Anyone using a 223 WSSM?
- Thread starter nybowhunter43
- Start date
There is a reason that there are usually killer deals at gun stores on the wssm rounds in factory guns and that reason isn't because they are the most awesome gun around. People buy them for what they think they are and trade them in for what they really are. And who only shoots 100 rounds a season. That barrel wouldn't make it half a summer out here. I will take a 75 grain amax out of a 223ai anyday over a 40 grain in a wssm. Flat and kills. Better stock up on all the wssm brass because in 10 years it will be dead.
RBoom
Member
You guys have me REALLY worried now! You know what though, I've got the dies, brass, and some bullets on the way, and when everything shows up, I'm going to give this rifle a fair shake and see how well it will shoot - and for how long. If not, I'll give someone a killer deal on a rifle and all the trimmings.
p.s. Anyone have any new brass for sale? jk
p.s. Anyone have any new brass for sale? jk
K-22hornet.
New member
Some guys like to drive Porsche's, some guys like to drive Prius'.
High performance comes at a cost, and some aren't willing to pay it.
High performance comes at a cost, and some aren't willing to pay it.
ninehorses
New member
Ok, don't listen, you will learn the hard way.
You remind me of the guy that got a great deal on a Porsche, only to find out later it is missing the motor, and the frame is cracked.
Sorry RBoom, not directed at you.
You remind me of the guy that got a great deal on a Porsche, only to find out later it is missing the motor, and the frame is cracked.
Sorry RBoom, not directed at you.
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knockemdown
New member
Originally Posted By: LWILLIAMSAnd who only shoots 100 rounds a season. That barrel wouldn't make it half a summer out here. I will take a 75 grain amax out of a 223ai anyday over a 40 grain in a wssm.
What is your 223AI runnin' that Amax, 3100fps, tops? Considering that, just think of how happy you'd be if that same boolit launched ~250fps faster from a 1:8 twist Wizzer!
And, as for 100 rounds a season, I was referencing the rifle for use as a killin' rig. Find a load, zero the scope & use for blood spillin', as needed
Obviously, 'hotrod' calibers aren't conducive as "range plinkers", that goes without saying. To relate to autos again, a pro-street dragster ain't much for use as a daily a 'grocery'getter'!!!
RBOOM, don't sweat it. There is nothing inherently "wrong" with any of the WSSM calibers. Aside from guys just wanting to trash them in favor of pre-existing cartridges.
Hope it shoots for ya!!! If you need brass, I bought 1K pcs a while back, so I've got some extra laying around...
What is your 223AI runnin' that Amax, 3100fps, tops? Considering that, just think of how happy you'd be if that same boolit launched ~250fps faster from a 1:8 twist Wizzer!
And, as for 100 rounds a season, I was referencing the rifle for use as a killin' rig. Find a load, zero the scope & use for blood spillin', as needed
RBOOM, don't sweat it. There is nothing inherently "wrong" with any of the WSSM calibers. Aside from guys just wanting to trash them in favor of pre-existing cartridges.
Hope it shoots for ya!!! If you need brass, I bought 1K pcs a while back, so I've got some extra laying around...
ninehorses
New member
220 Swift = Corvette!
I use to hotrod a little my self, so I have to jerk on your chain a little
I use to hotrod a little my self, so I have to jerk on your chain a little
slugger
New member
Originally Posted By: knockemdownOriginally Posted By: LWILLIAMSAnd who only shoots 100 rounds a season. That barrel wouldn't make it half a summer out here. I will take a 75 grain amax out of a 223ai anyday over a 40 grain in a wssm.
RBOOM, don't sweat it. There is nothing inherently "wrong" with any of the WSSM calibers. Aside from guys just wanting to trash them in favor of pre-existing cartridges.
Hope it shoots for ya!!! If you need brass, I bought 1K pcs a while back, so I've got some extra laying around...
I have seen some individual bash the [beeep] out of the .243 WSSM in a bolt gun, but in the same sentence speak volumes of its virtues in an AR platform.
Shoot what you want, when you want to and don't look back, life is too short..
