Are the WSSM’s Still Alive?

[ZGunner]

I just bought a Winchester Model 70 in .223 WSSM and I’m wondering if these cartridges are still viable. I thought I paid a fair price, $280 for the rifle and Leupold bases. I can’t hardly buy an entry level rifle for that much so I figured “why not”! The shop also had a few boxes of the ammo for $30/box so I got one to sight in and see how I like it, still haven’t shot it...

All the info I’ve found has been dead threads from about 4-6 years ago. So, what is the general consensus on these Super Short magnums nowadays? I know brass was the big issue before, but I’ve seen a few places with it in stock. I probably won’t shoot 500 rounds through this barrel, so I’m not too worried about burning it up. Did I mess up on my purchase?

 

[ZGunner]

Sorry, I promise I didn’t see Poper’s post before I made this one. Hadn’t seen a WSSM post in ages.

 

[oldfortyfiveauto]

I picked up a 25WSSM about two years ago. Shoots great and is wicked on prairie dogs. The WSSM's tend to be hard on barrels and are a little trickier to load (brass is a little thicker making it harder to get the shoulder/headspace right).

 

[mshootnit]

Still think they should have come out with a 6.5 SAUM. But for it to be successful Hornady would have had to roll it out with a cool name. And then even though it would be slower than say a 264 Win Mag, be sure to list it later in the reloading guide, thereby adding more prestige at the cost of only limited confusion and dismay.

 

[LoonWulf]

Still think they should have come out with a 6.5 SAUM. But for it to be successful Hornady would have had to roll it out with a cool name. And then even though it would be slower than say a 264 Win Mag, be sure to list it later in the reloading guide, thereby adding more prestige at the cost of only limited confusion and dismay.

You mean like the 6.5PRC?


Hornady is at least making wssm brass.

As long as the barrel isn't shot out you should have a neat rifle at a great price. If it Is shot out, still a solid base for a custom build.

 

[ZGunner]

As long as the barrel isn't shot out you should have a neat rifle at a great price. If it Is shot out, still a solid base for a custom build.

I think rebarreling in a .25 WSSM would be cool. From everything I've seen that is the best option for these guns considering the action length and lack of different bolt faces. Do I have any other options for a build later on, other than another WSSM?

 

[mshootnit]

I think rebarreling in a .25 WSSM would be cool. From everything I've seen that is the best option for these guns considering the action length and lack of different bolt faces. Do I have any other options for a build later on, other than another WSSM?

Could always shoot out the 223 WSSM first then rebarrel. That is a hot little 22.

 

[redneck2]

I had an AR in .358 WSSM. Deer rifle. Was hard to find brass for years

I don’t want another rifle but I’d have bought it for that money. I don’t know if there is a factory 6.5 WSSM, but that would be interesting

 

[mshootnit]

You mean like the 6.5PRC?


Hornady is at least making wssm brass.

As long as the barrel isn't shot out you should have a neat rifle at a great price. If it Is shot out, still a solid base for a custom build.

Wulf, once again you read my mind!

 

[LoonWulf]

Stock option for rebarrel the .25WSSM Does look good. @Poper 's 264 WSSM also looks pretty cool..... honestly tho I think I'd probably do something different, maybe a 375 or .458 variant....kinda like a.375 or .458 SOCOM on steroids. Not sure how hard it would be to get them functioning and feeding tho.

 

[WestKentucky]

For that casehead and the short action, once that wssm barrel is shot out I personally would be looking an entirely different direction. 500 S&W magnum rim diameter is only slightly smaller than the wssm so it should still work, and then you have a big slow cannon rather than a lightning fast prairie dog detonator. I am not certain it would work, but I think it would.

 

[natman]

I just bought a Winchester Model 70 in .223 WSSM and I’m wondering if these cartridges are still viable. I thought I paid a fair price, $280 for the rifle and Leupold bases. I can’t hardly buy an entry level rifle for that much so I figured “why not”! The shop also had a few boxes of the ammo for $30/box so I got one to sight in and see how I like it, still haven’t shot it...

