223 wssm

T

timpike64

New member
Guys, I am looking for input on which round is the best out of the box for a Browning 223 wssm, chrome lined barrel with 1-10 twist. I do know the 65 grain is all over the map at 50 yds. It blew my mind unless I got a bad box of ammo. I have gotten better performance with the 55 grain ballistic tip winchester at 100 yds shooting about a 2" group which is not what I would expect.

Anyway any input would be welcomed.
 
Tim - I just worked up a load for a buddy's Browning ABolt 223WSSM.
That gun shoots everything well.
I had already worked up a load with 50gr Bergers and H4985 for coyotes.
He whats to deer hunt with it this year so I loaded both 55gr SGK's and 65gr SGK's. That gun liked the 55's just alittle bit better, but he wanted to shoot the 65's.
They still grouped under an inch.
Kelly
 
What is the likely hood I got some bad ammo?

I bought 3 boxes of 64 GR Power Point at a Wal-Mart on the way to the lease and this is when then problems started! Also had the 55GR Ballistic Siver Tips with me but did not try them because of cost...I was saving them. But when I tried at the range my problem was solved.

I do not reload but was thinking about having a buddy do some reloading for me! What about the specs you have used?
 
I would rather use factory ammo! Only because I do not have any experience in reloading.

How come Hornady is not producing this Ammo?
 
I think the rifle should be alright. I have an abolt in 243 wssm. I shot 95 gr. ballistic tips after having it sit for a year. After 3 shots I walked down and covered them with a quarter. Just keep shooting.
 
It seems that Winchester wanted to have a real rip-snorting 22 centerfire all its own. The idea was to make one that would out perform all the others and in real life, all they did was make a round that will perform no better than the already popular 22-250 or 220 Swift. It seems to be on the short list for the belly-up varmint calibers nowadays.

Five years ago there seemed to be a bit of excitement about the new round, now sales are flat and gun dealers are scrambling to sell what guns they have left so they wont get stuck with them.

My advice is to stock up on brass since you have a buddy that reloads. With any luck ammo will be available for a few years yet, but then again, I would not count on it.
 
Quote:
I would rather use factory ammo! Only because I do not have any experience in reloading.

How come Hornady is not producing this Ammo?



None of the Factories are producing bolt action rifles in that chambering any more, a few custom makers are doing AR's since that is where the WSSM's really shine anyway, I expect Winchester and possibly Federal will continue producing ammo, for a time anyhow, but the WSSM is turning into a custom gun/handload chambering, all because some ultra traditionalists did not like there pet factory standard action rounds being threatened with slightly better ballistics in a shorter lighter rifle. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif
 
Reed's Ammunition and Research out of Oklahoma sells the 223 and 243 WSSM in several different bullet weights. They go for something like $17-18 a box.
 
The Browning Abolt should be very accurate in 223wssm. I get excellent accuracy with 50, 52, 55 and 60gr bullets. I have only used handloads, so I can't speak about factory loads.

The 223wssm outshines ALL the other factory .22's. Hornaday has a recipe for the 40gr Vmax @ 4600fps!
 
I worded up a very accurate load with the 60g Nosler with 41.5g of H380 in his stealth. He is going to deer hunt with this round this year.
 
Isn't the 1-10 twist supposed to be better for lighter bullets? Someone w/a bit more knowledge on twist/bullet weight for the quarter bores enlighten us.

I have one 1-8 and one 1-9 twist barrels that are supposed to be good for the heavier .22 bullets and they both shoot little bitty groups w/55 gr. NBT's. The 65's may be a bit heavy for 1-10 twist??

Another possibility is copper fouling. My FP10 shot bughole groups out of the box, but the barrel fouled pretty quickly until I had a hundred or so rounds downrange. Might give your rifle a good cleaning w/copper solvent and see if that helps.

Regards,
hm
 
My son and I both have Win 70 Shadows in .223 WSSM. Of the factory loads, the 55s shot better in our guns, too. Our handloads have all been either 60 or 65 grain, using 60 gr. V-Max, 65 gr. Sierra BTS, and 60 gr. Nosler partitions (the Sierras and Noslers are both dynamite on our smallish Alabama whitetails). Haven't loaded any 55 gr. or under so far, as I am somewhat of a heavy-for-caliber bullet fan.

Since the factory 55s shot well in our guns, I should probably give some attention to handloads with that bullet weight as well, but I'm kinda stubborn that way. I wanted my gun to shoot the heavier bullets well. My accuracy levels so far are acceptable if not outstanding. More work to be done.

I probably wouldn't own a WSSM gun if I didn't handload, but hopefully ammo will be around for a while. The cartridge is probably destined for extinction, but the same has been said of some others that have been "re-discovered" and resurrected.
 
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