My Recent Love Affair with the .243

Olympus · Jul 10, 2016

For some reason, the last few years I have grown fonder and fonder of the 243 Win round. It seems to be the "Goldilocks" caliber for me, the perfect balance of recoil and performance for the type of hunting that I do here in Missouri. I have the option of using lighter bullets for varmints or prairie dog hunting if I ever decide to go somewhere for that or I can load up the 85 to 100 grain bullets for a great whitetail round that has never let me down yet. I know it seems to be a caliber that for many is either love or hate. I just happen to be loving this caliber right now. Does anyone else love the 243 caliber? Right now, I'm stocking up on reloads for my two 243 rifles.

Which makes me think, do I need another 243 rifle? I have a single shot Ruger No. 1 and I have a bolt action. But what about a lever action or automatic 243? Do I really need a third rifle in 243? As far as calibers, I have 243, 257 Roberts, and 270, so I think I have all my bases covered with calibers so I don't really want to add another "large" rifle caliber to the mix.

stiab · Jul 10, 2016

But what about a lever action...243?

Yes, you do need one of those!! Problem is, they will be pricey and hard to find.

loose noose · Jul 10, 2016

I've got a Savage 110 in .243 and I too just love the dickens out of it. Extremely accurate and dependable. I just got mine about 9-10 months ago used, but barely ever shot as the bore is pristine. It does look like it has been carried quite a bit, do to the varnish on the stock looking somewhat thin, not abused mind you but obviously carried. The brass butt plate looks like it has been sat down a number of times (in the field) too but not really abused. I put a couple of pictures of it when I first got it here on THR but I'll be darned if I can find them. So far I've only shot a coyote with it, but I plan on using it for whitetail up in the UP before too long.

mshootnit · Jul 10, 2016

Congrats on finding a round you like! It is a very useful round too. 90 gr. Bonded up to over 100 gr. cup and core are good for deer sized game, can work in a pinch for larger game. In the medium bullet range the 85 gr. partition ( still around?) 87 gr. hornady are good choices. 65-75 gr. poly tipped bullets are great for praire dogs, etc. and super fast
Calibers I currently have:
223
243 Win
257 Weatherby Magnum
270 Winchester Short Magnum
7.5x55 Swiss
7.62x39
308 Win.
30-06

Fla_dogman · Jul 10, 2016

I too am a huge fan of the 243. I've killed several deer and hogs over the years with my savage. It's just so pleasant to shoot.

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bannockburn · Jul 10, 2016

I have always thought of the .243 as being a great "in-betweener" round: that is somewhere between the .22s and the .30s. My interest in it is more as a varmint round but I like being able to take the occasional deer with it with heavier bullets.

243winxb · Jul 10, 2016

243 Win. , perfect, , whats not to like.

LeonCarr · Jul 10, 2016

One of my buddies has a Savage Model 10 Package Gun in .243 with synthetic stock, standard non-accutrigger trigger, and mounted from the factory 3-9 Simmons scope. First impression is that it is your typical entry level no frills hunting rifle.

It is MOA or better with everything he has shot in it. Federal Premium with Sierra Gamekings is right around 5/8 MOA. Handloads with Sierra Matchkings around 1/2 MOA, usually three holes touching or almost touching at 100 yards.

It is a homely looking rifle but man does it shoot. He wants to upgrade the scope, mounts, and trigger but he is afraid to mess with it because it shoots so good

.

IME most .243s shoot like that.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

Olympus · Jul 10, 2016

I guess if I count all my rifle calibers I have:
22 WMR
22 Hornet
223
243
257 Roberts
270
300 Blackout

But out of those, the 243 is my favorite "large" rifle. The 22 Hornet is my favorite small rifle.

Nathanael_Greene · Jul 10, 2016

The .243 is pretty popular here in Texas, or at least it was until magnumitis took over.

I'd like to try a .243, but being left-handed it's hard to find a lot of options.

Dr T · Jul 10, 2016

A BLR Takedown in .243 would be appealing. I only have 2 243's (bolt) and a 6mm, so it is very difficult to justify on the basis of "need".

See http://www.browning.com/products/fi...on/blr-lightweight-81-stainless-takedown.html

greenlion · Jul 10, 2016

I keep looking at the 6.5 creedmore, but when I actually compare the numbers between it and my .243, I can't really see that much of an advantage.

bullzeye8 · Jul 10, 2016

But what about a lever action or automatic 243?

You could get a Henry Long Ranger in .243. Haven't seen any reviews of it but being Henry I am sure it is good.

Olympus · Jul 11, 2016

bullzeye8 said:
You could get a Henry Long Ranger in .243. Haven't seen any reviews of it but being Henry I am sure it is good.

That one and the Browning BLR are definitely contenders.

JackSprat · Jul 11, 2016

You could get one in a Savage 99..I use on in 250-3000,and love it..I load 87 gr. Hot-cors,and use them for both deer,and varmits...You might find a Remington pump,if you want something else in 243.

jogar80 · Jul 11, 2016

Love the .243

bushmaster1313 · Jul 11, 2016

You need a .243 EBR

Onmilo · Jul 12, 2016

I have a Winchester 70 Featherweight .243 that resides in a way back outbuilding for shooting coyote.
I have long appreciated the caliber as one of the best medium game cartridges ever developed that will cleanly kill any game animal from New York to Florida, over to Texas and up to Minnesota. where legal under individual state law.

Plastikosmd · Jul 12, 2016

ar10 in 243 here, love it

Kingcreek · Jul 12, 2016

Somewhere around 1982 I was at an estate auction and my brother in law kept elbowing me and hissing in my ear to bid and bid again until I went home with a beautiful model 70 in .243 win. Its been a joy to shoot and has taken everything from prairie dogs to pronghorn with plenty of coyotes and a few groundhogs in between. Best thing my BIL ever did.

FOGeologist · Jul 12, 2016

I have a 1943 Mauser K98k in 6mm Remington - in a Boyd's walnut K98k (not a sporterized!) stock.

I've mounted a Nikon Monarch 4-12 x 44 scope on it, and it has a Bueller-style safety and Leupold high rings. I had to have gunsmiths place a plastic delrin block in the action to handle the shorter cartridge.

FL-NC · Jul 12, 2016

I got lots of rifles, but my Rem 700 in 243 is my "go-to" for whitetails, and it has slayed a plenty in TN, Ky, and NC. Mine is one of those cheap wally world versions I bought there about 15 years ago. I got rid of the plastic stock and replaced it with a pretty black and grey laminate from Boyd's, and put on a steel trigger guard I ordered from Brownells. It has a bushnell 3-9 x 40 illuminated reticle, and it prints nice 1.5" groups at 100 with 150 grain win power points. I did get a 308 Ruger American predator that I really like, but I keep telling myself that I'll only use it for hogs and black bear, and stay loyal to my 243 for deer. Luckily neither one seems jealous of the other, whatever happens this fall......

EIB0879 · Jul 13, 2016

I have a Belgium made BLR in .243 circa 1971. My daughter uses it but doesn't hunt anymore so I may use it this upcoming season. The trigger is atrocious but I really like the rifle.

mshootnit · Jul 13, 2016

did somebody say 150 gr.power points in a 243... surely thats a typo

dubbleA · Jul 13, 2016

150gr was probably a typo. Poster may have transposed numbers and meant 105 grs.

With that said, I built a fast twisted 243 Win on a Rem 49 X action several years ago. It's 1:7.5 Krieger barrel was throated for a 115gr DTAC and along with a Nightforce optic, Mc Millan stock and Shilen 2oz trigger its a shooter.

My Recent Love Affair with the .243

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