Does anyone shoot WSSM's???

K

KillingCrew

New member
I am looking at getting a new coyote huntin rifle and was wondering if anyone is useing the WSSM's? I was wanting a 220Swift but I am having a hard time finding one. I read on another forum that the 223WSSM is just as good in accuracy and speed as the 220. So I was wanting to know if anyone has one and how accurate and fast is it? Also what type of rifle are ya'll shootin?
 
I would get a .22-250 instead. You can get similar velocities and while the 250 doesn't have super long barrel life, it will outlast the WSSM. I haven't heard very many good things about the .223WSSM either.
 
I am old fashioned. Stick with whats tried and true. I have friends with WSSM's and I sure have not been impressed in a positive way with results on big game. That is, of course, my own old fashioned two cents. Get a .22-250 and don't look back.
 
I will be able to tell you more in a week or two my 243WSSM upper will be here by then I think. While the WSSM can be a bit misleading since there is no Magnum to it same vels and energy figures as the regular 223 rem and 243 win, the extra short action is a plus as well as the just plain cool factor. I wanted an AR but have always been underimpressed with the .223/5.56 round, So when I found out I could build an AR rifle in 243WSSM I jumped on it I mean hey you got to admit that a 56 Grn bullet at 4000 FPS in a coyote gun has to be a good thing.
In my experiance most small calibers .224 anyway have a lot to be desired in any chambering .223,22-250, 220swift ect. unless you live in an area where wind is not a factor.
 
I have .223 WSSM and a .223 WSSM wildcat with 1 in 8 and 1 in 14 twist barrels. First off, in a WSSM the .243 is the only way to go. Why have a .223 55 at 3900 when you have a legit 4000 with a 55 in the .243. My experience shows the .243 version more accurate. Now, WSSM's have the thickest brass I have ever seen! It takes 2 or 3 firings to blow shoulders out for wildcats. .223 WSSM is finicky to say the least for accuracy and will not out perform my .220 Swift and certainly will not out shoot it accuracy wise!

.22TSM wildcat will run 40gr bullets at 4600 fps with extreme accuracy. Also, run 80gr Sierra's at 3350 the same way. These will turn a yote inside out! Accuracy from my custom rifle is very good but again messing with the brass is a pain.

I would get a Swift or a 250. Brass is not as expensive and you will not be using more powder to get very little gain using the WSSM. WSSM .223's are suppose to be real barrel burner's but I can't atest to that as of yet. They heat up a barrel very fast! If you use them to hunt predators barrel is not gonna heat up as fast and should last alot longer.

Dog, I have used a Swift for years shooting PD's out West in the high winds. Have no trouble connecting at 500 plus on a regular basis with it. Can't see shooting a 6mm as bullets and larger powder charges cost more for very little gain in my opinion. I will be curious to see how long these WSSM AR's hold up when folks get a few thousand rounds down them.
Be sure to keep me posted as you start getting a high number shot. Very interested in this as I don't have time to do one myself.
 
I have no experience with the .223 WSSM, but I am really happy with my Dtech 243 WSSM.

It's honestly not enough better ballistically than a .243 WIN to warrant the extra hassle and expense as far as I'm concerned, EXCEPT that I can't get a .243 Win in an AR15, and I CAN get a 243 WSSM in one. THAT combination is pure magic. Next up is a 6.5mm WSSM AR15. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
I had super high hopes for my .223WSSM Encore barrel That I had custom made from Virgin Valley Firearms before they went out of business. On paper and in person it looks pretty impressive but the reality is I would get more use out of that barrel as a tomato stake. I tried everything I could think of to get that thing to shoot and it just never came around. All my other varmint rifles would shoot rings around it. I'll never own another.
 
My son owns a Browning Abolt in 223wssm and it shoots very well with most loads, and extremely well with loads it likes. He uses a 60gr Vmax @3700fps+ for coyotes. This is not a "fur friendly" load!

