First 2" of throat shot out.

[WDL]

Greetings Guys,
Newbie here. I have a 223 WSSM with a 9 twist Kreiger 27" barrel that has the throat gone. It did shoot a woodchuck at 821 yards last summer in Ohio.
I'm currently in AZ and will be back in OH in May. I think I will have my OH gunsmith put a 26" 8 twist 243 WSSM barrel on it when I get there so I can reach out a little further. I'm considering the 105 A-Max's.
Comments?

 

[Bugholes]

Re: First 2" of throat shot out.

sounds like youve got a plan there

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: First 2" of throat shot out.

Welcome to the hide. Any idea on your barrel's round count.

 

[WDL]

Re: First 2" of throat shot out.

Yes, just under 1300 rounds. Almost all were moly coated. About 200 were 70 Bergers and 75 A-Max's trying to get to sub .5 MOA. All the rest were 55 V-Max's (sub .5 MOA) with a muzzle velocity of 3935 fps.
The WSSMs have a reputation for being barrel burners. At the velocities I'm shooting, I guess I must agree. But that's the price you pay to shoot the fastest factory production 22 caliber rifle.

 

[mscott]

Re: First 2" of throat shot out.

What kind of groups are you getting now that it is getting burned out?

 

[WDL]

Re: First 2" of throat shot out.

Still under 1 MOA, but not by a lot. mscott, are you familiar with a gunsmith in Sunbury, OH?

 

[mscott]

Re: First 2" of throat shot out.

No, I've never dealt with anyone in Sunbury.

 

[WDL]

Re: First 2" of throat shot out.

Jim Caudill in Sunbury replaced the original 22" chrome lined skinny barrel with the 27" Kreiger barrel. He goes by the name "Mauser Man". Just wondered if you might have heard of him since you are in central Ohio.

 

[TonyAngel]

Re: First 2" of throat shot out.

If the throat is burnt on your Krieger, you could just have the back end cut and have it rechambered. No need for a new barrel, unless you just want one. I doubt that knocking two inches off of the barrel will make that much of a difference in velocity, but I could be wrong. I know almost nothing about that caliber.

 

[WDL]

Re: First 2" of throat shot out.

You are correct, Tony, and I've considered that. The erosion is actually closer to three inches. And my 'smith re-chambered it last June taking .143" off, saying that got it past the throat erosion that was present then with just over 1000 rounds down the tube. Now I have at least 2" of perfectly smooth bore after another 200 rounds, so I think it is time for a new barrel.
I still have 68 handloads to shoot if accuracy stays under 1 MOA. I have tested converting 223 wssm brass to 243 wssm brass and that is easily done - even with live primers if I end up pulling bullets and dumping powder.

 

[car2go4]

Re: First 2" of throat shot out.

silly question possibly on my part, but why stay w a wssm ?

 

[WDL]

Re: First 2" of throat shot out.

Thanks for the question, Bob2. I was somewhat expecting the question by someone here. The short fat cartridges have their merits once they are understood.

For one thing, over 800 pieces of WSSM brass is one reason. Another reason for liking the 223 wssm - I shot sub .5 MOA groups with 55 grain bullets leaving the muzzle at 3935 fps. That cartridge is capable of shooting a 55 grain bullet at more than 4000 fps. My 243 wssm with a 22" barrel is a tack driver and the ballistics are slightly better than the 243 Win without the pressure spikes that sometimes haunt the 243 Win.
I don't own one but the 25 wssm is on a par with the 25-06 for ballistics. But the short fat case yields a more consistent powder burn.
And lots of wildcats are getting introduced on the wssm case. Indiana deer hunters have created a 358 wssm. Olympic Arms created a 30 ossm. Someone down under made a 44 wssm. And there is more.

 

[Furtaker_.223]

Re: First 2" of throat shot out.

Wow, the 223 wssm has to be one bad ass little cartrage. I will have to check into them. I do like the wssm cartrages. But dont like the burning of the barrels.

 

[oneeyedmac]

Re: First 2" of throat shot out.

FYI, I'm in Marengo about 18 miles up SR 61 from Sunbury.

