.30 WSSM performance

[Ranger1183]

Anyone have experience with the .30 caliber WSSM? What kind of bullets are you using and velocities are you getting? Where do you get reloading dies for this caliber? What barrel and twist rate do you use? What is the best brass to start with? Is this an AR-15 type platform?

Thanks!

 

[aixenmemphis]

Twist rate and bullets all depend on what you are using it for. At that point you can begin to talk ballistics.

 

[Ranger1183]

Lets say how about a 125 grain - approximately - match bullet from Berger coming out of a 24 inch barrel with a 1:17 inch twist? Lapua has a nice sharp nose 123 grain bullet and both Barnes and Nosler have 130 grain plastic tipped bullets that also have a streamlined shape. So something in that range 123 grains to 130 grains with a sharp, aerodynamic profile. What sort of speeds would I be looking at for a 30 caliber WSSM?

 

[aixenmemphis]

For those heavier bullets you might want a slightly faster twist. In my opinion you should look no further than a 30br. Unequaled barrel life, sufficient velocity, much better brass, no bolt modification, and there is not a chance the 30br is going to be obsolete in a few years. The br case has also been proven in an AR platform

 

[Ranger1183]

Ok, so 30 BR is the better way to go. What are it's ballistics given the faster twist barrel that you recommend and whatever bullet and load combination is ideal for both accuracy and performance?

 

[aixenmemphis]

Check out the 30br cartridge guide on the homepage. It is a great place to start. At the end of the artical there is a neat part about applications for it other than the score game.

 

[larrykramer]

1st hand comments from anyone who actually has experience with the 30 WSSM, PLEASE????

 

[tammons]

I am building a 30 WSSM hunter upper very soon and am considering running a rebated rim on a 20" AR15 at 45-55k. LWRC bolts can supposedly handle 65K but you would want to open it up to 7.62x39 size or just use a grendel bolt and run at about 45k-50k. A 6.8 spc bolt can handle from 50k-55k from what I understand.

I have expandroned a couple of shells, turned and fitted 125 grainers. It looks good. I need to rebate a rim and cut it in half to check the brass thickness.

If that looks good I will proceed. If not I will take another route.

This is going on an existing AR15 barrel that I already have so mine is a 1:10 twist, but its a hunting rifle so thats okay and I can run a heavier bullet if I want.

Dave Kiff is going to build me a reamer, and dies can be had from hornady for about $170.

Lead time is about 6-8 weeks.

According to quickload a 30 WSSM, with a 20" barrel will spit out 125 grainers....

At 45k 2900 fps and 2300 fpe.
At 55k 3050 fps and 2600 fpe or about like a 308.
At 65k 3200 fps and 2800 fpe getting close to a 30-06.

I will probably run mine at about 45-50k to be safe and keep the recoil down a bit.

Dtech is building WSSM uppers from Olymic arms uppers with custom barrels that use the stock rim size. All sorts too including the 6.5mm,7mm,30, 338, 358 etc WSSM.

I read about the destructive testing done on that olympic arms setup, and after reading I would have no worrys about pressure with an olympic arms WSSM upper running at 65k.

Hope this helps.