thoughts on .243 Winchester

[Magwa45]

I have in mind a Remington Model 7 in .243 Winchester for several reasons. First as a back up hunting rifle. My main rifle is an old Savage 99 in .300 Savage. Back here in MD, you don't need much more than that for deer, the largest big game available, although there is some talk of re-introducing elk. Maybe someday I could go out West with the kids for an antelope hunt. Second, I have two young kids and I figure this would be excellent for them to shoot with and eventually hunt with, if they wanted. Third, it would be good for smaller game, such as varmint/predator hunting. I am very familiar with 30-06, which I reload for my Garand and that cartridge would probably be my first choice, but the .243 would probably be more flexible and better for the kids. Then I was thinking maybe I could do the same with .308 Winchester. Since I reload, maybe I could use some low velocity .308 rounds for the kids to shoot. But I think I have talked myself into the .243. I have always been very inclined toward that cartridge, although I have never actually shot it. My centerfire rifle experience has been .30-06, .270 Winchester, .300 Savage, and 5.56 mm years ago in the service. And then there are the muzzleloaders, don't let me get into that. But can anyone offer me other ideas on the .243?

 

[wingman]

I'm a big fan of the 243,years ago I hunted large eastern white tail the group I hunted with used 30-06, 270, 30-30 and 243 the most one shot kills came with the 243, however I believe the 243 shooters were more shot placement hunters no running shots. The 243 with proper ammo is super accurate and a game stopper.

 

[mshootnit]

Another option would be to find a Ruger M77 tang safety rifle in 6mm Remington.
Especially if you reload, 6mm has real advantages over 243.

 

[ms6852]

The 243 is an excellent cartridge for deer and a great cartridge for your children to learn to shoot without flinching as recoil is light. It is also a great cartridge for varmint using lighter bullets. The 243 is more than enough for any deer size animal in North America.

 

[Husker_Fan]

I love it. If you have something that will handle animals larger than deer, the .243 is great. It is very flat shooting and makes a good varmint round, and with 95-100 grn bullets it is one of the best for deer. It is also a joy to punch paper with.

 

[Art Eatman]

Handloading, I've used my .243 on prairie dogs, coyotes and a couple of dozen bucks. It's my go-to gun when I don't feel like my '06 is the proper tool.

 

[rule303]

The .243 works great on deer! I have seen dozens of deer taken with it, even big mulies. Most were one shot kills. Flat shooting, low recoil, plenty of power, probably the most versatile cartridge out there.

 

[lloveless]

SHOOT ONE FIRST. I did. I had 5 cartridges of .243 and 5 of 30/06 that a friend provided along with the guns to shoot. I shot all of the 30/06, nice roll back for recoil. I fired the .243 twice and handed the rifle and remaining cartridges back. The .243 gave me whiplash. NO THANKS!!! It is a very sharp recoil! Good luck in your quest.
ll

 

[hardluk1]

I would pick the .260 over the 243 in the same rifle. Fly's better at long range with less chance of air moveing your bullet. Better BC for down range energy and easier of some to shoot with the litghter bullet weights. And barrel will also last longer as the 243 can be a bit harsh on throats over time.

 

[LoonWulf]

Since you reload I would also go with either a .260/6.5creedmoor or a 7mm-08. I already own a .243 tho, my girlfriend loves the gun.
I like a tad more bullet weight but the 105grn amax ive been shooting punch clean thru just about everything that either of us hit with them.

 

[RevGeo]

Great, great cartridge. Plenty powerful for deer-sized game and superb on varmints. Takes to reloading really well. Lots of good bullets in a wide-variety of weights. If you reload I'd recommend Hodgden H-380 powder. Factory ammo is very common in stores.
I really can't think of a draw-back to this cartridge for the purposes you desire in your post.

George

 

[desidog]

I'll echo others on the versatility and capability of the cartridge. I load 58gr to 105gr for mine, depending on what i'm after.

Since you're in MD, i'll go against other recommendation for the other 6mm's... (since you probably won't need additional range over the .243win) and since it is much more common to find on any shop shelf, at competitive pricing compared to the other similar 6mm's. Reloading, does negate this somewhat; but being able to find some ammo in a pinch is a good thing.

 

[Husker_Fan]

SHOOT ONE FIRST. I did. I had 5 cartridges of .243 and 5 of 30/06 that a friend provided along with the guns to shoot. I shot all of the 30/06, nice roll back for recoil. I fired the .243 twice and handed the rifle and remaining cartridges back. The .243 gave me whiplash. NO THANKS!!! It is a very sharp recoil! Good luck in your quest.
ll

Was that a .243 win, or a .243 wssm? This is about .243 win which is a very easy recoiling round. That or the .243 was a super light rifle.

