243 Winchester Super Short Magnum History and General Information.  The 243 WSSM is a new centerfire rifle cartridge developed in partnership with Browning Arms Company and Winchester ammunition, making its debut and introduced to the shooting public in 2003.  The 243 WSSM is a commercial cartridge based on the 404 jeffery cartridge case, shortening and necking down to .24 caliber and sharpening the shoulder angle to 28 degrees the new 243 WSSM cartridge has more than ample case capacity for its dual purpose use.  The 243 WSSM cartridge achieves superior dual purpose performance at the factory level, providing varmint hunters and shooters with a extremely high level of 24 caliber super performance, plus, this is a time proven caliber for deer as well.  The 243 WSSM cartridge is the first dual purpose cartridge where you do not have to handload to cater your liking of this cartridge for varmint or deer, the factory offerings are the most extreme I have ever seen that work accurately.  The 243 WSSM factory loadings show a velocity of 4,060 feet per second for a 55 grain bullet for varminting and this alone is an astounding velocity for any 24 caliber cartridge, thus making the bullet energy of this cartridge an easy 500 yard varminter.  The 243 WSSM factory loadings show a velocity of 3,250 feet per second for a 95 grain bullet for medium sized deer hunting, thus making the bullet energy of this cartridge an easy 400 yard medium sized deer cartridge.  The 243 WSSM factory loadings exceed any other factory produced cartridge prior by several hundred feet per second. Clearly making the new 243 Winchester Super Short Magnum, the fastest commercial 24 caliber centerfire cartridge on planet earth.  Because the velocity is high on the 243 WSSM 55 grain cartridge, anyone new to varminting is going to find out quickly their rifle barrels will carbon foul. This cartridge should not be fired in any rifle barrel more than 3 shots between total barrel cleanings and the barrel should be allowed to cool between each shot to maintain top notch accuracy.  For any deer hunter wanting a 1 rifle set-up for long range varminting and deer hunting, the 243 WSSM cartridge is highly recommended as it offers excellent down range trajectories with plenty of bullet energy for very effective distant kills. 243 WSSM Barrel Specifications. Common Barrel Twist Rate - 1 in 10". Bore Groove Diameter - .243" 243 WSSM Reloading Specifications. Bullet Diameter - .243" Maximum Case Length - 1.670" Trimmed Case Length - 1.660" Primer Size - Large Rifle 243 WSSM Loading Data Hints.  The 243 WSSM cartridge seems to prefer Varget powder delivering high velocities with excellent accuracy within the 55 grain bullet weight range. 243 WSSM Reloading Data. Hodgdon Reloading Data Center. 243 WSSM Reloading Dies. RCBS Full Length Die Set, 243 WSSM. 243 WSSM Shell Holder. RCBS #43 Shell Holder For 243 WSSM. 243 WSSM Bullets. .243 (diameter) Bullets, by Sierra, Hornady, Nosler. 243 WSSM Unprimed Brass. Winchester Bulk Unprimed Rifle Shellcases, 243 WSSM. 243 WSSM Ammunition. Winchester, 243 WSSM ammunition. 243 WSSM Rifles. New Browning, Winchester, 243 WSSM rifles here. 243 WSSM Trajectory and Hunting Applications.  This is a down range trajectory chart for the 243 WSSM cartridge with the scope mounted 1.5 inches above the bore center line plus if you were using this load, its effective hunting bullet energy range with well placed shots on, Varmint / Predator size game, such as Bobcat, Cougar, Coyote. Bullet diameter .243" Bullet weight 55 grains Bullet ballistic coeffecient .276 Bullet velocity 4,060 feet per second Range 100 yds. 200 yds. 300 yds. 400 yds. 500 yds. + + .6 0 - 3.9 - 12 - 25.5 1607 1280 1013 794 614  Varmint + + + + + -  This is a down range trajectory chart for the 243 WSSM cartridge with the scope mounted 1.5 inches above the bore center line plus if you were using this load, its effective hunting bullet energy range with well placed shots on, Deer size game, such as Antelope, Blacktail, Hogs, Javelina, Mule, Whitetail. Bullet diameter .243" Bullet weight 95 grains Bullet ballistic coeffecient .400 Bullet velocity 3,250 feet per second Range 100 yds. 200 yds. 300 yds. 400 yds. 500 yds. + + 1.2 0 - 5.7 - 16.9 - 34.5 1898 1610 1359 1140 949  Deer + + + + - - Copyright 2001 - 2007