Range Report 243 WSSM . ? opinions

LibertyArms

LibertyArms

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Jan 6, 2010
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Southwest PA
#1
looking into a diff varmint rifle. How are teh WSSM's. effective or better stick with the standard rounds. Just wanted somthing different. Also, what grains work best in them.? I have an extras 12 twist broughtn if it dosent get traded or sold. so would be looking at prob 75 gr max on that twsit.

Opinions on them

Thanks
 
#2
Re: 243 WSSM . ? opinions

My feeling with that case is that if you're going to build a custom gun and have a lot of capacity, like the 6mm WSSM does, then get a fast twist to shoot the heavy bullets with it.

They're particularly nasty to make them feed, the WSM is a pain, the WSSM is a real bastard. That case shape with appx 2:1 length to diameter is tough, similar to the 6mm BR.

The 12 twist will get you blistering velocities for exploding little furry creatures inside about 600yd, but after that I'd really like to shoot stuff in the 105-115 class, for which you'll need a 8 or 7.75 twist (115-117s in cold, dense air).
 
#3
Re: 243 WSSM . ? opinions

getting 115 or 117 to fit in an AR mag is just about impossible, but can be done. I've been making VLD Pmags for the WSSM and currently seat 95VLDs out to 2.34" and may be trying 105 Amax seated out to 2.400"

With that 12" twist you can run the lighter bullets purdy damn fast, but it's completely up to you if you want to roll with it.

I love mine, but it's got a 1:9 twist and WISH i would have gotten 1:8 or 1:7.5 for the exact reason bohem stated.

as far as grains go, you'll just have to see what your barrel likes best. Varget has worked the best for me so far but others have good luck with other flavors as well. People think the WSSM or the AR for that matter is some mythical gun that will only work the best with this bullet or that powder or this charge.

You can probably get similar or equal results with 100 different bullet, powder, charge combos.
 
#4
Re: 243 WSSM . ? opinions

thanks guys. i think im going with a bolt platform, so feeding will be an issue either way i take. that seems to be the most common thing people complain about. this is going to be a varmint/ groundhog gun. so terminal ballistics dosent matter. If im going to keep a pelt from somthing i wont be using. Just want somthing odd. add for som reason like the short fat case.

are the ballistics good with the 75grs, or is going to fast and would be better with the 1-9 1-8 twists?
 
#5
Re: 243 WSSM . ? opinions

In a bolt gun, you should have no trouble running them at all. You won't have to worry about the 2.26" oal mag restrictions we AR guys have.

Ballistics are <span style="text-decoration: line-through">always</span> usually better with heavier bullets, but I was shooting 200-250lb deer with 75Vmax at 400m. They've got a .333 bc that seem to do just fine out to 4-600. After that they start running out of gas fast, but I wasn't pushing them very hard either. Only about 3100. You can probably get them going in the 3600 range safely, but my best groups were going slow.

There are guys over at the WSSMzone.com that are pushing bullets in the 50gr rage at around 4000 with sub moa groups, so you should be able to find something that will work nicely.
 
#6
Re: 243 WSSM . ? opinions

RWG818,
Anywhere close to Washington? I spent my very early years north of Burgettstown.
Visit this forum http://forums.wssmzone.com/default.asp for answers from the guys that know WSSMs. I can shoot 58 V-max's close to 4000 fps out of a 22" barrel. On a calm day, it will easily nail a groundhog out to 500 yards.
With my 223 wssm, I killed a groundhog with one shot at 821 yards with a 55 V-Max at 3935 fps.
That 1:12 baarrel will make a dandy groundhog slayer.
 
#7
Re: 243 WSSM . ? opinions

yes i am close. Im just outside of elizabeth pa. But shoot out in 84 alot.

i have been given that site a fe times and just looked it up. lots of info on ammo and reloads etc etc. for what im thinking im gussing the 12 twist will work. im not looking for a 800yrd gun on this one. just want a critter gitter.
 
#8
Re: 243 WSSM . ? opinions

lol HEY Camo! I was just stopping by to suggest swinging over to the WSSMzone as well. I'll be back over there again tomorrow with some QL questions for you and techshooter lol.
 
