Merrill Data

[KHornet]

A friend of mine just acquired a Merrill pistol chambered for the wildcat 30 Merrill. I can not find any specific data or load info on the ctg. I found one reference to it via google, stating that there was little if any, and scarce loading data for it, and recommending 30 Harrett load data for it. I can find no reference to it in old Cartridges of the World issues, (have back to 1973). Any info would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Paul

 

[Rick]

Merrill was bought by Jim Rock sometime in the 70's, thereafter the pistol is known as the RPM XL (Rock Pistol Mfg.) Jim chambered for the 30 Merrill and of course numerous other calibers. The RPM was quite popular in handgun silhouette in the early years based solely on my own opinion because Bo-Mar rear sights were installed at the factory. Silhouette rules of the era prohibited after market sights and the T/C rear sight was horrible to say the least so people were in reality buying $800 rear sights. Eventually the rules were changed to allow after market sights plus the addition of the BF pistol by Eben Brown and the more expensive XL faded from popularity. It is however quite a fine quality well made gun.

I've never used the 30 Merrill caliber myself so have no load data for it but if you change your search criteria to RPM XL and 30 Merrill you may have better results. In the meantime I have some old silhouette books somewhere that may have some load data, I shall look and see.

 

[fiver]

http://forum1.aimoo.com/IHMSA/categroy/Need-30-Merrill-Load-DataI-ve-1-962033.html
maybe something a bit helpful.
apparently Hornady put out a little pamphlet in about 1982 with tested 30 Merrill data in it. [Rick might even have one]
or they might have someone still working there that remembers it or can access the information.
anyway it appears to be a 225 Winchester case necked up to 30 caliber, so doable, just not gonna be super easy to get the parent case.
other than that if all else fails I would look at 30-30 data and do a reduction, or use the standard 30-30 type unique or 2400 data and bullets.

 

[KHornet]

Thanks guys!

Paul

 

[freebullet]

Never heard of such a creature, learn something new everyday.

 

[KHornet]

When it comes to wildcat ctgs and things to shoot them in
I am never surprised when I hear of something I never
knew existed.

Paul

 

[fiver]

it's the variety and sameness of them that's surprising.
all the stuff on the 0-6 case pushed up and down and in and out. [newton had like 6 on the 0-6 alone]
the variety of 30 cal rounds on just the X57 case is amazing. [blow out the shoulder, change the taper and shoulder angle]
some of them were really practical it was the case forming that made them impractical [7mm Valkyrie] or put them ahead of their time. [basically a 7 wsm in the 50's]
others were cases re-worked that ended up duplicating another round just wrapped in a different package.

 

[Rick]

The 30 Merrill is a wildcat but it's not rare or uncommon.



Interchangeable barrels and break open action similar to the Contender though it came out in the Merrill many years before T/C. Far too many calibers to even try to list. This one recently sold with 5 barrels for $1000.