.243 winchester

[asimpleman]

I have recently been thinking of a new caliber to add to my selection. Some time ago I was researching some "small" calibers for flat trajectory long range shooting/plinking but mainly for coyotes. I narrowed this search by deciding on a short action cartridge (I already own a 30-06 for larger game and general medium to large game). Along with the cartridge being a short action and being mainly for coyotes, I wanted to be able to have some versatility by allowing me to take medium sized game (Whitetails and the occasional goat or pronghorn).

So with those parameters in mind I came to the .243 winchester. I decided that paired with it's short action .308 necked down size, velocities, flat trajectory, and down range energy that this would be a suitable cartridge. Another KEY factor for choosing this caliber is it's availability and price. At my ammunition supplier and online they are only about a dollar or less more than what I pay for my 30-06 plinking loads. I will probably reload it so cheap brass and bullets are always pluses which is common for this caliber.

So in general, I was wondering if this was a reasonable choice for my demands for a smaller faster caliber compared to my 30-06. I understand that my 30-06 can take anything this side of Africa plus a few animals in that continent but I want to widen my selection to an effective long range caliber more suited for varmint and predator hunting.

I understand that a .22-250 or .223 would be better rounds for varmint and predator (with the .22-250 having an immaculately flat high velocity trajectory) but I want to be able to have a punishing hit to coyotes so I can have clean and quick kills. Also I want my 30-06 to stay zeroed at about 100yrds (I know it could reach a 100+ yards if I wanted) and this new smaller caliber to be zeroed around 200 yrds + with minimum overhang at longer distances.

Is this a reasonable selection based on the parameters of short action, long range, flat trajectory, coyote/deer, price and availability? (P.s. my state does not permit deer hunting with a .22 cal rifle of ANY variation).

Thanks for your input,
asimpleman

 

[Tomcat32]

The 243 is a wicked little round. With a 58gr bullet and zeroed at 200 yards it will drop about 15.5 inches at 400 yards. Thats pretty flat. You also can step up to 95 or 100 grain bullets for deer/antelope. Its a versatile round, I love mine.

 

[rcmodel]

but I want to be able to have a punishing hit to coyotes so I can have clean and quick kills.

It has been my experience in over 50 years of coyote hunting that no caliber kills a coyote quicker or cleaner then a 22-250 or .220 Swift. The thing is, those bullets get inside, explode, and wreck everything inside the skin & fur.
A larger caliber shoots clear through and expends most of the energy on the landscape behind the coyote.

I built a 25-06 specifically for the ultimate coyote rifle years ago.
It has all the power in the world for a coyote rifle. (75 grain at 3,600)

But I have wounded more coyotes with it then I ever did with a 22-250.
I once blew a whole front leg off at the shoulder with a 75 grain Sierra HP, and the coyote made it over 1/4 mile on three legs and got lost in the scrub brush.
Had it of been my 22-250, it would have surely been a bang-flop-DRT like all the rest of them.

I must confess I have no experience with a .243/6mm shooting the new fly-weight bullets at 22-250/Swift velocity.
It might probably do as well, but I don't know.

rc

 

[HOOfan_1]

As far as availability, it will be just short of .223 and .30-06. .243 is probably one of the most popular hunting cartridges around.
Based on your criteria, I would say there is nothing better. What is long range though? I think trying to shoot over 400 yards would be stretching it. Will it hit and kill beyond that? sure, Will the person behind the gun be able to make those shots? They would have to know exactly what they are doing.

 

[win71]

.243 ?

I understand that a .22-250 or .223 would be better rounds for varmint and predator (with the .22-250 having an immaculately flat high velocity trajectory)

I'm not so sure I agree with that.

ALL my experience with varmint rifles is without exception using hand loads.

The first heavy barrel varminter I bought was a Rem. 700 in 243. That was around 1977. I started with Sierra 60 gr. HP and 70 gr. HPBT match bullets. I stuck with them and that rifle until today. It has always been sighted in for 300 yards and coyote kills at 400+ yards were not uncommon.

Over the years I purchased a Sako L461 in .222, A custom Mauser single shot in 22-250, and a Cooper in 204. All heavy barrels. I shoot 50 gr. bullets out of the .224's and 32 gr. out of the 204.

All of these rifles group about the same with the 204 having a slight advantage at 100 yards.

