I found a great deal on a Browning 25 WSSM. What does anyone think about it?

It basically duplicates the performance of the 25/06 so it should make a good deer rifle. Personally, I would rather have a .257 Roberts or a 25/06 but that is just me.

Well Chris, welcome to the forum...

my folks live there in Temecula also...

on the 25 WSSM.. I think you are seeing a "smoking deal" on it for a reason.....

Myself, I'd keep with something that has been around for a while.. instead of something that was a brief trend that I'd worry about component availability later on...

and if you are not a handloader.. that last statement goes triple!

I used one this weekend and it works great weighs nothing and shoots. I like it very much 25-06 leaves room for improvement with handloads but not much room to improve with 25 wssm. my 100 gr tsx load flatens the pigs sheep and deer . I might even shoot something bigger if I had the right shot. It is not voodoo or any other kind of majic but the little browning has killed about 12 animals with athority in less than a year.

I think it is a great cart to neck up to 6.5 and 358

The compactness, weight and handling of the m70 featherweight 25 wssm was awesome...to me it is about the rig rather than the cart.

If you reload just buy a lot of brass and fear not...if you dont reload...go with something else.

Thanks for all of the input. I tend to agree with Seafire when it comes to buying firearms in a caliber that is well established. I fell into that trap when 10mm first came out. I really was looking for a cartridge to hunt coyote with minimal pelt damage ayway. So it doesn't look like this would fit the bill. I just bought a new 30/06 deer rifle so no need duplicating. Any suggestions on a cool predator round/ rifle combo?

me I love the quater bores so much I bought a .25/06 in a Ruger and a .257 WBY !!both are real shooters.......but the price of ammo !!!WHEW!!!

204 cooper

"predator rifle"

How about savage's new predator gun in 22-250. The whole gun is done up in MOBU, has a heavy barrel, and has their accutrigger.

I've looked at that Savage. I think I'm in love.

Just Bought one in .223. I am in love.

Seafire, too bad there never was a commercial 6.5 WSSM, I'd been all over that, and if it was slow on sales like some others, I'd get a cheaper rifle and ammo/ and then stock up on brass. Heard great things about the 25 version, others have to keep bbl clean often I hear, Fed 243 WSSM brass is not bad on price compared to Win I have seen, but often FC is thicker and has less capacity, also hear when forming say 6.5 from smaller bores, the brass is very thick and you have to ream inside necks and turn necks IIRC.

I'd consider a 25 and be very happy with ballistics in a small bore. Personally feel the 25 BR (wildcat) and WSSM are well suited and those little actions could have some weight savings. Assume they feed ok, but do not know for certain. Accuracy said to be very good.

Chris, let us know if you go with the Browning.

If you want one for hutning Game I'd say if you like it do it, but for alot of varmint shooting, a 223, 22-250, 222, or 243 would give you more options and perhaps less expensive ammo/brass. If the WSSM starts to fade away, you might can pick up cheap ammo/brass as well as rifles at clearance prices.

Good luck.

quote:

Originally posted by boom stick:
I think it is a great cart to neck up to 6.5 and 358

The compactness, weight and handling of the m70 featherweight 25 wssm was awesome...to me it is about the rig rather than the cart.

If you reload just buy a lot of brass and fear not...if you dont reload...go with something else.

I agree. The Winchester Model 70 WSSM rifles handle and balance extremely well. They're light and awesome to carry in the field.

quote:

Originally posted by Chris_Kenney:
I found a great deal on a Browning 25 WSSM. What does anyone think about it?

Might be alright if you wanna load them one at a time, WSSMs are known for not feeding well, wonder if thats why they dont sell many of them? Id stay away if it was me. Jay

Ever tried one? My WSSM feed just fine.

I really like the 25 WSSM. I have had great success with both the Winchester/USRA 70 rifles and Winchester/Olin factory ammo. I've been very pleased with the Federal 243 WSSM brass that I've been using to feed my 25 WSSM pdog rifle. I've reloaded the initial lot of 100 cases x8 and haven't lost any. Since they're all used in the same rifle, I just neck size them and trimmed them after the 5th reloading.

I think that some people worry excessively about not being able to find brass in the future. I'd expect Winchester/Olin to make WSSM brass for many years to come. Perhaps only as a "season run" catagory of brass, like the 218 Bee, 225, and 358 currently are. Or you could just buy 1,000 pieces of brass when you buy the rifle and you should be in good shape for the accurate life of the rifle. BTW, CDNN currently has Browning A-Bolt Hunters in 25 WSSM on sale for $499.99 wholesale and Winchester/USRA 70 Ultimate Shadows in 25 WSSM for $399.99 wholesale.

Jeff

My browning varmint stalker in 25wssm required truing, recrowning and rechambering to shoot up to expectations.

It is a cute cartridge, but doesn't really do anything that can't be had elsewhere with better brass availability.

Future brass availability is a concern for me.

Cheers,

Dan

I have yet to shoot a Winchester/USRA 70 in 25 WSSM that wouldn't shoot at least 2 MOA with Winchester/Olin factory ammo before being tuned.

My original 25 WSSM, a Winchester/USRA 70 Super Shadow, has been tuned and will shoot the 120 grain Winchester/Olin factory loads into 1 to 1.25 MOA groups on a regular basis. The biggest challenge that I find with the WSSM is that the featherweight barrels heat up very quickly and need 4 or 5 minutes to cool between shots, if you want the groups to be in the MOA range. Another challenge with the WSSMs is that the synthetic stocks aren't exceptionally stiff and there isn't much to pick from the aftermarket stocks for the lighter barreled Winchesters.

OTOH, my Winchester/USRA 70 pdog rifle, which has a heavy custom barrel and a 1 in 14" twist, will shoot 75 grain bullets into sub-MOA groups all day, every day.

Jeff