I went into Gander Mountain today looking for a Savage M/L. They didn't have any so I got quickly distracted by a Tikka in 243 WSSM. I heard some good things about it but haven't looked at them too close. I was curious about it so I walked over to the ammo shelf and took a look at the round. WOW, what a short fat little bastard that is! Looks kinda like what I see in the mirror every morning. Anyway, I was wondering about other peoples experiences with this round and the 25 WSSM. Kinda of reminds me of the BR cartridges. How do they stack up against the .243 Win., 6mm Rem., and the 25-06?

As always thanks in advance,
Rich

Ballistically they shoot a bullet out of a barrel. I am too old to be enchanted by the latest greatest thing a ma bob. There are definate issues of feeding smoothness and short and fat works best for fire hydrants IMHO. Non the less they will continue to sell, so buy all you can. They are not PPC's.

quote:

Originally posted by 308Sako:
Ballistically they shoot a bullet out of a barrel. I am too old to be enchanted by the latest greatest thing a ma bob. There are definite issues of feeding smoothness and short and fat works best for fire hydrants IMHO. Non the less they will continue to sell, so buy all you can. They are not PPC's.

Amen!
There are definite problems with feeding and brass (not to mention AMMO) is expensive, and on and on…

While the WSM’s and WSSM’s are more powerful with a little less powder than most of the rounds they “duplicate†I am not sold. My 1959 vintage ’03-A3 in 6mm Rem (1-10 twist) is as fast as I need and far more accurate than most people can shoot.

I can also go into my local gun shop (S-M Guns or Mazama Sporting Goods) and buy brass by the 100 fairly inexpensively.

Try that with a 243 WSSM.

Do lots of reloading for guys without the time or patience who are dissatisfied with their rifles' performance. The absolute worst time I have had was with a .243 WSSM. That one experience convinced me WSSMs are anything but as advertised. New--yes, but improved? Not in my book, unless you are in to masochism and self-inflicted frustration. Just my two cents' worth.

It appears from this forum that the respondents have more of a problem with the wssms properly feeding/loading than with their performance.

It then appears that the 22 250 would be a superior choice to the 25 and 243 wssm cartidges for varmint hunting not because of performance, but because of reliability.

I don't know why everyone is knocking the wssm's. I belive most people that run their mouth about them have never shot a wssm much less own one.

Kevin Weaver just finshed my new 223 wssn. He built it on a mod 70 action with a 26" 1-14 #2 fluted by Pac-Nor. We are still in the barrel breakin and load development stage. It just fired a 4 shot group with 40gr Nosler BTs over 46grs of Varget at 4406 fps into a sub .3 inch goup at 100yd. This is the first load we tried, there is still room to increase the powder and veloicty, and it should only shoot better as the barrel shoots in.
As for as preformace goes it smokes the 22-250 and the 220 swift.
I know that it's hard to teach a Old Dog new tricks but you need to take a look at the wssm's.

Dr B

Dr. B

Sent PM

I shoot a 223WSSM (a Savage with a Pac nor barrel), and she's sub .5 MOA with factory ammo. Great long range varminter, and a little more versatile than the Swift or 22/250 with the 10 twist.

I don't see the point of the 243 WSSM. Too similar to the 6mm and the 243. Plus, I love the 240WBY.

However, the 25 WSSM, in my opinion, is an absolute, hands down winner. 25/06 performance in a short handy rifle suitable for everything hunted by 95% of license holders.

If you buy one, whatever you do, do NOT buy a Winchester. 99% of all problems I read / hear about are with Winchester rifles. The brownings seem to pretty much shoot. JMO, Dutch.

Dutch.....which Savage action did you use for your WSSM ? Does it feed , or did you have to swap out some magazine parts ?

If I buy a factory gun it will have to be M-70 . I just can't help myself , those Coyotes are just too cute.(grin)

Slinger is right i have a mod 70 fwt and I cant get it to feed 1 shell from the magazine Accuracy is also questionable. It is a beautiful rifle though on the upside and very very light (.243 WSSM)

quote:

Originally posted by Dr B:
I don't know why everyone is knocking the wssm's. I belive most people that run their mouth about them have never shot a wssm much less own one.

Kevin Weaver just finshed my new 223 wssn. He built it on a mod 70 action with a 26" 1-14 #2 fluted by Pac-Nor. We are still in the barrel breakin and load development stage. It just fired a 4 shot group with 40gr Nosler BTs over 46grs of Varget at 4406 fps into a sub .3 inch goup at 100yd. This is the first load we tried, there is still room to increase the powder and veloicty, and it should only shoot better as the barrel shoots in.
As for as preformace goes it smokes the 22-250 and the 220 swift.
I know that it's hard to teach a Old Dog new tricks but you need to take a look at the wssm's.

Dr B

Too many people reporting problems with feeding these short, fat cartridges. This might only be a few out of
the thousands of rifles sold, but I don't think so.

With my luck (bolstered by past experience), if there was one bad gun out of 10,000 I would get "the one" and spend weeks screwing around with it instead of enjoying it. No thanks.

I'll stick to my "old and slow" 6mm Rem.

I have an AR15 in the 243wssm. It shoots almost one hole groups at 100 yards, feeds flawlesly from the magazine. I am shooting the 55 grain Nozler varmint ballistic tips, a little over 4000fps. I load all of my ammo on a Dillon 550B, and have not had one problem with anything. I developed my load using the Audette ladder method on 300 yard target. It is devastating to varmints. I bought 2000 rounds of brass for about 75.00 a thousand, so that should last me a while. Varget and BLC2 is a good choice for powder. Not sure if it is going to be real hard on the barrel, so I am only going to shoot a couple hundred rounds loaded real hot. I was also shooting some Barnes 72grn HP's, and they did an excellent job out to 400 yards. I really enjoy shooting it. I also use a solid bottom muzzle brake, and that helps me to see the kill!! The ineretia of the bolt cycling though, is enough to help loose the sigh picture sometimes.
Wayne

quote:

Originally posted by sdgunslinger:
Dutch.....which Savage action did you use for your WSSM ? Does it feed , or did you have to swap out some magazine parts ?

I used a 11G (IIRC) 300 WSM. Mine is intended as single shot for varmint control on the farm. It does NOT feed, but I have not tried to make it feed, either. A person would have to block the magazine at the front, and probably diddle with the feed rails. Ideally, one would construct a single stack magazine, and it would feed every time.

As an aside, however, I have not heard of anyone having feeding problems with rifles DESIGNED for these fat little buggers. FWIW, Dutch.

I have a .223 WSSM and .270 WSM, both M70 Super Shadow Walmart specials. I love them both. As for bad feeding, I have read on MANY different forums and post how the WSSM's don't feed properly, but have yet to come across anyone that actually had the problem with their rifle. I think the traditionaists are spreading the B.S.. Don't get me wrong, I love my "traditional" rifles (.223 Rem, 6mm Rem, .270 Win, .30-06).

I recently had the opportunity to shoot a M70 Coyote chambered in 25 WSSM. Smooth feeding and excellent accuracy. Liked the rifle quite well.

I have a Win 70 Stealth II chambered in 243 WSSM. Nothing but positive results from mine.
Another actual experience.

muck