but then I found the 223 wssm. The speeds and ballistics seem more promising on the wssm than the 22-250.
I was fortunate enough to get some of the test brass right at the beginning of the WSSM program. It was fun to shoot with all kinds of bullets as long as I had the right twist rate for the load. The lighter, varmint bullets were blazing fast which I'm sure would ruin a barrel in the short term. But the longer, heavier bullets with slower, cooler powder could sustain good velocity without the rapid deterioration of the barrel. I shot a bunch of the early 90 gr. Bergers at 1,000 yards with decent results. Most of these were single shots because of the weight forward bullets seated out.
The biggest drawback to the WSSM cartridges is the lack of availability of the brass. It has been available a couple of times in the last few years but beyond that, it's difficult to locate. Now, if you have a source for brass, it's an excellent choice for the heavier bullets because of the case design and capacity.
If it's performance (high velocity) you're looking for with the longer heavier bullets, you have the choice of a couple of wildcats: .22 the CHeetah MkI and the .22 Milddlestead. If you want a different name then it could be referred to as the .22-243 Improved (not Ackley). These are simply .243 Win. cases necked down and fireformed in the chamber. If you prefer it a slightly different idea,
then use the new Lapua Creedmoor case and neck it down for fireforming. Yes, it will require neck turning.
Any way you cut it, you get the case capacity of the WSSM, readily available brass from which to create a SA magazine length cartridge even with the longer, heavier bullets. These case designs provide a slight edge on the .22-250 in the Ackley Improved version but not by much. Brass is a toss up since you can get Winchester, Hornady, Norma or Lapua. But, if you want straight up performance without any of the hassles with brass necking and turning, there will never be a problem with the .22-250 or the .220 Swift.
Regards.