RBOOM, don't sweat it. There is nothing inherently "wrong" with any of the WSSM calibers. Aside from guys just wanting to trash them in favor of pre-existing cartridges.
Hope it shoots for ya!!! If you need brass, I bought 1K pcs a while back, so I've got some extra laying around...
I have seen some individual bash the [beeep] out of the .243 WSSM in a bolt gun, but in the same sentence speak volumes of its virtues in an AR platform.
Shoot what you want, when you want to and don't look back, life is too short..
RBoom
Member
Originally Posted By: knockemdownIf you need brass, I bought 1K pcs a while back, so I've got some extra laying around...
Thanks k.e.d. I ordered 100 pieces so if I only get 2 reloads out of it before the necks blow, I'll be good due to the fact that the barrel will be shot out.....
Thanks k.e.d. I ordered 100 pieces so if I only get 2 reloads out of it before the necks blow, I'll be good due to the fact that the barrel will be shot out.....
The way I see it the 223 wssm is a super fast, hard hitting, coyote killing machine. It is the perfect tool for that task. Is it perfect for sitting over a prairie dog town or taking to the range and firing 100's of rounds...NO. How many rounds would the average hunter fire in a season at coyotes? Probably somewhere around 10 to 50 at most. The barrel should be good for 1500 rounds. So at 50 rounds a season for actual hunting and say another 50 at the range, the barrel life will be 15 years. Not bad, when you consider it is the fastest 22 centrefire ever. I guess you have to decide if you want maximum performance, or maximum mileage, in a less powerful caliber.
knockemdown
New member
Guys, consider this.
IF the rifle is a turd, it doesn't matter WHAT cartridge it's chambered in. It's gonna shoot ANY cartridge like a TURD! Heck I bet if Winny chambered those Super Shadows in 6BR, they'd shoot like crap too! but would that constitute you guys wonking off about how 'chitty the 6BR cartridge is? Certainly not, you'd be ridiculed right off the interweb...
However, if you've got a well built rifle & take the time to develop a handload for alomst ANY cartridge, then odds are strongly in favor of you finding happiness
Sure, ANY overbore 'hotrod' cartridge is going to be something of a challenge to load for, that's the nature of the beast. But to say that the WSSMs are 'turds' isn't really a fair generalization, IMHO...
In short, I don't feel the ANY of the Wizzer cartridges are turds, but they sure did come on the market chambered in some turd rifles!!!
Steve, mine is a DTECH, 22" Shilen select 1:8" twist, so maybe that's why you don't hear me complaining???
IF the rifle is a turd, it doesn't matter WHAT cartridge it's chambered in. It's gonna shoot ANY cartridge like a TURD! Heck I bet if Winny chambered those Super Shadows in 6BR, they'd shoot like crap too! but would that constitute you guys wonking off about how 'chitty the 6BR cartridge is? Certainly not, you'd be ridiculed right off the interweb...
However, if you've got a well built rifle & take the time to develop a handload for alomst ANY cartridge, then odds are strongly in favor of you finding happiness
In short, I don't feel the ANY of the Wizzer cartridges are turds, but they sure did come on the market chambered in some turd rifles!!!
Steve, mine is a DTECH, 22" Shilen select 1:8" twist, so maybe that's why you don't hear me complaining???
Mr. Outdoors
Member
This is my experience so far with wssm.I have a 243 wssm in a win stealth. And love the gun. I have a 223 wssm and 243 wssm coming from Dtech. After last season I wanted to get rid of all my other guns because I shot the 243 all the time. I think these two are great rounds. Dont all of us need an excuse to buy more guns or gun related parts.