I'm very happy with all of them and do not feel under gunned with any of them. I have not noticed if any caliber kills better that any other one. I have not killed near as many coyotes with the 204 mainly because I like it for diggers and other small critters. However, in a pinch with unknown shooting conditions I would probably take the 243

 

[Kachok]

Short action and long ranged the 243 is a top contender for sure. While there is no doubt that the 243 is adaquate for deer sized game (WITH 90-100gr bullets) I perfer the 6.5MMs myself, they will provide more downrange energy and less wind drift due to their crazy high ballistic coefficient bullets, and there is alot to be said for the higher mass/momentum/penatration of the 140-160gr bullets for large deer. There are several short action 6.5mm chamberings, 260 rem being the most common, 6.5 Creedmore which is new but catching on quickly, 6.5x47 Lapua wich is gaining popularity with the sharpshooter crowd and I have head that the USMC will be using it in their new sniper rifle, and the beefy 6.5-284 which is the most powerful of the bunch and has been the ultamate 1000yd competition rifle for some years now. I still love the original 6.5x55 though it is not a short action, nor a modern ultra high pressure round, but it has been droping every species of game around the world since before the 30-06 or even the 30-30 were dreamed up.
With the 120-123gr bullets you can expect 243 trajectories to 300yd and much less loss in speed past that. The 123gr Lapua Scenar bullet bullet has a BC of .547 and even the old 6.5x55 can push it just past 3000fps, run that through you ballistics calculator and you will see that shoots as flat long range as the hot load 175 SMKs 300 win mag.
Now that I have probably given you a headache with figures I will say that if you are OK with something that does almost as good and you can find at Wal-Mart for $14.95 a box go with the .243

 

[SN13]

I was considering the .243 as well for its trajectory and mild recoil.

It fits nicely between my .270 and .223.

But I'd rather have a .260 rem, so I will see if more factory loadings become available for the 260... especially from Hornady.... If not, I may one day own a .243 for the same reasons you are looking at them.

 

[Craiger12]

I agree. I wish Hornady would offer a few factory loads in 260 Rem. It would help me to settle on a cartridge for my next rifle, as I do not yet handload.

 

[Kachok]

Horandy is placing their bet on the 6.5 Creedmore taking over the market. I am watching the battle of the new genaration 6.5s to see what to add to my collection next. If the Marines end up totaly replacing the 7.62 with the 6.5X47 that will seal the deal for me.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

I've been talking to my neighbors dad who's a gun nut and he says he knows people who shoot to 1000 yards pretty accuratey with the .243 Win. I've never tried, but I have a rifle chambered in it, and I gotta say, I love the little round.

 

[sirgilligan]

I just got back from a Prong Horn hunting trip. Cousin had a .243. More than sufficient for that job. Another cousin there spoke up and said they use .243 for Elk as well and have never failed to drop what they hit.

I am considering a .243 Lever Action, open sight rifle for 150 yard and less shots.

On a side note, my brother brought some 110 grain Barnes bullets he loaded up for his .30-06. Hardly any recoil at all. So in the interim, you can still use your .30-06 and not take the pounding of a heavy load.

My 150 Superformance loads were beating my shoulder just like the 300 Win Mag. I need a butt pad.

 

[sansone]

.243 is my favorite caliber for many reasons. My favorite bolt rifle is chambered in .243 and recently I've been drooling all over an AR10 chambered in.. take a guess!
Barrels with a 1:9 twist will stabilize 105gr pills with a BC of .500
The more common 1:10 twist will shoot 65-95gr pills. It's a reloader's dream.
Chuck Hawks does a great review of the 243win and claims it really does fit the need for someone looking for a "do-it-all" caliber.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I'd look into a 6mm Remington.

 

[HOOfan_1]

Horandy is placing their bet on the 6.5 Creedmore taking over the market. I am watching the battle of the new genaration 6.5s to see what to add to my collection next. If the Marines end up totaly replacing the 7.62 with the 6.5X47 that will seal the deal for me.

Are the Marines actually considering the 6.5x47? Or is that just some fantasy of the Military Channel?

6.5 Creedmoor is just a 30TC necked down to 6.5, or vice versa. I doubt you will ever see any company other than Hornady load for it because Horandy gets their performance by using Light Magnum/Superformance powder.

I think the only reason there are bolt actions chambered for it is due to colaboration or agreement between Horandy and Ruger and Horandy and T/C.

 

[sixgunner455]

6mm and 6.5mm cartridges - there are a lot of choices there that fit similar performance envelopes.

I got a .243 Win. Widely available ammo and components at reasonable prices was one of the big things that took me over the the edge in making the decision. The 6mm Remington is a ballistic twin of the .243, and is supposed to be a superior cartridge design for reloading, brass life, etc, but the component brass isn't as available nor as inexpensive as the .243 brass. If you get really desperate for .243 brass (for whatever reason) you can make it out of .308 Win brass. Can't do that with the 6mm Remington.

