Hey guy's i was wondering which one you would consider and in what brand/model? I'm looking to get a new gun and my .270WSM just blows to big holes to save anything lol. I am fimilar with the .223 but not much up to date the the wssm. Thanks for any and all of youre help. New to this site and loving all the info and pics kepp it up, and good luck this coming year!!
.223 or .223wssm?????
- Thread starter yotiman
- Start date
Happy_Hunter
New member
Depends on what you are hunting and how far away it is. I would have thought a 223 woud be good on small game like coyotes out to about 300 yards. The 223WSSM could be a 500 yard gun, but I don't hear too much about guys dragging shooting benches and stools to each calling stand so they can make a shot that long.
The reloading books show that a 223WSSM shoots about 500fps (MV) faster than a 223. The 223WSSM IS a barrel burner. The 223 is gentle on barrels. The MPBR for a 223WSSM with a 55gr BK pill at 3900fps is 415 yards. The MPBR for a 223 using a 52gr BK doing 3350fps MV is 365 yards.
If you think you:
1. Would take a safe, humane shot further out than 350 yards, /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif and
2. Don't mind the extra noise,and
3. Don't mind the shorter barrel life, and
4. Don't mind the lesser resale value of a 223WSSM, and
5. Don't mind the higher ammo cost
then you go get one ofthose 223 WSSMs. There are still gun shops with 'em. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif They are the ones covered in dust. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
The reloading books show that a 223WSSM shoots about 500fps (MV) faster than a 223. The 223WSSM IS a barrel burner. The 223 is gentle on barrels. The MPBR for a 223WSSM with a 55gr BK pill at 3900fps is 415 yards. The MPBR for a 223 using a 52gr BK doing 3350fps MV is 365 yards.
If you think you:
1. Would take a safe, humane shot further out than 350 yards, /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif and
2. Don't mind the extra noise,and
3. Don't mind the shorter barrel life, and
4. Don't mind the lesser resale value of a 223WSSM, and
5. Don't mind the higher ammo cost
then you go get one ofthose 223 WSSMs. There are still gun shops with 'em. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif They are the ones covered in dust. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
IDBob
New member
Keep in mind that teh 223 WSSM is basically a dead cartridge. Winchester and Browning both have stopped making rifles for it and it takes an action designed for this extremely short cartridge to make it function from a magazine.
Winchester didn't ever resolve the feeding problems in the model 70 before ceasing production and Browning appeared to have solved them, but also ceased production.
If you want the velocity the 223 WSSM gives go to the 22-250. There are lots of fine rifles made for it and it will be in production for a long time to come.
Like MoKan said consider the 204 Ruger. I've killed coyotes with one out to 385 yards and after spending 30 plus years with the 22-250 I can't see much difference except you can watch your hits thru the scope on the 204 and it's less expensive to load.
There are lots of good deals on the gun dealers shelves right now for the 223 WSSM as dealers are trying to dump them from their inventory. As many others have pointed out there is certainly nothing wrong with the 223 for a varmint round.
Winchester didn't ever resolve the feeding problems in the model 70 before ceasing production and Browning appeared to have solved them, but also ceased production.
If you want the velocity the 223 WSSM gives go to the 22-250. There are lots of fine rifles made for it and it will be in production for a long time to come.
Like MoKan said consider the 204 Ruger. I've killed coyotes with one out to 385 yards and after spending 30 plus years with the 22-250 I can't see much difference except you can watch your hits thru the scope on the 204 and it's less expensive to load.
There are lots of good deals on the gun dealers shelves right now for the 223 WSSM as dealers are trying to dump them from their inventory. As many others have pointed out there is certainly nothing wrong with the 223 for a varmint round.
chuckaholic
New member
Winchester solved the feeding issues with the CRPF(control round push feed).
It feeds them very well.
I agree with the "stay away" from the 223 WSSM as most factory barrels/rifle shoot like crap. Besides which as has been mentioned, it is basically dead. The brass has some issues as well mainly being very thick while the chambers have way over sized necks causing the need to really size the neck of fired cartridges. Bullet run out is excessive unless you do this in steps via bushings,IME. FWIW.
It feeds them very well.
I agree with the "stay away" from the 223 WSSM as most factory barrels/rifle shoot like crap. Besides which as has been mentioned, it is basically dead. The brass has some issues as well mainly being very thick while the chambers have way over sized necks causing the need to really size the neck of fired cartridges. Bullet run out is excessive unless you do this in steps via bushings,IME. FWIW.
Rustydust
Active member
OK. Since you only asked about those two calibers and only those two calibers that is what we will talk about here.
The .223 is getting close to 50 years old now. There are hundreds and hundreds of thousands of bolt guns, semi-autos, single shots and even pump actions out there that chamber this fine round. Is is not going away any time soon. Plus, it has in its favor the ability to shoot very small groups with a varity of loads. I (and others) have taken tiny ground squirrels with my .223 Savage out past 300 yards with this round. Don't know how many prairie dogs have done back flips with it either.
The .223 WSSM is dead. And there is a reason for that as mentioned in the post above.
The .223 should be all you ever need. BUT if you do need more, plenty of fine 22/250 or 220 Swifts out there!
The .223 is getting close to 50 years old now. There are hundreds and hundreds of thousands of bolt guns, semi-autos, single shots and even pump actions out there that chamber this fine round. Is is not going away any time soon. Plus, it has in its favor the ability to shoot very small groups with a varity of loads. I (and others) have taken tiny ground squirrels with my .223 Savage out past 300 yards with this round. Don't know how many prairie dogs have done back flips with it either.
The .223 WSSM is dead. And there is a reason for that as mentioned in the post above.
The .223 should be all you ever need. BUT if you do need more, plenty of fine 22/250 or 220 Swifts out there!
6GUNSONLY
New member
My son has a M-70 .223 WSSM for sale if you decide that's what you want. We both had one, shot them for a couple of years. Not all the bad stuff you hear is true. Accuracy was very decent if not outstanding. Can't really say about barrel life as we each only put about 100 rds. or so through each gun. We did kill about 9 or 10 deer with them, no lost animals. I already traded mine off here on the forum but he still has his. I think he'd take $350 + actual shipping for it. It is the Ultimate Shadow model (synthetic stock/matte blue).