well what about a 223 wssm ?

[turbokeen]

has anyone got any good experience playing with the short fat case ?
i am thinking to build a custom chambering , .250 neck , to suit 40 to 50 gn bullets, obviosly a brand name brl

is there any good brass available yet ?

thanks Dave

 

[CatShooter]

Most people that own this case have had humongous problems getting it to shoot even 1" groups. I'm sure that someone will disagree, but do a Google search on the 223 WSSM and read up on it, before putting a dime in this project..

You would be far better off with a 22BR, or even a factory Rem 700 VS-SS-II, in .220 Swift.

 

[Larryh128]

I bought a Model 70 in 223 WSSM when Winchester was in Limbo & they were blowing out wssm's for $400 new. My idea was to re-barrel it to a lightweight WSM as they certainly wouldn't make a separate action for wssm, WRONG. Dedicated action so I played around with it for a while. Results were'nt that good at first until I backed the load off a touch & it went to a lights out shooter. For a total factory rifle, it is the most accuarate one that I've ever owned. My best 300 yd group measured .202 with a 14x scope. Velocity is around 3800 fps in a 20" barrel. The only touchy issue with wssm's is that you have a very narrow band to stay in from bottom to top load. No more than 2 grs & 1/2gr more will take it over the top. I'm using 39grs Varget with a Nosler 55gr Ballistic Tip & a CCI 200 primer. 0-300 on the crosshair, VERY flat.
I wouldn't do anymore than barely skim cut the neck to true it. They need the thicker neck & they need to be annealed after a few reloadings. The Winchester brass has been good.

 

[necchi]

They need the thicker neck & they need to be annealed after a few reloadings. The Winchester brass has been good.

I loaded for a friends Browning A-bolt and found that annealing thing to be true. They'll split at the neck/shoulder if not done.
Supper flat at 3860fps and a 55grn Nosler Ballistic tip. I went with the 55 cause anything smaller and the wind is really gonna push'm, and it is a Varmint rig.
IRC, he's got a 4" point blank hold out too 390 yards.

But everything I've read or heard is that the round is indeed a barrel burner 800-1500rnds if your lucky.
If I was to build a WSSM I'd go with the 243 or 25, just food for thought.

 

[Larryh128]

All of the WSSM's run 60+k of pressure if loaded to the max. You need to anneal all of them & they need the thicker neck. Neck tension isn't an issue if they are annealed. They seat like butter if annealed every few firings. Haven't lost any cases due to splitting. The only advantage that I can see with the 223 wssm over a 22-250 Ackley is a lighter rifle if you are packing it around the country. I also have some experience with the 25 wssm & it has the same advantage over a 25-06. All of these compared rounds will run the same velocity so it's really a question of what you're looking to do with it.