.243 is, because of its popularity and parent case, the king of 6mm cartridges. The .260 was my second choice when I was shopping, and because I'm mostly handloading, it wouldn't have been a bad one at all, but I did want the flatter trajectory of the .243 and the available commercial ammo.

I bought it for exactly what you are looking for - deer and coyotes. It's accurate, not punishing to shoot in any way, easy to load for, and you can get ammo for it just about anywhere. I considered just about all the .24/.25/6mm/6.5mm cartridges, and it just seems to me that while there are other cartridges that will do as well at the variety of tasks in this niche, and some better at some of the tasks, they are all basically very similar in capability. To say otherwise seems like splitting hairs. The way the hairs split for me was in favor of commercially available ammo and brass.

Really, really enjoying my rifle.

 

[Kachok]

There are heavy high BC .243cal (6mm) bullets but they simply won't stabalize in factory 1:10 rifle barrels. They usualy require custom 1:8 twist to get into the high .500 BC range. I have seen Savage 243s compete in factory/sporter class events with good sucess at 600 yd.

 

[helotaxi]

6.5 Creedmoor is just a 30TC necked down to 6.5, or vice versa. I doubt you will ever see any company other than Hornady load for it because Horandy gets their performance by using Light Magnum/Superformance powder.

Not true. The Creedmoor factory loads have the load data on the box. Standard consumer grade powders. Nothing special about the loadings that they use.

I think the only reason there are bolt actions chambered for it is due to colaboration or agreement between Horandy and Ruger and Horandy and T/C.

That doesn't explain the Savage rifles chambered for it...

 

[rule303]

The .243 is one of those cartridges that just seems to work a lot better than the numbers would have you believe. I have seen more deer shot with the .243 flop over from one shot than any other caliber. Also a fine long range varminter, since the bullets seem to fight the wind better than the .22 centerfires. With the 58gr bullets you can get nearly 4,000 fps- right up there with the .220 Swift, those will vaporize prairie dogs and woodchucks.

 

[Kachok]

6.5X47 and 6.5 Creedmore are both advanced modern pressure chamberings. not just necked down 308s. As a handloader I think of both as being slight better then the 260 due to the fine tuning or the brass, both have thicker walls, sharper shoulders and a longer neck. One of these fine cartrages is going to to be the next big thing in low recoil/high efficiency hunting bullets, which one will emerge as the mainstay of the class? Honestly I don't know, I should probably open another thread to explore that in greater detail. Until we crown a sucsessor to the legendary Sweed I will continue to use my old 6.5x55, my longtime favorite caliber
I would like to see a couple new ultra modern contenders in the 6mm class, while the 243 is an exceptional chambering I think some modern tweeks could create some more excitment for the small bore crowd.

 

[sansone]

a few rifle makers are now shipping 1:9 twist brrls as standard, allowing the 105gr/.500BC pills to stabilize nicely. Remington and Savage both use 1:9 twist on their new rifles.
I wonder what the 1:9 twist will do with the 75gr pills I like?

 

[skoro]

Is this a reasonable selection based on the parameters of short action, long range, flat trajectory, coyote/deer, price and availability?

The 243 is just about ideal for what you describe. I have a Winchester M70 featherweight in 243 and it's a superb rifle.

 

[Kachok]

Funny that you should mention the Model 70 Featherwight 243. That was my grandmothers rifle of choice, yes even my grandmother was an accomplished hunter Grandpa swore by the 280 Rem and 6.5x55

 

[supercalvin56]

I'd also look at the 6mm Remington over the .243. I shoots 50-150 fps faster than the .243 and has a longer neck for reloading. It is just as accurate as the .243 but, you do have to reload. Brass is easy to find but loaded ammo isn't.

 

[mshootnit]

I was always taught by a knowledgable person that 6mm was a little better than 243 Win. I have always liked 6mm. Problem was I couldn't find the ideal sized action for it. Its longer than a short action cartridge but a little shorter than '06. You run into magazine issues when seating bullets out to the lands. Also the factory offerings have dwindled to about nothing other than 100 grain. You handload a fast 87 gr. Hornady sp out of a 24" barrel 6mm Rem and you will roll coyotes as far out as you want.

 

[HOWARD J]

I owned a 6 MM remington many years ago---it was great on deer with 90 & 100 gr
SN bullets. It was a beautiful gun finish & wood. sold it to a gunsmith when it started firing whe I let off the safety---I wish I had it repaired & kept it.
No mfr. makes a 6 MM rem. anymore.
I picked up a 243 this year & I may be able to go hunting if I am still walking.
I like this 243--will see how it works out. Power wise it almost identical to 6MM rem.