Reputedly the .243 WSSM has a velocity about 200 fps faster than the .243 Winchester. So it should be every bit as good a deer cartridge as the .243 Winchester. And as Vapodog said, use a 100 grain bullet, (the exceptions being the 95grain Nosler Partition and Barnes " X" bullets as well). I would think with impact velocity being even higher than the standard .243 it will become even more important to use a " good" bullet. You want to make sure that your bullet doesn' t " break up" before reaching the vitals.
Good luck!
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Bunch of hoopla. You can get factory ammo in the .243 that out perform the wsm which shows relatively high numbers for the real world. A 6mm would be even better. Heres some reading. http://www.chuckhawks.com/243wssm.htm
If I had a standard 243, I wouldn't trade it for the Short version. The 200 fps difference if even that. Is not worth the change as velocity was never lacking in the 243 as a deer rifle. If just used for Varmits then the extra range would be nice. The Short mag in my Opinion will be to fast for the current crop of 243 bullets for deer.
I'd like to see a .25-cal version. Better yet, a 6.5mm short mag. That would perform very similar to the 6.5mm x.284...a real winner for deer, caribou, sheep, goats, even elk and moose. I'd jump on one of those!
Yes the 243 WSSM is an excellent round for deer. Especially at long range. I agree with James B. though, I wouldn't trade in my 243 for one. The 243 WSSM will not kill the deer any deader than the 243 Rem will. The brass will cost a lot more and there isn't nearly as much of it available.
243 wssm for deer
