gunner03
Member
I just got a nice B-Day present last night.It's a Winchester model 70 243wssm.
Anyone tried one or know anything about them?
Anyone tried one or know anything about them?
243wssm
- Thread starter gunner03
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XLMiguel
Member
First, welcome to THR, I hope you'll find this place to be friendly and useful.
RE: 243 WSSM - you might try "Rifle Country", that's where the hardcore long gun folks are most likely to be found.
Review the forum list and use the "Search" function, you'll get to what you waant to know faster. Enjoy!
RE: 243 WSSM - you might try "Rifle Country", that's where the hardcore long gun folks are most likely to be found.
Review the forum list and use the "Search" function, you'll get to what you waant to know faster. Enjoy!
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
Only thing I know is from a couple of magazine articles. Boddington, in Guns & Ammo, did a hunt in Texas and was quite favorable about the cartridge.
It looks like a good one for handloading, as you can load down for casual shooting, for "just plinking". And, with the newer designs in light bullets, it ought to be a good varmint getter...
The package idea of a shorter, stiffer action plus the more efficient powder burn of the short case all combining to give better accuracy is not yet totally proven, but seems reasonable in light of benchrest experience.
Art
It looks like a good one for handloading, as you can load down for casual shooting, for "just plinking". And, with the newer designs in light bullets, it ought to be a good varmint getter...
The package idea of a shorter, stiffer action plus the more efficient powder burn of the short case all combining to give better accuracy is not yet totally proven, but seems reasonable in light of benchrest experience.
Art
duckslayer
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Be sure and monitor throat and bbl erosion carefully. According to Hornady (I believe it was Hornady...one of the reloading data books anyway), they ruined barrels developing loads for the 223 and 243 SSMs. They claim the hard shoulder angle is rough on the throats of the barrels.
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
I've always liked the idea of downloading some 300 ft/sec under max for uses outside of actual hunting. Sight-in and Bambi-shooting isn't enough to bother a barrel, but extended range time can. Extend strings of rapid fire really heat up a barrel, hurting the throat...
That notion has let my pet '06 maintain its accuracy past some 4,000 rounds. I've run lots of mid-range and plinker loads through it.
Art
That notion has let my pet '06 maintain its accuracy past some 4,000 rounds. I've run lots of mid-range and plinker loads through it.
Art
duckslayer
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I agree 100% Art. I adhere to the same methodology regarding punching paper.
Gunner, do you load your own or use factory loads? Factory loads are on the upper end of max loadings, so loading your own bullets and following Art's advice should improve the lifespan of your rifle, as it is a nice rifle.
Gunner, do you load your own or use factory loads? Factory loads are on the upper end of max loadings, so loading your own bullets and following Art's advice should improve the lifespan of your rifle, as it is a nice rifle.
gunner03
Member
I don't handload now,to many other things to do,like take the kids fishing when the weather lets us.
I appreciate the advice and will keep it in mind when shopping ammo.
Also any suggetions on scopes.I am mostly going to be hunting with it. Shots range from 25 yards to 350.
I appreciate the advice and will keep it in mind when shopping ammo.
Also any suggetions on scopes.I am mostly going to be hunting with it. Shots range from 25 yards to 350.
kaferhaus
Member
ALL of the WSSMs are barrel burners. I've burnt one up (243) and a friend of mine is one his third barrel... we shoot alot..... every week..
Mine will be for sale soon and my buddies already is...
For someone who only occaisionaly makes it to the range or just hunts. it's probably outlast you. But if you're a shooter... save the WSSM for hunting and get something else to play with.
Mine will be for sale soon and my buddies already is...
For someone who only occaisionaly makes it to the range or just hunts. it's probably outlast you. But if you're a shooter... save the WSSM for hunting and get something else to play with.
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
I've long been a fan of the 3x9, although my .243 sports a 2x7.
My 3x9 was set on 3X for the one time I sorta snap-shot a buck at around 350; magnification isn't everything. 9X allows more precision on smaller targets or on paper.
I like the old Leupold Vari-X IIs; good-used is plenty good. The new VX-1s seem to be pretty much the same animal.
I have a Simmons 44 Mag 3x10 on my '06; it's a bit heavy, but not bad. It's definitely a "set it and forget it" scope, 'cause repeatability isn't good. Recoil doesn't appear to have bothered it, with some 200 or so rounds of experience.
I dressed up my little Sako with Conetrol mounts, but otherwise I've always used Weaver bases and rings. They've done just fine on a whole bunch of rifles over a whole bunch of years.
, Art
Edit: Correct typo in opening line...
My 3x9 was set on 3X for the one time I sorta snap-shot a buck at around 350; magnification isn't everything.
9X allows more precision on smaller targets or on paper.I like the old Leupold Vari-X IIs; good-used is plenty good. The new VX-1s seem to be pretty much the same animal.
I have a Simmons 44 Mag 3x10 on my '06; it's a bit heavy, but not bad. It's definitely a "set it and forget it" scope, 'cause repeatability isn't good. Recoil doesn't appear to have bothered it, with some 200 or so rounds of experience.
I dressed up my little Sako with Conetrol mounts, but otherwise I've always used Weaver bases and rings. They've done just fine on a whole bunch of rifles over a whole bunch of years.
, ArtEdit: Correct typo in opening line...
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Black Snowman
Member
I'm building an AR with the Oly Arms 243 WSSM upper as my varmint gun. I'll be using bullets on the heavier side and downloading to increase barrel life but will still be getting more velocity than a standard 243 and have the option to go full blast when I feel like it. With 105 gr bullets it's still supersonic at around 1200 yards with a full power load.
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