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

SHOOT ONE FIRST. I did. I had 5 cartridges of .243 and 5 of 30/06 that a friend provided along with the guns to shoot. I shot all of the 30/06, nice roll back for recoil. I fired the .243 twice and handed the rifle and remaining cartridges back. The .243 gave me whiplash. NO THANKS!!! It is a very sharp recoil! Good luck in your quest.
ll

I am sorry but one of 2 things happened there. You didn't shoulder the rifle properly or it was NOT a .243. At 4 years old, my oldest boy bench fired HIS OWN .243 with a custom junior stock and light as a feather with absolutely NO problems. If a 4 year old child can handle a very light overall weighted rifle then any grown adult should be able to handle it.

I feel the .243 is a great deer sized game cartridge especially with todays bullet technology. As Loon_Wolf stated, there are a couple of better ones out there with around the same recoil. One being the 7mm.08. Have to say it is by far the ultimate medium sized game cartridge. It is also a reloaders dream. The .243 is very hard on barrels. I blew more than a few out as did my sons. My youngest one (8 yrs old) shoots the 7mm.08 like a champ. Now if only I can get her to pull the trigger on Bambi! Or hell even Charlotte the pig!

 

[BADUNAME37]

I read somewhere that .243 was being used as a sniper round. I don't know the details other than that. I would think with a Nosler Partition or a Barnes Triple Shock projectile, the .243 would be just about perfect on deer (with a humane hit, that is).

 

[Still Shooting]

Another .243 Fan

My wife started shooting a couple of years ago, with a Ruger lightweight .243 I bought her back in 2004 (it was a safe queen while she finished school and a couple of years as a funeral director). She took to it immediately, and after a single day on the range was shooting it well enough to go deer hunting. Shortly after she got started, she wanted to try my standard Ruger 77 in .270 win. At 100yds, she cloverleafed her first 3 shots and turned in a 7/8" - 5 shot group.

Learning on the .243, I believe, is what gave her the ability to handle the .270 with no flinch and lots of confidence. When we go out deer hunting together, she carries her .243. As much as she likes that .270, she has a loyalty and a comfort level with the .243 that makes it her go-to gun.

It's enough to put down a North Country whitetail, a lot of fun on the range, a good 'chuck gun, and a great way for anyone to become a capable shooter.

 

[supercalvin56]

IF you reload the 6mm Remington is better than the .243 Winchester. It holds more powder, shoots faster and flatter and is often more accurate than the Winchester number.
If you prefer to buy ammo the .243 is the clear choice. Factory .243 is far cheaper than factory 6mm and is readily available.

 

[Onmilo]

I keep a Winchester Model 70 .243 stashed in an outbuilding on my property.
It is my go to rifle when coyote show up.
The cartridge is mild recoiling, of low report, and effective to 400 meters.

 

[303tom]

If you guys are trying to talk him out of the .243 Win. & into 6mm Rem. I say you talk him into some real power the .25-06 !

 

[dude_clutch]

I've bought & sold and traded away a more than a dozen .243 win's in the past ten years and every time I find myself without one I kick myself for getting rid of the last one and start looking for another.
Light recoil lends itself to a light rifle which makes strolling through the orchards popping ground hogs even more pleasurable.
Perfect for 'yotes and the like and while I prefer the 270 I haven't had any problems taking white tails with it here in VA.
Lots of good bullets out there for it when you reload. My favs are the Nosler 55 and 95 grain silver tips for hunting and the Sierra 70gr Matchking for punching paper and golf ball shoots.

 

[WTBguns10kOK]

Stick with your plan of the .243 for a general use gun. People are trying to complicate it and recommend other things, all fairly pointless. It's a good gun for the game you hunt in your area and it's less obnoxious than a 30 cal rifle. You will like it. I go after everything with mine.

 

[7mmstalker]

Model 7 in 243Win = excellent multi purpose rifle. Yes, there are alot of other choices/recommendations here, but think of the 243 as the smallbore version of a 30-06. -"Versatile"- Proven performance in the hands of experienced shooters, and excellent for beginner's first big-game rifle.

 

[jonn5335]

nothing wrong with a .243 but you can do better with a .257 roberts or 264 win mag

 

[sKunkT]

Model 7 .243 was my first rifle, and I still use it as my go to deer rifle. I plan on passing it on to my boy for his first rifle when he's old enough.

 

[Fishbed77]

My go-to deer gun for the past 20 years (since age 13) has been a Remington 700 ADL in .243. Laser-accurate, soft-recoiling, and plenty of power for South Carolina-sized deer. What's not to like?