Author Topic: WSSM Problems (Read 1131 times)

S.S. · « **on:** February 25, 2004, 04:25:13 AM »

The main problem I have heard with the smallbore
WSSM cartridges is severe chamber throat erosion.
As I Understand it, This has always been a problem
with Short, Fat cartridges. The powder column is
so compact that it is literally consumed in the case,
not on its way down the bore as is the case with
longer cartridges.
This literally causes the same effect as a short burst
from a blowtorch when the bullet leaves the case.

Lawdog · « **Reply #1 on:** February 25, 2004, 03:56:06 PM »

S.Sumner,

You know, I heard the same thing and it is just a rumor. I have over 800 rounds through my M70 Coyote .223 WSSM and there is no sign of throat erosion that can be seen or measured using a bore camera that my gunsmith has. A couple of other shooters that are shooting the .223 WSSM have reported the same thing. There are rumors the because the cartridges are so short that they have feeding problems. Again WRONG. I have never had a problem with feeding. They also say that the barrels "burn out" sooner. Another rumor. Any barrel can be burned out by just reloading everything to the max. They said this about the .257 Weatherby Magnum, .264 Winchester Magnum, 7mm Remington Magnum and the list goes on and on......... Don't believe all those rumors. Lawdog

S.S. · « **Reply #2 on:** February 26, 2004, 08:01:56 AM »

I do not own any firearms chambered for a WSSM
cartridge yet, But I hope to.
I didn't understand the reasons I heard either,
I have seen numerous short/Fat Wildcat cartridges
that do not suffer from excessive throat erosion
when a modern steel barrel is used.
Is anyone other than Winchester producing ammo yet?
A cartridge with only one producer kinda worries me
about future availability!

PS. Two of those wildcats were very interesting though.
One was a .44 Mag case necked to .17 cal the other was
a .44 necked to .224.
The .44/.224 was quite potent, the .44/.17 bullets seemed
to come apart in the air before reaching the target.

Lawdog · « **Reply #3 on:** February 26, 2004, 12:00:52 PM »

S.Sumner,

Only Winchester is producing ammo for their WSSM line but that is because they are still that new. As for worring about only one producer for ammo for the WSSM, remember that it took a while before the WSM line caught on too. Lawdpg