All the info I’ve found has been dead threads from about 4-6 years ago. So, what is the general consensus on these Super Short magnums nowadays? I know brass was the big issue before, but I’ve seen a few places with it in stock. I probably won’t shoot 500 rounds through this barrel, so I’m not too worried about burning it up. Did I mess up on my purchase?

Are the WSSM’s Still Alive?
No.
The shop also had a few boxes of the ammo for $30/box.
Go back and buy the rest.
Did I mess up on my purchase?
Not at that price. Buy the rest of the ammo, shoot it, (slowly) and save the brass. Once the barrel is gone or brass is no longer available, use it as a donor to convert to something else. I'd bore out the barrel to 6.5 and have a dandy antelope/deer gun.

 

[Jackal]

Great cal for a hand-loader. Dead cal for factory support.

 

[Poper]

My Browning 19" barreled .264 WSSM (a semi-custom wildcat) spits 120 grain SGK's out at 3120 f.p.s. at slightly less than 1.5" groups at 100 yards. A good start and with a little tweaking of the load should be able to get close to 1" groups. An excellent deer / antelope round in a compact, quick handling rifle.

Lots of hand work in brass preparation for this rifle. It appears to have a tight chamber, especially at the neck, which requires neck turning the brass. Because the brass is so heavy on the WSSM's, necking up the caliber, usually creates a "donut" at the shoulder/neck juncture that requires reaming. All but the trimming of the brass only requires being done once, though, so the torture and tediousness is relatively short lived. Still fun, though, IMHO.

 

[Poper]

deleted

 

[mshootnit]

Stock option for rebarrel the .25WSSM Does look good. @Poper 's 264 WSSM also looks pretty cool..... honestly tho I think I'd probably do something different, maybe a 375 or .458 variant....kinda like a.375 or .458 SOCOM on steroids. Not sure how hard it would be to get them functioning and feeding tho.

Was always intrigued with the idea of something like 6.5 RSAUM

 

[LoonWulf]

Was always intrigued with the idea of something like 6.5 RSAUM

So have I. A while back some of us were talking about getting a run of custom savage barrels from ershaw. It was the caliber I was gonna chamber....when ever I got a rifle to put it on lol.

This was before the prc was released....or at least before I'd read about it.

 

[2ndtimer]

I would suggest stocking up on brass while it is still available. No telling when it might become hard to find or when Hornady or Winchester might decide to produce another run of it. I recall that .270WSM brass was hard to find (or prohibitively expensive) for several years during the panic buying. Not sure how much longer the WSSM brass will be available.

 

[mshootnit]

So have I. A while back some of us were talking about getting a run of custom savage barrels from ershaw. It was the caliber I was gonna chamber....when ever I got a rifle to put it on lol.

This was before the prc was released....or at least before I'd read about it.

Another cool 6.5 I have only read about is the European 6.5X57

 

[LoonWulf]

Another cool 6.5 I have only read about is the European 6.5X57

I'm seriously considering building a 6.5x57 (6.5Roberts) rifle on a T99 arisaka action at some point in the future. Down side is cost of reloading dies. Performance isn't likely to the any different than a .260 but the longer more tappered case should feed a little smoother

The 264wssm, 6.5rsaum, 6.5prc, are probably better choices for most actions honestly.
Finding a wssm out here is difficult (admittedly I'm jealous of both Poper and Zgunners rifles).

 

[mshootnit]

I think it is conceivable that the 6.5X57 would give 150 fps over a 260. To me it is worth it because the 260 is in the category " Needs every fps you can give it."
You would need a long action probably. That by itself kind of rains on the parade. 6.5 RSAUM probly not?

 

[Poper]

I built a 6.5-.300 WSM about 8 years ago on a Rem. 700 action. With 140 grain bullets it barely eclipsed my .270 Win. with 130 grain bullets but burned an additional 10 grains of powder. Its best grouping powder was H1000, but it was short of a maximum load by quite a bit and the groups at close to maximum were in the 2"+ category, IIRC. Anyway, after letting it collect dust for a couple years, I put it up on GB and two guys decided they had to have it. It sold for over $1k more than I would have been happy with. Got my money out of it plus a little, but still, I was kinda sorry to see it go. I liked that gun and it was well done by a local 'smith that has since retired.