ORIGINAL: jcchartboy
I have been researching the WSSM's most of the day. I am looking at the .25 caliber. If you know you want a .243 I would think you should be overjoyed to find that gun. It is everything the .243 is and then some. First off due to the case design it has almost identical recoil, ( less powder is burned more efficiently). Second it shoots much flatter than a standard .243. ( 95gr bullets with a 100yard zero which are 10in low at 300yrds in standard caliber are only 6in low in the wssm.) Third, the actions for the guns are true super short actions. This means they are almost an inch shorter than standard short actions. That has two big impacts, the total length of the gun will be 1 in shorter than standars short models, but will also be a 1/4 pound lighter!
Ballistics show the 100gr.wssm to be +1.4 " high at a 100yds to be -6.6 at 300yds (not zero @ 100.) 95 gr. is +1.2 @ 100 and -5.7@300
Using federal 100 gr in the standard .243 it's +1.5 @ 100yds and -6.8@ 300yds.
85gr Federal is +1.1@100 and -5.5@300
Not much difference.
I own a .243 and see no need to change, it's just not really any better, theres also a lot more selection of ammo for the standard .243. 55gr. 70 gr. 75 gr. 80 gr. 85 gr. 90 gr. 95 gr 100gr. 105 and 107 . You can get Hollow points, siera gamekings, ballistic tips, noslers, scirocco bonded,v-max, the list goes on.