243 renders 223 & 308 obsolete?

[Rocket Surgery]

I'm starting to get into centerfire rifles, and have always been intrigued by the 223 and 308. I don't mind owning both a 223 rifle and 308 rifle, but I do mind, if there's a rifle out there that can do what both of them can do in a single caliber. So can the 243 do both the job of the 223 and 308 (sometimes better, 223 cough)? From the start I find it interesting that the 243 can fire bullet weights ranging from 58 to 110gr. Is it possible for a single 243 rifle barrel to harness both the a 60gr - 95gr rounds?

Seems like it's a versatile caliber and that there's a lot of fun testing to be done just by that fact alone.

Keep in mind I'm approaching this question from the point of view of someone who considers Deer/Hogs size animals as big game. I don't see myself going any bigger in the near future.

Thanks for your input.

You'll notice a lot of guys on this site have 243's for their wives or kids. You'll also notice a LOT of youth rifles are chambered in 243. A quick search of this forum subsection you'll find a lot of guys that buy this caliber for their family members.

It's an excellent round, very accurate and low recoil. Great for varmints all the way up to white tail deer. Puts meat on the table and kills deer dead. If you shoot better with this cartridge, and like it, who cares what others think just use it. I'd argue that it doesn't render 223 or 308 obsolete. 223 is cheaper, just as accurate, and fantastic for varmints while 308 can take larger game. If you're looking for a real do-everything cartridge, from varmints up to moose, it would actually be 308 not 243.

The thing with 243 is that it offers nothing over 308 other than lighter recoil. The action length is the same, price is the same, basically everything. This is because it's really just a necked down 308. You can't go as high in bullet weight as the 308, so you're restricted. In other necked down variants like 7mm-08 and 270 there's some valid arguments that the wildcat can potentially be better than the parent, more than just mild recoil. Considering how no one on this forum can give a reason as to why it's better than 308, other than lighter recoil, it's really a cartridge you'd buy for women or children. This is, of course, unless you shoot well with it and it feels natural to you. I personally like .308win but I have shot hundreds of rounds out of a BLR 243 that belongs to the family.

 

[oopswasthatyourdog?]

And for the record, the ".243 is okay for women and children" comments are ridiculous and absolutely childish. If a child can kill a deer with a .243 then surely a man with more practice and experience should have no trouble. Pick your caliber based on usefulness, not based on ego.

In some circles you would think that if you are shooting anything less than 300 winmag you are under gunned......no matter the game you are shooting at.

I shoot groundhogs to deer with my 243 and they are just as dead. A few years ago I shot a rogue Hereford cow with it. It was during deer season, 70 yards with 100gr. psp. That cow weighed over 1200 lbs. It died where I shot it. No tracking........it's a long story. If you are good with the search engine you can find it.
Too many people are substituting poor marksmanship with larger calibers, I'm not saying that's the case with everyone but just a personal observation. The reality is that a poorly placed shot with ANY caliber is still a poorly placed shot.

 

[Calum]

And for the record, the ".243 is okay for women and children" comments are ridiculous and absolutely childish. If a child can kill a deer with a .243 then surely a man with more practice and experience should have no trouble. Pick your caliber based on usefulness, not based on ego.

Bingo!
Also I like your sig line.

Methinks Ego and trying to impress ones camp buddies over rides common sense for many hunters. It's hunting, not a fashion show.

 

[canadaman30]

A 243 with a noslerpartition or tough bullet will kill pretty much what ever animal you hit in the vitals. Very under rated IMO. Funny how so many right them off as a legit big game gun and consider other cals. legit that don't carry near the range or energy of the 243.

 

[remington jim]

223 + 308

Get a 223 for varmits- gophers to coyotes etc and a 308 for deer -black bear- even elk + moose etc and you will be covered- a better 30 cal cartridge would be to get is a 30-06 - You would be in good shape ! IMHO

 

[migrant hunter]

I have shot a lot of deer with the .243 and prefer it to my .308.
I like to pick/place my shots for minimal meat damage and the .243 is my cal of choice(I'd go smaller if they'd let me!) The 308 is an excellent cartridge, but I never feel undergunned with my .243
.243 is also an awesome coyote round. I used to use 70 grain hollow points for yotes and 100 grain soft points for deer. I now use 90 grain nosler ballistic tips for everything.
I have a .223 and a .308, but I can see a .243 being a dual purpose gun for one rifle.