I have question if you have answers

[Keystone_24]

I have several questions but the first one pertains too the .243 wssm. I was thinking about building a rifle using this caliber but i am having problems finding out much about it. Is this caliber a better performer than the .243 win. Or is there something better out there. Question 2, i have a 270 win with a m 98 action and a McGowan barrel. I love the accuracy, but have seen some post that say there are alot better barrels out there. I don't know much about barrel manufactures and there products, so if i could get some helpful hints I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[BoydAllen]

I think that in order to answer your questions it would help to know what you intend to use the rifle for, what your idea of "better" is, and if you are contemplating a new rifle or a rebarrel job for your existing one.

 

[middleground]

243 wssm???? Why? a standard 243 will out shoot most shooters. Accuracy can't be beat for what it is intended for. Especially it can't be beat with a wssm. Honest

 

[ReedG]

Hi Keystone:

People have as many reasons for "liking" cartridges as there are cartridges, but I just want to say that unless you have some specific feature of the WSSM that appeals to you it would be better to go with a .243 or .243 AI or even a newer 6x47 off the Lapua case.

I have no firsthand experience with this caliber, but it seems from many of the posts I've seen that the WSSM cases are very thick, hard to get a good seal in the chamber and have an unexplainably long sloping shoulder -- all for no apparent reason. Also looks like this case could be a barrel-burner with that big load of powder packed in behind the small neck opening. It seems so pointless to me, as this caliber doesn't do anything that other calibers will do, not that that matters.

Also, with Winchester rifles gone, there will not be many if any factory rifles in this cartridge very soon.

But, of course, I'm the first to admit logic doesn't have to play a part in picking a caliber. If you are looking for a hot varmint rig in something heavier and hotter than most of the .22s and barrel life isn't a worry, then go for the .243 WSSM and enjoy.