Accuracy is paramount with hunting. If one has a fear/anticipation of the recoil, they are going to flinch just before the boom. When teaching, I bring out my 1022, 5.56 bolt, 243 and my 270. I start small and work larger. At the end of the session most shooters prefer the 5.56 or the 243. I'm 73 and I prefer the 243.
The 243 Winchester round is the most versatile rifle ever made. I will give you examples. You can go from a 4000 ft per second 50 grain bullet all the way to 100 grain bullet still traveling at 2800 ft per second. If really want knock down power for a deer where it's going to look like a Mack truck hit it. The 85 grain solid copper hollow point is the ultimate bullet for the 243 when hunting midsize to large game animals. Yes it will literally drop a 14 point buck dead in his tracks, and yes I speak from experience.
MyREDTAIL the “ bullet “ he’s speaking of is manufactured by Barnes ( it’s a TTSX / TSX ) solid copper , hollow point , and its loaded by Barnes as well as other manufacturers. It isn’t cheap to buy , but it IS premium top notch ammunition, and hold nearly 100% weight retention. Yes , it performs every bit of what he’s describing here . Traveling at around 3,400 fps it packs a walloping punch
John1911 Gun Blog I had an opportunity to purchase 9 boxes of Corbon DPX solid copper for my .280 Remington loaded with 140 grain . Corbon doesn’t offer the loads anymore ( of any sort ) for the .280 Remington. It’s a blessing of a round, essentially the same as the TTSX . I love it
What a great guy ,love the channel , the walk ons, the turning around with a cup of joe and saying welcome back ,what a great channel its Americans like this guy the makes it one of my favorite country's to visit .
This guy is my brother from another mother! Love you man. Thanks for your exceptional videos. I like the .243. I have shot it for 45 years and hit everything I aimed at and dropped so many deer it’s hard to count. Bunches of woodchucks. Many yotes. Magpies. Pigeons. Prairie dogs. And more targets than anything. I like the 257 Roberts but never got into it since I’ve had such great luck with the 243. I have ONE load for 100 gr Nosler and ONE load for 75gr varmint bullet. 40 yrs of always knowing where that shot is going downrange. Just bought my wife a nice little Mossberg Patriot Bantam too. This way we can shoot same round. No need to bring multiple ammo types and I’m good at loading the 243. Cheers man.
Mom and Dad gave me a 600 Mohawk in .243. That little Carbine shoots .5 moa with 4831 SC, once fired Federal brass and 95 gr Nosler Ballistic tip. A good front shoulder shot on a big mulie, followed by a lung shot leaves me not looking far to recover my deer. Best Christmas gift ever.
I tease one of my friends, who is a life long mule deer hunter and his caliber of choice is the .243 winchester. He's 6'3" and has carried the .243 for over 40 years and has taken more 30"+ mulies than any man I've ever seen or read about.
The only bad thing about a 243 is bullet holes keep finding bullet holes in your target so it’s kinda hard to tell just how accurate you really are when you always just are enlarging or going almost through the same exact hole because it is so accurate because it just absolutely does not hurt to shoot and it’s just so dependable
My Ruger American in 243 shoots 3/8" 3 shot groups. I appreciated your comment on the 243's ability to shoot 3/8" groups and that my groups aren't a fluke.
I was in Australia for an extended period of time. The Winchester 243 was my primary rifle and absolutely enjoyed the heck out of it. Mainly, the versatility with the available game in that country it simply was awesome and an absolute joy.
Knowing the trend in the US toward new and better, if we renamed the 243 to 6mmO8, given its performance, we wouldn't be able to find ammo on shelves. Great video about a great cartridge. Hope you had a great Christmas, too.
I’m not sure I concede your point. 243 is one of the top selling cartridges. As gunblue said, it’s probably the most successful non military cartridge. However it does have it’s limitations as a hunting cartridge.
Hello and thank you for doing this pod cast regarding the .243 win back in 2016 of all things . I recently commented to you about this round. I think I have my questions answered and it is great you were the one to do it. I appreciate your show. Thank you again, Tom
I really enjoy you videos. I’ve been hunting for 50 years. I appreciate you discouraging the unethical behavior going on with all these 500 - 900 yard shots. Some ego shooters are turning the hunting of a deer into a target match with no regard for the creature. We should always be more mindful of what puts the deer down fast than how far we can hit a deer.
@@tun0fun The problems are that 1) most people can't make those shots in the field (while they might be able to make them on the pristine target range) and 2) animals have a tendency to move more than paper or steel, and a time of flight approaching 1.5, 2, or more seconds is plenty of time for an ethical kill to turn into a horrific non-lethal wound because an animal lifted its head or turned its neck, and 3) many shooters are taking target bullets into the field, instead of properly constructed hunting bullets (such as Nosler partition), which further degrades lethality especially at long range.
@@tun0fun Good luck with a prone shooting position on a mat with your bipod in the field. Maybe at some private ranch with pet animals that have no predators and have been pumped up with high-protein diet. Children aren't shooting 300PRC or 338LM, and not many are humping 338LM out for a hunt. 1500ftlb is about the minimum for ethical deer killing. "Several inches" of penetration is great for chipmunks and rabbits, when you step up to pronghorn, elk, and heartier animals, target bullets create a mess.
@@tun0fun Man, you need to get out on a backwoods spot & stalk sometime. Tripod? C'mon. That's not hunting. I'm entirely confident of making those hits, I've shot PRS and other long range comp for years. No, you don't want a mess. A mess means spoiled meat, blood clots, bone fragments, metal fragments, hair and grizzle everywhere. The idea is to bring home as much meat as possible, including the heart. Look I'm not going to convince you, but the old timers knew it and someday, the newer generation will "re-discover it."
After a bullet has gone over 400 yards it will slow down so much that it won't do what it was intended, might not mushroom and put enough energy into the animal and it would limp away 10 miles and you probably wouldn't find it
A 6.5 creedmore bullet only has 180 lbs of energy left at 1000 yards, that's not going to work. If you want to long range hunt get a 300 wm, 7 mm mag or a 338 maybe
Love your channel as i believe its the most sensible shooting/rifle/reloading advice on the internet. Ive a lot of rifles i load of all diff cals ex mil & hunting up to 300/45-70 yet my 1971 243 is my fav rifle to take out for the day
This is a fabulous rundown on an exceptional cartridge. Prior to the 6.5 Creedmoor, this was and easily is the most popular Texas deer hunting cartridge along with the 270 Winchester. And I believe these two rounds will hold their traction long after the 6.5 Creedmoor leaves it's mark.
My father gave me his Sako .243 and it's been in a closet for years. Not until lately I've taken it out and cleaned it obsessively. Thank you for this video.
I love your walk-up intro. It sort of reminds me of the old "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" series that aired between 1955 and 65. Your delivery, both deliberate and serious, is refreshing. Some people today try a little too much sensationalism in their introductions. That's just my two cents worth. Keep up the good work, sir.
This is the only caliber I use for deer hunting, I always place my shot high up on the neck and they drop in there tracks giving a quick and humane kill with no meat waste. I live in Northern Minnesota.
Just like 270, 3006, & 30-30 you can buy cartridges most anywhere & plain old 100gr. Corelocks shoot well in any if them for cheap - 243 Win. Is a great round - Great Review & Information on this fine caliper!
Great vid. A savage .243 was my first deer rifle. I sold it 'cause it was for kids. Years later I bought a .243 Ruger stainless boat-paddle, sold it for who knows why. Then more years later, bought my 3rd .243 (blue ruger 77). Other than 22lr's, the 243 is the only other round I've bought, sold and re-bought rifles in that many times on purpose, not just 'cause they were a deal, but 'cause it is a great multi-purpose round. I'll always have one on hand. Like others state, I also go "light" with a 85gr bullet for all uses in this caliber. Deer to miniwolves. Doesn't always exit on deer, depending on distance, but they drop like gravity multiplied, and they're insides are literally soup.