Hoier
New member
I also bought a POS Super Shadow and it is the most inaccurate gun I've ever shot. But I like the speed and since I would only use it for hunting I am going to rebarrel from someone(probably ER Shaw). I have a Model 70 Coyote in 243 Wizzer and it is a shooter. So I agree with Fred it is all about the quality of the gun not the cartridge.
what i think is interesting, is that alot of guys here complain about blowing big holes in fur, but yet want a super fast 22 caliber, the two are not mutually exclusive but close.
i can speak from experience, i had a 223 wssm. i bought it partly because it was fast, but mostly because i needed a light weight rifle for high country coyotes in the summer.
when i bought mine, an ultimate shadow winchester 70, i bought dies and 100 new brass. the dies were hornady, the bullets i was using were mostly v-max 55gr. while some of the issues i had were things that i probably could have gotten around, i got tired of trying to "fix" issues.
i was NEVER able to get anywhere near factory ballistics using imr 4350, i had flattened primers and heavy bolt lift with load no where near published maximum. i could probably have changed powders and gotten around that issue. seating the bullets required quite a bit of force, enough to deform the noses of v-max bullets, hornady sent me a new seat stem, but it was the same. i solve that issue by using a winchester bullet with heavier nose construction. again not a big deal, but something that had to be dealt with. the first 100 NEW brass started to crack shoulders and necks on the second or third loading. yes SHOULDER cracks. i tried annealing, to soften the necks and shoulders, i may have gotten a little better life after that but not much. i bought another 160 brass from someone on gunbroker, it was once fired winchester from test loads. i would start with 100 brass, next loading i had 65 or so left, then next loading maybe 30 left.
last i looked 223 wssm brass was about 60 cents a piece, if they last 4 times, then each shot cost me 15 cents just in brass! performance was only marginally better than a 22-250, but with brass that costs far more. i find enough 22-250 brass at the public range to last me a lifetime, i spent more on 223 wssm brass in 2 years than in 12 years with a 22-250 that i shoot way more.
if you want a 223 wssm, then get one. but i would take ANY other 22 centerfire before another 223 wssm. 22-250 is hard to beat for a varmint rifle or predator rifle.
i can speak from experience, i had a 223 wssm. i bought it partly because it was fast, but mostly because i needed a light weight rifle for high country coyotes in the summer.
when i bought mine, an ultimate shadow winchester 70, i bought dies and 100 new brass. the dies were hornady, the bullets i was using were mostly v-max 55gr. while some of the issues i had were things that i probably could have gotten around, i got tired of trying to "fix" issues.
i was NEVER able to get anywhere near factory ballistics using imr 4350, i had flattened primers and heavy bolt lift with load no where near published maximum. i could probably have changed powders and gotten around that issue. seating the bullets required quite a bit of force, enough to deform the noses of v-max bullets, hornady sent me a new seat stem, but it was the same. i solve that issue by using a winchester bullet with heavier nose construction. again not a big deal, but something that had to be dealt with. the first 100 NEW brass started to crack shoulders and necks on the second or third loading. yes SHOULDER cracks. i tried annealing, to soften the necks and shoulders, i may have gotten a little better life after that but not much. i bought another 160 brass from someone on gunbroker, it was once fired winchester from test loads. i would start with 100 brass, next loading i had 65 or so left, then next loading maybe 30 left.
last i looked 223 wssm brass was about 60 cents a piece, if they last 4 times, then each shot cost me 15 cents just in brass! performance was only marginally better than a 22-250, but with brass that costs far more. i find enough 22-250 brass at the public range to last me a lifetime, i spent more on 223 wssm brass in 2 years than in 12 years with a 22-250 that i shoot way more.
if you want a 223 wssm, then get one. but i would take ANY other 22 centerfire before another 223 wssm. 22-250 is hard to beat for a varmint rifle or predator rifle.
ab_bentley
New member
You can't miss fast enough to kill. So speed dosen't matter when it comes to killing. As for the burning properties, the WSSM is at the top of the list of bad ideas. Shooting that much powder down the tube for 250fps faster than a 223AI isn't cost effective. I have a friend, who I deal with a bunch in Ky. He bought one and by the time he had found a load that worked he had no throat in the 223WSSM Shadow he bought less than two weeks prior. AR's are easier on barrels because you can't run them as hard as bolt guns, simple fact. As a result the WSSM maybe a great round for that platform for for bolt guns, in my opinon, it's a waste of time and money when there are other rifles out there that maybe 250fps slower but have less hassle and longer life. Again the above statment is worth what you paid for it. Adam