.243 Win.
- Thread starter Goose25
- Start date
its a nice lil cartridge that shoots flat and recoils mild. Very good choice for long range predator hunting and for most deer hunting. Wouldnt be my first choice of cartridge for hunting anything weighing much more than 300 lbs
my go-to predator load has been the 70 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip over enough RL15 to do 3500 fps. Absolutely hammers yotes, but not very fur friendly if they're broadside
If/when I use the 243 for deer pretty much the only bullet I'd be trying will be the 85 grain Barnes TSX, and I'd limit shots to 300 yards or closer
my go-to predator load has been the 70 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip over enough RL15 to do 3500 fps. Absolutely hammers yotes, but not very fur friendly if they're broadside
If/when I use the 243 for deer pretty much the only bullet I'd be trying will be the 85 grain Barnes TSX, and I'd limit shots to 300 yards or closer
I forgot to mention the rifle I have. Ive actually have had two 243s since last summer, the first time I have gotten a chance to own a rifle so chambered
first one was a Rem 700 VLS with a 26" heavy barrel. It would shoot 80 grain Federal factory loads @ 3400 fps, but sold it before trying much of anything else
Filled my need for a predator gun this past November with a new 700 stainless with the grey laminate stock, since replaced with a Bell & Carlson medalist fiberglass stock thats been painted snow camo. I've played a bit with different loads, 55 grain Nosler BT @ 3850 fps, 70 grain NBT @ 3500, and 87 grain Vmax @ 3175 fps. Went with the 70 for hunting and shot five or six coyotes with that bullet last winter. This summer I think I will try the 55 grain Ballistic Tip and if all goes well I will shoot that this winter for hunting.
Im awaiting Gatehouse to chime in and let us know how he feels about the 243
first one was a Rem 700 VLS with a 26" heavy barrel. It would shoot 80 grain Federal factory loads @ 3400 fps, but sold it before trying much of anything else
Filled my need for a predator gun this past November with a new 700 stainless with the grey laminate stock, since replaced with a Bell & Carlson medalist fiberglass stock thats been painted snow camo. I've played a bit with different loads, 55 grain Nosler BT @ 3850 fps, 70 grain NBT @ 3500, and 87 grain Vmax @ 3175 fps. Went with the 70 for hunting and shot five or six coyotes with that bullet last winter. This summer I think I will try the 55 grain Ballistic Tip and if all goes well I will shoot that this winter for hunting.
Im awaiting Gatehouse to chime in and let us know how he feels about the 243
BC Bigbore
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- BC's Peace Country
I've used the .243 Winchester on coyotes and deer but not again. I now use larger calibers for deer and smaller calibers for predators. My two cents.
My 243 is a m70 xtr, older gun but shoots well. It likes the 100 grn softpoint by federal or winchester. This was my dad's only big-game rifle and moose and bear have fallen to it. I since have owned several other cal's but it's usually my 243 that leaves the yard with me. I have bigger cal's for moose and such now.
Win 243
I have always liked this caliber, have used it for long range target shooting and find it very accurate. When you look at the newer calibers 6BR and all the stretched versions including the new 6.5X47 necked down to 6MM where are they all headed back to the 243.
I have always liked this caliber, have used it for long range target shooting and find it very accurate. When you look at the newer calibers 6BR and all the stretched versions including the new 6.5X47 necked down to 6MM where are they all headed back to the 243.
The .243 was originally developed for the fellow who wanted to shoot varmints and deer but wanted one rifle to do it with. So it is a "compromise" round.
Many people think it is too big for varmints and too small for deer. (Like BC bigbore said above.)
I have a Rem. 788 in .243. It is very plesent to shoot and makes nice neat little groups at the range. I have shot and seen shot about 8 head of game with it (deer and pronghorn). And I am not really impressed with the way it kills. I think it's "adequate" and "sufficient" within its limitations (as a deer round) but is not my first choice.
Robin in Rocky
Many people think it is too big for varmints and too small for deer. (Like BC bigbore said above.)
I have a Rem. 788 in .243. It is very plesent to shoot and makes nice neat little groups at the range. I have shot and seen shot about 8 head of game with it (deer and pronghorn). And I am not really impressed with the way it kills. I think it's "adequate" and "sufficient" within its limitations (as a deer round) but is not my first choice.
Robin in Rocky
- Location
- AB foothills
BC Bigbore said:
My two cents would sound something like this............
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Shot a nice sized deer last year with my 700 BDL in 243, 95gr ballistic tip went trough both shoulders....
Under 300 yards, it is a very decent deer cartridge!!
and lost of fun to have at the range with it! Only bedded it and tuned trigger...
oh, and that 95gr load was tuned to 1/2 inch!!
Under 300 yards, it is a very decent deer cartridge!!
and lost of fun to have at the range with it! Only bedded it and tuned trigger...
oh, and that 95gr load was tuned to 1/2 inch!!
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
For someone who is recoil sensitive, I believe that the .243 is a prudent minimum choice of cartridge which is intended to be used for big game, and in that role certainly trumps the .22-250. As a varmint round it trumps the .250 Savage. Where I think the .243 shines is in it's roll as a long range varmint and target round, when chambered in custom rifles with fast twist barrels.
My personal experience with the great .243Win is that it really lives to what it was designed for.
As said before, with the 85 gr Barnes TSX it's a one-shot, one-kill machine, given, of course, proper shot placement.
Down here I used it to harvet wit absolute success Red Deer does, and Guanaco, in very unfavorable wind conditions and at ranges out to 450 yards.
It's easy on the shoulder, a pleasure to load, widely available, tons of knowledge everywhere, in short a classic by its own virtues.
Out of Ruger MkII all-weather with a 22" a TSX ( 85gr ) with a load of 48.0gr of RL22 average velocity is about 3250 fps
best regards, Gus
As said before, with the 85 gr Barnes TSX it's a one-shot, one-kill machine, given, of course, proper shot placement.
Down here I used it to harvet wit absolute success Red Deer does, and Guanaco, in very unfavorable wind conditions and at ranges out to 450 yards.
It's easy on the shoulder, a pleasure to load, widely available, tons of knowledge everywhere, in short a classic by its own virtues.
Out of Ruger MkII all-weather with a 22" a TSX ( 85gr ) with a load of 48.0gr of RL22 average velocity is about 3250 fps
best regards, Gus
- Location
- Petawawa, Ontario
Gustavo said:
Estimado Gustavo.....bienvenido a GunNutz. Yo viví en Mexico por casi onze años hasta agosto 2005. En Mexico todo esta controlado por el militare y el uso y la posesión de las armas es muy difícil.
I also shoot a .243 it's a Savage 12 BVSS. For my coyotes I shoot an 87 grain V-max pushed by Varget. For my 1000 metre shooting I use 90 grain Lapua Scenars. I was lucky enough to win a 500 yard competition this month shooting the Scenars.....I managed a 50-4x with a 5 shot group that measured 3 inches.
Here's a picture of me going moose hunting
Great to have you as a member y que le vaya bien.
bushpilotmexico said:
Bushpilot,
Muchas gracias por la bienvenida!
En Argentina, todavía...podemos tener armas...pero la situación, dado que tenemos un gobierno de izquiera, se está complicando...todavía miro mucho a mi preciado FAL y lo cuido...del Gobierno!
Nice pictures! Hope that someday you take the trip down here! Would be a pleasure to host you and dome some hunting together. If so, just give me call.
BTW, I love Vancouver...what a nice city and how many beautiful girls!