I bought a Ruger American .243 for my wife to use on our property in Northern Michigan. Guess who uses it? Me. I dropped a very large 8 point with the first shot fired while hunting. I was astonished when I realized that it had not moved even one foot from where it stood. In other words, it literally dropped in it's tracks. I use 100gr Remington Core-Lokt and it will hit a bottle cap at 140 yards (our range) 3 times out of 5. An amazing round. I do prefer my .270 but grabbed the .243 on a whim one day, and must say I was not disappointed. Anyone claiming it's under powered would probably have trouble with a .458 Win Mag. Gut shots don't work.
GunBlue490 I researched the 243 Winchester for a long time, and everything I read matches what you said in your video. So picked up a Remington 770 in 243 with a 22 inch barrel, bough some Remington Core Lokt's 100 SP, put a dap of oil on the bolt, took it to the range right out the box the groups were the size of a quarter. Even my hand loads using the 100 gr Core Lokt's and the Sierra 100 GR SBT grouped as tight as the Factory Loads. The 243 Winchester was made the same year I was 1955.
My first centerfire rifle was a .243 770 that I got when I was 14. I'm 20 now and still have the rifle and for the cost it is a great gun. I've dropped every white tail that has came my way and pulled off some good 500= yard shots with the factory scope. Sadly haven't even looked at her in years...use to hang on my wall too
Well Pike as you and I both have found out the .243 is a great cartridge. Hunting many different size game and ive read where some guys are using the .243 in competition, and wining.
Got the same gun upgraded the scope and put a bipod on it and a sling it's a good setup for under 350 I use Winchester white box 80s for ground hogs and Winchester 95 grain xps drops them fine
Based on GunBlue's assessment and the comments below I recently purchased a Ruger American .243 with the desert cerakote finish. I live on 77 acres in rural Tennessee and wanted a rifle that would be good for both deer and coyotes. Based on what I've read here, the win .243 is a good choice. I've been shooting targets with 95gr Win ballistic silver tips with good results.
The typical southern whitetail buck would do well to weigh 125 lbs on the hoof , most will not even touch that . A .243 with a bullet of 80 grains or more that isn't a poly tipped bullet will work very well. I typically load my own .243 Win with either 85 gr Sierra' s or 87 grain Hornady . Just be very careful not to get the varmint rounds in these bullet weights . A Southern Buck cannot stand either pill in there internal works .
Just a follow up on deer hunting results with my Ruger .243. Bagged an eight point buck on opening day followed by a nine point buck a week later. Having shot my limit of bucks, I added a nice doe before the season ended. Very pleased with 3 deer in the freezer provided by my .243!
I continue to be pleased with the .243! Dropped a nice ten point in his tracks early this season. Most of the deer I've shot have dropped in their tracks. Excellent round for deer.
243 is great! I've taken 18 whitetail bucks with it. People say it has no power is complete bull shit. I wouldn't even think twice about using it on a moose or elk.
TwisTing ThroTTles it's all shot placement and bullet selection for the most part. I'd rather elk hunt with someone who shoots a .243, .270, 25-06, etc. very well with great confide than someone who shoots a .300 WM or a Lapua or .28 Nosler like crap. Check out Randy Newberg if you haven't already. Most down to earth guy you'll see on tv. Shoots a .308 for everything. Check him out 👍
Aguy I once worked with asked me what I deer hunted with and when I told him a 243 winchester he told me that a 243 was the nearest nothing round he had ever seen so I asked him what he hunted with and when he said the 6mm remington I had to bust out laughingthen he told me his buddy shot a bigbuck with the .243 and it humped up and ran off ,so I told him deer act that way when you gut shoot them .lol
Moose are not hard to kill. Most of the time, when you shoot them, they don't even flinch but simply walk away and fall over. I agree, I would not call it a moose gun, nor would I field it on a moose hunt.
I love my .243 win, I have taken a good number of large Red Deer Stags here in the UK upto 300lb+, I don't shoot much past 200yds and have never recovered a bullet, got a .308 win as well but 90% of the time take the .243, 100gn Game Kings, superb cartridge
I've taken hundreds of Springbok and Blesbuck in South Africa for over 2 decades...correct shot placement = one shot kills time after time. These animals are normally shot on grass plains over distances between 100 - 300 metres, no problem for the 243...just a great calibre.
When I got my wife a 243, I started hunting with one too, and so did my dad. We also got this caliber for the kids. With very low recoil, there is no flinch, and with premium loads, or handloads of 95-100 grain bullets at 3150, we regularly take deer out to 400 yards, mostly dropped in their tracks. Once and a while, they will go 30 yards. This year my teenage son took a doe at 90 yards opening weekend, then a buck larger than I ever took in the 150 class at 296 yards after stalking in from 600 yards. If can get steady, and put that bullet in the double lung area broadside, you will have a great time taking deer from 25 yards to 400. I wouldn’t push this caliber past 400 even though some recommendations say 800 ft-lbs is all you need. Beyond 400 yards, the animal can do a lot of movement before the bullet gets there. (I made the poor decision of taking a deer at 600 yards when I was a teen with a 270 win, and can say from experience the time delay to impact means a lot of movement can happen with a perfectly placed shot).
I served as a sniper in Canada and New Zealand and have shot lots of 50 cal and 338 lap. Im not recoil shy but 243 has become my favourite hunting caliber. I used one in South Africa and Namibia shot 11 animals including warthog and large gemsbok. I love it so much using it here in New Zealand and bought one for my Dad a savage 111 in a Boyds stock back in Canada. He has now put the old 300win mag away and just hunts pronghorn white tail and mule deer with it. Like me he was like why didn't I shoot 243 before. Wouldn't take it after bear but with the right bullet and shot placement id take elk moose and have taken reds here in NZ no problem. Im running a 700 action with a shilen match barrel and its a deadly killer.
Neil vogt...hi...I'm wondering if you have any hunting loads you can share.i have a 1970 husqvarna varmit/target in.243.ive tried 100 gr. Factory ammo but could not get her to group that well. Done some research and found many hunt with the 90 gr. Speer hot core bullets.any help would be much appreciated!!
Speaking of snipers, the .243 was used by LAPD SWAT teams for urban sniping roles during their early years, I always wondered what grain bullet they used for that.
As a result of happenstance I have taken the largest Antelope, Whitetail, Mule Deer, Elk and Moose of my 53 years of hunting the plains, foothills and mountains of Alberta with my 243. I don't mean to say it was my first choice, especially for the bigger game...but it did the job. And none of them was alive when they hit the ground. And it will drive nails at 500 meters.
I took over the 243 I bought my wife years ago and never lost a deer. It has performed way better than .270 on the 260 for me. 90 percent have dropped in their tracks from 25 yards to 400 yards using 95-100 grain soft point, fusion bonded, or ballistic tips. Those that didn’t drop in their tracks only went 30 yards. My whole family uses it after seeing the success 23 years ago which makes it easy to keep ammo organized between us. We have also have used it in thick brush by shooting in the small windows.
I just bought a Ruger American Predator a couple of days ago in .243. As soon as I get to the store and buy some ammo, targets will be perforated. Fantastic videos GunBlue490.A lot of people on here should look at your videos, just to see how it's done.
"That's all I have to say about the 6mm cartridge". Wow that is 90x more than the average person. Great video, thanks for the calm, non-bias information.
Great video , I have taken many deer with the 100gr Nosler Partition up too 300 yds , .243 has never failed me . I do hunt alot with the 300 win mag but always come back to this great round .
A fellow I worked with just praised his .243 Winchester Remington 700. He liked the Remington 100 grain Core-Lokt cartridge. I liked the Browning A-bolt in 30-06. I convinced him to start reloading since he retired. Just before the COVID plague, Wal-mart put the Core-Lokt on sale for $10.77 per box of twenty. I was able to convince him to buy 200 rounds to start and then he would have plenty of brass when they were expended. I suppose he has had a comfortable time shooting since the ammo shortage as a result of his action. This week, I will pick up my gunbroker Winchester Model 70 in .243. Bullets, dies, primers, and powder are already on the bench. Life is good!
