Browning ABolt 223 WSSM

[Barlow]

I friend has one of these and complains about hard bolt lift with factory (Win) ammo. I was going to try and help him by handloading some ammo, but can't find any dies to borrow, and I'm not buying them. The bore looks like the chrome is flaking off, and their is .0089 difference between new and fired case shoulder measurements. What is the best option with this rifle, rebarrel etc.? Barlow

 

[Juma]

Looks like a rebarrel is in order. They came out chrome lined because of the pressures generated by this cartridge. Wear can be exacerbated by too hotter loads and too many loads strung together. In NZ we run ours with 45gr 2209 and 62gr Barnes TSX. Magnificent killing machine. We have a suppressor on it.The Barnes works well because it is driven at high speeds.Unique gun sorta like a Mazda RX2.

 

[Mike Casselton]

The Mazda RX-2. Now you're talking. That was my first car. 2100lbs, 2 rotor Wankle, 390 cfm Minuki 4bbl carb, and 100hp when I got my hands on it.
Didn't take long to change that. ..
Sorry for the hijack

 

[Dave Berg]

I friend has one of these and complains about hard bolt lift with factory (Win) ammo. I was going to try and help him by handloading some ammo, but can't find any dies to borrow, and I'm not buying them. The bore looks like the chrome is flaking off, and their is .0089 difference between new and fired case shoulder measurements. What is the best option with this rifle, rebarrel etc.? Barlow

You could put a new barrel on it but if it's another 223 WSSM you'll be right back where you started. There are a host of problems with it:

The chrome lined barrel was because Winchester used very hot factory loads with relatively heavy bullets in a fast twist barrel. Eventually the chrome bore will get very rough from the chrome peeling off and even the factory ammo will come apart about 50 yards from the muzzle.

Handloading doesn't help all that much because of the thick case neck. If you back the load off to a reasonable velocity the pressure isn't high enough to expand the neck and you get black powder residue all over the case - I mean filthy black. To get the neck to seal I had to run 3,800+ fps with 55 grain bullets.

I had two A-Bolt 223 WSSM's that Browning eventually replaced free of charge with the stipulation the replacements not be WSSM cartridges. For the amount of time I spent on the phone with them I could have gotten the new rifles quicker by getting a paper route.

I have a custom 223 WSSM built on a Remington 700 action with a Krieger barrel but it's a 12" twist vs the 9" on the factory guns. It's wicked accurate with deadly terminal performance but I don't expect barrel life to be all that good. Kind'a like a Swift on steroids.

I have dies if you'd like to borrow them. I'll be in Florida until around April 1 and the dies are in PA so it wouldn't be until after I get back. Send me an email if you're interested.

 

[Barlow]

Dave, Thanks very much for the generous offer and good advise. This is a can of worms I am going to get rid of. I'm going to tell the owner of this rifle to try and get his money back or swap for something else. Thanks again, Barlow