243 wssm

[9x23w]

Just noticed this thread, so here's my 2 cents...

I'm somewhat surprised at the lack of posts on the WSSM's, considering that there are probably a lot more of them out there than some of the offbeat 6mm BR variations. The WSSM's have been a marketing failure but technically there is nothing magical about them, they are just "short and fat" taken to the next level.

They work great in AR's, and I really like my 243WSSM Varmint Stalker. The gun is very short and light for a rifle with a 24" medium/heavy barrel contour. Most accurate gun I have,I am not a BR shooter). I have not yet reloaded any fired cases,only virgin brass), so maybe I'm in for a surprise.

 

[Orddy]

I sure love the 243WSSM in my AR platform......so much so i have 2 of them. Awesome long range pasture poodle gun.

 

[nastynatesfish]

yeah, well i know i'm naive and all but it comes across as all the goodness of a 6br but i can run out to the store and buy ammo

Have you actually seen the Ammo sitting on a shelf? That's been the biggest set back. Lack of factory Ammo and lack of brass. I had a 243wssm Olympic arms AR15. 22" ultra match barrel. It shot awesome with85gr smk and varget. It only had chambering issues if you didn't get a good size on the brass. Anneal it good and trim it.

 

[savagedasher]

The Case is over bore for a 6mm bullet Even the heavyweight bullets .
So yes it is hard chambers .
Dashers or br type case is not over bore
Now the 6.5 wssm case was perfect size capacity for the 140 GR bullets the brass sucks . Larry

 

[dkhunt14]

Like Nate says brass is now almost non-existent. The brass is not that great either. Matt

 

[Shaggy357]

I have a model 70 in 243 WSSM. Only problem I have ever had with closing bolt, opening bolt, and/or feeding was 100% my fault in not checking my reloading die settings. Once I sat down with press, brass, and gun in hand, it was easy to set the sizing die for my chamber and easy to confirm OAL.

I shoot 95 gr Ballistic Tips and 100 gr Partitions. They are very accurate in my gun. If I want to go smaller and faster, I get one of my other guns out.

My model 70 has the light barrel. At @ 6lbs, I am close to 2lbs lighter than my Ruger 77 in .243. Not that much difference, but noticeable at the end of a long hike.

Can't comment on the throat erosion. My barrel doesn't have any and I have not seen any deterioration in accuracy.

Not a cartridge for the beginner, nor the factory ammo shopper. As an owner, and avid shooter of one, I like it. (And I have enough brass now to last me forever....or until my 6mm bullets run out)

Steve

 

[gimp4ever]

don't know much of the 243wssm.! Don't Have one. Only Have 223wssm.25wssm. 270wsm,7wsm,300wsm,325wsm. as for reloading them. it was tad different than most of my other are. 223 & 25 neck's kinda stiff, The others are about The same as others to Load. Only have about 420rd Down the 223wssm, 252rd.thru 25wssm,287rd.270wsm,180rd.7mmwsm. never any down 300wsm,325wsm.as they are win.coyote Light Made in New Haven.before Plant Closed. the 223wssm has taking Coyotes out to 657yrd. I LIKE IT. Just as Good as my 22-250AI. 220 swift. 6mm-284. its all in What YOU Like a Wont to Shot. they all have Good and Bad points. Just My .02
if you are into Learning about Reloading and Enjoy it try any of them or any WILDCAT.
Most of What any One Shoots Began as a (Wildcat) at Some Point.if Your Looking For Store Bout ammo Then By All Means Go With 243,6mm. Thank You and God Bless

 

[Alex Wheeler]

A 6 dasher will run the 55s at 4k fps.

 

[mikecr]

I feel like the WSSM line should have existed only in 25 & 26cal, and only in heaviest for cal bullets.
It would have helped also if they had made actual WSSM cases, rather than forming them from WSM cases(leaving them too thick).
And it would have helped if makers stuck to magnum diameter actions(regardless of length), and if the lawsuits hadn't led to shortages.

The Win WSSM reloading brass as sold in bags is actually excellent & used to be cheap enough to quickly cull brass as good as any in the world. Pretty hard to find these days..
Early on it had plenty of wildcatting potential.
I put together a 26WSSM Imp, and will love it the rest of my life I'm sure. But I had mail ordered several thousand 25WSSM cases, and carefully measured the first thousand before filling out my reamer print. That's a different world than running to a gunshop to see what's on the shelf. BAT recommended a magnum diameter action to get sufficient barrel steel around the chamber(it's a magnum diameter case), and I went with a one-off custom on that, including controlled round push feed and standing blade ejection. Again, different world from picking through factory guns at stores.

The 22 & 24cal WSSMs were disposable hot rods, with no more practical than hot rods ever are. One could never expect anything long term from these, or from others merchandised today. If you buy into one, use it for what it is (enjoy it) & then move on.

 

[JRS]

If you want to shoot the WSSM cartridges, HillBilly Brass will form the cases for you from WSM brass.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

Yup I bought one when they first came out. 243 WSSm. What a POS.. Everything was FUBAR.. Reloading was a major hassle, etc etc.. And mine didn't shoot.. I sold it and bought a 243 Win... Problem solved.

 

[NC308]

I just found out they have discontinued the 7mm WSM. I would guess the only one that will live will be the 300 WSM.