Does anyone out there have one of these? I recently put one on layaway. It was a toss up between the 223 wssm, 22-250, or maybe a 220 swift. The price just so happened to be right for the wssm. Recently though I have been finding articles on the web about the barrels not lasting and being shot out after not even a thousand rounds. Has anyone out there actually had this problem? I figure it is probably all the haters out there that hate anything new.
Browning A-bolt 223 wssm
- Thread starter Jimmywax
- Start date
remingtonman_25_06
Handloader
- Nov 17, 2005
- 2,806
- 403
Well when your pushing little tiny bullets, down a little tiny hole w/nearly 45g of powder, it tends to not be very kind to barrels...No its not gonna last 3000 rounds, but it probly wont last 800 either..Main thing is to not let it get hot and clean regularly, and you'll be ok to probly around 1500-2K at the most. You give a litle to get a little with something like that, its pretty much king of the .224" factory offerings, althogh I've got some sizzling velocity out of my Swift...
I'd be more worried about them short litle fat things feeding more then anything... I've read more stories about bad feeding from WSSM"s then anything. I personally have no use to jump on the WSSM bandwagon. I would have went with the 22-250. The 223 WSSM isn't going to be around for long, and its hard on barrels, good chance its gonna have feeding problems. I've owned both the 22-250 and Swift and the Swift was very nice, but was hard on Winchester cases...I"d say the best bet is to just go the 22-250 route, you'll burn 10-15g less powder, get double the barrel life, and it never has feeding problems, still enough to kill coyotes to 500 yards. I guess ya just gotta mess around with them all to get your own opinion and what not on them..
Good luck with your Browning, should be an accurate rifle. Let us know how it does.
I'd be more worried about them short litle fat things feeding more then anything... I've read more stories about bad feeding from WSSM"s then anything. I personally have no use to jump on the WSSM bandwagon. I would have went with the 22-250. The 223 WSSM isn't going to be around for long, and its hard on barrels, good chance its gonna have feeding problems. I've owned both the 22-250 and Swift and the Swift was very nice, but was hard on Winchester cases...I"d say the best bet is to just go the 22-250 route, you'll burn 10-15g less powder, get double the barrel life, and it never has feeding problems, still enough to kill coyotes to 500 yards. I guess ya just gotta mess around with them all to get your own opinion and what not on them..
Good luck with your Browning, should be an accurate rifle. Let us know how it does.
I had a 25WSSM in a model 70 winchester shadow, it didn't like to feed right unless you really worked the bolt quite fast. Of course if it still comes out with bullet pointing to high to go into the chamber you wreck to bullet or on the off chance could hit the primer. I sold it.
- Thread starter
- #5
Well the price was right for the wssm, $399 nib. So does everybody think the short mags are doomed or just the super shorts?
According to Browning their wssm barrels are supposed to out last regular 22-250 barrels because they are chrome lined. Is that just hot air and clever marketing?
According to Browning their wssm barrels are supposed to out last regular 22-250 barrels because they are chrome lined. Is that just hot air and clever marketing?
remingtonman_25_06
Handloader
- Nov 17, 2005
- 2,806
- 403
That is a heck of a deal!! I just personally think the WSSM's are doomed...The WSM's aren't near as bad for feeding problems and actually have a use,IMO...I dont really know what to gather from that chrome lined BS, I think its just to help them sell rifles, because everybody and there dog knows what happens when your the king of velocity=short barrel life...
- Thread starter
- #7
As far as feeding goes I have heard the tikka single stack magazine works the best. I have also heard the the scissor like spring follower of the browning is the best of the american gun makers (their office is in Utah if nothing else :? ). Maybe I will just put one of those plates in to block off the magazine and make it into a single shot. 
:idea:
:idea:- Thread starter
- #8
- Thread starter
- #9
panhandlepr1
Beginner
- Nov 6, 2006
- 19
- 0
Both the Winchester and the Browning barrels were plated for that cartridge. My coyote hunting friend shoots the Winchester and it is truely a long game getter. I wouldn't worry about it going obsolete, it takes many years for brass to be a problem. I personally like the odd type cartridges. I have alot of oddballs and love em. I remember them talking about the barrel plating and they felt it would last as long as the 22-250. I would go for it. I built a 22-243 Middlested and it is about the same in preformance as the one your getting.
