Thoughts on 223 WSSM?

BIGREDD said:
I have to wonder if you have ever worn out a barrel?... a wssm barrel?... ever seen a 223wssm with a worn throat or barrel?
I haven't either... so I keep my opinions objective...:rolleyes:
Here is some independent data from guys who actually own and shoot these guns...
http://outdoorsbest.zeroforum.com/zerothread?id=346107&postid=3997602
and...
http://wssmzone.com/main/default.aspx?c=wssm243&n=cartridges

According to my new Hornady 7th edition manual which was published in 2007, their experience with the 223 WSSM was:
" We examined the throat of the rifle with a borescope after approximately 350 rounds and the erosion was significant. This cartridge is hard on barrels."

I'm sure that they don't know much about rifles or barrels, they would not not be biased either way since they just sell bullets. I'm sure it doesn't matter to them if you shoot their bullets in a 223 WSSM or a 223 Rem.
 
Silverback said:
According to my new Hornady 7th edition manual which was published in 2007, their experience with the 223 WSSM was:

I'm sure that they don't know much about rifles or barrels, they would not not be biased either way since they just sell bullets. I'm sure it doesn't matter to them if you shoot their bullets in a 223 WSSM or a 223 Rem.


Did they say what barrel they are using?
 
Take a squint at Browning's web-site to see what they have
to say about chrome-lined 223WSSM vs. 22-250 carbon blue barrels.

The 220 Swift took the same "gun mag/writer" rap when it first came out.
 
Silverback said:
According to my new Hornady 7th edition manual which was published in 2007, their experience with the 223 WSSM was:

I'm sure that they don't know much about rifles or barrels, they would not not be biased either way since they just sell bullets. I'm sure it doesn't matter to them if you shoot their bullets in a 223 WSSM or a 223 Rem.

They actually do know quite a bit about rifles and barrels... unlike yourself.
The barrel they used and examined was obviously not a Chrome lined Barrel...
You should not buy a WSSM... you should probably not comment on them either.:wave:
 
I'm not sure I understand the chrome lined barrel deal, if they were so good, wouldnt the pro's be using them instead of stainless? I also have never seen a neck wall so thick on a case either, I wonder why this is? Also, one would have to think that if a regular barrel had erosion after 350 rounds, wouldn't the best be showing significant wear by 700-800 rounds? I also wonder how they feed being so short? Does winchester offer any fast twist barrels to shoot the heavy bullets? It would seem a huge waste of powder to get a tiny bullet going just a couple of hundred fps faster?
I am not trying to step on anyones toes, these are questions out of curiosity only! Perhaps this is a fine round, if we can talk Savage into chambering one in a fast twist barrel!!!!!

Cdog.
 
I just picked up a brand-new Win70 featherweight (the 'ultra short' version) in .223 WSSM.

So far? The rifle is amazing. 6 pounds nothing with a 22" chrome barrel, makes even a 'normal' short action featherweight feel heavy and clumsy. Action is clean and tight, bolt travel is not noticeably shorter than normal (though I guess it is by .5") , but this particular bolt is smoother than many late-model Winchesters.

The wood is nice; not great--sometimes you luck out with a featherweight stock that has tons of figure, but this one's just 'good'. Trigger is relatively heavy (I'd estimate 6-7 lbs) and has significant creep. Not the worst factory trigger I've ever tried, but absoutely the wrong trigger for this rifle and this cartridge.

Feeds and ejects empties flawlessly. I had one FTL when the mag floor plate bound up on the magazine well, but a drop of lube took care of the problem.

The rounds are absurd. I'm loading some up and they remind me of those food coloring bottles from the 70s:

Separated at birth?



P&D put an adorable little VXII 3-9x33 Ultralight on it for me, and I should get a chance to do some load testing this weekend. Cautiously optimistic that I've found my perfect walkin' coyote rifle...
 
I just picked up a brand-new Win70 featherweight (the 'ultra short' version) in .223 WSSM.