I have a 243 Browning semi-auto I bought at a Walgreens Drug Store in Texas in 1973, but my only complaint is that it is as loud as a cannon and seems louder than any hi-powered rifle I have ever shot 😉☝️
My Browning .243 is my go to firearm. Forget deer and varmit, I use it for moose. It's a light rifle which I can carry all day with ease. The rifle does not make a good hunter. A good hunter uses his/her greatest avail. However, I do like my 30.06
Another great video. Thanks. A few weeks ago I took my Cooper .243 on a deer hunt using Hornady Superperformance 95 grain ammo. I shot a deer at 225 yards through the shoulder, heart and lungs. He still ran about 80 yards before dropping. The shoulder was shattered and the bullet was found under the hide on the opposite side. Huge damage. I've since seen videos that show that a higher hit, about halfway up, will drop the deer where he stands. Also, at the range I found that the 95 grain Superperfomance was printing at a little over one inch. I tried the American Whitetail ammo at 100 grain and got 4 3 shot groups averaging .7 inches. And its cheaper too. You're right. The .243 is a great deer rifle and I'm sure I can use it for long range varmints with 58 grain ammo too.
I enjoy your analysis on different cartridges. Would love to here your thoughts on bullet weight and barrel twist rates. Partially on the 22-250. Thanks.
I wondered into a pawn shop this afternoon and found a Winchester model 70 XTR featherweight 243 for $325. I checked the serial number and it was manufactured in 1978. Bore is in great shape. Needs to be re blues and the stock needs to be refinished. Came with a set of Leupold 1 inch rings. I think it’ll make a fine hunting rifle for my wife. 😉
I have not given the .243 a chance at deer yet. I have shot quite a few coyotes with it. Coyotes only go straight down when they get hit. I shot the 75 grain at 200 yards at a 1/4" plate of steel. It went through that and a 2x4 behind it. That is great energy at that distance. With a good shot you can use a legal .22 diameter. The knowledge you share and know is amazing! Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
A family member that passed away use to load me some special rounds with a 120 grain bullet from the 6mm.. worked very well for the under 200 yard hunting I did with it.
I bought my son that exact rifle for deer hunting. Great gun and he shoots it well. I have always been a fan of Rugers. I once read a quote from Bill Ruger where he said " I want to build a quality rifle for the working man that will last him a lifetime for less than a weeks pay." I'd say that's what he did. I enjoy your videos, keep up the good work!
Georgiaboy44 I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Ruger back in 1984, when I attended his factory Armorer's School, a few miles away at the plant in Newport, NH. I can say honestly, that his employees were just as skillfully and happily dedicated to that philosophy that you mentioned. It was a wonderful experience to be with them for the week, and to see what they do to make it work as he intended.
I had a sako.243 in the 70’s purchased from Garcia sports. What a rifle. The .243 cartridge is fantastic. I wondered why the government wanted the .22 instead of the .243. There’s a huge difference in performance and not much more weight Thoughts?
The case of the 243 is based on the 308. Weight is only one issue, the greatest being individual carry and magazine capacity. One can carry three times more ammo than the 243, and magazines are far smaller and compact. Extensive testing during the 60s proved the battle capability of the 223, which also raised the level of marksmanship and individual fighting effectiveness threefold due to greatly reduced recoil. Take time to watch the videos I did on the history of the M-16, which details that period.
I love the .243 Winchester. I have a Remington 700 BDL in .243 and even with the plastic buttplate, the recoil is very mild. It's so comfortable to shoot and I think that really helps a shooter be more accurate since it's easier to control flinch.
That is my issue, saw a seasoned hunter 'pull at shot' I suspect b/c he knew the recoil of the 270, which I admit is not 'horrible' but pull it he did. Also shot 3 or more deer this season but not find a one. I think not worrying about the 'bang' of a 243 will be an asset.
It was maybe 1962 or 1963 at one of my Dad's cattle partner's ranch outside of Miles City, Montana, he showed us this new beautiful new Model 70 he was quite proud of in this "new" caliber, .243 Winchester. He, we, dusted a lot of prairie dogs with it that afternoon. I got to shoot it too and was surprised that it had no kick to speak of for all that boom. It was also the first gun I'd ever shot with a scope mounted on it. I do not know what grain bullets he was using, just standard Winchester/Western Super X in the yellow box. I remember them making a big deal out of how flat shooting this new gun was, the perfect prairie dog gun. Those dogs would do complete back flips when hit with it and were pretty much in pieces. It kicked less than my Model '94 .32 Winchester Special (170gr.), my only "big gun".
I recently started working on an AR10 chambered in .243 Win. The idea behind the project is to have an effective, accurate hunting rifle that can double as a dedicated marksman rifle/semi auto sniper system in the event a need arises.
Thanks much just starting out loading .243, looks like it going to be a lot of fun Can't tell you how much I learn from you, your the best,!!!! I loaded mostly pistol for 30 years just getting into rifle
My first rifle was a Savage chambered in 243. It killed many deer while I had it. Like many I got caught up in the bigger is better and the 243 isn't big enough so I sold it. Now many years later I own another one and enjoy it more now than I did then.
Jan loves her 243 & so do I when the wolves come around & I cant afford to miss. 85 grain Sierra blitz drops em like thunder struck out to 600 yds. Jan blows ducks heads off @ 200. Loves her duck dinners!!
I handload Hornady 100 grain interlock bullets and they do very well. I only shot 3 deer w it but they all fell where they stood. They didn’t take a single step.
Thanks blue! Just inherited a Remington game master 760, chambered in .243. Im seriously considering using it for white tail deer. The .243 is the forgotten cartridge among people my age. Everyone's all gung ho about the .270 and the 7mm magnum in Pennsylvania where im from, but I don't personally think a 7mm mag is necessary for white tail deer. We don't have moose or elk here so I think the .243 will serve me just fine.
760 is a very good gun. Mine in 30-06 will routinely shoot as well as my bolt 30-06 rifles. The two recommendations I can make are to never use the see thru rings (consistent cheek weld is essential) and to consider adding the timney trigger kit for the Remington trigger group. Best of luck this deer season
My very first rifle was a Rem ADL in 6mm bought around 1983,think I paid 320.00 for it with my dads help on funds and caliber selection,and now many years later I can say after hundreds of ground hogs,and at least a couple deer each year,it has always did its job,very nice choose.I've shot the 270 a lot,also the 7mm Rwminton Mag a lot but for the pure sake of shooting the 6mm was hard to beat.
I loved my 243 . It was a great "do it all " cartridge . My only criticism of it was was that it was hard on brass when reloading . I found that it would stretch cases and I was only able to get 2 or 3 reliable reloads from each case. I used to chase the highest muzzle velocity for each bullet weight while maintaining MOA accuracy or better out of my Sako sportster.
To give you an example of the accuracy of a Remington 700 243. There is an Australian guy that has a UA-cam channel that is a long-distance shooter and he shoots 95 grain 243 bullets from anywhere from a mile all the way out to two miles.
This guy has a straight up Boston accent! Hilarious. He sounds [and dresses] like an old Boston cabbie friend of mine. Priceless. I guess you had to be there! Down by the banks of the River Charles. I love that dirty water, O Boston, you're my home!
