Author Topic: .243 WSSM help!! (Read 1035 times)

hardly · « **on:** November 10, 2003, 07:42:44 AM »

My friends son hunts with a Remington Youth Model .243. He is ready to move him up to a full size gun and is contemplating a Browning A-bolt in .243 wssm. He asked me to put up a post for any comments on this new round regarding it's performance over the standard .243. I have heard rumors about a shortage of ammo and possible problems with barrels. Any help is welcomed. thanks.

Lawdog · « **Reply #1 on:** November 10, 2003, 09:50:58 AM »

From what I can find out almost every WSSM rifle coming off the line is going to fill a back order. Few are making it to the shelves and when they do they are bough before any dust settles on them. Going by data available the .243 WSSM is going to be just under the .240 Weatherby in velocity and energy. Should make for an accurate deer and varmint cartridge. There is NO shortage of ammo and the rumors about barrel life is just that, RUMORS. The .243 WSSM was just released to the public at the end of August and are still just getting into the hands of the consumers so how could anyone tell how long barrel life is going to be. Lawdog

Dave in WV · « **Reply #2 on:** November 10, 2003, 01:25:19 PM »

Why not just buy a full size stock and keep the same rifle? Or ..... rechamber to .243 AI and a new stock and get the same thing for less $$$.

stork · « **Reply #3 on:** November 10, 2003, 02:54:01 PM »

I agree with Dave in WV. Just go out and buy a new stock. The .243 is a great little round. Your friend will save lots of money this way, so if he wants to put on an aftermarket trigger or a good scope he can.

MI VHNTR · « **Reply #4 on:** November 10, 2003, 05:15:42 PM »

The 223 WSSM HAS barrel life issues. Hornady reportly said that there was significant throat erosion at approx. 150 rounds. There's little reason to expect that the 243 WSSM will be any different in this respect. There is significant overbore with both cartridges. Browning has taken to chrome lining the barrels to aid in barrel life of the WSSMs. This would seem to confirm that there are issues concerning barrel life, at least from the factorys viewpoint. There are also aftermarket barrel makers producing WSSM barrels, so there's no need for a consumer to wait for a factory rifle. MI VHNTR

hardly · « **Reply #5 on:** November 11, 2003, 05:09:54 AM »

Thanks for the replies. My friend hunted with a Weatherby 270 mag and bought a Browning 270 wsm last year. He now perfers the A-Bolt over the Weatherby. He is buying his son a new gun for Christmas, wants to get him something different and likes the short mags. The 243 wssm looked like a good stocking stuffer. Money is not an issue and the local gun shop has two A-Bolts in stock with plenty ammo. The barrel thing keeps coming up everywhere I have looked and it may a factor in his decision. Thanks again.

Omaha-BeenGlockin · « **Reply #6 on:** November 11, 2003, 06:43:55 AM »

Why not get an A-Bolt in .308???

The .308 will deadlier than any .243 caliber---ammo is cheap---plentifull---and all kinds of different loadings out there.

Recoil shouldn't be too bad in a full size rifle----and the boy could use the rifle to take darn near anything----excepting the big bears.

Lawdog · « **Reply #7 on:** November 11, 2003, 08:21:06 AM »

MI VHNTR,

I read the Hornady report and I don't put much stock into it because I have over 600 rounds thru my .223 WSSM Coyote with no signs of throat erosion as checked by my gunsmith and I. I am in contact with three others that have the .223 WSSM and none of them are experiencing any significant throat erosion and one has over 1,000 thru his. You can burn out any barrel in any caliber if you push velocity levels and stay there. I like Hornady and have talked to their Tec's many times but this is the only report I can find that says that about the .223 WSSM. Lawdog

GTBuzz · « **Reply #8 on:** November 11, 2003, 11:22:52 AM »

Quote from: Lawdog

Going by data available the .243 WSSM is going to be just under the .240 Weatherby in velocity and energy.Lawdog

From what I have found (Hodgdon) as well as Winchester Factory ammo - the .243 WSSM will propel a 100g bullet at just under 3100 fps. It is not even as fast as handloading sources show the 48 year old 6mm Remington, and way slower than the .240 Weatherby. .240 Weatherby ammo is rated at 3400 fps at the muzzle for a 100g bullet.

To me this is another cartridge (from a hunting perspective) that answers a question that wasn't asked. I see it being a commercial flop once the hype around it stops.

MI VHNTR · « **Reply #9 on:** November 11, 2003, 05:02:04 PM »

Lawdog, I've read this on several boards, plus others have described getting similar info from Hornady and other places. The fact is, Browning had barrel life problems AND they DID chrome line the barrels to aid in improving barrel life. I'm quite sure that Browning would not go though the added expense and time to put chrome lined barrels on the rifles just for kicks. MI VHNTR

foto · « **Reply #10 on:** November 11, 2003, 05:47:59 PM »

Why would anyone buy a .243 wssm. It costs more, shoots the same bullet and is limited to the exact same game. Its not like you can now go moose hunting with a .243. Your going to be facing the exact same criticisms that the .243 is too small for reliable taking of larger deer.
The regular .243 can shoot out to 250-300yds. I don't think the .243 wssm is now going to make the .243 a 500 yd deer rifle or is it? At least the bigger rounds had a advantage in offering big performance in a smaller package but the .243 is already one of the smallest and lightest caliburs/rifles available. Why the intense interest? Does it really perform much better? really am curious and don't mean to just bash. Don't follow this stuff intensely and don't handload. thanks.

Lawdog · « **Reply #11 on:** November 12, 2003, 09:14:22 AM »

GTBuzz,

Quote

It is not even as fast as handloading sources show the 48 year old 6mm Remington, and way slower than the .240 Weatherby.

If you want to compare then compare factory to factory. Also all loads currently available for the .243 WSSM are new and are not what will be available in the future. Going by case capacity the .240 Weatherby holds 62.3 gr., the .243 WSSM holds 59.5 gr., and the .243 Win. holds 53.9 gr.. With only a 2.8 gr. advantage over the .243 WSSM the .240 Weatherby will only be maybe a 100 or so fps. faster. While I own a .240 Weatherby even I can see the possible advantage in accuracy(shorter case, stiffer actions) over the Weatherby. Lawdog

GTBuzz · « **Reply #12 on:** November 12, 2003, 10:13:21 AM »

I am comparing factory to factory. The 100g Wichester Power Point .243 WSSM loading is 3100 fps while the .240 Weatherby is 3400 fps for a 100g bullet. I've not hooked either up to a chrony so I cannot vouch for the accuracy of those numbers, nor the potential of either - just going by published loads. Hodgdon load data seems right in line with Wincheters 100g loading.

Neither is really my style. I prefer larger diameter heavier and stronger constructed bullets started off at 2500 to 2900 fps.