Jump to content

Experience with .243


Recommended Posts

So I got the opportunity to pick up a Sako a7 s in 243 

For the general area we live in I'm wondering what the  consensus is  on ammo availability and is the 243 a good general round and your experience with it

Edited by spdfrk70
Link to comment
  • spdfrk70 changed the title to Experience with .243

The .243 has been a popular round for deer and varmint for decades. I see ammo at Wal Marche from time to time, but I prefer handloads. 

I bought my first .243 a few months ago. I was thinking about an inexpensive Savage, but ended up with a Ruger #1. It's a good shooter, and the recoil is very light. I can see why it's such a popular round.

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment

Even though I haven’t deer hunted in years, I bought a Browning A-Bolt II in .243 a couple years ago.  I’ve wanted a .243 for years and thought I was going deer hunting with a friend, but the trip fell through.  The A-Bolt shoots pretty nice, but I haven’t put together any handloads yet.  I’ve never had trouble finding a variety of factory hunting ammo.  I have a freshly rebuilt shoulder that feels pretty good, but I may never shoot my .30-06 again.  The little A-Bolt is handy and I would like to see how the .243 does on a deer. 

Edited by deerslayer
  • Like 2
Link to comment

I've yet to find an inaccurate rifle chambered in 243, and haven't found an inaccurate load either. More than enough rifle for anything in Tennessee. I currently have a Savage 99F and a pre 64 Model 70 Winchester Featherweight so chambered. They both shoot tiny groups with both factory and handloaded ammo.

 

Were I wanting to buy a particular rifle, I would consider a 243 Winchester chambering a plus.

Edited by gregintenn
  • Like 2
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment

If I ever buy another deer rifle, it will be a Bergara Ridge B-14 6.5 Creedmoor.  I’m a Bergara and a 6.5CM fanboy (sorry Handsome Rob).  I like the B-14 and it’s already threaded.  I could get a gunsmith to thread my A-Bolt, but I don’t trust anybody to do it and I don’t really want to monkey with the A-Bolt anyway.  But my next deer hunting trip will include the .243 A-Bolt.  

  • Like 1
Link to comment
2 hours ago, InertOrd13 said:

I don't own a .243 but have shot one before and thought it was pretty tame compared to the .308. I know a lot of people who hunt with it and have had great results. 

That's hopefully the idea and then move my 10-year-old into that caliber He's getting pretty handy with a 22 LR lever rifle but he's always worried about recoil when I hand him something to shoot at the range

I've never put anything in his hands to make him afraid so I don't know what is worry is but regardless soft shooters only for him at this point

Link to comment

I am a big fan of Sako rifles and .243.  I bought an Encore barrel in .243 for my daughter to hunt with.  She took her first deer with it at probably 10 or 11.  Light recoil and enough power to kill whitetails.  It is a great all around caliber for anybody not just kids.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
1 hour ago, spdfrk70 said:

That's hopefully the idea and then move my 10-year-old into that caliber He's getting pretty handy with a 22 LR lever rifle but he's always worried about recoil when I hand him something to shoot at the range

I've never put anything in his hands to make him afraid so I don't know what is worry is but regardless soft shooters only for him at this point

I would recommend .243 exactly for that. It is a great starter caliber but good enough to keep if a person never wants to change calibers in my opinion.

  • Like 1
Link to comment

I grew up shooting my dad's 243. His was a lever gun. A Remington I believe. Was scoped and had a wood stock. I loved that rifle. My brother-in-law got drunk and let someone borrow the rifle and he could not remember who had the rifle or I would have it today. That rifle was a 1 1/2" at 100 yards in the early 50's era. 

Edited to add; with his reloads dad could get the 243 into 1"MOA at 100 yds. 

Edited by pop pop
  • Love 1
  • Wow 1
Link to comment

Have owned and hunted with five .243's over the years and still have three including my first one. I own a bunch of deer rifles in other calibers but only because I want them, not because I need anything other than the .243 for deer. I have been shooting one load since 1970 and have no plans of ever shooting anything else as it does everything I need it to do and has always been as accurate as I can shoot. I use the now discontinued Nosler flat base 100 grain Spire point with CCI LRBR primers and 34.5 grains of IMR 4320 . That's the minimum load and was the accuracy load in the Lyman 1970 load book for a 100 grain jacketed bullet.

Both of my sons have .243's they started hunting with and neither one would part with them.

 

Edited by Eddie Southgate
  • Like 3
  • Love 1
Link to comment

I'ma 243 fan myself.  Remember, they are a 6 mm 08.  That's what makes em great.  Low recoil, highly accurate. 

I'm waiting for Ruger to build a SFAR in 243... 

leroy...

  • Like 1
Link to comment

Shot a savage 110 243 for a long time, gave it to my son and moved to 300wm, gotta have shoulder surgery soon so might trade him back for it lol. besides my muzzle loaders I have had more bang flops with it, 100g Federal 100g spbt carries over 1000lbs to 400y. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
  • 1 month later...

Love the 243.  Hunted with it for year and likely to return to it here soon.  I have had great luck with 100 grain sp bullets in remington and winchester.  The best round I have found is Winchester 95 grain silver ballistic tip.  Hard to find but worth it.  I have had more deer DRT with that round than any other.

Link to comment

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

TRADING POST NOTICE

Before engaging in any transaction of goods or services on TGO, all parties involved must know and follow the local, state and Federal laws regarding those transactions.

TGO makes no claims, guarantees or assurances regarding any such transactions.

THE FINE PRINT

Tennessee Gun Owners (TNGunOwners.com) is the premier Community and Discussion Forum for gun owners, firearm enthusiasts, sportsmen and Second Amendment proponents in the state of Tennessee and surrounding region.

TNGunOwners.com (TGO) is a presentation of Enthusiast Productions. The TGO state flag logo and the TGO tri-hole "icon" logo are trademarks of Tennessee Gun Owners. The TGO logos and all content presented on this site may not be reproduced in any form without express written permission. The opinions expressed on TGO are those of their authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the site's owners or staff.

TNGunOwners.com (TGO) is not a lobbying organization and has no affiliation with any lobbying organizations.  Beware of scammers using the Tennessee Gun Owners name, purporting to be Pro-2A lobbying organizations!

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to the following.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Guidelines
 
We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.