7 g) 2,500 ft/s (760 m/s) 1,525 ft⋅lbf (2,068 J)
Test barrel length: 16 in
Source(s): [1]

The .277 Wolverine (6.8×39mm) is a wildcat cartridge developed and marketed by Mark Kexel, President of Mad Dog Weapon Systems (MDWS). It is a multi-purpose mid-power cartridge with increased ballistic performance over the AR-15's traditional .223 Remington (5.56×45mm NATO) cartridge requiring only a new barrel to upgrade/convert any 5.56-based firearm to .277 Wolverine.[1][2][3]

Design

For fundamentally the same reasons that a .277 inch (7.04 mm) diameter bullet was selected for the 6.8mm Remington SPC (i.e., ideal mass-to-diameter-to-length for mid-weight bullets constrained to loading in an AR-15/M16 STANAG magazine), MDWS selected 6.8mm as the basis for a new AR-15 wildcat. Like the .300 AAC Blackout and unlike the 6.8 SPC and other "larger bore" AR-15 cartridges, the .277 Wolverine is based on the widely available 5.56×45mm parent case. Therefore, rifle components such as the bolt and magazine are interchangeable between 5.56×45mm and .277 Wolverine firearms, and standard AR-15 magazines can be used with no loss of capacity. A new barrel is the minimum required component to convert a standard AR-15 to .277 Wolverine.[1][2]

In order to load heavier (therefore longer) bullets to magazine length without the problems of seating the bullet’s ogive into the case mouth, the Wolverine case is shortened to approximately 39 mm from its 45 mm parent brass. The case is resized and formed in a single-step operation to create new 23-degree shoulder and larger neck.[1]

Initial design focused on optimal performance with supersonic bullets in the 85-115 gr (5.5-7.5 g) class, therefore a 1:11 twist rate barrel with 5R rifling was selected. Subsequent consumer interest in firing "heavy-for-caliber" subsonic bullets led to the design, testing, and production of 1:7 twist barrels to stabilize the longer heavier bullets.[1]

Development

Initially developed, tested, and marketed as a proprietary cartridge, MDWS publicly released the detailed chamber and headspace gage specifications/drawings for the .277 Wolverine in June 2015.[4] As of this posting, the .277 Wolverine has not yet been submitted to Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute (SAAMI) for standardization.

At least four commercial manufacturers have produced .277 Wolverine barrels, mostly for AR-15 conversions – although MDWS also sells barrels for Savage and Remington bolt-action rifles. Barrel manufacturers include: X-Caliber, McGowen, AR Precision, and PAC-NOR. By the end of April 2016, more than 1,000 .277 Wolverine barrels had been sold,[5] with more than 2,000 by mid-November 2017.[6] Barrels lengths include: 8.2, 10.5, 12.5, and 14.5 inch pistol; 16, 18, and 20 inch rifle.[1]

.277 Wolverine cases are easily made by the hobbyist reloader from plentiful and inexpensive 5.56×45mm brass (shortened and resized). Extensive reloading data (including chronographed velocity, accuracy, and ballistic gel testing) is available on the Wildcat Shooters Forum for a wide range of bullet weights, commercially available smokeless powders, and barrel lengths.[7] Reloading data is also available on the Western Powders, Inc. web-blog. Ready-to-load brass and/or loaded ammunition is available commercially from several sources including: JB's Firearms, LLC and OutdoorShooterSupply. Reloading dies and tools are available from Hornady, Lee Precision, Sheridan Engineering, CH4D, and Little Crow Gun Works.[1] The fire-formed .277 Wolverine case holds approximately 27.5-27.8 gr of water,[1] compared to 28.5-28.8 gr for the parent case.

In October 2017, Starline produced 50,000 newly manufactured cases head-stamped ".277 WLV" for MDWS; all were sold in under 72 hours of posting. Starline lists the .277 Wolverine on their website as a standard offering.[8]

Performance

The .277 Wolverine has shown comparable performance to the 6.8 SPC with 110 gr (7.13 g) bullets, achieving similar muzzle velocities of 2,500 fps (762 m/s) vs. 2,700 fps (823 m/s). The smaller case of the .277 Wolverine (compared to the 6.8 SPC) is more efficient and has less recoil due to its smaller propellant load. With lighter bullets, 80-90 gr (5.2-5.8 g), although slower than typical 5.56×45mm rounds, the .277 Wolverine provides substantially increased energy due to greater mass. For example, 60-62 gr (3.9-4.0 g) bullets from a 5.56×45mm round typically provide less than 1,200 ft·lbs (1,627 J) of energy, while 85-90 gr (5.5-5.8 g) bullets from a .277 Wolverine round provide over 1,500 ft·lbs (2,034 J) of energy (both at the muzzle of a 16-inch barrel).

There are always trade-offs between cartridge size, bullet diameter and weight, muzzle velocity, and energy on-target (at any given range). The .277 Wolverine will never replace larger high-power cartridges such as the .308 Winchester (7.62×51mm NATO) or .270 Winchester for long range shooting; however – it outperforms the .223 Remington at typical hunting ranges and approaches the 6.8 SPC while using less expensive components (brass, magazines, bolt, less powder per load).