 

[WDL]

Re: First 2" of throat shot out.

Furtaker, the 27" Kreiger cost me $350 installed. Considering the performance I get, I'm not too upset spending that amount every 1200 rounds.

Oneeyedmac, we usually spend a month or two every summer near Bladensburg. So I know where Marengo is. That 223 wssm killed 197 groundhogs in Knox county last summer.

 

[leadbullet]

Re: First 2" of throat shot out.

load your ammo way long, seriously, look into getting the melonite treatment for your barrel, it may last a lot longer.

 

[WDL]

Re: First 2" of throat shot out.

Haven't heard of melonite. Is it similar to cryogenic?

 

[leadbullet]

Re: First 2" of throat shot out.

no, it isn't, the melonite hardens the barrel to around 70 Rc it also makes the metal slightly slicker so you'll loose a minimal amount of speed, depending an caliber between 25-50 fps, nothing a little more powder can't fix. Barrel life is sometimes doubled sometimes a bit less. the only real problem is you have to make sure to rifle is done before sending the barrel because once melonited, it is not machinable anymore
hope this helps.

 

[WDL]

Re: First 2" of throat shot out.

Thanks for the info, attherange.

 

[cattle buyer]

Re: First 2" of throat shot out.

Camo , hang on to the kriger .223 wissum barrel I may want to cut it back to 23" .turn s shadow into coyote lite. U have had a lot of fun with that rig at flat out speeds.

 

[WDL]

Re: First 2" of throat shot out.

I'll hang onto it just for you, Steve. It will be my pleasure.

 

[WDL]

Re: First 2" of throat shot out.

I was able to see the majority of my hits on woodchucks and prairie dogs from 200 yards and further. The gun weighs 13 pounds and I shoot off a portable bench. If I switch to a 243 wssm (similar ballistics to 243 Win), will I need to add a muzzle brake to see those hits if I shoot 105 grain bullets?

 

[heydavemd]

Re: First 2" of throat shot out.

Dont mean to steal the thread, but I thought the 220 Swift was the fastest prod 22

 

[WDL]

Re: First 2" of throat shot out.

The 220 Swift WAS - until the 223 WSSM was introduced. The 223 wssm can shoot 55 grain bullets over 4000 fps. The 220 Swift can only reach 4000 fps with lighter bullets.

 

[WDL]

Re: First 2" of throat shot out.

Well, after running QuickLoad numbers, the difference isn't as much as I thought. The 223 wssm is only 40 FPS faster than the 220 Swift when they both push a 55 grain bullet.

 

[cattle buyer]

Re: First 2" of throat shot out.

Here is a new blow pipe for U Camocat.
http://www.accurateshooter.com/forum/index.php/topic,3758958.0.html
the wissum may be 40 fps faster but the swift is king with a lot less fuss and I poofed a crow out the door of office with my 2 shot special today, a 64 gr rocket , its the 'door gun ' now.

 

[WDL]

Re: First 2" of throat shot out.

So which gun did you poof the crow with?

 

[cattle buyer]

Re: First 2" of throat shot out.

my old truck gun,.223wissum ,64gr superx,I mounted dads old redfield 3x9 accurange on it.

 

[WDL]

Re: First 2" of throat shot out.

Thanks for the link, Steve. But Bruno's has the same barrel without flutes for $300 but 8 twist which I would prefer.
And I would rather have the weight than the flutes.

 

[WDL]

Re: First 2" of throat shot out.

Here's the 223 wssm that will be getting a new barrel.

 

[fdkay]

Re: First 2" of throat shot out.

I saw the title of the thread and thought you hooked up with my ex-girlfriend.

 

[cattle buyer]

Re: First 2" of throat shot out.

CamoCat, did U change Ur load the last 200 rounds after U had barrel set back ? It may be cooked now but it shot lights a long time.

 

[WDL]

Re: First 2" of throat shot out.

No, Steve,
I shot a bunch of groundhogs last summer with the same load I had been using, including the one at 821 yards. After getting to AZ, I tried a few more of the 70 Bergers. That's about it.