What about the .243 Win?

[Picher]

I'm not looking for a target rifle centerfire and have only been playing with the .243 Win for a few years, but love it's ability to push 80-85 grain bullets with impressive ballistics and critter-slamming terminal performance for coyote and larger-sized animals. It's also quite accurate in hunting-weight rifles, shows less wind deflection than .22-250, 55 grain bullets and hits hard, even on deer (with the right bullets).

With all the hype over new cartridges, the .243 Win may deserve a second look...as a very flexible cartridge for both hunting and general shooting fun.

 

[BigBore44]

I agree. The 243 is often overlooked for its accuracy and hunting capabilities. As is the 7mm-08 and 260.

 

[Nature Boy]

I agree. The 243 is often overlooked for its accuracy and hunting capabilities

I wonder if part of the reason is it’s been unfairly tagged as “a good cartridge for women and kids”

 

[e rex]

I shot a .243 for many years before giving it to a grandson after he shot his first deer with it. I used a Hornady 87 grain SP, that I don't think they make anymore, over 40 grains of IMR 4350. I think here in the state of Nebraska it is all the rifle a person needs.

 

[BigBore44]

I wonder if part of the reason is it’s been unfairly tagged as “a good cartridge for women and kids”

I would be willing to bet that is part of it. Same way with the 7mm-08. I have heard it many times from different friends. But the 270 is more than adequate. Go figure.

The funny thing is the animal that’s dying doesn’t know if it’s been shot Brock Lesnar or Tiffany Lakosky.

 

[DLrocket89]

My girlfriend's Savage Axis in .243 puts 5 rounds into one hole at 50 yards, into a silver dollar at 200. Minimal recoil, plentiful ammo (cheap to reload in my case)...what's not to like?

At some point I'm going to end up with a 243 AI... 243 plus more.

 

[Hokkmike]

It is a nice round for varmints and smaller came - foxes, coyotes, and the like. It might be OK for deer with a great shot. Humane kills are part of the equation.

 

[VoodooMountain]

Well it doesn’t have the words mag, short mag, or creedmoor behind it so it must not be great.
Plus, don’t you know a 243 barrel burns up in about 100 rounds?


The most accurate rifle I’ve had to date was a savage 10 in 243. I stupidly sold it but that thing was a real blast to shoot.

I really want another one but it is hard to justify when I have 4 quarter bores and a good stash of components for them.

 

[LoonWulf]

I also agree that in general besides the .308, MOST of the 08 bassed rounds have been underrated by many.

The .243 is imo at its best in the hands of a competent rifleman/woman. I agree that its plenty for deer size game, and the high velocity usually produces emphatic kills when properly applied. But im less of a fan as a new shooters cartridge because it dosent have the leeway that a larger round, with a heavier bullet offers. Again tho practice and recoil sensitivity should always be taken into consideration.

As a general purpose cartridge i think its excellent, perhaps only bettered by the 6.5 and 7mms when we start considering heavier game. For shooting games i think its as good as anything in its class.

 

[caribou]

Before I met Sergi Mosin's awesomeness I use a Rem 700 ADL in .243w with 100 grn corelocks to great effect on hundreds of Caribou dozens of Bears and Moose, Muskox, etc.
I flipped my boat on a deadhead one evening in the river and I still miss that utmost accurate rifle....like losing a good friend of many hunts....

 

[Big7]

It is a nice round for varmints and smaller came - foxes, coyotes, and the like. It might be OK for deer with a great shot. Humane kills are part of the equation.

The ,243 is an excellent caliber for animals up to muleys.
No telling how many I have killed with my 2. (down to 1 now because I just have to many guns)

Someone has been feeding you bad info.

Just sayin'.

 

[DM~]

I bought my first .243 Win. in 1971, I've shot a lot of deer with it and one bear. I still have it.

Once I started to hand load 100NP's in it, it turned into a MUCH better deer rifle! That's what it needed to get deep penetration on those less than perfect shots...

Yes it kills deer just fine, but it really should be used by some one who can keep them in the "boiler room"...

DM

 

[jmr40]

Well it doesn’t have the words mag, short mag, or creedmoor behind

Well, they do make a 6mm Creedmoor now.

