'splain something to me, Lucy...

[Critch]

Sorry, I always liked Desi Arnaz.

Anyway, I was looking at a new reloading manual, (actually a Hodgdon update magazine) and I was comparing the 223WSSM, 22-250 and 220 Swift. One thing I noticed was the pressure differences on the high side between the three. The WSSM's have some huge pressures, and that leads me to believe that it would be easy to screw something up while reloadng if you are off even a little on your powder measures.

I'm sure that people smarter than me noticed this a long time ago, but has anyone experinced any problems reloading the WSSM's?

Barrel erosin has got to be problem on these WSSM's.

[Rocky Raab]

The older cartridges are probably getting almost that much pressure. It's just that the older pressure "measuring" systems were little more than educated guesses. The WSSMs were developed with transducer sensors, and the readings are more accurate.

But they WERE designed to run at higher pressures, as well. Despite that, the usual reloading cautions will keep you in safe waters.

Bore erosion is another issue. Brwoning/Winchester learned early that WSSM bores had to be chromed to last. All of them are. Barrels from other manufacturers may not be. So if you buy a B/W rifle, you should have normal bore life. Buy a custom job and...

From what I read, the big problem so far has been VERY hard fouling, tough to clean. Accuracy goes to pot and the guy doing the gun review opines that barrel is shot out. But it just needed a really good cleaning.

[Jack]

"From what I read, the big problem so far has been VERY hard fouling, tough to clean. Accuracy goes to pot and the guy doing the gun review opines that barrel is shot out."
RR

That sure sounds familiar! The exact same thing you heard about the 220 Swift at it's inception, and even today.

[Dutchboy]

I built a 223 WSSM using a Pac-Nor barrel as a long range varminter, and I have not seen the fouling issue. As a matter of fact, it's not any worse than my 6PPC. This is with very slow burning powders such as RL22, Magnum, 7828 at 55,000 PSI level pressures. Of course, Wipe-out is my best bud, and I don't run more than about 30 rounds between cleanings. Everthing is shot "slow fire" too.

The brass on these cases is VERY thick, which makes resizing a little different. Lot's of spring-back, and you need pressure or you will soot the outside of the cases.

I've shot about 500 rounds through mine, and can't really detect any throat erosion, yet (three groove might help with that).

The round is accurate (mine stays .5 MOA, which is the limit of my ability), and it is very useful with 75 gr. amaxes at 400 to 600 yards. The varmints seem to be rather impressed. FWIW, Dutch.

[Lone Star]

Anyway, I was looking at a new reloading manual, (actually a Hodgdon update magazine) and I was comparing the 223WSSM, 22-250 and 220 Swift. One thing I noticed was the pressure differences on the high side between the three. The WSSM's have some huge pressures... Actually, they all operate at very similar pressures. The difference is the measurement systems used. The "old" system when the .22-250 and .220 were introduced was a mechanical crusher system measuring in CUP, or Copper Units of Pressure. In the past decade or more, electronic measurements have become standard, and the WSSM cartridges are measured in psi.

Example: the current SAAMI standard for the .22-250 is 65,000 psi, virtually the same as the WWSMs. It is nominally the same "pressure" or contained force as with the old CUP value.

[Skinny Shooter]

Dutchboy, I like your line of thinking in that last post. Heavy for caliber .224 bullets, fast-twist barrel and wipe-out. :cool: