i am looking to buy a new rifle for whitetail, coyote, hogs, and various other animals.. i am looking for either a 243 wssm, 223 wssm, or 25 wssm. any real difference in each caliber? next is the whole issue on barrels getting too hot.

I'd stick with either the .243 or .25. I would opt for the .243 myself, because of bullet selection.

Why a wssm?

I would choose a .243 win or 25-06 not any of the wssm. They cost more to shoot and ammo selection is limited in choice and where you can find it.

I agree, you wont see too much of a difference in the wssm's other then price to shoot. A 25.06 or 30.06 are some of the most versitile rounds availiable.

Forget the WSSMs they don't do anything a straight .24 or .25 caliber will do...
Depending on how you define "various" anything from a .243 to 30-06 will work...

How about a 7mm08?

I like the WSM cartridges for the simple fact of the short fat bullet.. To me they don't make to much sense when comparing them to the 243 which is already a short cartridge.. Ido like the 270 WSM as a good alternative to the 270. But for the variety of game your talking about the 243 gets my vote because of the large selection of bullet choices..