Questions about 243 WSSM

[squirrelsnpr]

I am considering building a 243 WSSM and had a few questions.

What kind of accuracy am I looking at? I would be performing full case prep (including neck turning, and annealing). I plan on shooting the 87 grain bullets up to the 105 area.

Is this one of the "inherently accurate" cartridges? What size primer does it use? How good is the Winchester brass? Is there an option for upgraded brass (different manufacture)? And what kind of barrel life am I looking at? Does it load from a blind magazine well?

One more question, can a Winchester model 70 with a blind magazine be converted to a detachable magazine?

Thanks, Mitch.

 

[6BRonwheels]

Hi Mitch,
I have had a Winchester Stealth II for a few years. When it was new I could do consistant .33" groups. Barrel life is not real good, figure about 1200 rounds before it is toast. Unless you are going to use a fast twist barrel, 95 grain bullets are about the limit. The WSSM's use the large rifle primer. I am not sure if anybody still makes the brass for this caliber, as it was discontinued by Winchester (the caliber/rifle). The brass is horrible to work with, the worst I have ever used.
Good Luck,
Jack

 

[MarkS]

Mitch,

Don't go there. 2 of my freinds built one on custom actions when the 243WSSM came out. The 243 WSSM brass suck and so did the accuracy. The brass is way too heavy.They both cut the chamber off and rechanbered to 243AI and a 6mmAI. These two may not feed well from a mag. I think Win had problem with feeding in there gun also.

Mark Schronce

 

[Laurie]

Don't go there. 2 of my freinds built one on custom actions when the 243WSSM came out. The 243 WSSM brass suck and so did the accuracy. The brass is way too heavy.They both cut the chamber off and rechanbered to 243AI and a 6mmAI. These two may not feed well from a mag. I think Win had problem with feeding in there gun also.

Mark Schronce

Concur with that absolutely.

Had a Winchester Stealth in .243WSSM - absolute dog of a rifle with awful brass! Don't load it up and the cases won't obturate well in the chamber; load it up and you can hardly lift the bolt handle on a fired case. Barrel went after 800 or 900 rounds. There is a view that with such a fat case body in the barrel / action body front ring diameter that Winchester used allied to 65,000 psi pressures, the barrel / action expand excessively on a full-house load and when it all returns to normal size, the case doesn't shrink enough giving the hard extraction. You had to fight the bolt open on factory ammo which is loaded really hot. If loaded to .243 Win pressures, it gives .243 Win performance as the cases have the same internal capacities. The WSSMs are answers to problems that don't exist!

Laurie,
York, England

 

[Ole]

Maybe not! I have a .243 WSSM Stealth with a 1x8 Krieger barrel and so far it's not bad with 95 SMK's at 3350 fps.

Tom

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

This forum answered my question because I was thinking about this chamber also! Thanks you good folks for imparting wisdom!

Mike

 

[steve123]

Yep!!! The brass really REALLY SUCKs.