243 WSSM

[Hammer500]

I see some older threads but nothing in the last few years. Any one shooting a 243 WSSM. I have rem 700 with a 28" Gaillard 8 twist barrel. It's a .264 neck. I am shooting 115 gr DTACs with 45 grs of superperformance and GM215M primers and Winchester brass with a lot of neck turning. It's funny about 3100 fps.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

The wssm was a failure like the rsaum. Wrong marketing and too many short mags to choose from all at the same time. The 223 and 243 wssm were plagued by the extreme overbore lack of performance along with the 500rd barrel life. I have every wssm caliber reamer there was from 20 to 375 and even the weird 325 and none shot to expectations and have gathered dust for as many years as they have been out it seems. Sad that hornadys marketing people couldnt have been in charge of the short mags

 

[V509]

I shoot a 223wssm using it for killing NW Ohio bean eaters, I have a thing for 22 centerfires
I can see it is not for everyone but the WSSM are still cool
I do anneal the brass after every firing and accuracy is plenty good enough for 350 yard kills

 

[Kurz]

The wssm was a failure like the rsaum.

"Read more: https://www.ammoland.com/2016/06/243-wssm-winchester-super-short-magnum/#ixzz5uVOtdonf
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The overwhelming complaint expressed about this round was how hard it fed or failed to feed. The incredibly steep shoulders of the case from neck to fat magnum body meant it had a really hard time feeding in a bolt action platform. The performance of the cartridge wasn’t in question if it made it into the chamber and the trigger was pulled.


The way bolt actions operate meant there was not enough engineering put into getting that short little round keg of spitfire up and into the chamber. The ammo designer probably spent a lot of time designing the round, but gun makers didn't do enough to allow it to mechanically function. Instead, they just hoped to retro fit it into existing platforms. It is far more costly to design and manufacture a new receiver format than a new cartridge."

Winchester finally resorted to designing their own WSSM action in an attempt to save the cartridge line. Unfortunately, even that wasn't enough. Then tie in the court case where the litigation settlement was linked to the rifles chambered for these cartridges. End result, to avoid paying, Winchester stopped building rifles for these cartridges. But they produced brass in order to try once again to keep the cartridges alive.


Read more: https://www.ammoland.com/2016/06/243-wssm-winchester-super-short-magnum/#ixzz5uVR69EbC
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"The design and function of the AR-15 platform perfectly offers the mechanical solution which the 243 WSSM lacked in a bolt action.


The magazine and bolt interface in the AR-15 is simple. First, the design of the magazine provides uniform tension on the cartridge from three sides: from the bottom, and from feed lips on each side. When a loaded AR-15 magazine is inserted and seated in the action, the cartridge alignment is such that it is more directly in line with the chamber and the feed ramps support the rest of the chambering. The incredibly defined shoulder of the 243 WSSM is no longer the hindrance it presented to a bolt action platform."

The 223 and 243 wssm were plagued by the extreme overbore lack of performance along with the 500rd barrel life.

And like the .220 Swift or the most prevalent whipping boy, the .264 Win., the answer to the claims of overbore (not unlike the Scarlet Letter...) is to learn how to reload for that cartridge(s). By careful selection and testing a perfectly usable and NOT overbore cartridge can be created. The newer styles of powders are now catering to the control of several factors which were degrading some cartridges. We are also the recipients of better steel formulas for barrels. There are bullet lubricants which aid in reducing friction and cleaning products which remove that awful fouling often containing carbon which can degrade your barrel.

I shoot all three of the commercially manufactured cases with nothing but the best results as far as accuracy and barrel life are concerned. The biggest problem had been getting the .25WSSM cases since they were used to produce the .30 OSSM (Oly Arms) which is now defunct I hope. That has changed for the better now.

The .223 WSM is no different from the .22-243 which has always enjoyed popularity in the varmint fields except it's better. The only change I've made for varmints is to add the .22 Creedmoor.

The .243 WSSM can run the 115 Berger VLD at 3,150 fps and the 105 Berger VLD at nearly 3,300 fps. These are set up with special throating and longer barrels, of course.

I whipped some of my compatriots the last time I was down on the desert by using the .25 WSSM and the 131 Blackjack bullet out to 1,500 yards. It is also a very handy hunting cartridge when used in my AR platform.

So, like any other cartridges, there are those who like 'em and those who don't. Shoot 'em if you got 'em!

Enjoy the process!

 

[Zero333]

I always wanted a 243wssm.

Besides Brass quality and availability, I think the 243 wssm didn't get much traction because the good ol 243win already did what the 243wssm was supposed to do, Without most of the downsides.

 

[Hammer500]

I do have to anneal after every firing or I am almost guaranteed 50% of my necks will split.
I agree a 243 win or 243 AI will do everything the WSSM will do but who doesn't want to be different.

 

[Kurz]

Besides Brass quality and availability, I think the 243 wssm didn't get much traction because the good ol 243win already did what the 243wssm was supposed to do, Without most of the downsides.

I agree a 243 win or 243 AI will do everything the WSSM will do but who doesn't want to be different.

I'm lumping both of these together just for the sake of space and time.

I quite frankly don't experience 'downsides' to running any of these cartridges. They perform above most every day expectations and when properly handled in the platform of choice, perform like any other cartridge.

