New Winchester .243 WSSM

[Killertraylor]

Has anyone tried out the new .243 Winchester super short Magnum? I saw an ad for it in a hunting magazine and looked it up on the Winchester website. Winchester claims it will push a 55 gr. bullet at 4000+ fps and 3250fps for a 95 grain bullet! That's quite a bit faster than a std. .243 and the round is 1/2 inch shorter so they had to design a new super short action. So far it's only available in the blued/synthetic black shadow version which I don't really care for, but I would be interested in this gun in some sort of stainless configuration or even the standard featherweight version with the walnut stock. They also have a .223 WSSM.

I've wanted to get a .243 for a long time to have a gun for my son to use when he gets older (he was only born 7 months ago, but you can't start buying him guns too soon )and this new WSSM looks like a pretty cool cartridge. Anyone have one yet?

[blacktail]

I don't have a short mag YET, but would like to do a custom job on either a 270WSM or a 300WSM.

I'm leaning towards the 300 and going to just one rifle for all big game.

However, it would be cool to have the 300 and maybe neck another down to a 257WSM? Or, maybe neck one up to a 338WSM???

With the high velocity of the 243WSM, if you were going to use it on deer, I would only use
the 100 grain weight in a "premium" bullet
so you didn't have them blow up on the animal. Either a Partition, Barnes X, etc...

Mike

[Killertraylor]

I hear you, Mike. That was the whole reason I wanted a .243 in the first place is because my .257 Weatherby really tears them up. But, I love the flat shooting Weatherby so thought I'd just get a .243 for my son to have when he's older. I tried to buy one about 3 years ago at a gunshow - Remington 700 stainless and Keith wouldn't budge an inch on his price (I think I offered him $450 on a gun he had marked at $479). I went back the next day to buy it and it was gone. That's the last year they made the Model 700 in stainless in .243 and the only one I've seen since was at the Gun Room in Portland (that place is a joke) and they wanted $819 for the same gun Keith was selling for $479.

[Predator Dawg]

Blacktail,

I have the 300 WSM and bought it for the exact reason you listed, I can use it for basically all big game. It is a cannon! of a gun but really nice to shoot. Heading to the range today coincidently. DOing it again, I'd get the same gun. The 243 WSSM sounds rather intriguing. I will ask about it at the range.

[I've got dinner]

I will be using a 243 for mulies and pronghorns this year and just bought some Hornady "Light Magnum" ammo. It pushes a 100 grain BTSP bullet at 3100fps at the muzzle and 2358fps at 300 yards. At 2.4" high at 100 yards, it will hit zero at 250 yards. This sounds like similar ballistics to the WSSM.

The Hornady "Varmit Express" will push a 58 grain bullet at 3750fps.

I will be shooting this stuff for the first time tomorrow.

[Buck50]

I've got the 300 WSM and really like it. It's really light and agile. Much easier for these ol' bones to drag around the woods all day. I too have been looking at the 243 WSM but I agree with Killertraylor. I don't really like the synthetic model. The walnut stock ultra light would be nice though. That quick little caliber would be nice to use for yotes to deer.

[C-lice]

Gotta tell you, I think I'd look at a 7mm-08 for junior. Minimal recoil, fantastic accuracy, very versatile, and no bloodshot to speak of.

It comes rifles like the Remington Model 7 and the Savage Sierra, in the standard-sized rifles, and (my favorite antelope and longer-range deer gun) the Savage model 10 FP. I haven't tried Elk with mine yet, but at 400 yards my 162 grain Hornady is still packing 1500 foot-pounds, dropping only 2 feet from point of aim, and has a sectional density of 287. Hits harder and drops less than my 180 grain .30-06 at that range and kicks a lot less.

[StickFish]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Killertraylor:
[QB] Has anyone tried out the new .243 Winchester super short Magnum?

There is a great site for Short Magnums www.shortmags.org covers everything on short mags. I have two short fat cartridges the 300WSM and the 22 Remington Bench Rest. Love them both

As to the 243 last I heard they hadn't settled on the case dimensions yet sp it will be awhile till those are out. The 223 WSSM is out in small custome made rifles. The 223's should be available in mass in November or so.

The short fat concept is great. My 300 hits like a ton of bricks totts like a micro rifle - great hiking gun. I'll be using it on Blacktail and Elk this year.

My rifle has been rather picky about hand loads but I'm getting the best of it now. Got 180 Partitions shooting less than an inch so I can complain - well too much.

My BR is a one holer