.223 Winchester Super Short Magnum

.223 WSSM

.223 WSSM with 75 gr (4.9 g) Hornady AMax bullet

Type

Rifle

Place of origin

USA

Production history

Designer

Browning, Winchester

Designed

2002

Manufacturer

Winchester

Produced

2003-Present

Specifications

Parent case

.300 WSM

Bullet diameter

.224 in (5.7 mm)

Neck diameter

.272 in (6.9 mm)

Shoulder diameter

.544 in (13.8 mm)

Base diameter

.555 in (14.1 mm)

Rim diameter

.535 in (13.6 mm)

Rim thickness

.054 in (1.4 mm)

Case length

1.670 in (42.4 mm)

Overall length

2.36 in (60 mm)

Rifling twist

1-7" to 1-9"

Primer type

Large rifle

Ballistic performance

Bullet weight/type	Velocity	Energy
40 gr (3 g) BT (boat-tailed)	4,352 ft/s (1,326 m/s)	1,683 ft·lbf (2,282 J)
60 gr (4 g) JSP	3,733 ft/s (1,138 m/s)	1,857 ft·lbf (2,518 J)
75 gr (5 g) BT(boat-tailed)	3,378 ft/s (1,030 m/s)	1,901 ft·lbf (2,577 J)

Test barrel length: 24"
Source(s): Hodgdon ^[1]

The .223 WSSM (Winchester Super Short Magnum, 5.56×42mm) is a .224 caliber rifle cartridge created by Winchester and Browning based on a shortened version of the Winchester Short Magnum case.

History

The .223 WSSM was introduced in 2003 by the Browning Arms Company, Winchester Ammunition, and Winchester Repeating Arms Company. It is a shortened .300 WSM (Winchester Short Magnum) case necked down to accept a .224 caliber bullet. The .223 designation is a reference to the popular .223 Remington. It is currently the fastest production .22 caliber round in the world with muzzle velocities as high as 4,600 feet per second (1,402 meters per second; about Mach 4.1).^[2] ^[3] ^[4] ^[5]

Controversy

Even before the cartridge was commercially introduced, it was claimed that it would be extremely hard on barrels, with high wear leading to short barrel life. Another criticism is that although the round is suited for long distances range vermin hunting, it is not good for medium game any farther than 200 yards. ^[6]

The Winchester made Model 70 in .223 WSSM has not been revived in the new Browning-made Winchester Model 70s, but Browning has chosen to use chrome-lined barrels on all of its guns chambered for .223 WSSM and has introduced the .223 WSSM cartridge as a chambering in its A-bolt rifles. Browning rejects the charge that the .223 WSSM round is especially hard on barrels: "The 223 and 243 WSSM cartridges are said to 'burn up' barrels in as little as 300 rounds. Nothing could be further from the truth."^[7]

Advantages

According to Browning, the .223 WSSM offers a 600 ft/s (180 m/s) gain, with a 55 gr (3.6 g) bullet, over the standard .223 Rem. It also offers a 440 ft/s (130 m/s) gain over the 22-250, a popular vermin round. This comes out to a 600 ft·lbf (810 J) gain over a standard .223 Rem, and a 350 ft·lbf (470 J) gain over the 22-250.^[8]

References

↑ .223 WSSM data at Hodgdon Online
↑ "223 Winchester Super Short Magnum History and General Information:". gunnersden.com. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
↑ "World record 4700 fps 223 WSSM explodes watermelon better than". youtube.com. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
↑ ".223 Winchester Super Short Magnum (WSSM)". ballisticstudies.com. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
↑ ".223 Winchester Super Short Magnum Ballistics". gundata.org. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
↑ ".223 Winchester Super Short Magnum". leeloadmaster.com. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
↑
↑ ".223 Rem vs. .223 WSSM". fieldandstream.com. Retrieved 31 October 2013.

External links

The .223 WSSM at WSSM Zone

Winchester firearms and cartridges

Rifles

Lever-action	Henry rifle Model 1866 Model 1873 Model 1876 Model 1886 Model 1892 Model 1894 Model 1895 Model 53 Model 55 Model 64 Model 65 Model 71 Model 88 Model 150 Model 250 Model 255 Model 9422

Bolt action	Model 1878 Hotchkiss Model 1895 Lee Navy Model 1900 Model 1902 Model 1904 Model 43 Model 47 Model 51 Imperial Model 52 Model 54 Model 56 Model 57 Model 58 Model 59 Model 60 Model 60A Model 67 Model 68 Model 69 Model 70 Model 72 Model 75 Model 121 Model 131 Model 141 Model 320 Model 325 Model 670 Model 770

Pump-action	Model 1890 Model 1906 Model 61 Model 62 Model 62A Model 270

Semi-automatic	Model 1903 Model 1905 Model 1907 Model 1910 Model 30 Model 63 Model 74 Model 77 Model 100 Model 190 Model 490

Full-automatic	Olin/Winchester FAL Model 1917

Falling-block action	Model 1885

Shotguns

Pump-action	Model 1893 Model 1897 Model 1912 Model 25 Model 42 Model 1200 Model 1300

Lever-action	Model 1887 Model 1901 Model 9410

single-shot	Model 20 Model 36 Model 37 Model 37A Model 41

double-barrel	Model 21 Model 24 Model 96 Model 101

Semi-automatic	Model 1911 SL Model 40 Model 50 Model 59 Model 1400 Model 1500 SX-1