I should get a chance to do some load testing this weekend. Cautiously optimistic that I've found my perfect walkin' coyote rifle...

exactly, I found my Shadow 223 WsSM to be a perfect coyote rifle out to a full 400 yards, I took 10 coyotes this winter with it and it an upgrade on the 22-250, I find the Win brass to brittle though and case life is not going to be the same as a 22-250, but at 2-300 rounds per year I doubt I will run out soon.

DCP_0785.JPG
 
All that said, I have just checked the Federal and Remington Ammunition sites and there is no mention of this magical cartridge. This is not to say you guys are blowing smoke up my ass but I want some ballistics and do not seem to be able to find them. What gives? Lots of 223R info but nothing else.
Am I looking in the wrong places? I figured surely one of the big guys would list it but nada. Thanks
 
All that said, I have just checked the Federal and Remington Ammunition sites and there is no mention of this magical cartridge. This is not to say you guys are blowing smoke up my ass but I want some ballistics and do not seem to be able to find them. What gives? Lots of 223R info but nothing else.
Am I looking in the wrong places? I figured surely one of the big guys would list it but nada. Thanks


It's not new, it's been out for a few years:

http://www.winchester.com/products/catalog/cfrlist.aspx?cart=MjIzIFdTU00=
 
There are still some Win70s in the channel in the WSSM chamberings, but apparently you should STAY AWAY from the WSSM 70 'coyote' model--bad accuracy problems, the factory started giving people Browning A-bolts to replace the ones they couldn't make shoot straight;-)
 
Seems the ammo is a little on the pricey side too. Looks like I will keep my
223Rem for now. Thanks for the info though. Ya gotta keep up on this stuff so's ya dont miss out on anything. I hate to miss out on neat stuff. Impressive specs though. Hmmmm....
 
I've really just got to start enjoying my 243 WSSM in a Browning Varmint Stalker. This rifle shines out past 300 yards with 70 grain BT's doing about 3750 FPS. The impact report they send back to the shooter is great when they hit that big fat dirt pig...and that happens more often than not. The linned barrel is AUSOME! The cleaning time is cut in half and the copper fouling is easily removed for whatever little bit there is. The barrel gets two thumbs up for sure...the trigger on the other hands sucks bad. Even after adjusting the factory trigger right down, it still feels about 3-4 lbs...and that isn't gonna cut it for a varmint rig. After market spring is the best solution to that problem. I've found that the true limit to my rifles LR performance is the scope I have on it. The regular duplex reticle of the Bushnell 4200 is too thick and I have yet to get my ballistics chart made up for dialing in shots. What I would really like to put on it is a Leupold VXIII 6.5-20x50 LR Varmint reticle to really let her bark out to 500 yards.
 
I have a win 70 laminate heavy barrel in 223 wssm.
I had bought the gun on impulse and then did the research. I was very afraid of my awful purchase after researching that night.

Basically I found that there are shooters, and complete junk in the win m70 coyote nad it was luck of the draw.

I have to say, mine is the exception.

I am not a benchshooter or reloader.

This weekend while back in grande prairie I shot a clay pigeon at 100 yrds, 200 yrds and 300 yrds with the gun.

at 100, just a hole through the centre, at 200, the ame thing, at 300 hundred it crumbled.

I have shot at 100 yrds 5 shot group with 4 under a quarter (money) and 1 was about a quarter inch out from the edge og the quarter.

I tried again many times with nice groups, but that was the best, and quite possibly my best as well. (as a likely a fluke as anything)

I am opissed at only one thing. Time back, I would have gotten 243 or 25 wssm and had a nice dual purpose gun. This is a pic of the gun and my target from a few months ago.

014.jpg


012.jpg
 
They did this for me.
Very happy now!
T

There are still some Win70s in the channel in the WSSM chamberings, but apparently you should STAY AWAY from the WSSM 70 'coyote' model--bad accuracy problems, the factory started giving people Browning A-bolts to replace the ones they couldn't make shoot straight;-)
 
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