.277 Wolverine

WILDCAT CARTRIDGES

- Richard Mann

The ever-growing selection of new AR-15 cartridges is apparently more than some folks can stand. Many harsh words come from those who have no interest in the AR-15. It’s not that we need another .264-, .277-, or .284-caliber cartridge; it’s that AR-15 afficionados want one.

Not all that long ago, there was a wildcat cartridge revolution for the bolt-action rifle. Shooters and hunters were looking for that little bit of edge they could get by slightly altering a then-current cartridge case or by designing a new one altogether. It wasn’t long until just about everything that could be done – and that made sense – had been done. The result is bolt-action rifle fans have a passel of cartridges to choose from to fit almost any application that can be dreamed up. Shooters wildcatting cartridges for the AR-15 are feeding that same desire – to have the rifle they like, in a caliber they like, that delivers a level of performance they want.

At the same time, every wildcatter secretly hopes his cartridge will one day become a SAAMI approved, commercially loaded cartridge. On rare occasions this happens, but what is even more rare is the original wildcatter making any money from his handiwork.

Mark Kexel, president and CEO of Mad Dog Weapon Systems, wanted a cartridge that combined the attributes of the 5.56 NATO, 6.8 SPC, 7.62x39mm and .300 Blackout, but at the same time dismissed the deficiencies of all four when fired from the AR-15. After brainstorming, production of the .277 Wolverine began in 2014.