Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters .223 WSSM fast twist

Winchester model 70.223 WSSM
Fast twist Douglas SS barrel #3 contour.
RL-25: 46.5 grains
5/8 group @ 100 yards.
What do y'all think?
Powder capacity is the same as a .243 Win.
Whay does Hornady call it a barrel burner with 38gr Varget, yet a 22x57 is calleed wonderful with 49 gr of H1000?
Should be about a 7.3 on John B's chart for efficient cartridges. (yes John I kept that article)
Thanks,
John Boy

I have one. It works like it should. The necks take some getting used to, but annealing made it go away as an issue. My Ramshot Magnum load is the most consistent load I've ever loaded, with an ES of less than 15, consistently. More consistent than my 6PPC, by a bit.

Makes a wonderful long range varminter with the 75Amax.

And, I agree, the 224TTH is a miracle cartridge, while the 223WSSM is an abomination? Sure. FWIW, Dutch.

From what I have seen, the biggest problem with the whole WSSM line is that they, like most post-WW2 cartridges, fill a void that doesn't exist. Most of the people who don't like them have never owned a single rifle chambered for a WSSM cartridge and, if they have, most of that subset hasn't made much effort to learn about its eccentricities.

The guys over on www.wssmzone.com seem to struggle to get the factory barreled 223 WSSMs to shoot, so those who have had success had mostly rebarreled with higher grade after-market barrels that have rifling rates faster than the factory standard 1 in 10� ROT. I have only shot 1 rifle 223 WSSM and not extensively. The rifle in question is a factory stock Winchester/USRA 70 stainless Ultimate Shadow that seem to shoot the 64 grain Winchester/Olin factory loads into MOA +/-0.25, if I let the barrel cool between shots. OTOH, I have shot over 1000 rounds, in total, from 4 or 5 different Winchester/USRA 70s in 25 WSSM and I am very pleased with the packages and the performance.

My �go to� deer rifle for the past 3 years is a Winchester/USRA 70 stainless Ultimate Shadow that is bedded into a McM Compact stock, the only after-market synthetic stock scaled to fit the Winchester/USRA 70 super short action without feeling/looking oversized. This rifle isn�t particularly light, since I didn�t opt to go with the McM Edge technology, but it gives 257AI/25-284 performance in a slightly smaller/handier package.

Jeff

Agree, the Winchesters were sort of like "last ditch" rifles when they knew New Haven was doomed. However, the Browning 223's seem to shoot just fine. FWIW, Dutch.

Thanks for the input.
Now I need some information on obtaining bottom metal and a relacement stock. Midway doesn't carry anything.
Any sources?
P.S. I takes this old geezer a minute to figure out the text message short hand.

I bought a Mdl 70 223 WSSM from wallyworld as a truck gun, scope and all in a combo deal for $299.00 plus tax. th first trip to the range was a complete suprise. I shot three shots at 100 yds and could only see one hole 1 1/2 inch right of the bulls eye. and couldent see the other two bullet holes. when I went and checked the target I could see that the was in fact three holes that could be covered with a dime. and it will repeat it anytime with factory or hand loads.. did I luck out? or are you all just trashin a good rifle/caliber that you don't know anything about..and never gave it a chanch.

McMillan will inlet for the M70 WSSM's. Give them a call and they will tell you what stocks will work though, as I recall, they had me send my barreled action in because of some minor tang area fitting.
I'd forget about bottom medal and build blind mag. Here is a pic of my 1 in 8, M70 CRPF, in a McMillan Sako Varmint.

I don't believe that there is any Winchester/USRA 70 factory bottom metal available. I tried to get some a couple of years ago to convert Winchester/USRA 70 Super Shadows from a blind magazine format to a hinged bottom metal format. At that time, the Winchester/USRA parts depot in MO had it listed, but there wasn't any in stock and they told me that there wouldn't be any available. Also, they were asking around $150 for the alloy bottom metal.

The best aftermarket stock (that I have found) is the McM Compact. I'm pretty sure that McM could inlet it for a blind magazine and an upgraded Williams trigger guard.

Good luck!

Jeff

You're right. Bottom metal is rare as hens teeth.
Missed a bid on one for only $95.
I think I'll take your advise and use the McM and a Williams tg for the blind mag. Thanks for the help.

How is the .223 WSSM a barrel burner with 38 gr. Varget and a .22-250 isn't with 38 gr. fo H380? How much faster does the .223 WSSM run than the .22-250 if any? Just curious.

From the "published" data I've seen, a 75 grain A-Max can do 3200 fps or better with 49gr of H1000. RL 25 should be very similiar. Some claim 3500fps but I've seen no verified chronograph data.

John Boy

3200 is chump change for a 223 WSSM. Hornady has data for the 22-250 pushing the 75 gr. A-max to 3300 and the 223 WSSM to 3500. I've done so easily though I tend to run a bit slower. I've been using V-N560 and RamShot Hunter.
Just to get a quick and ugly idea of capacity I filled up 22-250AI,243, and 223 WSSM cases to over flowing with V-N560 and weighed the charges. I realize the amount of bullet protruding into the powder space may skew the reality.
223WSSM--54.2
243------53.3
22-250AI-49.6

You're correct about the FPS. I also don't push the max. I find better accuracy backed off just a bit. When the groups on this one hit 5/8" I stopped to re-group and see if I wanted to push it further. (46.5 gr. of RL25) I also filled cases with powder, but only to the neck base. You have the same results. Basically the 223 WSSM is a fat version of the "old" 22x243.

Where are you guys finding the McMillan Compact stocks? Can't find them on their web site anymore and I'm looking for one for a 35 wssm build...

I have 2 of these stocks. IIRC, Dick Davis told Rick and me to order the Hunters Edge Ultralight style that is listed in the "ultra light" section to be made with regular/standard materials, rather than with graphite/carbon materials that make the ultralight lighter. Maybe Rick or Tarah Bin could check their records and share the specs on my 2 stocks with you. If not, call McM and ask to speak with Dick, I'm sure that he can help you. If neither of those options work, I can look for the range book for my Winchester/USRA 70 stainless Ultimate Shadow in 25 WSSM, as I'm sure that the McM specs card that came taped to the stock is filed with the rest of the information on that rifle.

Jeff