Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats .25 wsm?

I was just wondering why Winchester decided on the 25 WSSM, as opposed to a 25 WSM? As far as preformance, wouldn't the latter have been a better choice? My son took his first mule deer buck last fall with the 25 WSSM. Its a great round but am curious about Winchesters decision.

I have heard that there were pressure issues with the 25 WSM.

I shoot the 25 WSSM, a lot, and look at as being in the 257AI to 25-284 zip code, IOW, a lot of performance in a short/fat case, but at the obviously high operating pressures. I think that the failure of Winchester/Olin to offer a standard grade/cost 80 grain varmiunt load and a 100 grain deer load, in addition to the 120 grain PEP, had some impact on the 25 WSSM's popularity. Most people who I know can't justify the expense of shooting much premium grade/cost ammo, like the 85 grain SBT, 110 grain AB, or 115 grain SBT.

JEff

The rumor I read (on this board I believe) was that the 25 WSM did have issues with weird pressure readings. Because of that, Winchester went with the wssm instead.

My personal bias is towards the saum casing. The 7saum is just about perfect for most game animals in the USA. Especially since it's a 280ai in a short action. Everyone raves about how great the 280ai is but forgets the 7saum. Being a short guy I like short actions so the 7saum is perfect to my tastes.

A 25saum should be getting close to a 257 Roy speed a short action. There have been a few wildcatters playing with this round. I wish there was more information because a 25saum is something I would find very intersting. If it every gets standarized, I might have to build one myself.

Winchester obviously could still introduce the 25WSM, but they don't want to sell too many rifles. Trying to keep their production down so they don't make too much profit in these uncertain times..........

I "heard" it was because .25 caliber sales are lower than everything else they sell. They didn't want to compete with the .25-06 as a hunting caliber. So they went with a more potent .25 WSSM varmint caliber. They obviously didn't listen to the public.

Winchester has done stupid [bleep] since they started back in the cowboy days. Their lever actions still suck, yet they refuse to tighten them up, make them accurate and fix the outdated, sloppy, low pressure design. Oh, then they go out of business and start over again with the same problems they had in the past, expecting different results. Flinch

I'm on my second 257 WSM barrel and have tried every load I could think of without any pressure spikes. The power level is right in between the 25-06 and the 257 Wby. I've had all three and like the 257 WSM the best, it suits me..