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WSSM barrel life questions.

quickmajik
What is the barrel life of the .223wssm?
What is the barrel life of .25wssm?

Would heavy bullets prolong barrel life or shorten it?
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Comments

6 comments

Date Votes
  • ChetStafford
    Quickmagic,

    shooting slightly reduced loads will extend barrel life and so will giving the barrel time to cool between shots.

    I had a Browning Abolt in .223 wssm I put around 600 rounds through it and when inspected with a borescope there was no noticeable throat erosion and they were hot loads 4400fps (that is what it liked to shoot)

    Not getting the barrel to hot is absolutely critical. Proper cleaning is an absolute must as well. They love a clean barrel.

    I only sold mine because I found a deal I could not pass up on a Savage mod 12fvss in 22/250.
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  • tsr1965
    In the early 223, and 243 WSSM's the barrel and throat life were a problem. They started Chrome lining the bore on thse like the AR-15/M-16 to help, and also tuning down loads help. The previous poster also has an insight as not get the barrel hot or dirty. These are not the chamberings to be taking to a big prarie dog town.

    The 25WSSM has a pretty good reputation. It is not quite as harsh on barrels, even though the pressures are as high. Its performance falls inbetween the 257 Roberst and the 25-06 so I am told. I have one in a Winchester Classic 70 SS Ultimate Shadow. It was junk out of the box, as when I took it apart to prep it the bedding epoxy came out on the front action lug. So while I installed pillars using Brownell's Steelbed, I also adjusted the wonderfully adjustable trigger to 2.5 LBS., and made sure the barrel was free floated. It is wonderfully accurate with all of Winchesters factory loads being SUB MOA, and the 85 gr BST coming in at 1/2 MOA.

    Best
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  • ATHOMSON
    +1 on the above. Keep it clean and don't run it hot.
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  • leeblackman
    You will probably never outshoot the barrel on your boltgun in .223wssm or .25wssm. Seriously don't even worry about it unless your custom building an AR chambered for the cartrdige. If so look at getting a polyagonally rifled bore barrel, and maybe moly coating your bullets.

    To answer your other question, lighter bullets would shorten barrel life because they will be traveling at a higher velocity down the barrel creating more friction and more heat. Velocity and barrel life are inverse. The higher the velocity the shorter the barrel life. Ask anyone who ventured into the .17mach4 or super handloading the .220swift to its potential...

    Chrome lining a barrel increases the barrel significantly. Your talking the difference between 20,000 cartridges and 200,000... The problem is finding a chrome lined barrel. Just cause its Chromemoly Vandidium whatever, doesn't mean its chrome lined. Most AR barrels out there are not chrome lined...
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  • tsr1965
    quote:Originally posted by leeblackman
    You will probably never outshoot the barrel on your boltgun in .223wssm or .25wssm. Seriously don't even worry about it unless your custom building an AR chambered for the cartrdige. If so look at getting a polyagonally rifled bore barrel, and maybe moly coating your bullets.

    To answer your other question, lighter bullets would shorten barrel life because they will be traveling at a higher velocity down the barrel creating more friction and more heat. Velocity and barrel life are inverse. The higher the velocity the shorter the barrel life. Ask anyone who ventured into the .17mach4 or super handloading the .220swift to its potential...

    Chrome lining a barrel increases the barrel significantly. Your talking the difference between 20,000 cartridges and 200,000... The problem is finding a chrome lined barrel. Just cause its Chromemoly Vandidium whatever, doesn't mean its chrome lined. Most AR barrels out there are not chrome lined...


    I don't mean to be abrupt, but if you abuse the 223, and 243 WSSM's, and shoot them hot(3 shot strings are it, and in some lighter barreled models 2 shots), and/or dirty, the first 6 inches of the throat will dissappear in 300-400 rounds. They were designed for a light recoiling deer rifle, not 200 rounds a day. The pressures generated in the WSSM's are well above the belted magnums.

    Best
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  • quickmajik
    Thanks everyone this has been helpful.
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