Great video, here in my Country when I was young, for many years the 243 was the most popular cal, now it's the 223 Rem. The rifle to have here in the old days, was the Sako L579 in 243, to find one in 308 Win, is just about impossible. 243's yes, you will find one, but in the last 20 years it's changed to the 308 Win, as the new heavy cal, than what the 243 was before in the 60's
@@rickeycooley9139 it sure is. I’ve never had any run from it. They just drop. It shoots so flat. I’ve even had deer run from my 7 mag. But never from the 260. And no recoil. Just a great fun gun to shoot .
dbelex if you hand load would you mind sharing load info? I have a 243 that is very accurate with light bullets but 100g seems to give me 1-1/2” groups. Thanks
Just got my sub. Been shooting the 243 since 01 when I was 9. Great cartridge for hunting, competition, or varminting. Once thing you didn't mention was the 6mm Remington was introduced the same year and though it could achieve higher velocities than the 243, rifles originally had a 1-12" twist and could not stabilize big game bullets.
Dear Sir, There must be a lot of winter weather in New Hampshire because your brilliant videos are coming in faster then Santa's reindeer. I recently purchased a Sako Forrester .243 which I believe you shot a Sako as a youth. I am restoring this wonderful firearm and I am excited as the process gets nearer to completion so I can experience the beauty and function of this classic rifle. Thank you again for your continued video education series that gives me such an abundance of foundation knowledge on the greater history of firearms, calibers, and weapon theory. I know it is just the tip of the iceberg, but your have been an invaluable resource and mentor. Merry Christmas to you and your family Sincerely, Captain Rodrick L Mansberger Merry Christmas to you Benny
I absolutely disagree. The 243 biggest competition was the 6mm Remington which actually beat the 243 ballistically. Due to marketing and Remingtons rate of twist .Remington couldn't stabalize heavier bullets Winchester beat it out. I also think that calling it 6mm didn't help it any. Btw very very informative video
My old 243s has been getting the job done for a long time. I always go for the Adam's apple when deer hunting to save me from having to track them down and makes cutting off the head a snap.
Have you ever tried the 25-06, a lot of people in Ireland like this round. Would this not be similar to the 257 Roberts. 22 hornet, 22-250,243, 25-06,270 and 308 are really all you need. These would be by far the most popular chambers. 6.5x184, a wildcat of the 6.5x55 is used for f-class target shooting and is unbeatable. However my personal favourites are 22 hornet and 243. These cover all my rifle needs with comfort, accuracy and effectiveness.
lusmaghkla I have used the 25-06 quite a bit, and it was very accurate. I prefer the 257 Roberts for sentimental reasons, but mostly because it is even more accurate with all bullet weights, comes within 100 feet per second (with proper handloads) of the 25-06 with a shorter barrel, uses 20 percent less powder, and has significantly less recoil and muzzle blast, even in a lighter gun. All those calibers you mentioned are fine shooters, but there is no reason to restrict ourselves to the notion that we only need certain calibers. I have used all the ones you spoke of and more, and I have yet to find one that I couldn't find some good use for. A cartridge is simply a powder charge behind a bullet, and nothing more.
My favorite hunting rifle is my Mannlicher-Schönauer 1954 in .243. It is easy on the shoulder and with a well-placed shot will take anything I’ll ever see in the woods (New England). I just love .243. The only thing I might switch to would be a Mannlicher in 6.5MS. But I don't have that kind of money these days a guy can dream though.
Hello another. 243 fan from new Zealand it's very popular down here for our large red dear. Most hunters I no tend to use norma 100 grain amo , really pack's a punch kills well.
GREAT VIDEO MY .270 Winchester is my go to.........like the .257 Roberts is yours. The .270 is fine for deer and varmints in the hills and hollars of Tennessee.
243 win and 7mm08 are my fav mid range deer rigs. They can kill any deer in north america out to reasonable distance. Ive killed more deer with the 243 with one shot kills now they make barnes ttsx than any othe cal. But our deer hardly ever bust 200 pounds on the hoof. But Ive not lost anything deer or hogs. Its a perfect size cal for game under 300 pounds. I feel. As long as you dont over extend its range.
Just bought a Ruger compact for my girlfriend today with a Burris 3x9x50 Burris scope hoping for it to be a tack driver for her for whitetail and hogs.I think it will be a confidence builder and be able to deliver great shot placement with the lighter recoil
I have a old Winchester 70 in .243 it was my 1st rifle and will probably always have it shoots pretty amazing even with factory ammo plus it's usually the only .243 in any group I'm with so always makes for conversation
The most successful, ethical deer hunter I have known well in north central Oklahoma has always used 243 Winchester. He always knows where to put those 6mm bullets to humanly take game animals.
I noticed the particular gun being used as example is sweet. I love my ruger modle 77,s and my ruger Americans. very sweet reliable guns.243 is a awesome caliber though I use to have a different atitude. I had a model 99 savage lever action mega years ago that I shot a doe three times and then she dropped. so for years I though not good enough. all due to I didn't know at the time the difference in ammo grains weight. wish I didn't get rid of that gun. stupid me. I now know the difference. I myself use my ruger in 308 but my better half ( my wife ) uses and love to shoot the ruger American in 243 with 100 grain federal powers hock ammo. very little recoil and knocks them down no tracking. and now playing with reloading use in the 100 grain nozzler. works well
My 243 has dropped 40-50 deer since 1968. Rem. 700 87. Gr. Hornady. Hand loaded. 2015 took 15 groundhogs up 200 yds. And have taken numerous coyotes and groundhogs over the years. I shot 18 by 18" steel at 400 meters two shots, both dead center. I've never had to track a wounded deer mostly because I'm an archer and a pick a hair to shoot at. Broken necks, one broken back, and a lot of heart shots. One buck at 60 yds. broke his neck head on. He was estimated at 250-275#. Have lots of witnesses to what a 243 can accomplish.
Generally speaking, the .243 twist was intended for bullets of up to 100 grains. However, stability is a length issue, not a weight issue. So, a heavier bullet can certainly stabilize if the length does not exceed a standard 100 grain factory bullet. Rounded ogive profiles and flat bases are the means to this end.
One of the best utility carbine/truck guns ever made was the Rem 788 in 243 Win. It was made to be used and scuffed up a bit.
I recently purchased a Remington model 700 243. I love the accuracy. The fact that there's almost zero recoil is an added bonus. Great cartridge.
Accuracy is paramount with hunting. If one has a fear/anticipation of the recoil, they are going to flinch just before the boom. When teaching, I bring out my 1022, 5.56 bolt, 243 and my 270. I start small and work larger. At the end of the session most shooters prefer the 5.56 or the 243. I'm 73 and I prefer the 243.
The 243 Winchester round is the most versatile rifle ever made. I will give you examples. You can go from a 4000 ft per second 50 grain bullet all the way to 100 grain bullet still traveling at 2800 ft per second. If really want knock down power for a deer where it's going to look like a Mack truck hit it. The 85 grain solid copper hollow point is the ultimate bullet for the 243 when hunting midsize to large game animals. Yes it will literally drop a 14 point buck dead in his tracks, and yes I speak from experience.
Thomas that 85 GR bullet you mentioned, Who makes it , May I ask.?
MyREDTAIL the “ bullet “ he’s speaking of is manufactured by Barnes ( it’s a TTSX / TSX ) solid copper , hollow point , and its loaded by Barnes as well as other manufacturers. It isn’t cheap to buy , but it IS premium top notch ammunition, and hold nearly 100% weight retention. Yes , it performs every bit of what he’s describing here . Traveling at around 3,400 fps it packs a walloping punch
Donald Vadasy we use the TTSX for great effect in 308 and 270wby. It’s a thumper of a bullet.
Marky
John1911 Gun Blog I had an opportunity to purchase 9 boxes of Corbon DPX solid copper for my .280 Remington loaded with 140 grain . Corbon doesn’t offer the loads anymore ( of any sort ) for the .280 Remington. It’s a blessing of a round, essentially the same as the TTSX . I love it
Donald Vadasy nope trophy copper tip from federal
What a great guy ,love the channel , the walk ons, the turning around with a cup of joe and saying welcome back ,what a great channel its Americans like this guy the makes it one of my favorite country's to visit .
I have been a gun/shooting person all my life and I must agree with this video. The 243 can do most of what a shooter needs from a rifle.
