Lindcott Armory Rifle · SAAMI
.243 WSSM
Super-short .243-caliber magnum delivering .243 Winchester velocities in a stubby case.
- Caliber
- 0.243″ · 6.172 mm
- Introduced
- 2003
- Case
- Rebated
- Parent
- .300 WSM
- Primary use
- Varmint, Hunting
- Status
- Discontinued
- Introduced
- 2003
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- Winchester
- Manufacturer
- Winchester
- Standard
- SAAMI
- Status
- Discontinued
- Availability
- Collector
- Case capacity
- 53 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:10
- Primer
- Large Rifle
- Case type
- Rebated
- Max pressure
- 65,000 psi
- Eff. range
- 400 yd
- Max range
- 700 yd
- Recoil
- 8–12 ft·lb
Ballistics
- By real loads
- 3,100–3,400 fps · 22 loads
- Parent case
- .300 WSM
Representative trajectory — modeled from a single velocity input (no published BC for this cartridge yet).
Performance
Buy links open .243 WSSM ammunition at Rivertown Munitions.
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
SAAMI · verified| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 6.17 | 0.243 | ✓ |
| Neck ⌀ | 7.39 | 0.291 | ✓ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | 13.82 | 0.544 | ✓ |
| Shoulder angle | 28° | — | ✓ |
| Base ⌀ | 14.10 | 0.555 | ✓ |
| Rim ⌀ | 13.59 | 0.535 | ✓ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.37 | 0.054 | ✓ |
| Neck length | 7.16 | 0.282 | ≈ |
| Case length | 42.42 | 1.670 | ✓ |
| Overall length | 59.99 | 2.362 | ~ |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. .243 WSSM is highlighted below.
Factory loads
In production — 22 active loads across 13 brands. Top 15 shown · see all 22 →.
| Brand | Load | Grain | Bullet | FPS | ft·lb | BC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winchester | Super-X Power-Point | 55 | PSP | 4,060 | 2,013 | — |
| Hornady | Varmint | 75 | V-Max | 3,400 | 1,925 | — |
| Nosler | Trophy Grade AccuBond | 90 | AccuBond | 3,300 | 2,176 | — |
| Winchester | Ballistic Silvertip | 95 | BT | 3,250 | 2,228 | — |
| Winchester | Super-X Power-Point | 95 | PSP | 3,250 | 2,228 | — |
| Federal | Fusion | 95 | Fusion SP | 3,250 | 2,228 | — |
| Armscor | Standard | 95 | Hollow Point Boat Tail | 3,250 | 2,228 | — |
| Norma | Classic | 95 | Hollow Point Boat Tail | 3,250 | 2,228 | — |
| Buffalo Arms | Custom | 95 | Hollow Point Boat Tail | 3,250 | 2,228 | — |
| Sellier & Bellot | SP | 95 | Hollow Point Boat Tail | 3,250 | 2,228 | — |
| Kynoch | Classic | 95 | Hollow Point Boat Tail | 3,250 | 2,228 | — |
| RWS | Classic | 95 | Hollow Point Boat Tail | 3,250 | 2,228 | — |
| PPU | Standard | 95 | Hollow Point Boat Tail | 3,250 | 2,228 | — |
| Wolf | FMJ | 95 | Hollow Point Boat Tail | 3,250 | 2,228 | — |
| Nosler | Trophy Grade | 90 | AccuBond | 3,200 | 2,046 | — |
Velocities are manufacturer-stated (test-barrel). Discontinued loads dimmed.
Suitable powders
1 reloading powder listed for .243 WSSM, fastest to slowest. Cross-reference in the finder →
Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.
Firearms chambered in .243 WSSM
1 model in the database chamber .243 WSSM. Browse all →
Lineage
Connected reference
History
Part of Winchester's 2003 WSSM family. The .243 WSSM achieved the highest velocities of the three WSSM cartridges and was arguably the most practical for deer hunting. Factory ammunition was discontinued around 2018–2019 after Browning discontinued the A-Bolt WSSM platform.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .243 WSSM use?
- .243 WSSM typically uses a 1:10 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .243 WSSM?
- .243 WSSM uses a 0.243″ (6.172 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .243 WSSM still in production?
- .243 WSSM is discontinued; typical availability is collector.
- What is .243 WSSM used for?
- .243 WSSM is primarily used for varmint, hunting.
- What is .243 WSSM based on?
- .243 WSSM is derived from the .300 WSM case.
- What are the best powders for .243 WSSM?
- Reloading powders commonly listed for .243 WSSM include Reloader 17.
Sources & provenance
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 22 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →