WSSM's

[win39]

I was just wondering how everyone feels about the WSSM's. I have not seen a lot of threads about them. I have a 25 WSSM that I have not shot and a 223 WSSM that I use for Varmints. I hope I don't get kicked off for asking because I understand that this is a touchy subject on some sites.

[270wsm]

I for one have not used the WSSM's.I do however,have theWSM in.270.
Just going on the ballistic charts alone,I would think that these are great.
Although some may disagree.There is not much out there that will out shoot these cartridges in the same caliber!

[win39]

I think that is because they had the reputation of being barrel burners. I think this scared a lot of people. I had heard several different stories, such as after 150 to 300 rounds the throat would be out of the barrel. But I have approximately 450 rounds through mine and I see no signs of erosion, and I do load them as hot as I can. I do know it is hard to see any sign of pressure, other than a stiff bolt. I don't know if you read my other thread were I was saying that I'm getting a 270 WSM ready for next year. How would you do you like yours?

[270wsm]

I have the .270 and the.300. I absolutely love mine!I don't think there is anything I would rather have.Both shoot excellent,both will stop just about anything in it's tracks,and they both cost less than $380.00 a piece! I would highly recommend the.270WSM!!!!

[win39]

Do you reload or use factory ammo, and what brand rifle do you have? I hope I'm not being to nosey.

[270wsm]

Don't worry about it,that is what we are all here for!I use factory loads.Winchester 140gr Accubond.Man, those things are deadly.
As for the rifles,they are both model 70 ultimate shadows.

[nathangdad]

Personally, I state now and have posted in the past I simply do not think the shortened cartridges are anything other than a sales gimmick. What ballistic "peformance hole" do they fill in the marketplace?

Some say they are more accurate than the belted .300 WM or .375 Holland and Holland yet I do not find proof of this in independent publications. Supposedly the accuracy gain comes from the traditional belted magnum seating on the belt with the shortened cartridge better aligned in the chamber and better seated on the frontal areas of the cartridge. Well, belted magnums do not really "rattle" loosely in the chamber.

People have stated chambering a shorter cartridge is somehow easier in a hunting environment. Well, I can't really see an advantage to having a little bit less distance to pull back and push forward on a bolt when the adrenalin is pumping and a deer or elk is in the offing.

I do not intend to buy into this marketing effort (gimmick).
However, this is a forum and you will get opposing opinions. I have just given you my perspective and I have no interest in backing away.

[270wsm]

I don't believe it is a sales gimmick as you put it.If it were a sales gimmick,then Winchester would be the only one benefitting from it.Seeing now that Remington(Winchester's biggest competition)now offers their rifles chambered for theWSM's it is apparent that these "chamberings" are going to be around for a long time!You don't want one that is fine,don't buy one.Based on your logic,then anything new after the .45-70 government was unnecessary.Because as some have stated,you could harvest just about anything with that caliber.

[texnmidwest]

Not sure I have a strong opinion about the WSSMs. I kind of agree with the above that they offer little advantage over what we currently had available. I doubt anyone can tell the difference in the speed between cycling a WSSM and cycling a short action. If it were a contest of speed like the Olympics then the micro seconds would make a difference. I just get the feeling that the recent flood of cartridges have just tried to reinvent the 308, or 270.

I do see the advantage of the 300 WSM though. 300 win mag power in a short action. I have not seen the sales figures but I see alot of 300 WSM ammo out there and talk to a lot of people who shoot them. And they all ask me how they can reduce the recoil or tell me how they put on a muzzle brake or nice SOFT butt pad and don't shoot it too much from the bench.

More accurate? I doubt that the average hunting rifle can realize any advantage. Any accuracy advantage that they may have due to their case design is lost on an average hunting rifle.

But, in all honesty and opinions aside. If you like it and shoot it well...then let's go shootin'! I would love to buy some ammo and ask to take a shot or two from one. Who knows...I may find I like shooting them things!

[win39]

270WSM: Thanks for the information. I like the Winchester ultimate shadow. But then again I'm a Winchester nut. I have heard that the Accubond was a deadly bullet. I will either try them or the silver tips.

nathangdad: I appreciate your honesty about your feeling towards the Short Mags. I like gathering as much information as possible and performing my own test. I appreciate everyone's opinion. This way I can come to my own conclusion. The thing that I like about the Short Mags is that you are getting close to the same performance as the larger case and using a shorter action. This leads me to believe that you will have a stronger action. I do agree that under stressed conditions the shorter distance to pull the bolt back is not going to make a difference. Because this is when human error comes into play.

[samuel]

The advantage of a short action is that you are not as apt to short stroke the bolt in a high excitement/stress situation.The advantages to WSM/WSSM include,short powder colume,giving more uniform ignition/burn for more consistency.And no belt on factory ammo giving better coaxial centering for bullets. The disadvantages start with their reputation as "barrel burners".This can be alieviated by using heavier bullets at lower velocities.The other problem is the abrupt shoulder angle and fat case cause feed problems from some magazines.This one happens with bolt actions as well as AR types.The WSSM case comes in three calibers,.223,.243,and .25.The .223WSSM is rated as the worlds fastest .22cal at 4350fps..the .243WSSM is rated at higher velocities than the .243win. or about the same as handloads from the 6mm rem. The .25cal. is rated between the .257rob and the .25-06.,no where near the .257 Weatherby.These cases were derived by shortening the .300wsm,which was derived from the .404 Jefries which was a beltless magnum case.The WSM/WSSM case has an outside diameter,base,.555"-rim,.535",case length,1.670".And no matter what some people say with no proof,they are here to stay.Mainly because they are highly accurate the same as the PPC/BR,s. sam.

[win39]

I do believe that the WSM are here to stay and I hope the WSSM are also here to stay. But I am not to sure about the WSSM. To many people are afraid of them. That's why I have a couple stored away. I enjoy my 223 WSSM, it's fast accurate and fun to shoot. It took some work getting the bugs out, such as on every third shot I would get a flyer. I like so called barrel burners and I think that this problem was resolved by WIN & Browning. Also if people would let there barrels cool in between shots. Some people are just afraid of change. The 220 swift was given the same reputation years ago, and it's still here. (I wish I had one) But you know that's why we have custom barrel makers. You had some really good points. I hesitated starting this thread because I know from being on other sites this is a very touchy subject. But like I said earlier I enjoy talking about what I have and enjoy shooting. I also like to be different from everyone. Thanks for the info.