223 wssm cartridge i like it, do you ?
- Thread starter little jack
- Start date
Chinbullco
Regular
- Location
- NW Alberta
223 wssm
Do you handload these? If so how much torque do you put on the bolt to open the action after firing? I have a 243 and 25 WSSM and they shoot great but the 243 has "thick" brass issues and even starting loads require an extreme amount of force to lift bolt.
Do you handload these? If so how much torque do you put on the bolt to open the action after firing? I have a 243 and 25 WSSM and they shoot great but the 243 has "thick" brass issues and even starting loads require an extreme amount of force to lift bolt.
Max Owner
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Was told there is not enough difference from 223 to the WSSM to make it worth while. The fact that there are no factory rifles chambered in it nowadays tells me that is true.
But as usual I could be wrong.
But as usual I could be wrong.
- Location
- Whitehorse, Yukon
Anneal the 223 WSM brass if you want it to obturate to the chamber. Sure makes it easier to reload as well.
RC
RC
I can't think of any factory guns chambered in 22PPC, but that doesn't mean that its not a killer round.
If you could, can you post your velocity with the bullets you have tested with?
Thanks.
I wonder how it would push a 90GR berger VLD.
I do reload this round. I noticed with fctory ammo that the cases were getting black due to blow by but when hand loaded this seemed to stop. I was using 55gr vmax, varget, br4s and was driving them 3950-4000. the 40gr bulletts were up around 4500 fps. I am building a new gun now on a savage action that i use 75gainers and push them around 4000 fps, just for coyotes.
Chinbullco
Regular
- Location
- NW Alberta
This means a new barrel? Would be fun launching 90 grainers with a 7" twist barrel. Might be tough to find bullets that stand the centrifical stress. Even though velocities are high the 40 gr bullets would not shoot much past 300 yds.
HighTeckRedNeck
Regular
- Location
- Saskatoon, SK
i haven't looked at balistics, but it sounds like there really isn't that much difference from a 22-250
So your best off with a 22BR?
The case capacity of the .223 WSSM is only slightly greater than the .,22-250, as I recall. Your velocities are quite incredible, considering the Hogdon data shows:
55 GR. HDY V-MAX Hodgdon Varget .224" 2.200" 38.0 3651 53,300 PSI 40.5 3836 62,100 PSI
To bump the velocity up another 100+ fps indicates some pressure increase.
Great that you like the cartridge, but the one rifle I looked at, and the cartridge, gave me no reason to part with my .22-250.
I believe i was using 39.5 gr varget with the 55gr vmax, and 47.5 grns for the 40gr. Which are hot loads but there were no signs of pressure problems. I agree with you that there are is no real reason to shoot loads like this but i wanted to to see what bulletts wound do at these speeds. they shoot suprisingly well around 3/4'' @ 100yrds which i think is fine for a hunting rifle. but barrel life will be an issue for sure. I also agree that there would be no reason to change from 22-250. 223wssm is just fun to play with.
savage_shooter
Member
- Location
- Peace river ab
i agree little jack it is verry fun to play with
LongBomber
CGN Regular
- Location
- Fernie, bc
4000 fps with the 75's might be tough. I can push them roughly 3350fps from my 26" 22-250, but those loads are stout and have pressure signes when its over 25C out. If you did a 28 or 30" barrel with the 223wssm you may be able to get up to 3600 to maybe 3700 safely. I have a wssm in the super shadow, little pencil barrel, but with the 53gr tsx it shoots very well. I have some 80gr amax I might give a go, the wssm is a 10 twist but the 80's may work with the speed you can get.
