Well... I'm invested.
Jesus you could buy a whole reloading setup for what that must have cost unless you got a killer deal. Lol
Lets talk about hunting with the .243 winchester
- Thread starter rci2950
- Start date
Jesus you could buy a whole reloading setup for what that must have cost unless you got a killer deal. Lol
I don't care for .243. I had one and didn't mind shooting it for what it was worth, but found it too expensive for ammo and too sort on practical purposes.
For varmints its too pricey for gophers and coyotes up to 350yards compared to 75gr .223.
For distances further than 350 it doesn't stand up to the shadow of 22-250.
For deer hunting it was just too light for my comfort. I killed couple of deer but its not a heavy bullet nor have the knock down energy I prefer. I hate chasing wounded deer. Its my opinion that .243 is a wounder much more times than a dropper, and its way under-powered for a bigger game.
As far as a youth rifle, I'd get much more value for my dollar to by my child a .308 or 30.06 and load it down to 125grain bullets untilk they are mid teens and can handle realistic recoil of a hunting bullet.
And finally, ammunition availability. Only the large hunting stores seem to carry .243 ammo, and small selection at that if at all. You can buy 308, 270, 30.06 everywhere that sells ammunition. If you're low on ammo and out of town, good luck finding any 243
I didn't mind shooting the rifle or caliber, and don't have any particular distaste for it, it was just nothing special and there was always a much better cartridge for my needs. I sold the rifle to a wife of a friend who was starting to shoot, but she sold it off the next year because it was difficult to find ammo.
For varmints its too pricey for gophers and coyotes up to 350yards compared to 75gr .223.
For distances further than 350 it doesn't stand up to the shadow of 22-250.
For deer hunting it was just too light for my comfort. I killed couple of deer but its not a heavy bullet nor have the knock down energy I prefer. I hate chasing wounded deer. Its my opinion that .243 is a wounder much more times than a dropper, and its way under-powered for a bigger game.
As far as a youth rifle, I'd get much more value for my dollar to by my child a .308 or 30.06 and load it down to 125grain bullets untilk they are mid teens and can handle realistic recoil of a hunting bullet.
And finally, ammunition availability. Only the large hunting stores seem to carry .243 ammo, and small selection at that if at all. You can buy 308, 270, 30.06 everywhere that sells ammunition. If you're low on ammo and out of town, good luck finding any 243
I didn't mind shooting the rifle or caliber, and don't have any particular distaste for it, it was just nothing special and there was always a much better cartridge for my needs. I sold the rifle to a wife of a friend who was starting to shoot, but she sold it off the next year because it was difficult to find ammo.
Its kind of an in-between cartridge for me. Coyotes I prefer a 223 rem. Deer I grab either a 260 or a 7mag. Likely if you wanted a nice carrying, low recoil, one gun comprimise, it would fit the bill just fine with a good quality bullet.
From what I have seen, anywhere that sells ammo sells 243 (and 270, 7mm RM, 30-30, 308, 303, and 30-06).
While I'm not a huge fan of the 243, IMO it is the only interesting 308 based cartridge though. From what I have seen it needs good bullets for deer, but is too much for gophers and coyotes.
While I'm not a huge fan of the 243, IMO it is the only interesting 308 based cartridge though. From what I have seen it needs good bullets for deer, but is too much for gophers and coyotes.
I love it. A 30cal 125gr downloaded is ok, but a 243cal 100gr which has a far superior sectional density and likely goes faster isn't a good choice...
And 243 is hard to find? Walmart in the big city here carry it, right beside the 3006 and 308. Same with Canadian tire. 243 availability is pretty much on par with 308 - you might have less options, but almost everyone has winchester and/or federal and/or Remington cheap stuff. The core lokt on my shelf is from Walmart in fact.
It doesn't need good bullets for deer, it just needs suitable ones. Because of the dual use varmint /big game nature of the cartridge, you need to be careful not to use a varmint bullet on big game. Interestingly, that's less of an issue the other way around - many people actually suggest deer bullets for coyote because they can be easier on the pelt. You don't need a partition or tsx though("good" bullets), many people swear by the winchester or remington budget lines.
243 WIN is a GREAT deer cartridge with a good bullet and shot placement - Awesome Yote cartridge with the lighter 75-87 gr ers TOO ! I shot a M70 for years Killing lots of Yotes & Woodchucks and and a Few deer too ! Currently i have a Model M7 Remy loaded with Horn 87 gr HPBT s for Yotes ! jmo RJ
I have a nice little Rem7 in .243...shoots very well, and a great loaner rifle for new shooters/hunters. I also like using it on coyotes when I just want'em dead and don't expect to be utilizing the fur (i.e. warm weather varmint/predator control, before one of the CGN Game Lawyers pipes up).
But for serious coyote hunting, I want a more fur-friendly .22 centerfire...and for deer, I want a .25 or .30-caliber bullet. I'd probably like the .243 a lot better if I had local game in the Pronghorn/Springbok/Blackbuck size range, but I don't, so the 6mm bullets are neither fish nor fowl for my purposes.
But for serious coyote hunting, I want a more fur-friendly .22 centerfire...and for deer, I want a .25 or .30-caliber bullet. I'd probably like the .243 a lot better if I had local game in the Pronghorn/Springbok/Blackbuck size range, but I don't, so the 6mm bullets are neither fish nor fowl for my purposes.
prairie lover
CGN Regular
- Location
- southern MB
What's That? Past 350 it what to the 22250? Explain
prairie lover
CGN Regular
- Location
- southern MB
I've never had an issue with the 243 on deer. One of my biggest whitetails fell to a 243 and 100 gr sierra gameking. One shot. He ran 20 yards and crashed. I have no issue with the 100 gr sierra, 90 gr Speer deepcurl and hotcore and 85 gr sierra sp and btsp. I have never seen a 243 bullet not exit. But they were all broadside lung shots. Honestly I've seen more 130 gr 270 bullets not exit broadside shots on deer than anything else.
All dad and some of his relatives ever carried for deer is a 243 Winchester.
All dad and some of his relatives ever carried for deer is a 243 Winchester.
Not the greatest fan of the 243 for deer but as a crossover small deer, fox, long range crows etc it isn't the worst. I had a few 243's all were very accurate at least with the 80-87gr bullets. My first 243 had a cut Border Barrel 1/10" on it that shot very well with 87gr v-max, not a bad combination out to 600m. Won a small 600yd comp with that.
Later had a few Remmies with 20" barrels and one Bergara barrelled Howa. All shot extremely well with 80gr Sierra SPBT varminter. These bullets turned out to be fantastic on Sika deer and of course fox. Shot stags in the rut and hinds later in the season up to 260m. Never lost a deer. Only thing was that I trust a 308 more and hold back with the distance using a 243.
Never managed to use heavier bullets in the 243. The Sierras worked so well I didn't need to.
edi
Later had a few Remmies with 20" barrels and one Bergara barrelled Howa. All shot extremely well with 80gr Sierra SPBT varminter. These bullets turned out to be fantastic on Sika deer and of course fox. Shot stags in the rut and hinds later in the season up to 260m. Never lost a deer. Only thing was that I trust a 308 more and hold back with the distance using a 243.
Never managed to use heavier bullets in the 243. The Sierras worked so well I didn't need to.
edi