This guy is my brother from another mother! Love you man. Thanks for your exceptional videos. I like the .243. I have shot it for 45 years and hit everything I aimed at and dropped so many deer it’s hard to count. Bunches of woodchucks. Many yotes. Magpies. Pigeons. Prairie dogs. And more targets than anything. I like the 257 Roberts but never got into it since I’ve had such great luck with the 243. I have ONE load for 100 gr Nosler and ONE load for 75gr varmint bullet. 40 yrs of always knowing where that shot is going downrange. Just bought my wife a nice little Mossberg Patriot Bantam too. This way we can shoot same round. No need to bring multiple ammo types and I’m good at loading the 243. Cheers man.
Mom and Dad gave me a 600 Mohawk in .243. That little Carbine shoots .5 moa with 4831 SC, once fired Federal brass and 95 gr Nosler Ballistic tip. A good front shoulder shot on a big mulie, followed by a lung shot leaves me not looking far to recover my deer. Best Christmas gift ever.
I tease one of my friends, who is a life long mule deer hunter and his caliber of choice is the .243 winchester. He's 6'3" and has carried the .243 for over 40 years and has taken more 30"+ mulies than any man I've ever seen or read about.
I have used the 243 to bag more whitetail deer and ground hogs than I can remember,it is a great cartridge and I love it.
Steven DeAtley
Bought my first .243 three weeks ago.
I’ve enjoyed it immensely so far.
Great rifle, accurate as heck, and good shooting manners.
Great for squirrels and rabbits too.
Some of the best conversations take place here. I love what you do for us. Thank you as always.
The only bad thing about a 243 is bullet holes keep finding bullet holes in your target so it’s kinda hard to tell just how accurate you really are when you always just are enlarging or going almost through the same exact hole because it is so accurate because it just absolutely does not hurt to shoot and it’s just so dependable
I wish I had your problem. I wish my shots all went through the same hole.
My Ruger American in 243 shoots 3/8" 3 shot groups. I appreciated your comment on the 243's ability to shoot 3/8" groups and that my groups aren't a fluke.
Warren Page did for the .243 what Jack O'Connor did for the .270
Jack also highly recommended the .243 in one of his books.
What Dirty Harry did for the .44mag.
I was in Australia for an extended period of time. The Winchester 243 was my primary rifle and absolutely enjoyed the heck out of it. Mainly, the versatility with the available game in that country it simply was awesome and an absolute joy.
Knowing the trend in the US toward new and better, if we renamed the 243 to 6mmO8, given its performance, we wouldn't be able to find ammo on shelves. Great video about a great cartridge. Hope you had a great Christmas, too.
There’s a bright future for you in marketing!
Ha Ha good one. Think up a sexy name for it and the young guys will eat it up!🇨🇦🤠
I’m not sure I concede your point. 243 is one of the top selling cartridges. As gunblue said, it’s probably the most successful non military cartridge. However it does have it’s limitations as a hunting cartridge.
Me and my mates refer to it as the 6mm Creed-less! I love my .243W, perfect cartridge for Australia
Hello and thank you for doing this pod cast regarding the .243 win back in 2016 of all things . I recently commented to you about this round. I think I have my questions answered and it is great you were the one to do it. I appreciate your show. Thank you again, Tom
I really enjoy you videos. I’ve been hunting for 50 years. I appreciate you discouraging the unethical behavior going on with all these 500 - 900 yard shots. Some ego shooters are turning the hunting of a deer into a target match with no regard for the creature. We should always be more mindful of what puts the deer down fast than how far we can hit a deer.
@@tun0fun The problems are that 1) most people can't make those shots in the field (while they might be able to make them on the pristine target range) and 2) animals have a tendency to move more than paper or steel, and a time of flight approaching 1.5, 2, or more seconds is plenty of time for an ethical kill to turn into a horrific non-lethal wound because an animal lifted its head or turned its neck, and 3) many shooters are taking target bullets into the field, instead of properly constructed hunting bullets (such as Nosler partition), which further degrades lethality especially at long range.
@@tun0fun Good luck with a prone shooting position on a mat with your bipod in the field. Maybe at some private ranch with pet animals that have no predators and have been pumped up with high-protein diet. Children aren't shooting 300PRC or 338LM, and not many are humping 338LM out for a hunt. 1500ftlb is about the minimum for ethical deer killing. "Several inches" of penetration is great for chipmunks and rabbits, when you step up to pronghorn, elk, and heartier animals, target bullets create a mess.
@@tun0fun Man, you need to get out on a backwoods spot & stalk sometime. Tripod? C'mon. That's not hunting. I'm entirely confident of making those hits, I've shot PRS and other long range comp for years. No, you don't want a mess. A mess means spoiled meat, blood clots, bone fragments, metal fragments, hair and grizzle everywhere. The idea is to bring home as much meat as possible, including the heart. Look I'm not going to convince you, but the old timers knew it and someday, the newer generation will "re-discover it."
After a bullet has gone over 400 yards it will slow down so much that it won't do what it was intended, might not mushroom and put enough energy into the animal and it would limp away 10 miles and you probably wouldn't find it
A 6.5 creedmore bullet only has 180 lbs of energy left at 1000 yards, that's not going to work. If you want to long range hunt get a 300 wm, 7 mm mag or a 338 maybe
Love your channel as i believe its the most sensible shooting/rifle/reloading advice on the internet. Ive a lot of rifles i load of all diff cals ex mil & hunting up to 300/45-70 yet my 1971 243 is my fav rifle to take out for the day
243 is great. i have hunted with it and it is accurate and i have not had a problem killing anything i have shot.
The 243 was so good it made three cartridges obsolete: 250 Savage, 257 Roberts and the 244 Remington {although the latter was Remington's fault}.
also the 6mm rem
This is a fabulous rundown on an exceptional cartridge. Prior to the 6.5 Creedmoor, this was and easily is the most popular Texas deer hunting cartridge along with the 270 Winchester. And I believe these two rounds will hold their traction long after the 6.5 Creedmoor leaves it's mark.
My father gave me his Sako .243 and it's been in a closet for years. Not until lately I've taken it out and cleaned it obsessively. Thank you for this video.
I have the Forrester it a tack driver barrels r made machine gun barrel steel great gun
.243 has been an excellent white tail choice in my area. I’ve never had to track a deer that I’ve taken with it. Accurate, mild recoil.
thanks for the video
Yep. I love the 243. That was my first hunting rifle in a Winchester model 88..
One day I want to get a ar10 with a 243 barrel.
My favorite cartridge for over 40 years.
I love your walk-up intro. It sort of reminds me of the old "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" series that aired between 1955 and 65. Your delivery, both deliberate and serious, is refreshing. Some people today try a little too much sensationalism in their introductions. That's just my two cents worth. Keep up the good work, sir.
This is the only caliber I use for deer hunting, I always place my shot high up on the neck and they drop in there tracks giving a quick and humane kill with no meat waste. I live in Northern Minnesota.
@Lightning Strike another fellow neck shooter with 243 here. Humane kill, no meat waste and not bloody.
Just like 270, 3006, & 30-30 you can buy cartridges most anywhere & plain old 100gr. Corelocks shoot well in any if them for cheap - 243 Win. Is a great round - Great Review & Information on this fine caliper!
I took my first little bull elk with my Grandpas .243 Savage. That was 32 years and dozens of full freezers with the same rifle.
Great vid. A savage .243 was my first deer rifle. I sold it 'cause it was for kids. Years later I bought a .243 Ruger stainless boat-paddle, sold it for who knows why. Then more years later, bought my 3rd .243 (blue ruger 77). Other than 22lr's, the 243 is the only other round I've bought, sold and re-bought rifles in that many times on purpose, not just 'cause they were a deal, but 'cause it is a great multi-purpose round. I'll always have one on hand. Like others state, I also go "light" with a 85gr bullet for all uses in this caliber. Deer to miniwolves. Doesn't always exit on deer, depending on distance, but they drop like gravity multiplied, and they're insides are literally soup.
