243 WSSM options

[6BRonwheels]

I have a 243 WSSM with a worn out barrel/throat. I am wondering what options I have for this caliber. Do I have to stick with a WSSM caliber, or can I have it re-chambered for another short action caliber like 6mmBR.
Thank you,
Jack

 

[constructor]

you can set it back or rechamber for the 243WSM unless you want to buy a new bolt, The bolt is set up for mag. rims. If you had a standard bolt you could go with a 243.

 

[6BRonwheels]

Thank you for the information. I will probably keep this rifle as a 243 WSSM. When it was new I could ag .25" at 100 yards with Berger 90 grain bullets. Also, this rifle has a serial number of "0000", something that is hard to find.

 

[dtech]

How many rounds do you think you have through your barrel? I have been building quite a few of the WSSM's and get asked about barrel life all the time. I would be interested to find out what kind of round-count you have, as well as what bullet-weights you have been shooting.

 

[cl5man]

I just had this same question asked about a month ago. Unfortunately the WSSM family is even shorter that a standard WSM by quit a bit. The longer 300 WSM won't even come close to fitting in the magazine of a 243 WSSM. It's about a 1/4" to long. The guy that came to me only had two choices, the 243 WSSM or the 223 WSSM. He decided to go back with his original caliber of the 243 WSSM. He had another smith put a McMillian stock on a factory model 70 and the gun would only shoot barely under 2", this was a brand new gun. Thats when he brought it to me. After checking everthing I could think of I suggested a new barrel. With a shilen match CM it shrunk to just under an inch. This is with the only ammo he could find, Winchester. He's still not happy but I think the WSSM family just isn't an accurate round. Unfortunately he doesn't reload or he could shrink the group size down a bit more with trial and error.

 

[dtech]

I have built literally hundreds of the WSSM's. Probably a little more of the .243 than the .25, but a fairly close split.

The WSSM round, in and of itself, is capable of VERY fine accuracy. I have several customers using them in competition and have personally shot many of them that had very fine accuracy.

I would starve to death building custom bolt-action rifles on the WSSM platform, but being able to shoot them out of an AR-15 makes them sort of MAGIC!

 

[dtech]

I am building a whole line of wildcat WSSM variants for use on the AR-15 platform. It started off because of the new Indiana game law. The .358/.25 WSSM is big-game legal in Indiana as of this year. I have got the reamers and barrel-blanks for .358, .338, and .300 but I'm still waiting on the dies. I have the reamer and dies for the 6.5 and just shipped my first one to Alaska.

Here's a photo of, from left: .300, 7mm, 6.5, 25 and .243

 

[treeman]

what do you use for a bolt for wssm in an ar.maybe i'm thinking wrong. maybe you're talking the ar10. treeman

 

[BJILEG]

I have a new bolt action rifle built on the 30WSSM..Single shot,two barrels,dies and brass if someone wants to shoot the 30WSSM..I will send pictures to your e-mail address..

 

[dtech]

Treeman, The bolt I am using was designed and build just for the WSSM line. The bolt/carrier, barrel-extension and receiver are all made just for the WSSM line, but the upper will fit and function on a standard AR-15 lower. You can switch from .223 to .25 WSSM in 20 seconds.


BJILEG, I would love to see some data on the 30 WSSM. Some velocities and load data if you have any.

 

[6BRonwheels]

How many rounds do you think you have through your barrel? I have been building quite a few of the WSSM's and get asked about barrel life all the time. I would be interested to find out what kind of round-count you have, as well as what bullet-weights you have been shooting.

I have about 1500 rounds through my 243 WSSM, mostly molly coated 90 grain Berger bullets. My average vel. with this round was 3280fps.