223 WSSM

[bobcat]

Does anyone have any experience with the 223 WSSM? I just acquired one in a Browning A bolt. It's a real nice compact, lightweight rifle. Should be a great gun for hunting coyotes. Not sure about bobcats, since I suspect it would leave a larger hole than desired.

[Jim the Plumber]

I had the same rifle. Mine was accurate enough and other than it being a little picking feeding from the mag, it had no real issues.  A handy rifle for sure.
If you reload, PM your address and I'll send you some left over brass I have kicking around.
Jim

[bobcat]

That would be awesome, Jim. I don't have any dies yet but will try to get a hold of some soon. What weight bullet did you have the best luck with? I'm assuming the 55 grain would be good. Don't see any reason to go lighter. So you got rid of yours? What I'm wondering about is barrel life. The little research I did, said that all the Browning 223 WSSM's are chrome lined barrels, to increase barrel life.

Will send you a PM.

[Jim the Plumber]

I mostly loaded the 55 Nosler BT's. Yes, the barrel is chrome lined. I think if you keep your barrel cool, it will last better than a Swift or 22-250. Fast and flat comes to mind :-)
I'll go into my shop and see if I remember where I put that brass.

[MtnMuley]

55 gr BT's will destroy bobcats. I own the same A-Bolt, and wouldn't recommend it for bobs, even loaded differently. Unless you want to go with a fmj.

[bobcat]

55 gr BT's will destroy bobcats. I own the same A-Bolt, and wouldn't recommend it for bobs, even loaded differently. Unless you want to go with a fmj.

Yeah, just what I figured, I'll probably just use it to rip coyotes in half at 400 yards. 

I've got an old Remington 722 in 222 Remington, that I'll use if I ever hunt specifically for bobcats. It's just heavy and cumbersome and not so easy to lug around all day.

[bobcat]

Mtn Muley, how's accuracy been for you with that rifle? Do you shoot factory ammo, or handloads?

[b23]

I always thought it was such a shame they didn't put 1-8tw barrels in those 223 wssm so you could take better advantage of all that case capacity/horsepower and atleast shoot the 75 grain bullets.

[MtnMuley]

Mtn Muley, how's accuracy been for you with that rifle? Do you shoot factory ammo, or handloads?

I really haven't shot it much.  Picked up that and a 243WSSM in a Winchester, and the A-bolt definately grouped better.  Haven't fine tuned a load for either.  3/4" at a hundred with 3 shots (factory Win 55 gr BT's) , and in the safe it sits, lol.  I did kill one yote, and it definately popped with a 3-4" exit hole.

[Huntbear]

Mtn Muley, how's accuracy been for you with that rifle? Do you shoot factory ammo, or handloads?

I really haven't shot it much.  Picked up that and a 243WSSM in a Winchester, and the A-bolt definately grouped better.  Haven't fine tuned a load for either.  3/4" at a hundred with 3 shots (factory Win 55 gr BT's) , and in the safe it sits, lol.  I did kill one yote, and it definately popped with a 3-4" exit hole.

I have the .243 WSSM in an AR platform... freaking love it, and accurate as hell.  Factory 95 gr. ballistic tips are all touching at 100 yards, at 3000 fps.  I can not wait to start shooting 90 gr. Accubonds through it.   The WSSM cartridges are awesome ballistically, there has always been talk of feeding issues with that short fat case though.  The .223 wssm makes an awesome yote round... but I got a feeling a bobcat would be exploded into parts at less than 100 yards, though..