The 243 with barrels twisted for heavier bullets is very versatile. As designed by Remington it was meant to be used with lighter bullets and original twists indicate that And the trend for newer rifles is going toward faster twists. It is certainly capable for game bigger than deer with the right bullets and versatile enough for varmints.

I do like the round, but it is sort of a tweener for me. I'd much rather use a 223 for varmints and deer. And I have bigger stuff for game larger than deer. But that takes nothing from the 243.

Cow elk, 688 yards, 105 gr 243.

 

[redbullitt]

Fast twist 243 is a great round. A little hard on barrels as far as i know, but still worth it. A 110 SMK is a pretty sweet match up with all that speed!

Most of the older rifles have a slow varmint bullet twist, but the real strength lies in the heavy sleek bullets like the 110 sierra, 105 berger hybrid, and 108 hornady I think.

 

[taliv]

243win was very popular for sure. it's still fantastic for varmints and deer etc with the small and medium sized bullets

if you want to shoot the 105g or bigger, you're better off with the 6cm or 6xc or 6dasher etc

 

[Legionnaire]

Love the .243. My kids who hunt whitetail all started with a Model 7 in .243. When we shoot the barrel out (haven't done so yet), I'm thinking about re-barreling in 243 Ackley Improved with a 1:8 twist to handle the heavier 6mm bullets. I like the 6 Creedmoor, but I'm kind of invested in cartridges based on the .308: .308 Win, .260 Rem., .243 Win currently, and I'm watching for a deal on a 7mm08. I have lots of .243 brass that's easier to blow out into .243AI than to trim and reform to 6 CM.

 

[Legionnaire]

If you want to shoot the 105g or bigger, you're better off with the 6cm or 6xc or 6dasher etc

Because of the longer neck?

jmr40, that's a sweet video!

 

[Geno]

I like my .243. It’s accurate with 58 to 100 grain ammo. My wife named it “My rifle”. Then, she named my M&P AR10 “My rifle”. I’m seeing a pattern...

Geno

 

[dieselchief]

I like 243. shoot a 99c. have had several. even with a longer barrel yet to see one of them reach factory published velocities with 100 grain bullets.

 

[cdb1]

It is a nice round for varmints and smaller came - foxes, coyotes, and the like. It might be OK for deer with a great shot. Humane kills are part of the equation.

The ,243 is an excellent caliber for animals up to muleys.
No telling how many I have killed with my 2. (down to 1 now because I just have to many guns)

Someone has been feeding you bad info.

Just sayin'.

I agree with Big7. I have a .243 so that when I’m calling coyotes I can shoot a deer if I run into one, and I run into them occasionally.

 

[Newtosavage]

Learning to love my "new to me" .243 but not quite there yet.

Trying to get used to the idea of 100 grains being a "heavy" bullet in any caliber.

 

[Gtscotty]

I wonder if part of the reason is it’s been unfairly tagged as “a good cartridge for women and kids”

Probably, a lot of folks who are hunters but not shooters feel like they need to "move up" from the .243 once they hit a certain age. I shot two deer with my M70 Featherweight in .243 with 95gr Ballistic Tips. Small sample size, but I got full penetration and quick kills, not much to complain about. One thing I would change if I got another .243 is that I'd make sure to get one twisted faster than the 1:10 on my M70 so that I could use the heavier bullets.

 

[LoonWulf]

Learning to love my "new to me" .243 but not quite there yet.

Trying to get used to the idea of 100 grains being a "heavy" bullet in any caliber.

Wack a couple dozen with a .223 flinging 55-70grn softpoints and the .243 almost seems excessive.

 

[DM~]

Learning to love my "new to me" .243 but not quite there yet. Trying to get used to the idea of 100 grains being a "heavy" bullet in any caliber.

Study up on what "SD" means to bullets of different diameters and weights and perhaps you will understand why 100 grain bullets work in a .243...

DM

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I like 243. shoot a 99c. have had several. even with a longer barrel yet to see one of them reach factory published velocities with 100 grain bullets.

Ive never chrono'd it, but my 20" 99e is a laser with 100gr PowerPoint's. Probably more accurate with the vernier tang sight out to 100yds than my custom, free-floated, Timney-triggered, Burris 18x scoped Weatherby....