In 2003, with inspiration from high-velocity benchrest cartridges like the 6mm BR and 22 PPC, the 223 and 243 Winchester Super Short Magnums (WSSM) were introduced. Once again (for many of us), the way we hunted, shot and perceived magnum calibers changed. These calibers took the groundbreaking short magnum concept — which originated with the 300 Winchester Short Magnum — one step further, becoming the hottest, highest velocity production cartridges available.

The impressive speeds of the WSSM are achieved by putting a lightweight bullet on top of a short, fat, high-volume case. This basic concept resulted in muzzle velocities of approximately 4,000 fps with the 223 WSSM with some loadings and over 4,000 fps with the 55 gr Ballistic Tip in the 243 WSSM loads.

What are the main reasons for this performance?

• The short, fat shape of the WSSM cartridges produce a more uniform powder burn, providing consistent shot to shot velocity and better accuracy.
• Also, because the burn is so efficient, a shorter, stiffer 22" barrel can be used and still achieve high velocities.  
• With most WSSM-chambered rifles, the action was also super short which resulted in a very tight, stable receiver, which some believe increases accuracy. The shorter receiver also reduces overall weight which is why WSSM calibers often make very versatile mountain rifles. 

The super short receiver. To ensure feeding reliability, the WSSM cartridges, with their short 2.36" overall length, necessitate a shorter action. Because of this, a super-short action size was designed for the Browning's A-Bolt II rifle. The super-short action is not only shorter; it’s also stiffer, quicker to cycle and lighter. This allows WSSM rifles an accuracy advantage, plus they come to the shoulder quicker and with a lighter barrel overall weight is reduced so they are easier to carry.

Where can I find WSSM rifles today. Currently the WSSM caliber line is not in production in any Browning rifle. Read the side-bar on this page for an explanation. Although not as commonly found as in the years when they were originally announced, they still remain popular with devoted hunters who appreciate the advantages of a flatter trajectory. And clearly, the performance speaks for itself as much today as it did over a decade ago.

In the course of developing new rifles and incorporating new calibers, occasionally we produce rifles in a certain caliber, and then, after a few years, there will be a pause (or even an end) in production of rifles in that caliber. There are several reasons for this happening.

First, popularity of the caliber may have subsided. If this happens, the caliber may be out of production for a few years and then may appear in the future in a special run or edition. But the gap in production can last years. Sometimes more. 

Second, ammunition may become less available due to lack of demand from the ammunition makers or other market forces (such as high demand for other calibers, like seen in the early 2010s where many calibers were hard to get. Even some fairly established calibers were scarce.

We have been told that WSSM ammunition can sometimes be difficult to find, and we know this personally. Even finding brass can be a huge task as some of us here at Browning continue to shoot our WSSM rifles and experience this. As we understand, production of WSSM calibers is done only on a periodic basis. Numbers of WSSM ammunition produced are very small compared to other calibers. The distribution of the ammunition to dealers is very thin – which means you won't find it everywhere and, in fact, you will probably find it only at the most specialized gun shops and periodically online from the large ammunition resellers.

The best advice we can give you is that when you find the right caliber WSSM ammo for your rifle, buy what you will need for several years. Pricing for low production ammunition is not as volatile as other ammo, so you are unlikely to save money by waiting for a "deal" sometime in the future. Don't give up and good luck shooting the excellent WSSM calibers. 

How can those who enjoy shooting Winchester Super Short Magnum calibers get more ammunition into the pipeline? There are only two ways. First, encourage the ammunition makers to produce more WSSM ammunition. Second, be sure to buy it when it is available. Demand is the only reliable way to encourage more production. Feel free to contact the ammunition makers through their web pages or Facebook pages. This will not be an overnight process. In the meantime, when you find some WSSM ammunition for your rifle, buy it and enjoy the excellent performance it provides. And do not be afraid to click "alert me when available" when shopping the online resellers. When they get some, they will e-mail you. It may take some time, but it is an effective way to locate ammo and brass at the exact time it becomes available.
As in the beginning, Winchester remains the primary source of WSSM ammunition production.