The following table provides comparative performance data for several factory cartridges in the mid-power AR-15 class:

Round Bullet Weight Barrel Length Muzzle Velocity Ballistic Coefficient(G1) Energy at 300 yards
5.56×45mm (M855) 62 gr (4.0 g) 16 in (410 mm) 2,900 ft/s (880 m/s) 0.304 579 ft⋅lbf (785 J)
7.62×39mm 123 gr (8.0 g) 16.5 in (420 mm) 2,300 ft/s (700 m/s) 0.300 633 ft⋅lbf (858 J)
300 BLK 110 gr (7.1 g) 16 in (410 mm) 2,300 ft/s (700 m/s) 0.300 622 ft⋅lbf (843 J)
300 BLK 125 gr (8.1 g) 16 in (410 mm) 2,200 ft/s (670 m/s) 0.320 644 ft⋅lbf (873 J)
.277 Wolverine 90 gr (5.8 g) 16 in (410 mm) 2,750 ft/s (840 m/s) 0.275 736 ft⋅lbf (998 J)
.277 Wolverine 100 gr (6.5 g) 16 in (410 mm) 2,600 ft/s (790 m/s) 0.323 754 ft⋅lbf (1,022 J)
.277 Wolverine 110 gr (7.1 g) 16 in (410 mm) 2,500 ft/s (760 m/s) 0.370 837 ft⋅lbf (1,135 J)

Applications

The .277 Wolverine provides similar ballistic performance to the 6.8 SPC for accuracy, hunting (varmints to medium-game), target shooting, and home/personal defense.[9] 277/6.8mm bullets are widely available from virtually all major and many boutique reloading component manufactures (e.g., Speer, Sierra, Hornady, Nosler, Barnes, Remington, Winchester, Woodleigh, Lehigh Defense, Hawk, etc.) in a wide range of bullet weights from 85 to 200 grains (5.5-13 g) and styles useful in the .277 Wolverine - including lead-free practice, competition target, varmint, defensive, and game hunting.[10] As proven by the venerable .270 Winchester and the newer 6.8 SPC, bullets in .277 caliber are capable of both outstanding accuracy and terminal performance. The Wildcat Shooters Forum documents (photographs and articles) numerous hunting successes ranging from 400-pound (180-kg) wild boar, to predators/varmints, to large northern white-tailed deer.[11]

Due to the modularity and flexibility of the AR-15, many .277 Wolverine owners simply build (or purchase) an additional barreled upper receiver for their 5.56×45 rifle.[12] The complete bolt carrier group (carrier, bolt, firing pin, and cam pin) and charging handle can be swapped between the original 5.56×45 and the .277 Wolverine upper. The .277 Wolverine offers the AR-15 owner an alternative to obtain improved terminal performance over its parent 5.56×45 cartridge while minimizing cost of converting components and reloading ammunition.[9]

Comparisons

A very wide range of cartridges from diminutive .17 rimfire to massive .50 caliber rounds have been used in AR-15 rifles. The .277 WLV provides medium bore (.277") performance exceeding the parent 5.56×45 cartridge and the .300 BLK while approaching the power of the larger 6.8 SPC which requires larger cases and dedicated components (e.g., bolt and magazines). Per an interview with the cartridge's designer: "I liked the performance of the 6.8 SPC and the versatility of the 300 Blackout. After researching both of them extensively, and having a lot of conversations with many, many experienced professionals and enthusiasts, I decided to move forward with a new cartridge design that would hopefully combine the attributes of both, and dismiss the deficiencies."[3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "277 Wolverine - Mad Dog Weapon Systems". Maddogweapons.com. Retrieved 2015-06-17.
  2. 1 2 Eric Mayer (2015-04-02). "The Ferocious 277 Wolverine is a Cartridge to Watch in 2015". Ar15hunter.com. Retrieved 2015-06-17.
  3. 1 2 Hull, John. "The .277 Wolverine: Birth of a Wildcat". WesternPowders.com. Western Powders, Inc. Retrieved 2015-12-31.
  4. ↑ Kexel, Mark. "277 Wolverine Prints". Wildcat Shooters. MDWS. Retrieved 2015-12-31.
  5. ↑ Kexel, Mark. "Barrels". Wildcat Shooters. MDWS. Retrieved 2016-04-24.
  6. ↑ Kexel, Mark. "Barrels in the Field". Wildcat Shooters. MDWS. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
  7. ↑ "Wolverine Ammunnition ... Load Data". Wildcat Shooters. MDWS. Retrieved 2015-12-31.
  8. ↑ "Wolverine Starline Factory Brass". Starline Brass. Starline Brass. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
  9. 1 2 Chambers, Will (2015-07-30). "277 Wolverine Range and Hunt Report". AR15 Hunter.com. Retrieved 2015-12-30.
  10. ↑ ".270 Caliber, 6.8mm Bullets". Midway USA.
  11. ↑ "Hunting with the 277 Wolverine". Wildcat Shooters. MDWS. Retrieved 2015-12-31.
  12. ↑ "Wolverine Builds / Pics". Wildcat Shooters. MDWS. Retrieved 2015-12-31.
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