Perfect summary of the 243.
I bought a Ruger American .243 for my wife to use on our property in Northern Michigan. Guess who uses it? Me. I dropped a very large 8 point with the first shot fired while hunting. I was astonished when I realized that it had not moved even one foot from where it stood. In other words, it literally dropped in it's tracks. I use 100gr Remington Core-Lokt and it will hit a bottle cap at 140 yards (our range) 3 times out of 5. An amazing round. I do prefer my .270 but grabbed the .243 on a whim one day, and must say I was not disappointed. Anyone claiming it's under powered would probably have trouble with a .458 Win Mag. Gut shots don't work.
Great deal. I've been known to borrow my wife's, too.
@@GunBlue490 I started hunting with a .243. I bought a .30-06. I want a .243 now.
GunBlue490 I researched the 243 Winchester for a long time, and everything I read matches what you said in your video. So picked up a Remington 770 in 243 with a 22 inch barrel, bough some Remington Core Lokt's 100 SP, put a dap of oil on the bolt, took it to the range right out the box the groups were the size of a quarter. Even my hand loads using the 100 gr Core Lokt's and the Sierra 100 GR SBT grouped as tight as the Factory Loads. The 243 Winchester was made the same year I was 1955.
My first centerfire rifle was a .243 770 that I got when I was 14. I'm 20 now and still have the rifle and for the cost it is a great gun. I've dropped every white tail that has came my way and pulled off some good 500= yard shots with the factory scope. Sadly haven't even looked at her in years...use to hang on my wall too
Well Pike as you and I both have found out the .243 is a great cartridge. Hunting many different size game and ive read where some guys are using the .243 in competition, and wining.
@pike - how far did they run after a 500 yd shot
Me too.......1955
Got the same gun upgraded the scope and put a bipod on it and a sling it's a good setup for under 350 I use Winchester white box 80s for ground hogs and Winchester 95 grain xps drops them fine
Based on GunBlue's assessment and the comments below I recently purchased a Ruger American .243 with the desert cerakote finish. I live on 77 acres in rural Tennessee and wanted a rifle that would be good for both deer and coyotes. Based on what I've read here, the win .243 is a good choice. I've been shooting targets with 95gr Win ballistic silver tips with good results.
TheBanjoFlyBoy Welcome to the 6mm club! From France, Philippe. 😎🇫🇷😇
The typical southern whitetail buck would do well to weigh 125 lbs on the hoof , most will not even touch that . A .243 with a bullet of 80 grains or more that isn't a poly tipped bullet will work very well. I typically load my own .243 Win with either 85 gr Sierra' s or 87 grain Hornady . Just be very careful not to get the varmint rounds in these bullet weights .
A Southern Buck cannot stand either pill in there internal works .
Just a follow up on deer hunting results with my Ruger .243. Bagged an eight point buck on opening day followed by a nine point buck a week later. Having shot my limit of bucks, I added a nice doe before the season ended. Very pleased with 3 deer in the freezer provided by my .243!
I continue to be pleased with the .243! Dropped a nice ten point in his tracks early this season. Most of the deer I've shot have dropped in their tracks. Excellent round for deer.
243 is great! I've taken 18 whitetail bucks with it. People say it has no power is complete bull shit. I wouldn't even think twice about using it on a moose or elk.
TwisTing ThroTTles it's all shot placement and bullet selection for the most part. I'd rather elk hunt with someone who shoots a .243, .270, 25-06, etc. very well with great confide than someone who shoots a .300 WM or a Lapua or .28 Nosler like crap. Check out Randy Newberg if you haven't already. Most down to earth guy you'll see on tv. Shoots a .308 for everything. Check him out 👍
Agreed, have taken over ten fallow stags with a 243. 87 grain noslers , all one shot.
Aguy I once worked with asked me what I deer hunted with and when I told him a 243 winchester he told me that a 243 was the nearest nothing round he had ever seen so I asked him what he hunted with and when he said the 6mm remington I had to bust out laughingthen he told me his buddy shot a bigbuck with the .243 and it humped up and ran off ,so I told him deer act that way when you gut shoot them .lol
Lol. It sure as hell isnt a moose gun.
Moose are not hard to kill. Most of the time, when you shoot them, they don't even flinch but simply walk away and fall over. I agree, I would not call it a moose gun, nor would I field it on a moose hunt.
I love my .243 win, I have taken a good number of large Red Deer Stags here in the UK upto 300lb+, I don't shoot much past 200yds and have never recovered a bullet, got a .308 win as well but 90% of the time take the .243, 100gn Game Kings, superb cartridge
Thanks for the overview of the 243 cartridge.
I've taken hundreds of Springbok and Blesbuck in South Africa for over 2 decades...correct shot placement = one shot kills time after time. These animals are normally shot on grass plains over distances between 100 - 300 metres, no problem for the 243...just a great calibre.
When I got my wife a 243, I started hunting with one too, and so did my dad. We also got this caliber for the kids. With very low recoil, there is no flinch, and with premium loads, or handloads of 95-100 grain bullets at 3150, we regularly take deer out to 400 yards, mostly dropped in their tracks. Once and a while, they will go 30 yards. This year my teenage son took a doe at 90 yards opening weekend, then a buck larger than I ever took in the 150 class at 296 yards after stalking in from 600 yards. If can get steady, and put that bullet in the double lung area broadside, you will have a great time taking deer from 25 yards to 400. I wouldn’t push this caliber past 400 even though some recommendations say 800 ft-lbs is all you need. Beyond 400 yards, the animal can do a lot of movement before the bullet gets there. (I made the poor decision of taking a deer at 600 yards when I was a teen with a 270 win, and can say from experience the time delay to impact means a lot of movement can happen with a perfectly placed shot).
I served as a sniper in Canada and New Zealand and have shot lots of 50 cal and 338 lap. Im not recoil shy but 243 has become my favourite hunting caliber. I used one in South Africa and Namibia shot 11 animals including warthog and large gemsbok. I love it so much using it here in New Zealand and bought one for my Dad a savage 111 in a Boyds stock back in Canada. He has now put the old 300win mag away and just hunts pronghorn white tail and mule deer with it. Like me he was like why didn't I shoot 243 before. Wouldn't take it after bear but with the right bullet and shot placement id take elk moose and have taken reds here in NZ no problem. Im running a 700 action with a shilen match barrel and its a deadly killer.
Neil vogt...hi...I'm wondering if you have any hunting loads you can share.i have a 1970 husqvarna varmit/target in.243.ive tried 100 gr. Factory ammo but could not get her to group that well. Done some research and found many hunt with the 90 gr. Speer hot core bullets.any help would be much appreciated!!
Speaking of snipers, the .243 was used by LAPD SWAT teams for urban sniping roles during their early years, I always wondered what grain bullet they used for that.
As a result of happenstance I have taken the largest Antelope, Whitetail, Mule Deer, Elk and Moose of my 53 years of hunting the plains, foothills and mountains of Alberta with my 243. I don't mean to say it was my first choice, especially for the bigger game...but it did the job. And none of them was alive when they hit the ground. And it will drive nails at 500 meters.
I took over the 243 I bought my wife years ago and never lost a deer. It has performed way better than .270 on the 260 for me. 90 percent have dropped in their tracks from 25 yards to 400 yards using 95-100 grain soft point, fusion bonded, or ballistic tips. Those that didn’t drop in their tracks only went 30 yards. My whole family uses it after seeing the success 23 years ago which makes it easy to keep ammo organized between us. We have also have used it in thick brush by shooting in the small windows.
I just bought a Ruger American Predator a couple of days ago in .243. As soon as I get to the store and buy some ammo, targets will be perforated. Fantastic videos GunBlue490.A lot of people on here should look at your videos, just to see how it's done.
"That's all I have to say about the 6mm cartridge". Wow that is 90x more than the average person. Great video, thanks for the calm, non-bias information.
