I think I may done something pretty stupid. I picked this gun up at a local pawn shop without doing any research on it before hand. I figured $500 for a Win Model 70 in what appeared to be "new" condition with a scope would be a steal. I was so wrong! The first 2 boxes of commercial Winchester ammo (100 grs) and several boxes of reloads using 90 gr. Nosler BT's over various weights of IMR 4350 and IMR 4831 have me feeling like I may have picked up my first Winchester lemon. The best I've come up with so far is a 4 inch group (all other 5 round groups had at least one round jump out to 8 inches) with 43.5 grs. of IMR 4350. If anyone has developed a decent load (2" or better groups @ 100 yds) for one of these guns I would really appreciate your help. As of right now I'm just about ready to trade this thing for an old Remington 700 in 243 or send it back to Winchester to see if they can get it to shoot straight. Thanks for your help!
Can anyone recommend a decent load for a Win WSSM 243?
- Thread starter PCCUSNRET
- Start date
- Status
NCsmitty
Member
If you haven't yet, take the time to thoroughly clean the barrel.
I don't know what bullets you have, but I see that you are using IMR4350. All I can suggest is to try some lighter 75-80gr bullets and start loads of IMR4350.
Something should work in that M70, the 243wssm is a fairly hot round, and has a lot of potential.
NCsmitty
I don't know what bullets you have, but I see that you are using IMR4350. All I can suggest is to try some lighter 75-80gr bullets and start loads of IMR4350.
Something should work in that M70, the 243wssm is a fairly hot round, and has a lot of potential.
NCsmitty
Thanks! The barrel has been cleaned thoroughly with Butch's cleaner and Hoppes and not traces of any copper or powder show on the cleaning patches.
The only 243 bullets I have right now are Nosler 90 gr BT's, Nosler 95 gr CT BST's, Speer 100 gr BT's (#1120) and Barnes 85 gr. XBT bullets. I had hoped to use the heavier bullets for deer hunting but that isn't looking very promising at the moment.
It is a lot like my Ruger #1 in .270, the first shot seems to always go in the same spot but after that there is no telling where they will go.
I have read a lot about this round (after the fact) and it appears that there are a lot of folks that have (or had) problems coming up with an accurate load for these guns. Unless I'm missing something it appears this round is going to be obsolete pretty soon. I will see if I can pick up some lighter bullets and give them a try.
Thanks again!
Parker51
NCsmitty
Member
The next step would be to float the barrel and bed the action if you are still having problems, providing none of the suggestions have been done yet.
I'm the type of person who will not give up searching for accuracy in a firearm, and if you persevere by taking steps that is the standard procedure to induce accuracy, your rifle may give you what you want.
If you have ruled out the possibility of scope/mount issue causing your problem, you can concentrate on stock/barrel fit and bedding the action.
I have never seen a situation where floating the barrel did not help stabilize groups to some degree.
NCsmitty
I'm the type of person who will not give up searching for accuracy in a firearm, and if you persevere by taking steps that is the standard procedure to induce accuracy, your rifle may give you what you want.
If you have ruled out the possibility of scope/mount issue causing your problem, you can concentrate on stock/barrel fit and bedding the action.
I have never seen a situation where floating the barrel did not help stabilize groups to some degree.
NCsmitty
- Status