Regarding barrel life, Browning and Win chrome line the barrel and claim life similar to a 22-250.

He had a Win Super Shadow in this cartridge and it was the worst shooting rifle I've ever encountered. The bad accuracy rap I have heard about has been with the Winchester's.

Speed wise, he get's 3850+ with a 55gr and 4050+ with a 50gr, but we haven't pushed them harder than that. Hornaday say's they got 4600 with a 40gr Vmax.
 
I'll 2nd K.

A good friend has a 220swift & I have a 223wssm. He has not been able to duplicate any of my chrono'd volocities (using the same chrony, same day, minutes apart, both with top end loads). The 223 wssm is THE HOTROD of the factory option .224cal.

HOWEVER, his swift will make my 5-shot group look bad /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif. My rifle is a Winchester Coyote (my 2nd one). The first one I had wouldn't hit a milk jug (consistantly) at 70 yards. It went back to Win (once upon a time they were in bus) and after several phone calls /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/angry-smiley-055.gif they sent me a brand new rifle. This one actually shoots pretty decent. My friends swift shoots unreal good for a factory rifle, but then they are good & bad of everything (don't let that be your deciding factor).




Although, truth be told, my wssm is in the very back of the safe & never see's any action. Of course... the 22-250 hasn't been out much since my 6br has come around, or anything else for that matter /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif.

Think'n about having a liquidation sale /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
KC
alot of good advice here
Personally I would get a swift no matter where you have to look for one.The fastest gun don't do any d=mn good if you can't hit what you are aiming at.....
 
I have a coyote 223 stainless, have not shot it much but it shoots probably better than I can.
Would like to have a 243 short mag in the same gun, for that matter would also like to have the 325 to hide under my bed for twenty years to see what it would be worth nib.
 
It might be prudent to remember that only Browning is chambering for the WSSM's and only in 2 different rifles. What does that mean to the guys that have one? Buy brass while you can, its not a good seller.
 
I have been shooting a Winchester Super Shadow in 223 WSSM for about a year now. I've heard the good and the bad, the rebuttal of the good and the bad and the rebutta of the rebuttal of the good and the bad and brought it anyway.

I purchased it for a groundhog gun. It is light short and easy to handle and rides good on the tractor and/or 4 wheeler with me. I topped it with a Tasco 6x24x50 Varmit scope. I know that aint exactly quality optic but I am rough on this particular rifle and would feel really bad breaking high dollar glass.

The gun has preformed flawlessly for me. I'm shooting factory 55 gr ammo at the moment and easily get under an inch at 100 yards. Not suprising any decent rifle should be able to do that. The surprise is the accuracy is consistant at longer ranges. Dirtpigs at 300 yard is like throwing a rock a the barn at 10 feet. If you miss it is the shooter not the gun!

I have not knoticed any concernable barrel wear, the action is smooth and slick, and less recoil than my 223 AR. The report is louder than a standard 223, close to what my 25-06 is but it has never been an issue since second shot are seldom necessary.

I would not discourage anyone from buying a WSSM of any caliber. I was so impressed with the 223 WSSM I brought a Browning Varmit Stalker in 25 WSSM for deer and black bear. I later got a Super Shadow in 243 WSSM, mostly because I found it at the local Wally World for Under $400 with scope. I love all three of them.

If there is a bad side in my eyes it has to be the cost and availablity of ammo. I am heading out in the next 30 minutes to buy the dies for all three guns and try and locate some brass.
 
I have said it before, I would starve to death building custom bolt-action rifles on the WSSM line.

BUT, I make a living building custom AR-15 rifles chambered in the WSSM line. I have been building them for several years now, and have sold literally hundreds of them. The .243 WSSM is the most popular, but the .25 is "King of the hill" as far as energy.

Like several have said, there really isn't enough advantage to the WSSM over their short-action counter parts, to justify abandoning the short-actions. Like nmleon said though..... You can't shoot the short-actions out of an AR, and the WSSM's you can. That, for me, makes them "magic"
 
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