#9
Re: 243 WSSM . ? opinions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RWG818</div><div class="ubbcode-body">looking into a diff varmint rifle. How are teh WSSM's. effective or better stick with the standard rounds. Just wanted somthing different. Also, what grains work best in them.? I have an extras 12 twist broughtn if it dosent get traded or sold. so would be looking at prob 75 gr max on that twsit.

Opinions on them

Thanks </div></div>

The brass is overly inconsistent! I've fiddled with a bolt and semi auto 243wssm.I'll never own one again.My friends Coopers barrel took a dump at 800 rounds.

Accuracy is you're primary concern,not all out velocity.Accuracy is the child of consistency!

I suggest building a 6mm Benchrest,dasher or BRX.They are super easy to build a load for,extremely accurate,get good barrel life and are almost as fast as a 22-250.
 
#10
Re: 243 WSSM . ? opinions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: steve123</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RWG818</div><div class="ubbcode-body">looking into a diff varmint rifle. How are teh WSSM's. effective or better stick with the standard rounds. Just wanted somthing different. Also, what grains work best in them.? I have an extras 12 twist broughtn if it dosent get traded or sold. so would be looking at prob 75 gr max on that twsit.

Opinions on them

Thanks </div></div>

The brass is overly inconsistent! I've fiddled with a bolt and semi auto 243wssm.I'll never own one again.My friends Coopers barrel took a dump at 800 rounds.

Accuracy is you're primary concern,not all out velocity.Accuracy is the child of consistency!

I suggest building a 6mm Benchrest,dasher or BRX.They are super easy to build a load for,extremely accurate,get good barrel life and are <span style="font-weight: bold">almost as fast as a 22-250</span>.

</div></div>
which is almost as fast as a 22-250 which is almost as fast as a 220 Swift which is almost as fast as a 223 wssm.
 
#11
Re: 243 WSSM . ? opinions

Wouldn't it be easier to use a range finder and add a few more clicks on your scope rather than replace a barrel every 600 rounds ???

No offence but 223 wssm is about the sorriest cartridge ever made.

The same friend who's barrel was toast at 800 rounds sent his Cooper back for a rebarrel only to find out that they only had 223 wssm barrels in stock.So when he got the rifle back he bought a couple hundred 223 wssm brass only to find out that most of them wouldn't even fit in the shell holder.Upon further inspection the flash holes weren't centered.The necks were uneven by .002.There was 10 grains difference in weight between the lightest to the heaviest case.Seriously by far the worst brass I've ever had the displeasure to see!!!

I'll take accuracy and barrel life over speed any day.
 
#12
Re: 243 WSSM . ? opinions

barrel life is important, but not as much on this rig. It isint going to be a range gun. Really looking for a varmint gun, which most of the time once its sighted in will get about 100 rnds per year. I have read diff. storys on bbl life. some say it isint that bad.

And just wandering.? the velocitys are slightly lower than a 22-250, so why would it burn out a bbl faster. I assume factory 22-250's have better bbl life than that. right.

I guss my main question would be is the 12twist barrel and 75grs going to be good enough, being it is for groundhog sized game at for the most part 400yds and under ?
 
#13
Re: 243 WSSM . ? opinions

1:12 twist and 75 gr bullets is not going to burn your barrel out any sooner than something else unless you go rapid fire all day long and get things hot.
This whole "WSSM" barrel life bull shit is ridiculous. Unless your purposefully trying to hod rod it, you'll be just fine.
No, of course it's not the most accurate cartridge every made, especially with the brass the way it is. The .243WSSM with 75gr bullets at moderate speed will get you plenty of shots if you're only shooting 1-200 rounds a year. My best groups were less than .5 MOA at 400m and only running at about 3050. If you want to push them as fast as you can, and sit on a pdog town all day for a week...you're going to have it toasted faster than Lindsay Lohan at a Crack Convention.
 
#14
Re: 243 WSSM . ? opinions

All you have to do is mention the WSSM in the thread's subject and you'll have no end of people who've never fired one, much less owned one, lining up to tell you just how awful they are.
 
#15
Re: 243 WSSM . ? opinions

Agreed, Fred C Dobbs. And they say women gossip!

I'm running 55 V-Max's at 3935 fps out of a Kreiger barrel in my 223 wssm. 1300 rounds.

