Really looking hard at new rifle in the varmint to small deer at 100-150 yd range. Looking at CZ 527 in 7.62X39 and the Winchester Model 70 in WSSM 243. Not really hearing much on the 243 in WSSM. Is it TOO hot? Is it gonna be around?

Hey Mark,
I dont think the rifles are out in the 243 wssm just the 223. I could be wrong , I heard they were coming out later this year. But just what I heard which does't amount to a hill of beans.
Nathan

Too hot? Depends what you are going to do with the remains.... if you just want to scatter them for the coyotes, sure, why not, get a .243 super whatever and shred them....

Now, something that you are planning on eating, get a good bullet that will hold together. .243's have enough of a reputation already for bullets blowing up, the extra velocity of the 'super' will only make that worse.

Honestly, for that short of range, nearly anything will do (but sometimes it's hard to resist the lure of a new rifle).

Keep in mind that ammo for the newer guns may take a while to be common, and the 7.62x39 will certainly be available, and cheap, nearly anywhere. If you are handloading it will probably not be any big deal one way or the other.

Good luck....

The factory ammo velocity on the .243 WSSM, whether or not it's out yet I don't know as I have not had one in my hands as of yet, puts it at about the same level as a 6mm Remington which is a little faster than a .243 Winchester. The problem as I see it is that Winchester is offering no premium bullets for the round. They have their 100gr power point load and the 95gr Ballistic Tip (coyote bullet at best inside 200 yards), but there is no premium bullet like a Nosler partition, Barnes X, or Swift available, which is what a round like this really needs for everything between the muzzle and 300 yards. I think this will see more succes as a varmint round than it will as a deer rifle.

For the the distances you outline, the 7.62x39 is the clear choice. The CZ is a very compact handy rifle, something that will not be able to be said of the M70 in this instance. The high velocity requires a longer barrel, and as a result a heavier rifle, to give any meaningful performance.

If you're a handloader, and like to shoot vermin at extended ranges, and don't mind the larger rifle, the .243 WSSM do everything you want it to do and then some if you use the right bullets for the intended quarry. If you shoot factory ammo and don't do long range shooting, the 7.62x39 is the clear choice for reliable performance with factory ammo on deer sized game. Don't use the cheap imported ammo for hunting anything other than vermin one way or the other, most of it is crap.

Yup, too bad Winchester has not come out with a 90 or 100gr. Fail-Safe in 6mm.....