Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats 6.5 wssm ????

I have wssm rifle in which I was thinking of building a 6.5 wssm. Any opinions or guidance about a build like this. Not lmuch I can do with a wssm action, thought this might be a good one to try. point me in the right direction.

thanks

Why no look at a 6.5 SAUM, 6.5 SS or 6.5 PRC. Each are pretty similar with slightly different followings, but worth the look.

The action would be too small for the SAUM or PRC cartridges.

I only have my own opinions, so here it is...

If I am going to spend money and time to build a custom rifle I would want to end up with something really nice in the end that had some value, so for me, the right direction would be to take whatever money you would have to throw at this project and buy a couple of 6.5 Creedmore or PRC rifles when they are available.

If you have a working rifle now, use it as is, or sell it.

If you did nothing at all with that action you would be dollars ahead.

If I sound too pessimistic, I'm still waiting for the coffee to kick in.

I did that about 8 years ago. and after running 320 rounds thru the 28" Brux barrel i decided it might like a different home.
140s were giving me an easy 3350 fps with good accuracy. I had built it for a long range Antelope gun, and felt i needed a better gun than my 25/06. Both Antelope i shot with it were within range of my 25/06 also. I also have a large 7mm which gives more velocity with a 168 gr. DUHH
I wish in hindsite id just built a 6.5x06 AI, as id no doubt still own the gun.
Hey, you did ask.

thanks for the opinions gun might be up for sale.....

Are you talking about a 6.5 WSM, or WSSM? Those sure sound like WSM numbers.

Since most 6.5mm bore shooters are using long VLD bullets, I doubt that there is enough magazine length to handle those bullets, so they are an advantage that you can't ever take advantage of because of the COAL limits of the magazine.

I've shot the heck out of the 25 WSSM and think that it is the best of the three commercial WSSM cartridges.

There isn't a varmint or predator that a 25 WSSM loaded with a 75 grain VMax won't handle.

Likewise there isn't a medium game animal that a 25 WSSM loaded with a 100 grain Partition or 110 grain AB won't handle.

The B&M 450, 475, and 50 Super Short cartridges are also an option if you don't mind dealing with Bruton and McCourry.

I have a spare 70 Super Shadow that I have considered rebarreling in 500 S&W, but it is a project that might never get anywhere beyond gathering the components.

My smith and I are in the process of research on the 6.5wssm. I will be building one on a Remington model seven that is a saum right now. I/we have decided that the 243wssm case is a better than the 25 wssm due to shoulder angle. it’s looking like a .289 neck is going to be the ticket.
Guys were having some issues with extraction on the wssm actions but I believe it was an easy fix. I’m looking at the 243 case having between 8 to 12% more capacity than the creedmoor. Actually running long Bullets in the 260 ai range or better with no COAL issues.

If you want my smiths number send me a PM.

Is wssm brass still readily available?

No, loaded ammo and component brass are irregular/seasonal production runs at Winchester/Olin. Component brass by other manufacturers might be run in small lots, but I haven't heard of any.

If you're going to shoot a WSSM, you'd better be prepared to buy loaded ammo and component brass whenever, wherever, and a whatever cost you find it.

I jumped into the 25 WSSM pool with both feet in 2004/2005, so when Grafs put Federal 223 and 243 WSSM brass on sale, I bought several thousand pieces.

I have had great success with the thinner Federal brass, all of it resized to 25 WSSM and some of which I have loaded 8x. The Winchester/Olin brass is very thick and tends to get split necks if you don't anneal it.

EDIT: It has been pointed out to me that Hornady is making 243 WSSM brass and that MidwayUSA has it in stock priced at a little over $1 per piece of brass.

https://www.hillbillybrass.com/more-on-wssm-forming
Im thinking Neil Jones could whip up a set of dies for doing this.

dave

WSSM = 260 performance

Worth the hassle?