Why is the .243 Winchester so popular?

I like the .243 and have two at home, but for a versatile cartridge I'd look at a .257 Roberts.

The .257 is just as flat shooting as the .243, with more muzzle velocity and stopping power. Excellent deer rifle (my father shot his first buck 44 years ago with a Remington .257) and I've laid the plague of the hollow point to many a woodchuck with it as well. I also handload and it's great there too, esp. since you can vary the powder and bullet weight enough to move from varmints to big game easily. Load some rounds for chucks and some more for whitetail.

If you can't find a .257 for a decent price though, it's hard to argue with the .243 (although I've been wanting to get a .25-06)


-Gilgamesh-
 
reply

Kobra; yes the brass i'm currently using is Remington. I found one lot that was very consistant and i use that for all my range work.

243 ack imp is also one excellent round!! There is plenty of Norma & Lapua brass for 243. I reloaded Norma brass when i was still shooting 243 caliber. Both calibers 243 & 6mm ack imp make excellent 1000 yard calibers. Fact is thats what my 107 grain load is being developed for. I'm a member of the Varmint Hunters Assocation, and i want a long range round for shooting at thier "Jamboree" this coming summer.

Also; I have found a load [using Varget] and Hornaday V-max bullets = 58 grainers - CCI benchrest primers = FPS @ 4000fps and shoots .4moa. This is my current crow & coyote & red fox load. 3 inches of drop at 300 yards. 6mm and 243 ack, both flat shooters and fine target rounds to boot.

Good shooting.
 
My .243 manifests itself in a Weatherby Vanguard. Very flat-shooting and accurate. I bought mine for varmints, but only have a little experience with prairie dogs.

Presumably, the .243 brass can be formed by necking down .308 brass. I am not setup for reloading (yet!), so I have no personal experience with the feasability of that procedure. But I was persuaded towards this cartridge because of that, as I shoot a lot of .308 from my assault (er, um, I mean self-defense) rifles.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top