Is the .243 Win Obsolete ?

[Monte F]

Poor little Model Seven .243, not enough gun!

 

[Bill K]

Is the 243 Rem a gone cartridge ? Not by a long shot, bet in the long run, it will be still around when some of the one's coming out are the one's gone or in little use.

 

[shooter65]

243 - 700, 21'' Brux 8 twist, Timney, BC M40, Meopta 6.5-20x44

 

[shooter65]

 

[brokeasajoke]

119yds .243 75gr hp hornady custom
Armalite AR-10

 

[BigPrince]

Been using it to take whitetail for over 25yrs myself. First rifle and still in my safe and hunting rotation. I also have other 6mm's like 6CM but more calibers just means more things to play with.

 

[udiablo]

Has a bad rep among some of the PRS gang due to barrel life, but some of them go through one or more barrels a season regardless. They seemed to progress (regress?) from the .243 to the XC, then to the Creedmore, etc.

Expect if you hot-rod it, or shoot sustained strings of fire then the throat will erode fairly soon.

But IMO like other 6mms it seems inherently accurate.

It can also be loaded to "interesting" velocities.

I have one .243 (by GAP) that Moon built on a surgeon action, 1-7.7 twist Bartlein barrel, in McM A-5 stock, that is throated for 115 grain DTACs. It shoots as well as anything I've tried out to a thou. I do have replacement barrel blanks on hand. Great cartridge, IMO.

 

[.222 ND]

Built an 8 twist 243 in 2008 and I’m approaching 1200 rounds with it. 95 vld’s and H4350 at 3250 FPS and mr coyote is in big trouble out to 600 yards. Shot plenty of deer and antelope with that load also. Sako L579 with Brux barrel. As far as any of the custom creations I’ve come up with, this one is tops and it’s a 243.

 

[Bill Norris]

Way back in early 70s" my first centerfire rifle was a .243. Long gone now but I still own a Remington Model 7 Predator in .243 that is my main hunting stick. I am currently having a .243 AI custom built by O D Customs to play with so guess I'll be owning those for awhile. Hard to get away from something that just works.

 

[JEFFPPC]

With the new heavier, longer match bullets maybe the.243 will be making a come back in competition. Don't give me any short neck crap, I do very well with the 6BRX. I have a long throat .243 reamer, might need do get it out, have a 7 twist on the way also.

 

[NDAR15MAN]

I have not look at my post from May of 2018 “ Is the 243 cal obsolete ? “ much lately. I see it is still generating comments. Been shooting my Tikka 243 with Burris Eliminator III on it this winter coyote hunting. It does perform great.
I Wish I had changed my original question up a little from 2018 to read
“ Is the 243 cal still a good choice for a firearm owner to purchase new ? “
I think all of us 243 cal owners like our guns and the 243 has done the job well since we bought them but I am not really sure if it makes since for a person to buy the 243 cal off the sales rack in today’s world ( not a highbred but a true 243 cal gun ). Wither it is a hunter , target shooter who reloads his own ammo , a man , a woman or a youngster. It’s just my opinion , but it seems there is better choices out there now for a new gun purchase.
Us guys that have them that’s great but not sure for a new buyer ? Marty

 

[rafale]

Just look at the Southwest national 2020, John Whidden won the Highpower any with the 243 !

 

[shooter65]

Will be testing these soon

 

[243Mendoza]

, in 1000-yard ballistics unless you get into the short magnums or .284s and those carry a very significant recoil penalty."

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2018/02/load-winning-ammo-with-progressive-whidden-shows-how/

As did Whidden again at the Southwest matches with the 243.

 

[wbm]

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2018/07/243-winchester-the-forgotten-long-range-cartridge/

 

[urbanrifleman]

I am starting to believe that a cartridge can be defined by the availability of an outstanding powder that makes it really stable across the whole band width.

Of course some cartridges are just more accurate than others.

Stability. The absence of peaky performance. Day in and day out performance. I believe the new ultra temp stable powders will give the 243 with its large overpower powder reserve will give the cartridge new life. Although it's not that new.

H4350
H1000
R23
4831ssc
And hopefully the new n160 will be ultra stable.

This is nothing really new I suppose, i guess it's new to me. But instability with that much powder in reserve can make it a temperamental cartridge for performance at say the level of the 6br derivatives

 

[Oso]

I decided on a 6mm for my precision rifle (+10 years ago) and with that I made a choice of .243 Win with the knowledge that I could always find factory ammo (post-zombie apocalyps or just hunting trip that I forgot my ammo back home). Arguably the 6mm Creedmoor has a better case design (shoulder angle and neck length) that is easier on the chamber's throat as compared to a 243 Win. Let's be honest - it is still a 6mm so either way barrel life is about the same for precision... 1500'ish. My rifle shoots lights out with Berger 105's at 3000fps. I have no regrets!

Due to its roots in hunting, I believe that the 243 Win will always continue to be relevant. I also believe that if the 6GT proves up enough for brass production by several major suppliers then it will replace most popular 6mm cartridges used for Bench and PRS styles (rules permitting). Hard to argue with same velocity using 20%-25% less powder, which translates into a +60% increase in barrel life now inline with a 6.5 Creedmoor (2500 rounds).

 

[Zero333]

243win

 

[Laurie]

That's a good looking rig @Zero333. What's it's spec?

 

[Zero333]

That's a good looking rig @Zero333. What's it's spec?

Thanks Laurie.

It's really nothing fancy...

Savage 11 action and I re-welded the bolt handle.
Shilen 26" barrel
MDT HS3 chassis and their Skeleton butt-stock.
Weaver 20moa rail
Millett 34mm 6 cap rings
Bushnell XRS with the G2dmr reticle.
Accuracy 1st scope level on the left of scope and Wheeler collapsible bubble level on the right of scope.

Here is a 100m target...



And for fun here is a target with FACTORY Hunting ammo at 100m. Older lot of Federal Premium 100 gr Sierra btsp Gameking...