Let’s talk about the 243win

[Ringbill27]

As a guy who despises recoil and muzzle blast (need to think about a suppressor), the .243 is intriguing. I'm a big fan of the .25-06 for just a little more oomph without much more recoil. But, it is a long action and really needs a 24" barrel to develop velocity. A .243 is a short action and is useful with a shorter barrel which is very nice. I may have to look into it...

O you load a 20” 243win with a 55gr BT and max load of H4350 you get some fireballing. Recoil is mild. Mines a tikka so still a long action.

 

[Bambistew]

I burned the barrel out of my first big game rifle which was chambered in 243. I later rebarreled it in 260 rem. I will buy another one some day. I much prefer the 243 over the 260 on deer size game. I always shot 85gr Sierra HPBT or 87gr Vmax. Absolutely devastating on deer, antelope and varmints.

 

[Nick87]

There are people that will physically assault you for this

 

[Jbotto]

I grew up believing the .243Win was the quintessential beginner rifle for whitetails. I’ve had one for 10-12 years that I bought when my brother was in high school so he could deer hunt. He used it to good measure for a good many years before he decided he’d rather have something of his own. I still haven’t shot anything with it but it’s back in my safe. We came up with a pretty great load for it with an 85gr TSX and my wife has used it for a couple deer and an antelope. Some day I’ll use it for something, but there’s always something else I grab. It will never leave the family.

 

[noharleyyet]

A 22-250 or .243 a the range are about as much fun as it gets...capable deer & hog killers also.

 

[Ringbill27]

I grew up believing the .243Win was the quintessential beginner rifle for whitetails. I’ve had one for 10-12 years that I bought when my brother was in high school so he could deer hunt. He used it to good measure for a good many years before he decided he’d rather have something of his own. I still haven’t shot anything with it but it’s back in my safe. We came up with a pretty great load for it with an 85gr TSX and my wife has used it for a couple deer and an antelope. Some day I’ll use it for something, but there’s always something else I grab. It will never leave the family.

May I ask what you load is? I like coppers and that’s one of the contenders I’d like to use.

 

[Jbotto]

May I ask what you load is? I like coppers and that’s one of the contenders I’d like to use.

Off memory: Federal case, Winchester primer, warm charge of IMR4064 with the 85gr TSX. Shot super good at max powder charge until I changed lot numbers a few years back. Started blowing primers out. Back it down a fair bit to not be an idiot and it mellowed out but groups opened up. If I were to do it all over again, I’d use the 80gr TTSX. Never lost a deer yet with the TSX but it doesn’t always start bleeding until about 20 yards into trailing a dead deer. I’m too invested into this load at this point and the rifle doesn’t get used enough right now to do a new load work-up.

 

[Jnasa]

May I ask what you load is? I like coppers and that’s one of the contenders I’d like to use.

I load 85 grain TSX for my wife’s 243. Winchester primer and RL 19 powder. Shoots great in her rifle. 3 deer with it and didn’t have to blood trail any of them. Like Jbotto I’ve thought of changing but I don’t have a reason to.