.243 Winchester Super Short Magnum
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243 WSSM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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.300 WSM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Case type | Rimless, bottleneck | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Bullet diameter | .243 in (6.2 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Land diameter | .237 in (6.0 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Neck diameter | .291 in (7.4 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Shoulder diameter | .544 in (13.8 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Base diameter | .555 in (14.1 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Rim diameter | .535 in (13.6 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Rim thickness | .054 in (1.4 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Case length | 1.670 in (42.4 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Overall length | 2.362 in (60.0 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Rifling twist | 1-10 in (250 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Primer type | Large rifle | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Ballistic performance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Test barrel length: 24 in (610 mm) Source(s): Hodgdon [1] |
The 243 Winchester Super Short Magnum or 243 WSSM is a
Design
The 243 WSSM is an addition to the
The 243 WSSM's case is unusually short and fat in profile, contrasting markedly with most other rifle cartridges, and is intended to take advantage of what ballisticians have shown is the more uniform and efficient burning of propellant powder when it is held in a short, fat stack by the cartridge case.[4]
Performance
In their ballistics tables, Winchester list a very high muzzle velocity of 4,060 ft/s (1,240 m/s) with a 55-grain (3.6 g) projectile for this cartridge.[5] Based on Hodgdon reloading data typical velocities should range from approximately 4,000 ft/s (1,200 m/s) with a 58-grain (3.8 g) bullet to approximately 3,000 ft/s (910 m/s) with a 100-grain (6.5 g) bullet.[1] The percentage gain in performance over the older .243 Winchester is around 10% or less.
This cartridge is usually used for small game such as varminting, and used for animals as large as deer.
Advantages
Compared to other factory 6mm sporting cartridges the 243 WSSM is capable of functioning in the
The 243 WSSM is 3⁄8 in (9.5 mm) shorter than the 243 Win, giving the 243 WSSM the ability to fit in a super-short action rifle. Thus 243 WSSM rifles can be lighter, have stiffer actions and have faster actions to cycle.[7]
The 243 WSSM gives generally a 10% increase in velocity over the 243 Win.[8]
See also
References
- ^ a b ".243 WSSM data at Hodgdon Online". Archived from the original on 2007-11-11. Retrieved 2007-07-20.
- ^ "Browning WSSM info". Archived from the original on 2010-12-24. Retrieved 2010-05-03.
- ^ Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute Archived July 13, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Guns and Ammo Magazine Short Mags Magic Or Myth Archived 2010-02-05 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Winchester .243 WSSM Ammunition". Archived from the original on 2009-06-06. Retrieved 2006-11-01.
- ^ Olympic Arms 243 WSSM AR-15
- ^ "Browning WSSM rifle info". Archived from the original on 2010-12-24. Retrieved 2010-05-03.
- ^ "Ballistics Comparison". Archived from the original on 2010-12-24. Retrieved 2010-05-05.
- Cartridge Dimensions[dead link] at Steves Pages
External links
- 243 WSSM – The Long-Awaited 6 mm "Answer"? By Bill Prudden
- The 243 WSSM by Chuck Hawks
- The Experts Agree The WSSMs are Winners! Browning
- The 243 WSSM at Guns & Ammo
- Hunting experiences with the 243 WSSM 243WSSM.com