.223 wssm rifle

Hollywood

If you came across a new in box rifle (such as a Winchester or Browning) in this caliber with a walnut stock, would you shoot it or leave it alone? Lets say you have an ample supply of ammo for it. Have these taken off as a collectors piece yet, or have the possibility to become one?

22hipower

I'd take it to the nearest gun show and trade it for a standard caliber or, if I had investment in mind, I'd trade it towards a Colt series 70 or something comparable. My experience, limited as it is, with the 223 WSSM is not good. Browning is not making them anymore, according to their website, and no other manufacturer makes the caliber. That should tell us something since the 223 WSSM has only been around a few years. Mine (Browning) shot well for the first few boxes of ammo but now can't keep it in a three inch circle. A friend has one just like it with comparable results. They're turning up on the used rack frequently too which suggests others are having poor experiences. Can't see these becoming collector items.

ern98

Man, you are at that kanundrum of if it is a better quality, limited production rifle then what is the likely hood that it becomes valuble in the not too distant future. If you had been in this situation and been able to buy cheap a Savage M99 in 358win or a pre64 Win M70 in one of the lesser chamberings then yeah. But, what will the future bring, well my cyrstal ball is out for the duration so you will have to use your own.......

tsr1965

If you have not purchased this rifle, then do not. At least not with investment purposes in mind. If you have, and it is still NIB, then keep it that way.

The 223WSSM is at least 5 times, if not ten times harder on barrels than the 220 Swift, or the 264 Winchester ever thought of being. Especially if the shooter shoots it hot, and/or dirty. There are several threads concerning this very subject if you care to search them up.

Just because it says Winchester or Browning, and they don't make them any more, does not mean it will ever be a collector.

Best

cattle buyer

Winchester let several problems out the door at the tail end of production. I have a wallyworld special .223wssm mod 70 that I use as a truck ,varmint gun and love it,100k miles and 300+rounds, it will put 2 shots in a 1" orange stick on target dot any and every day usually with both shot touching, 2 things are a given with this gun, it LOVES a clean cold barrel,mine is a 2 shot one hole gun using Super X 64 gr factory ammo, shot #3 wonders off like a drunk monkey.I think you have an earlier production walnut and blue? featherweight with the "classic" action and 22" pencil barrel. visit this site to get the real skinny! http://wssmzone.com/main/default.aspx
very best!

SCOUT5

I believe in time the actions may be worth something as wildcats derived from these cartridges are popular. But I would not buy them as an investment. But then I didn't buy Microsoft stock when it was first offered either.

Hollywood

What if the rifle only cost $425?

tsr1965

Hollywood,

It sounds like a good buy, but don't do it on the behalf of being an investment. It is MY prediction that the ammo for it will dry up, and be obsolete, and it will never be valued as a collector. There are to many who knows what a real pre-64' Winchester is for the POS that USRAC was putting out the door with the "W" label on it for it to become valuable. I am thinking with careful handloading that one can extend barrel life and have years of shooting pleasure though.

Best

nononsense

Hollywood,

If you have the cash sitting around that you don't have an immediate need for, I'd buy the rifle. My reasoning is that it's a good price for a new rifle. It's fully usable for some longer range varmint shooting or punching holes in paper. Shoot the barrel out or when you just get tired of this cartridge, replace the barrel with one in 6.5mm. Chamber it for the 6.5 Heaton and go enjoy yourself some more!

This is a great cartridge capable of shooting deer at longer than average yardages with terrific accuracy. The best part is that by increasing the bullet diameter, you get the benefit of bringing this case into balance reducing the 'barrel burning' factor significantly. It works with standard length barrels and you can keep the sporter contour of your original barrel to save having to buy a new stock.

Best.

sandwarrior

Hollywood,

I will say plus one for the rifle myself. The wildcat potential, or even if you wanted the 25WSSM to rebarrel to, is enough reason when you shoot out the .223WSSM barrel. I will say I've been pleased with the performance of both my 25WSSM rifles. I sold the hunting version and kept the target version but I would still recommend one. Something else too is the CRPF bolt. I have to say it's the better of both worlds of pushfeed vs. controlled round feed. I know some people are down on Winchester for their quality control the last few years but I have three rifles from them during those years that all shoot sub-MOA.

Something to remember too is that even though the .223WSSM is a barrel burner, they don't burn out overnight. It still takes a good 1k going through it(shooting normally and letting it cool) to take it to the point you would want to rebarrel it. I've known of .220 swift rifles that are as old as me and don't have as many rounds through them as a rifle I bought last year. They probably won't burn out at the rate they get shot. So, unless you plan to shoot it a lot it won't just burn the barrel out. The cleaning and accuracy problem is documented so in order to maintain accuracy and barrel life you have to clean them frequently.