Gunsmithing Wylde chamber on 223 bolt action?

["HeysKSFirefighter]

Posted this in the bolt-action rifle forum but maybe I'll get some good insight here too; apologies to the mods if cross-posting is faux pas.

Are there any accuracy or brass downsides to having a Wylde chamber on a 223 Rem bolt gun?

I'm thinking of rebarreling my Savage to shoot 80gr A-Max and the shop has an 8 twist Wylde chamber prefit barrel in stock.

I've thought hard about 223AI, but at this point I think a standard chamber is best to keep my collection standardized.

 

[chemist1]

Re: Wylde chamber on 223 bolt action?

I am running an 8 twist CBI with a wylde chamber on my Savage and have no problems shooting 1/2 moa with 68 BTHP, 69 BTHP and 75 A-maxs. I haven't gone up to the 80s but I am sure they would work also. My buddy is also running an 8 twist Mcgowan with a wylde chamber and his gun shoot very well with just about anything we have tried in it. I think if you get a quality prefit in a wylde chamber you will be happy with the results.

 

["HeysKSFirefighter]

Re: Wylde chamber on 223 bolt action?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: chemist1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am running an 8 twist CBI with a wylde chamber on my Savage</div></div>

That's exactly the tube I'm looking at...Jim has one on his shelf right now...

 

[AKA-Spook]

Re: Wylde chamber on 223 bolt action?

I'd think a lot harder about an AI...seriously.

 

["HeysKSFirefighter]

Re: Wylde chamber on 223 bolt action?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: AKA-Spook</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'd think a lot harder about an AI...seriously. </div></div>

LOL

I suppose all I'd <span style="font-style: italic">really</span> need for a 223AI is a set of dies, and it looks like a 22" barrel would get me to 2900fps with a 80gr bullet...

Problem is, if I go 223AI and sling 80s at the velocity then I'll probably end up selling my 260 because the 223 will be so damn cheap/easy/fun to shoot at the 650yd max I have available to me!

 

[LRI]

Re: Wylde chamber on 223 bolt action?

Ever considered the 6mm-223? I have a customer that swears by it. Don't know more than that as I've not fussed with them much.

 

[eracer]

Re: Wylde chamber on 223 bolt action?

If I had a .223 bolt gun I'd run a .223 chamber and use .223 ammo.

All else being equal that combo has the highest accuracy potential.

The Wylde chamber is a compromise intended to allow the use of both .223 and 5.56 NATO ammo in the same gun. I'm not saying you can't get good accuracy from a Wylde chamber. I'm saying, "Why bother?"

 

["HeysKSFirefighter]

Re: Wylde chamber on 223 bolt action?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: C. Dixon</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ever considered the 6mm-223? I have a customer that swears by it. Don't know more than that as I've not fussed with them much. </div></div>

I have indeed looked into the 6x45, but I'm not certain I can get the velocities necessary with a 95gr bullet to beat an .224 80gr A-Max in the wind.

 

[dogmessiah]

Re: Wylde chamber on 223 bolt action?

If you do decide to run the 223 with 80gr bullets in a bolt gun I would recommend getting the wylde chamber and seating them out a ways. This gives you more case capacity and lets you play with slower powders than what you find in the books. With the 75gr A-max I was seating them just off the lands filling the entire case up with Big Game in front of a magnum primer, and getting over 3100fps with a 26" barrel. This was with absolutely no pressure signs, and good brass life.