Great video , I have taken many deer with the 100gr Nosler Partition up too 300 yds , .243 has never failed me . I do hunt alot with the 300 win mag but always come back to this great round .
A fellow I worked with just praised his .243 Winchester Remington 700. He liked the Remington 100 grain Core-Lokt cartridge. I liked the Browning A-bolt in 30-06. I convinced him to start reloading since he retired. Just before the COVID plague, Wal-mart put the Core-Lokt on sale for $10.77 per box of twenty. I was able to convince him to buy 200 rounds to start and then he would have plenty of brass when they were expended. I suppose he has had a comfortable time shooting since the ammo shortage as a result of his action. This week, I will pick up my gunbroker Winchester Model 70 in .243. Bullets, dies, primers, and powder are already on the bench. Life is good!
Another very informative video on a great round.
Swift makes a 90 grain A-Frame bullet in .243 (6mm). Inside 100 yards, I think Deer becomes Venison in fairly short order.
.243 Winchester, the most popular caliber in Australia.
ColdWarWarriors In the UK too.
I have a 243 Browning semi-auto I bought at a Walgreens Drug Store in Texas in 1973, but my only complaint is that it is as loud as a cannon and seems louder than any hi-powered rifle I have ever shot 😉☝️
Jim Hamilton you’re right ... I always noticed a very sharp snapping/ cracking POP with the .243/6mm bore.
I'm aussie an my first gun was a 243 an i love it to bits
ARTO540 aren’t guns banned?
My Browning .243 is my go to firearm. Forget deer and varmit, I use it for moose. It's a light rifle which I can carry all day with ease. The rifle does not make a good hunter. A good hunter uses his/her greatest avail. However, I do like my 30.06
Another great video. Thanks. A few weeks ago I took my Cooper .243 on a deer hunt using Hornady Superperformance 95 grain ammo. I shot a deer at 225 yards through the shoulder, heart and lungs. He still ran about 80 yards before dropping. The shoulder was shattered and the bullet was found under the hide on the opposite side. Huge damage. I've since seen videos that show that a higher hit, about halfway up, will drop the deer where he stands. Also, at the range I found that the 95 grain Superperfomance was printing at a little over one inch. I tried the American Whitetail ammo at 100 grain and got 4 3 shot groups averaging .7 inches. And its cheaper too. You're right. The .243 is a great deer rifle and I'm sure I can use it for long range varmints with 58 grain ammo too.
Great video! If this isn't the best review on the 243 on youtube, I have yet to see it!
I enjoy your analysis on different cartridges. Would love to here your thoughts on bullet weight and barrel twist rates. Partially on the 22-250. Thanks.
I wondered into a pawn shop this afternoon and found a Winchester model 70 XTR featherweight 243 for $325. I checked the serial number and it was manufactured in 1978. Bore is in great shape. Needs to be re blues and the stock needs to be refinished. Came with a set of Leupold 1 inch rings. I think it’ll make a fine hunting rifle for my wife. 😉
BigRedPower59 lucky find!
I have not given the .243 a chance at deer yet. I have shot quite a few coyotes with it. Coyotes only go straight down when they get hit. I shot the 75 grain at 200 yards at a 1/4" plate of steel. It went through that and a 2x4 behind it. That is great energy at that distance. With a good shot you can use a legal .22 diameter. The knowledge you share and know is amazing! Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
A family member that passed away use to load me some special rounds with a 120 grain bullet from the 6mm.. worked very well for the under 200 yard hunting I did with it.
I bought my son that exact rifle for deer hunting. Great gun and he shoots it well. I have always been a fan of Rugers. I once read a quote from Bill Ruger where he said " I want to build a quality rifle for the working man that will last him a lifetime for less than a weeks pay." I'd say that's what he did. I enjoy your videos, keep up the good work!
Georgiaboy44
I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Ruger back in 1984, when I attended his factory Armorer's School, a few miles away at the plant in Newport, NH. I can say honestly, that his employees were just as skillfully and happily dedicated to that philosophy that you mentioned. It was a wonderful experience to be with them for the week, and to see what they do to make it work as he intended.
I had a sako.243 in the 70’s purchased from Garcia sports. What a rifle.
The .243 cartridge is fantastic. I wondered why the government wanted the .22 instead of the .243.
There’s a huge difference in performance and not much more weight
Thoughts?
The case of the 243 is based on the 308. Weight is only one issue, the greatest being individual carry and magazine capacity. One can carry three times more ammo than the 243, and magazines are far smaller and compact. Extensive testing during the 60s proved the battle capability of the 223, which also raised the level of marksmanship and individual fighting effectiveness threefold due to greatly reduced recoil. Take time to watch the videos I did on the history of the M-16, which details that period.
I love the .243 Winchester. I have a Remington 700 BDL in .243 and even with the plastic buttplate, the recoil is very mild. It's so comfortable to shoot and I think that really helps a shooter be more accurate since it's easier to control flinch.
That is my issue, saw a seasoned hunter 'pull at shot' I suspect b/c he knew the recoil of the 270, which I admit is not 'horrible' but pull it he did. Also shot 3 or more deer this season but not find a one. I think not worrying about the 'bang' of a 243 will be an asset.
It was maybe 1962 or 1963 at one of my Dad's cattle partner's ranch outside of Miles City, Montana, he showed us this new beautiful new Model 70 he was quite proud of in this "new" caliber, .243 Winchester. He, we, dusted a lot of prairie dogs with it that afternoon. I got to shoot it too and was surprised that it had no kick to speak of for all that boom. It was also the first gun I'd ever shot with a scope mounted on it. I do not know what grain bullets he was using, just standard Winchester/Western Super X in the yellow box. I remember them making a big deal out of how flat shooting this new gun was, the perfect prairie dog gun. Those dogs would do complete back flips when hit with it and were pretty much in pieces. It kicked less than my Model '94 .32 Winchester Special (170gr.), my only "big gun".
I recently started working on an AR10 chambered in .243 Win. The idea behind the project is to have an effective, accurate hunting rifle that can double as a dedicated marksman rifle/semi auto sniper system in the event a need arises.
Thanks much just starting out loading .243, looks like it going to be a lot of fun
Can't tell you how much I learn from you, your the best,!!!!
I loaded mostly pistol for 30 years just getting into rifle
Love the 243. Excellent round. See no reason for another caliber
My first rifle was a Savage chambered in 243. It killed many deer while I had it. Like many I got caught up in the bigger is better and the 243 isn't big enough so I sold it. Now many years later I own another one and enjoy it more now than I did then.
Jan loves her 243 & so do I when the wolves come around & I cant afford to miss. 85 grain Sierra blitz drops em like thunder struck out to 600 yds. Jan blows ducks heads off @ 200. Loves her duck dinners!!
Not legal to shoot ducks with a rifle in Alabama
I handload Hornady 100 grain interlock bullets and they do very well. I only shot 3 deer w it but they all fell where they stood. They didn’t take a single step.
Thanks blue! Just inherited a Remington game master 760, chambered in .243. Im seriously considering using it for white tail deer. The .243 is the forgotten cartridge among people my age. Everyone's all gung ho about the .270 and the 7mm magnum in Pennsylvania where im from, but I don't personally think a 7mm mag is necessary for white tail deer. We don't have moose or elk here so I think the .243 will serve me just fine.
760 is a very good gun. Mine in 30-06 will routinely shoot as well as my bolt 30-06 rifles. The two recommendations I can make are to never use the see thru rings (consistent cheek weld is essential) and to consider adding the timney trigger kit for the Remington trigger group. Best of luck this deer season
My very first rifle was a Rem ADL in 6mm bought around 1983,think I paid 320.00 for it with my dads help on funds and caliber selection,and now many years later I can say after hundreds of ground hogs,and at least a couple deer each year,it has always did its job,very nice choose.I've shot the 270 a lot,also the 7mm Rwminton Mag a lot but for the pure sake of shooting the 6mm was hard to beat.
usted es muy afortunado... a mi me castigaban con el 7.65 con cantonera metalica
Love the 243. My first deer rifle was a Winchester 88 in 243
I loved my 243 . It was a great "do it all " cartridge .
