25, 243, and 223 WSSM??

[goose7856]

Has anyone tried these calibers?? I like how it can be either a varmint killing gun, or a deer gun depending on the bullet choice, but I have heard the accuracy is not all that great.....just looking for a smaller caliber under a 30-06 that wont tear the meat to total shreads, but can also be used for other game........o yea.......i think I want to save up and get a really nice one (im only fifteen [about to turn 16 in 7 days!] so im thinking $700 max for a nice gun should be enough)......what do yall think??

The gun I am looking into is one in the Browning A-Bolt Family.......any suggestions are fine!!

TIA!!

[victorcharlie]

You haven't had that birthday yet?  I remember waiting to turn 16, gasoline and perfume....wow.....I've owned several 243's and would think it would be just the caliber your looking for.  Not to much recoil, plenty of range, and reasonably cheap to shoot if you reload.  For a young guy like you that needs to keep a little jingle in your pocket, you really need to start thinking about reloading if you don't already.  Reloading sure cuts the cost way down, as well as giving the rifle just the right load for what every you want it to do.

I thought you had decided on a .22 for your birthday.....did you change your mind?

[goose7856]

my parents wont get a .22 for me.......i may just to decide to buy one with w/e cash I can get from my b-day........maybe it wasnt clear in my post.......i didnt mean 243, i meant 243 WSSM, as well as 25 WSSM.......just thought id clear that up for anyone that was confused..........this may be a priject, and is not necessary at all........i just want a nice long range gun, that can be used for a variety of game.......deer are the biggest I go and I think a 100 grain bullet should be able to put one down easy enough!!??

The .243 WSSM comes in alot of different velocities, energy, grain weight, and seems to be what im leaning towards.......55 grain at 4,000 fps, 65 grain at 3800 fps, and 100 at 3100 fps........seems like a great combo, and should be a nice long range gun......the other main option is a 25 WSSM, because it comes wiwth slightly bigger bullets........

Remember, I want to stay away from the range of a 30-06, want to very up my guns alot............i want to stay on the small end of the spectrum also since I dont hunt Elk or Moose!! .......

I really dont know what I would use this for other than not destroying much meatr, and getting rid of any varmints that are causing problems, and maybe my neighborhood would want to kill some of the nutria that roam this place but, i cant think of many more things.......i "think" I saw one coyote last year, but it was a blur at 275 yards running across a 75 yard wide feild......there is a cougar, and a black bear where we hunt (have pics), and thats about it......would this be a useful caliber for me since it will mostly be used for LA sized deer.....or would something else be better?? I am either going to spend alot on the 1k in total probably, or about $500 on a HM2, OR HMR.......ANY SUGGESTIONS??

TIA

[Lawdog]

Reprinted from the Bolt Action Forum

goose7856,

While I shoot a .223 WSSM in no way would I use it on deer. Sure it's faster than ever the great .220 Swift and is very accurate(don't know where you could have heard that these new WSSM cartridges are not accurate) but the .223 WSSM should ONLY be used on the smallest of deer by the more experienced hunters that have the control to wait for the right shot to present itself. The .243 and .25 WSSM's are better suited for deer hunting. Our son bought a .25 WSSM for our new daughter in-law that she used this year to take her first Mule Deer (big forked horn) using 100 gr. Barnes TSX at just over 200 yards. One shot, one buck. Many shooters don't like the new offerings from Winchester but don't believe the rumors some are trying to spread about them. They are NOT barrel burners, there is NO feeding problems and lastly they ARE selling so they will be around. The more they sell the cheaper the ammo will get and the more loading’s will become available for them. Lawdog
 

[goose7856]

Lawdog......what is the highest grain and the lowest grain bullet available for the 25 WSSM??

TIA

[muzzleblast525]

Goose,

I believe for factory ammo, 85, 100 and 120 are what is being stocked.  I'm reloading and have reloaded 87, 100, 115 and 117 in my 25 WSSM.  Likes the 117 Hornady okay.

Winchester also has a gun for these three cals.  I have the A-Bolt and like it, but if I had to do it again, I would probably go with Winchester and a little money.

What part of Lousiana are you from?  I grew up in the Monroe area....

[Lawdog]

goose7856,

'muzzleblast525' has it about right.  We reload for all our rifles and the bullet our daughter in-law used this year is the Barnes 100 gr. TSX.  Nosler Partition is another good choice.  Lawdog
 

[victorcharlie]

Sorry about the .22, I know you had your heart set on one.  Is there a reason your parents don't want you to have one?

