all around rifle ammo...........

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asquires2

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Im in the market for a new toy, whatever it is itll have a 26" bull barrel. My delima is rahter to go w/ a 223 or a 243. It will be used for paper punching and ocassionally hunting. So Im coming to the gun gurros and asking which would be a better all around ammo?
 
The .243 is a better all around cartridge for target shooting and deer size hunting. I use a .223 to hunt deer, but that is because i spent all my money on ammo, rather than a .243....:uhoh:

Do you handload? If so, the .243 is a 1,000yd capable cartridge, if you can shoot that far. While the .223 can also go 1,000yd, it has much more wnd drift and drop, making hits harder.
 
And a 24" or 22" med heavy or lighter barrel is better for a hunting rifle.

A 26" bull barrel is too long & heavy to pack around.
 
I have no experience and have not done any real research but I have recently encountered a surprising number of references to important differences between the .223 Remington and the 5.56x45. The gist is that, for reliability, the 5.56x45 has looser chamber and ammo dimension specs and may not function, may even be dangerous, if fed to rifles chambered for .223 Remington. Seems an accuracy oriented shooter should go with the .223 and forgo the savings available in military ammo.

The research is left to the student as an exercise. :)
 
asquires2, do you reload or just shoot factory? 26" bull barrels get mighty heavy if your going to be lugging it around. Unless you truck it to the hunting spot or shoot from your porch, I recommend at least a medium weight barrel, 24" long. The 243 Win. is a much more versatile cartridge and will shoot flatter than the 223 when loaded with the lighter varmint bullets. There is no contest when talking larger game. You pay your money and make your choice.

NCsmitty
 
Thx for the response,I personnaly dont reload but I have a friend thatll reload for me. I know the 26" heavy barrel will be a bear to carry but it will mainly be a bench rest gun ocassionally Ill take it to the woods to pop a few coyotes here and there. Now for the ultimate question were would I start to look for a 26" heavy barrel in a 243 rifle?
 
for me the .243 = booooo!! (in a deep angry voice). The .223 can do just as well and in my experience is a better paper puncher. It will do anything to a deer that the .243 will do. Either bullet without good shot placement will do no good.
 
Ill be looking at the Savage 12 Varmiter and the remmington VLS this weekend. Thx for the help!
 
Man Im still flopping around, I found a Browning A Bolt in a 243 wssm for $550. Even though I put it in lay away Im still thinking about the standard 243. I read a couple post on here were the 243 wssm could possibly fade away in the future. Is there any truth to the 243 wssm fading away?
 
Yes. For some reason, this cartridge never really gained popularity. It is almost identical in ballistics to the 6mm Remington, and people say that it is a barrel burner (which, the same people say that the 6mm Rem is "ohsomuchbetter", so you can guess how valid those claims are)


The .243 WSSM is a great cartridge, on paper, i have never shot one, but the ammo is more $$$, less available, and fewer bullet options. Stick with the regular .243 unless you reload, and then only if you can stock up on a LOT of brass. If you want to keep shooting this thing just in case it goes down the drain.
 
If you're just going to use it off the bench and for coyotes, then get the .223. The ammo is cheaper and it's really all you need out to 400 yards.

If you're going to use it for bigger game like deer or for long range shooting, then the .243 is the obvious choice. The .243 is a much more versatile cartridge if you need that versatility.
 
I have a Savage Model 12, 26" fluted Stainless barrel, Accu-trigger in .243. Great shooter but 10 lbs is too much to pack.
 
OK its set in stone I just ordered the remington 243 SPS Varmit. Im gonna have a stock extension put on it but it was between the Rem ,Savage and CZ. The Remington won , now for the glass I was thinking Nikon or Burris but Ill have to let my pockets cool down first , 3 wives and 23 kids tend to take its toll on your funds.
 
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