243 wssm vs 6x47 lapua barrel life.

[tammons]

I am considering building a 6x47 lapua based rifle and out of curiosity reading comments on the net about the 243 wssm.

I read were several people were saying they burned out 3 barrels in 500 shots and such, and that same guy had been offered a new gun as long as it was not a wssm. Read others too.

Just out of curiosity I just ran some numbers on the hodgdon site and with 100 grain bullets at max load its really no faster than a 243AI or a 6x47 but I assume the wssm problems are due to the higher working pressures ??

What sort of barrel life is expected from a 6-47, shooting 105's, 30" barrel, at around 3050 fps ??

 

[mikecr]

A 6x47 has less capacity than both the 243wssm and the 243AI. So it can't do what they can.
What it can do is push them 'fast enough' for most, and so can a 6br or 6ppc.

The wssm and AI cartridges are both too much for good barrel life. But the example of 3 bad barrels could happen with any cartridge. You or I could seriously shorten barrel life with any cartridge,in one sitting), if we try hard enough. It could also have been crappy barrel steel.
I know for sure I would get over twice that barrel life from a wssm.

 

[tammons]

Is it the working pressures ??

If you go to the hodgdon website and say compare a 223 wssm to a 220 swift both with 55 grain bullets you will see that they are fairly close in fps.

The swift has a rep for buring out barrels also, but they definately last longer than 3-400 rounds if not abused.

The difference I see is the working pressures.

With a slight edge towards the wssm for speed the difference in pressures is around 63k for the wssm vs around 53k for the 220 swift.

Similar with the 243 loads. From what I have read the 243 wssm and 243 have the same case volume omly the working pressures are different.

 

[mikecr]

Thought we were talking about the 243wssm. Not the 223.
In my view, everything happening with these is completely predictable. And neither should have existed at all.

So because of the neck thickness, the rounds are loaded hotter than the gates of hell,just to get a seal)... And the ensuing burnout... And they don't shoot for damn...What a surprise..
I would never put myself there to begin with. But if I were, I would anneal the hell out of them necks,lead dip), and drop to slower, cooler powders with the heaviest bullet the twist allows.
I wouldn't shoot groups with it beyond ladder testing, and that would be a cold bore ladder. Then I'd use it for hunting only, or pull the scope & drop the rifle in the nearest dumpster.

 

[mikecr]

I think they should have started with the 25wssm, and my 26wssm is perfect. Just the right capacity, angles, and neck thickness,after turning).

They should also have had wssm brass made, rather than forming down from WSM brass.

Win did really well on the WSMs. I don't want to believe they stole the design.