Guess I missed the WSSM part, but don't get sucked into the Magnum for everything mind set.  I had a few, got rid of them because they burnt to much power, made to much noise, and kicked like a mule.  They just arn't that fun to shoot IMO.

[goose7856]

well last year i really had to talk my dad into buying me a 30-06 for my b-day, and its just not going to happen this year.....he doesnt hunt, or does my mom, or brother.......i have to go w/ my uncle, or no one at all........i think a friend of his died when he was younger from a gun shot, and he doesnt like guns very much......its weird b/c he grew up in the country in St. James Parish (for those Louisianians.........)

Just can ever get to talk him into one......

I was just throwing out this idea......but I may get one of these in like 7 years.......lol.........first i need to save up about $500 and get a sniper gun for squirrels and rabbits.....i am going to get an HM2, just cant decide which one.......then ill probably buy a 6-24x50 AO Sightron SII (seems to be highly reccommended by those at RFC)........that should put me right at $500........i have $100 right now, my b-day is in 5 days, and i should have some money coming from other places......hopefully ill have $200+ by the end of my b-day, + w/e my parents get me......i have been dead set on a gun, but now i dont have ne other options.......IMHO its BS......most guys my age that hunt have at least 4 guns........IMO a deer caliber rifle (30-06, .270, etc) is nec. for ne1 who hunts, a shotgun, and a .22 (small caliber fpr squirrels, etc) are the necessary guns for hunting........that will cover almost every species on Earth......right now all i need is a .22 to fill in the gap (when i say .22 im referring to a HM2).

Im kinda POed but theres nothing i can do about it......just got to think of another gift, b/f they buy something thats horrible.....(they are bad about gifts, they NEVER get nething I want......and I mean NEVER!!  :cry:  :lol: )

Thanx for the info so far.......im thinking the 243 WSSM would fit the bill.....

Thanx again, and if you have some info about the HM2, be pleased to post.....im thinking a good scope, and a accurate gun, rather than a crappy scope and an awsome gun.......so i think maybe a Marlin 917M2 or 917M2S (i think thats the right model numbers!!)

 

[goose7856]

well last year i really had to talk my dad into buying me a 30-06 for my b-day, and its just not going to happen this year.....he doesnt hunt, or does my mom, or brother.......i have to go w/ my uncle, or no one at all........i think a friend of his died when he was younger from a gun shot, and he doesnt like guns very much......its weird b/c he grew up in the country in St. James Parish (for those Louisianians.........)

Just can ever get to talk him into one......

I was just throwing out this idea......but I may get one of these in like 7 years.......lol.........first i need to save up about $500 and get a sniper gun for squirrels and rabbits.....i am going to get an HM2, just cant decide which one.......then ill probably buy a 6-24x50 AO Sightron SII (seems to be highly reccommended by those at RFC)........that should put me right at $500........i have $100 right now, my b-day is in 5 days, and i should have some money coming from other places......hopefully ill have $200+ by the end of my b-day, + w/e my parents get me......i have been dead set on a gun, but now i dont have ne other options.......IMHO its BS......most guys my age that hunt have at least 4 guns........IMO a deer caliber rifle (30-06, .270, etc) is nec. for ne1 who hunts, a shotgun, and a .22 (small caliber fpr squirrels, etc) are the necessary guns for hunting........that will cover almost every species on Earth......right now all i need is a .22 to fill in the gap (when i say .22 im referring to a HM2).

Im kinda POed but theres nothing i can do about it......just got to think of another gift, b/f they buy something thats horrible.....(they are bad about gifts, they NEVER get nething I want......and I mean NEVER!!  :cry:  :lol: )

Thanx for the info so far.......im thinking the 243 WSSM would fit the bill.....

Thanx again, and if you have some info about the HM2, be pleased to post.....im thinking a good scope, and a accurate gun, rather than a crappy scope and an awsome gun.......so i think maybe a Marlin 917M2 or 917M2S (i think thats the right model numbers!!)

 

[victorcharlie]

yea, well, a couple more years, you'll be done with school, maybe headed for college......man, waiting on 16 is the hardest thing......waiting on 18 or now, 21 I guess is the next hardest thing.......Not to much longer and you'll be able to make your own purchases.....problem is, when that happens you spend all your time trying to make a buck, and little time trying to kill one!  I've been dove hunting down your way a long time ago....birds everywhere