Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles .223 WSSM

Besides brass availability? Can get one cheap. Pro's Con's..

Thanks

In my experience, too difficult to load for. The necks on the brass becomes too thick after just being fired twice. I'd get a 22-250 instead.

Pros?
Speed, more speed, and lot's of it. Hornaday list a 40gr Vmax at 4,600fps. It is the fastest commercial 22 out there.

Con's?
As Bdan68 said, necks are very thick. We get 2-3 firings per case then the necks split. I'm sure annealing the necks would help.

My son has had a Browning for 9-10 years, using it as a coyote rifle. With a 60gr Vmax at 3,700fps+, it hammers them.

He had a Winchester Black Shadow in 223wssm first. That was, the worst shooting rifle I have ever been around. Patterns, are what it shot. 2 on paper, 3 off, 1 on 4 off, etc.. Groups of 10-15" @100yds.

The Browning shoots great. Many loads are sub-MOA.

The barrels are chrome lined on both Win and Browning rifles. On another forum, someone posted they ran a bore scope down a Win 223wssm barrel and found the chrome lining to be patchy, with no chrome visible in some spots.

That could explain the erratic 'groups' of my son's Winchester.

your purpose ? Throat is probably gone......$500+ for new barrel.......

do your self a favor & buy a boring 8 or 9 twist standard 223

Get the dies & components to hand load it.......no frustration...no looking for brass

especially at a buck a pop........223 is still one tough to beat cartridge

http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/223rem/