Steve123 is saying the cartridge is no good because a company made bad brass. Seems to me he should be reaming the company that made the brass. And not Winchester for inventing the cartridge.
 
#16
Re: 243 WSSM . ? opinions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: c_bass16</div><div class="ubbcode-body">1:12 twist and 75 gr bullets is not going to burn your barrel out any sooner than something else unless you go rapid fire all day long and get things hot.
This whole "WSSM" barrel life bull shit is ridiculous. Unless your purposefully trying to hod rod it, you'll be just fine.
No, of course it's not the most accurate cartridge every made, especially with the brass the way it is. The .243WSSM with 75gr bullets at moderate speed will get you plenty of shots if you're only shooting 1-200 rounds a year. My best groups were less than .5 MOA at 400m and only running at about 3050. If you want to push them as fast as you can, and sit on a pdog town all day for a week...you're going to have it toasted faster than Lindsay Lohan at a Crack Convention. </div></div>

"toasted faster than Lindsay Lohan at a Crack Convention."
That cracks me up. LMAO
 
#17
Re: 243 WSSM . ? opinions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CamoWildcat</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Agreed, Fred C Dobbs. And they say women gossip!

I'm running 55 V-Max's at 3935 fps out of a Kreiger barrel in my 223 wssm. 1300 rounds.

Steve123 is saying the cartridge is no good because a company made bad brass. Seems to me he should be reaming the company that made the brass. And not Winchester for inventing the cartridge. </div></div>
At least no one yet has trotted out the usual, "It's the answer to the question no one was asking."
 
#18
Re: 243 WSSM . ? opinions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CamoWildcat</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Agreed, Fred C Dobbs. And they say women gossip!

I'm running 55 V-Max's at 3935 fps out of a Kreiger barrel in my 223 wssm. 1300 rounds.

Steve123 is saying the cartridge is no good because a company made bad brass. Seems to me he should be reaming the company that made the brass. And not Winchester for inventing the cartridge. </div></div>

It was Winchester brass,LOL,who else makes it???
 
#19
Re: 243 WSSM . ? opinions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RWG818</div><div class="ubbcode-body">barrel life is important, but not as much on this rig. It isint going to be a range gun. Really looking for a varmint gun, which most of the time once its sighted in will get about 100 rnds per year. I have read diff. storys on bbl life. some say it isint that bad.

And just wandering.? the velocitys are slightly lower than a 22-250, so why would it burn out a bbl faster. I assume factory 22-250's have better bbl life than that. right.

I guss my main question would be is the 12twist barrel and 75grs going to be good enough, being it is for groundhog sized game at for the most part 400yds and under ? </div></div>

Type in barrel life calculator in a google search and it'll show you an approximate estimate for barrel life.
 
#22
Re: 243 WSSM . ? opinions

Several guys at the wssmzone forum convert 223 wssm brass to 243 and 25 wssm. Graf & sons usually stocks the Federal brass in 223 wssm. The guys buy it then convert.
 
#23
Re: 243 WSSM . ? opinions

Consider Dobb's opinion. I've chatted with him on shooting and I think he knows what he's doing and I've been doing this stuff all my life and I'm 48...Daddy used raise hell because all the buckets on the farm had a hole shot in them from my 22 rifle as well as all the turbines on the broiler houses. Anyway, listen to Dobbs.
 
#24
Re: 243 WSSM . ? opinions


[/quote]
which is almost as fast as a 22-250 which is almost as fast as a 220 Swift which is almost as fast as a 223 wssm.[/quote]
CamoCat, I own and shoot all the .22's above and U built a .223 wizzum that is the only one Ive ever seen,shot that will shoot with a swift and it took a shit. As Dad used to say " the coon that shits fast won't shit long" LOL U gotta love a problem child. The swift was king in'35 an still is,the problem child will not be the 22 that dethrones the king....
 
#27
Re: 243 WSSM . ? opinions

ok, now that ive stirred up a bees nest, lol. If im running one with a 12 twist, whats the recomended barrel length ont hese things. Can i stay shorter at 24" or is it just going to waste the powder from a big case ?
 
#28
Re: 243 WSSM . ? opinions

Your gonna want 10 twist or faster visit the wssm zone, good guys that will answer all ???
wink.gif

here is a good read http://www.snipercountry.com/Articles/243_WSSM.asp
 
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