A Pair of Small-Caliber Wichita Classics

[South Pender]

I've been told you guys like pictures, so thought I'd put up a few. These are of two Wichita rifles I own, one in .22 PPC and the other in .243 Win. (can that still qualify for "small-caliber"?)

1. The .22 PPC. It is pretty much bone stock, although I did have my gunsmith make modifications to the action (truing it up) and trigger, reworking the 2-lever Canjar to reduce it's pull weight to about one lb. He also pillar-bedded the action. This has a fairly light barrel, mic'g .575" across the flats at the muzzle of its 21.75" barrel (14 twist). The chamber neck is .2465. Weight is 7 lbs. 11 oz. bare. Wood is AAA-grade Claro. Scope is a Leupold 8.5-25x40.




Group sizes with this rifle have tended to be in the 4s (5-shots at 100 yards). My best load is a Watson 52-gr. ahead of 39.6 gr. W748. Norma brass, neck-only sized, Fed. 205 primers. MV = 3375 fps. Accuracy: average over 10 consecutive 5-shot groups: .386".

The .243W. On this one, I ordered up AAA-grade English walnut and had it done in the American Classic stock style.

I'm told I can only post 4 images, so will continue this post with a followup showing the .243.

[South Pender]

Continuing with the .243W Wichita:





This rifle has a slightly heavier barrel than the .22 PPC, mic'ing .645" across the flats at the muzzle of its (12-twist) 22.0" barrel. It weighs 8.0 lbs. bare. My gunsmith pillar-bedded it and reworked the Canjar 2-lever trigger getting it down to about 1¼ lbs. Scope is an older Bausch & Lomb 12-32x40.

It's not quite as accurate as the .22 PPC. Best load has been the 80-gr. Watson bullet ahead of 45.0gr. of IMR4350, in Lapua neck-sized brass and with Fed. 210M primers. This has produced a MV of about 3300 fps, and my best 5-shot groups at 100 yards (average of 5 consecutive groups) run at .44".

[Hal]

SP

Thanks for posting pictures of your rifles and the story that goes with them.
I always like to see custom firearms and good wood.

Hal

[Bill K]

Same here, a nice wood stock is very hard to beat. They just look good and with a good finish all the grain just makes it better. Bill K

[foxhunter]

always a big fan of the Wichita rifles and handguns, nice

[Gerald D.]

A very fine pair of rifles.

[Tparrish]

Mighty fine looking pair of rifles.

Tom

[Rick in Oregon]

Absolutely beautiful rifles. I'm betting you're a very proud owner.....I know I would be.

[df06]

Some outstanding wood on those guns.

[Kiwishooter]

Originally Posted by South Pender

I've been told you guys like pictures, so thought I'd put up a few. These are of two Wichita rifles I own, one in .22 PPC and the other in .243 Win. (can that still qualify for "small-caliber"?)

1. The .22 PPC. It is pretty much bone stock, although I did have my gunsmith make modifications to the action (truing it up) and trigger, reworking the 2-lever Canjar to reduce it's pull weight to about one lb. He also pillar-bedded the action. This has a fairly light barrel, mic'g .575" across the flats at the muzzle of its 21.75" barrel (14 twist). The chamber neck is .2465. Weight is 7 lbs. 11 oz. bare. Wood is AAA-grade Claro. Scope is a Leupold 8.5-25x40.




Group sizes with this rifle have tended to be in the 4s (5-shots at 100 yards). My best load is a Watson 52-gr. ahead of 39.6 gr. W748. Norma brass, neck-only sized, Fed. 205 primers. MV = 3375 fps. Accuracy 10 consecutive 5-shot groups: .386".

The .243W. On this one, I ordered up AAA-grade English walnut and had it done in the American Classic stock style.

I'm told I can only post 4 images, so will continue this post with a followup showing the .243.

Nice looking rifles, there is just something about blued steel and walnut stocks.......just a pity the bolt handles are on the wrong side

Just one question, why did you have your gunsmith true up the action on the 22PPC, just wondering as the Wichita I've got is absolutely deadnuts and everything I've read about Wichita actions says that they are one of the straightest custom actions made...............Kiwi