It is often discussed that just because these cartridges have similar capacities to the venerable old .243 Win. that the performance will be exactly the same. I have not found that to be true even when attempting to keep the comparisons similar. I can achieve 3,300 fps with the WSSM case while the .243 Win. lags behind running all out trying to achieve 3,100 fps. This with a 105 grain Berger Hybrid, and yes I even throated both chambers to attempt to take advantage of the 'extra powder space'...

We're all aware of the vagaries of trying such comparisons because of the number of variables present in the systems. Even a barrel can be faster or slower than another barrel straight from the factory. Powder lots can be significantly different from the manufacturer. But when I run these comparisons consistently over time, the range holds true.

The internet is guilty of many things, two of which are aggravated assault and outright lies being perpetuated by the speed of digital data.

Find just one discussion about the 6.5 Creedmoor and you'll read what I mean. The divisiveness is unacceptable since we're all on the same side.

Now the bigger point is that there should be room in the shooting world for cartridges such as the WSSMs and others since they are decidedly different from the .308 Win. based cases. All of these comparisons thrown about on the internet serve only to attempt to disparage the newer cartridges. Yes, you know the examples; 6.5 Creedmoor/.260 Win., 6mm Creedmoor/.243 Win., 6.5 PRC/6.5x284 Norma, et al.

I like having choices. Bring on the newest cartridge, let's appreciate the fine tuning achieved by the manufacturers who have invested in bringing something better to the table, even it's only just a tiny improvement.

Yes, I really do like to have something different and the WSSMs usually accomplish this when demonstrated to other shooters.

 

[mensajd]

A niche application is running a 243 wssm in a small frame AR. Feeds fine and provides 1000 yd reach. I’m running a dtech 243 wssm upper with a shilen select match barrel and it is awesome. Brass availability is pretty good now but I picked a bunch so I wouldn’t have to worry about the issue going forward.

 

[V509]

But we are told by the nay sayers wssm will not feed!

A niche application is running a 243 wssm in a small frame AR. Feeds fine and provides 1000 yd reach. I’m running a dtech 243 wssm upper with a shilen select match barrel and it is awesome. Brass availability is pretty good now but I picked a bunch so I wouldn’t have to worry about the issue going forward.

 

[Rustytigwire]

Feeds fine. Shootin buddy has one on an AR. We trade off rifles on the pd bench for scope comparisons and other friendly arguments. Its all good.

 

[10XSHOOTER]

I shoot a 243 Wssm. 42.0 H4350 3068 fps sd of 4 with a moly 107. No pressure on the brass. Use this in local Long range precision matches. 26" 1-8 5R Kreiger.
Couldn't get 115 DTAC to shoot in this barrel. going to a 1-7 Kreiger this fall.
Winchester is making brass again.

 

[Larryh128]

Big thing with WSSM is guys turn the necks too thin. They need a thick neck. I had a 223 WSSM that was an absolute tack driver. Turned the necks just to clean them up and anneal every loading. No issues.

 

[Kurz]

A niche application is running a 243 wssm in a small frame AR.

But we are told by the nay sayers wssm will not feed!

The AR platform feeds the cartridge directly into the chamber. Straight line.

The bolt action rifles push the cartridge from one side of the box at an angle, up a ramp (incline) into the chamber which is why some folks run into trouble. The geometry of the feed ramp, rails and box needs to be adjusted.

 

[Hammer500]

Larryh128 how thick are your necks after cleaning them up? How much neck tension do you have? Do you get a good seal?

 

[Larryh128]

Larryh128 how thick are your necks after cleaning them up? How much neck tension do you have? Do you get a good seal?

Seal is decent, I haven't measured one in a while but all I took was strictly a skim cut. Some cases will only clean 1/2 to 3/4. The guys that were turning to .012 were having real issues with accuracy. At a operating temp of 65 K PSI .018 handles it much better. I'm thinking I was around .016.

 

[jeffreybehr]

Maybe-stupid question--will the 0.480"-spec'd head of the .25WSSM fit in a typical 0.473"-spec'd boltface?

 

[McFred]

The WSSM line require a "magnum" boltface. If you handload and own a lathe, you can make them smaller with effort depending on your objective.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Who makes a magnum size bolt for a small frame AR?

 

[Hoot]

Who makes a magnum size bolt for a small frame AR?

My 30-25 WSSM AR not only had a magnum bolt, it also had a beefed up barrel extension. The bolt rim diameter was .535

 

[204 AR]

My 30-25 WSSM AR not only had a magnum bolt, it also had a beefed up barrel extension. The bolt rim diameter was .535

Who makes a magnum size bolt for a small frame AR?

Oly developed it and made the parts, now Jard makes those parts. It also takes a special upper that accepts the slightly larger barrel extension.

So I have one made with Oly parts by Dtech, and it is easily coyote accurate to 500 yards and beyond off shooting sticks. 87 gr vmax and Varget, and 80 ttsx and Varget are all I've tried, vmax I started at 40 grains and worked up to 41, the 80 ttsx my first 3 shots at 40 gr clover leafed at 200 yds, loaded and shot 3 more and they joined the first 3 and I called it good. Literally the easiest load works up I've ever done on any rifle. I do anneal necks, using my oxy/acetylene turned really low as my propane torch wouldn't heat them enough with those thick necks. I've had no issues with brass and it was really cheap a couple years ago so I stocked up. Honestly I don't shoot it much as I want to preserve the barrel for hunting but I haven't lost a piece of brass yet to neck splits iirc.