Has anyone made 7 WSSM for competition?

[McFred]

so, any 40 degree 7mm creedmoor with SRP?

I believe a few years ago there was a 7mm x 47mm Lapua that was essentially that (6.5x47L necked up). I'm sure that it was covered somewhere on Accurate Shooter, pretty similar to 7-08 AI, just nice and stubby.

 

[Ringostar]

I've made it. Before I knew that other's had played with this long before I did, I remarked to my GS friend that I'd call it the 6.5 Diggler. WSSM brass is very thick, tough brass. 6.5WSSM on left, fireformed to 6.5WSSMAi (6.5 Diggler) on right. Both with a 150SMK loaded. Still makes me laugh looking at it. Drew

View attachment 1149593

Dirk Diggler? That’s probably a great case capacity for 150 class bullets. I did an experiment to see how easy it would be to form a case, that I felt would be another route. I took 30-06 brass and trimmed the neck .125, then ran into an 8x57 Mauser die for sidewall to shoulder position. Then I ran into a 7x57 die to make a consistent neck, but maintain the shoulder length of the 8 Mauser. I then ran into a 6.5x47L die to size neck down and push to a 30 degree shoulder. It all ended up about same length as a 6.5x284, but skinnier and longer neck. Roughly a .340” long neck. Capacity between 6.5x55 and 6.5x284.

 

[McFred]

@skiutah02 Yes, WSSM brass from Winchester leaves a lot to be desired, but when necking up, there's a lot of material that can be streched/cut away and it's "cheap" of you don't count your time invested. Buy 3x what you need and sort/process until you have something to work with. At least it lasts quite a while once processed.

 

[skiutah02]

Dirk Diggler?

You got it!

 

[std7mag]

I already have a 7mm-08AI, 284 Win, (2)280 Rem, 7mm Rem Mag. Although all are hunting rifles. The AI did little over standard 7mm-08. But cool conversation starter.
Was thinking outside the box.

Forming if done right is no biggie. And i really don't know about stretching 223 out to 284.
I'd rather form down & neck turn or inside ream.

 

[Drop Port]

I recall Boyd Heaton shooting one back in 2004 at a G-Hog match in PA. I think he did pretty good with it, don't know how long he continued with it. He called it a 6.5 Heaton.

 

[mikecr]

It's true that you need to sort through them -just like any other brass.
And I would advise you to forget reloading of factory made ammo cases. They are NOT Win reloading brass, but disposable stuff (the worst).

When I began in WSSM, I bought several thousand because it was cheap, to be sure I'd always have enough, and because I suspected it would hold it's value.
I picked through some to find the first ~120 having same thickness and zero thickness variance. After preps and fire forming, I picked out ~80 matching in H20 capacity & ran with 50 for the endeavor. Will never need for more.

So when I seen the litigation rolling in, and seeing how the brass lasts with any solid plan, I jumped on a few thousand more.
Still have plenty but sold off enough to pay for the project and 2 others, in their entirety, purely by profit.
My 26WSSM Imp matches 260AI in capacity (by design). Next to 223Rem:

 

[TZaun]

My 26WSSM Imp matches 260AI in capacity (by design).
View attachment 1149673

My 6.5 WSSM Ackley has a case capacity of ~57.1 gr. H2O with the Federal brass. I built it to shoot the 155 gr. Cauterucio but unfortunately Bob passed away and I ran out of bullets. I could push them in the low to mid-2900s before pressuring out but they shot the best ~2845 with 48.8 gr. H4831SC.

A 7 mm in that case sounds fun to try. McFred getting 2850 with 180 Hybrids in that stubby little cartridge is pretty impressive.

 

[4xforfun]

I can attest to pretty much everything mikecr says about the 6.5 WSSM except for one thing. I have the dreaded bolt thrust issue. I had a BBL chambered up by Clay Spencer for my 1K comp light gun....something a little milder than the 300 WBY for the tadpoles to shoot. Doesn't matter if I run 43 H4831 or 48......bolt lift is the same. I "only" have 1800 rounds on 150 pieces of brass @ 2980, but, after 12 firings they are AS NEW!!! I started annealing them after about 7 firings (when I bought my first Benchsorce).

LOVE it!!
Hate the bolt thrust!!

Tod

 

[johnmventers398]

Have you tried making a 6.5 AI, or 7mm WSSM, Or you just talking??? I have,,, and the brass causes a lack of accuracy after about 5 firings....

Ive got about 10 firings on my 6.5 wssm winchester brass. Anealing evry fire helps.

 

[Fuj]

Kenny.....The best I can tell you is to look at the 7 Sherman.
Send a PM to Robin Arduin. He'll be straight with you on
F-Open and this cartridge. Tell him' I said Howdy !!

 

[std7mag]

It was just an idea that popped into my head while laying in bed trying to fall asleep.
I think with a 160gr Tipped MatchKing, it may be just the ticket for what we've been shooting lately.
(out to 400 yards)
With same bullet it may be interesting to try the Long Range steel matches at Miflin County.