Reloading 243 WSSM

SDCoyoteCaller

SDCoyoteCaller

Active member
A friend of mine has a 243 WSSM in an AR platform that he wants me to reload for. I have been reloading for 20+ years in bolt guns, but never for an AR. Anything special I need to know in an AR or for this particular cartridge in general?

Also, what powder/powders work the best for this cartridge? Thanks.
 
The WSSM cases are thicker than most and therefore more difficult to size. You will need a good case lube; best that I've found for these cases is Hornady Unique. Be sure to check several sized cases in the rifle to see that they will chamber. Not uncommon to have to screw sizing die in far enough to cause a bit of cam-over on your press if cases won't chamber.

Varget has worked well for me but you can check here http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/ for other powders that work.

Regards,
hm
 
Thanks guys. I have alot of Varget and 4064, so I will give those a shot first before I have him go out and buy a bunch of powder for it. Thanks for the advice on the sizing. I usually use Hornady One Shot, but that might not be up to the task? I do have some Imperial Sizing wax. Do you guys think that will work just as good as the Hornady Unique? Thanks.
 
I ran 42gr Varget and a 85gr sierra bthp best think is to anneal the brass before you even try to load it. I tore a aluminum ring almost in half on my lee turret press trying to pull the cases out of the die. Brass is tough for sure. Make sure your brass is full length sized all the way Down. I had a issue with my oly not chambering and jamming because my brass wasn't sized right
 
When I was loading the .243 WSSM for a friend, I had to grind a couple of thousandths off the top of the shell holder to get enough set back for the cases to chamber.
 
The cartridge is my favorite. I have 5 different guns(one of which is on the AR platform) chambered in this caliber. There is nothing wrong with the brass, it does seem heavy duty but I wouldnt say it reloads any different than any other brass. Just make sure to FL size. I also use one shot case lube. The powder that I use in all of my wssm guns is RL 17. I load bullet weights ranging from 70-105 and RL 17 has been the golden child in all that I have reloaded.
 
Quote: I do have some Imperial Sizing wax. Do you guys think that will work just as good as the Hornady Unique?

When I first started loading for the 243 WSSM, having heard of difficulty in sizing the brass and also heard that IS wax was great, I acquired a can. Had some Winchester brass (plain and plated) and later acquired a bunch of Federal cases and they are all take a good deal of pressure to resize; the FC may be a tad softer (I don't normally anneal my other calibers and I'm sure that would help).

Any rate, when sizing brass fired in my Dtech (suspect a nice, snug chamber), cases lubed w/Imperial squall like a banshee but Unique lubed cases size easier and no noise. Have never stuck but one case in the 60+ years I've been reloading and that was using One Shot. In all fairness I did not read directions and did not let sit long enough before resizing
frown.gif
but gave up on the spray lubes.

Regards,
hm
 
Originally Posted By: SDCoyoteCallerThanks guys. I have alot of Varget and 4064, so I will give those a shot first before I have him go out and buy a bunch of powder for it. Thanks for the advice on the sizing. I usually use Hornady One Shot, but that might not be up to the task? I do have some Imperial Sizing wax. Do you guys think that will work just as good as the Hornady Unique? Thanks.

I use Hornady One-Shot Wax (not spray) and love it. Works as well as imperial and you get a much larger tin for the $$. Not a big fan of the Unique gooey type, JMO.
 
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