.30/.25 WSSM is up and running!

dtech

dtech

New member
I just thought I would post an up-date. It was a major undertaking for me, and I ran into a few snags along the way, but I have started shipping the .30/.25 WSSM.

I ordered the reamers and barrel-blanks about the same time, and when I received the reamer prints, I ordered the dies. After many long months, the dies finally arrived and I started to chamber the blanks.

I fire-formed about 25 shells. I chose the shoulder-angle of the .25 WSSM, 30*, for these wildcats, but have been using Federal .243 WSSM brass for the project. One shot with 6 grains of AA #2 and a full case of cream-of-wheat changes the shoulder-angle and neck diameter to the new .30/.25 WSSM form.

The first loaded rounds I produced were tight in the chamber. With some measurements of the loaded round and referencing to the reamer print, I found that the chamber neck was too small. I called the guy that grinds my reamers, reviewed some of the neck dimensions and came to the conclusion that a new reamer would have to be ground. With the neck diameter being the only change, I was able to just open-up the existing chamber and continue on.

The new reamer did the trick, but now I found that the stem inside of the seating dies was tight once the bullet was pushed into the neck. It turns out the die maker didn't take into account the thicker brass on the WSSM. They sent new inserts for the dies, and I was again up and running.

By this time, my customers have been waiting for what seems FOREVER so I didn't get to do much for testing. I was loading and shooting 165 grain bullets, and from all indications, it looks like we will come close to 30-06 velocities out of this fat little .30.

My customer promised some data once he has had some time for load development and testing, and I will keep you posted.
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My lady is going to have a fit when she finds out about the addition of the 30wissm' to my collection and when she does, I'm just going to say "It's all Mikes fault""he made me do it" /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif J:K. That's sweet Mike that said there will be many of us who will be very interested in a 30wissm' AR. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
That's great news Mike, I'll be watching for the updates and keeping a very close eye on this one. I have been wanting the 30WSSM since Oly first mentioned it a few years back.

Are there going to be different twists available? What are you using now? I'm only interested in shooting up to 135gr. bullets, there is no need for heavy metal for me since I already have a few 308's.
 
I'm only using the 165 grain bullets for testing. I had them on hand so I've been using them. I do have some lighter and heavier Berger bullets that I will probably try on some of the following rifles, but so-far I've only worked with the 165's. Because of the magazine constraints, the chamber is cut with a short leade.

I stock 8 and 10 twist blanks (the 8 twist I have only used for the .300 Fireball) Shilen does offer the .30 caliber blanks in 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 17 twist, so I may start stocking some of the slower twists.
 
Sounds great. What is the status on the .358? I love the 35's, and when you mentioned you were going to make a wssm in 358, you got my attention.
 
The .358's were the first to ship. I have a couple of them out there now. I have yet to get any data back from the customers, but what I cronographed was exceeding the .358 Winchester by a nice margin. Feed/function has been great.
 
hey mike do you have any data on this 30/25WSSM ?I talked with you some time ago about redoing my 223ack imp to a 6x45 but this 30 cal is very interesting tks
 
I shipped the first couple of .30's without shooting them over the chronograph. I'm just finishing another that I plan on taking to the range and doing some testing. When I do, I will post the results.
 
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