My only criticism of it was was that it was hard on brass when reloading . I found that it would stretch cases and I was only able to get 2 or 3 reliable reloads from each case. I used to chase the highest muzzle velocity for each bullet weight while maintaining MOA accuracy or better out of my Sako sportster.
To give you an example of the accuracy of a Remington 700 243. There is an Australian guy that has a UA-cam channel that is a long-distance shooter and he shoots 95 grain 243 bullets from anywhere from a mile all the way out to two miles.
This guy has a straight up Boston accent! Hilarious. He sounds [and dresses] like an old Boston cabbie friend of mine. Priceless. I guess you had to be there! Down by the banks of the River Charles. I love that dirty water, O Boston, you're my home!
Pretty much perfect for eastern woodland hunting from what I can tell.
Great video, here in my Country when I was young, for many years the 243 was the most popular cal, now it's the 223 Rem. The rifle to have here in the old days, was the Sako L579 in 243, to find one in 308 Win, is just about impossible. 243's yes, you will find one, but in the last 20 years it's changed to the 308 Win, as the new heavy cal, than what the 243 was before in the 60's
Great video. U should do one on the Remington 260. I hunt with it , I love it!!! But not many people know about it.
I hunt with a 260, it’s a real deer slayer. Good luck with it this coming season.
@@rickeycooley9139 it sure is. I’ve never had any run from it. They just drop. It shoots so flat. I’ve even had deer run from my 7 mag. But never from the 260. And no recoil. Just a great fun gun to shoot .
Have taken two 250+ lb.white tails in Maine with my .243, 100g. Nosler partition.
dbelex if you hand load would you mind sharing load info? I have a 243 that is very accurate with light bullets but 100g seems to give me 1-1/2” groups.
Thanks
Just got my sub. Been shooting the 243 since 01 when I was 9. Great cartridge for hunting, competition, or varminting. Once thing you didn't mention was the 6mm Remington was introduced the same year and though it could achieve higher velocities than the 243, rifles originally had a 1-12" twist and could not stabilize big game bullets.
I have a youth model Remington 700 ADL in 243. It's my favorite rifle. Small, light and effective.
These videos never get old.
The best non-military deer round going......and many other game too. Great vid
Dear Sir,
There must be a lot of winter weather in New Hampshire because your brilliant videos are coming in faster then Santa's reindeer.
I recently purchased a Sako Forrester .243 which I believe you shot a Sako as a youth.
I am restoring this wonderful firearm and I am excited as the process gets nearer to completion so I can experience the beauty and function of this classic rifle.
Thank you again for your continued video education series that gives me such an abundance of foundation knowledge on the greater history of firearms, calibers, and weapon theory.
I know it is just the tip of the iceberg, but your have been an invaluable resource and mentor.
Merry Christmas to you and your family
Sincerely,
Captain Rodrick L Mansberger
Merry Christmas to you Benny
I absolutely disagree. The 243 biggest competition was the 6mm Remington which actually beat the 243 ballistically. Due to marketing and Remingtons rate of twist .Remington couldn't stabalize heavier bullets Winchester beat it out. I also think that calling it 6mm didn't help it any. Btw very very informative video
Hovington Kirst not engineering but advertising
My old 243s has been getting the job done for a long time. I always go for the Adam's apple when deer hunting to save me from having to track them down and makes cutting off the head a snap.
Have you ever tried the 25-06, a lot of
people in Ireland like this round. Would
this not be similar to the 257 Roberts.
22 hornet, 22-250,243, 25-06,270 and
308 are really all you need. These would
be by far the most popular chambers.
6.5x184, a wildcat of the 6.5x55 is used
for f-class target shooting and is unbeatable.
However my personal favourites are 22 hornet
and 243. These cover all my rifle needs with
comfort, accuracy and effectiveness.
lusmaghkla
I have used the 25-06 quite a bit, and it was very accurate. I prefer the 257 Roberts for sentimental reasons, but mostly because it is even more accurate with all bullet weights, comes within 100 feet per second (with proper handloads) of the 25-06 with a shorter barrel, uses 20 percent less powder, and has significantly less recoil and muzzle blast, even in a lighter gun. All those calibers you mentioned are fine shooters, but there is no reason to restrict ourselves to the notion that we only need certain calibers. I have used all the ones you spoke of and more, and I have yet to find one that I couldn't find some good use for. A cartridge is simply a powder charge behind a bullet, and nothing more.
My favorite hunting rifle is my Mannlicher-Schönauer 1954 in .243. It is easy on the shoulder and with a well-placed shot will take anything I’ll ever see in the woods (New England). I just love .243. The only thing I might switch to would be a Mannlicher in 6.5MS. But I don't have that kind of money these days a guy can dream though.
I enjoy watching your videos and have learned a lot more about guns since I started watching them. Thank you!
Hello another. 243 fan from new Zealand it's very popular down here for our large red dear. Most hunters I no tend to use norma 100 grain amo , really pack's a punch kills well.
The Alfred Hitchcock entrance. Love it.
You're one of a small group who would have picked up on that.
@@GunBlue490 Yeah and we're gettin smaller by the day. Nice to know where we're goin, ey?
GREAT VIDEO MY .270 Winchester is my go to.........like the .257 Roberts is yours. The .270 is fine for deer and varmints in the hills and hollars of Tennessee.
243 win and 7mm08 are my fav mid range deer rigs. They can kill any deer in north america out to reasonable distance. Ive killed more deer with the 243 with one shot kills now they make barnes ttsx than any othe cal. But our deer hardly ever bust 200 pounds on the hoof. But Ive not lost anything deer or hogs. Its a perfect size cal for game under 300 pounds. I feel. As long as you dont over extend its range.
Just bought a Ruger compact for my girlfriend today with a Burris 3x9x50 Burris scope hoping for it to be a tack driver for her for whitetail and hogs.I think it will be a confidence builder and be able to deliver great shot placement with the lighter recoil
I have a old Winchester 70 in .243 it was my 1st rifle and will probably always have it shoots pretty amazing even with factory ammo plus it's usually the only .243 in any group I'm with so always makes for conversation
The most successful, ethical deer hunter I have known well in north central Oklahoma has always used 243 Winchester. He always knows where to put those 6mm bullets to humanly take game animals.
I noticed the particular gun being used as example is sweet. I love my ruger modle 77,s and my ruger Americans. very sweet reliable guns.243 is a awesome caliber though I use to have a different atitude. I had a model 99 savage lever action mega years ago that I shot a doe three times and then she dropped. so for years I though not good enough. all due to I didn't know at the time the difference in ammo grains weight. wish I didn't get rid of that gun. stupid me. I now know the difference. I myself use my ruger in 308 but my better half ( my wife ) uses and love to shoot the ruger American in 243 with 100 grain federal powers hock ammo. very little recoil and knocks them down no tracking. and now playing with reloading use in the 100 grain nozzler. works well
My 243 has dropped 40-50 deer since 1968. Rem. 700 87. Gr. Hornady. Hand loaded. 2015 took 15 groundhogs up 200 yds. And have taken numerous coyotes and groundhogs over the years. I shot 18 by 18" steel at 400 meters two shots, both dead center. I've never had to track a wounded deer mostly because I'm an archer and a pick a hair to shoot at. Broken necks, one broken back, and a lot of heart shots. One buck at 60 yds. broke his neck head on. He was estimated at 250-275#. Have lots of witnesses to what a 243 can accomplish.
Wow....awesome. These are just terrific😊
Your knowledge and presentation is impeccable my friend 👌🏼I learn so much , thank you !
Love that entrance. Awesomely comedic. 👌 I'm trying hard NOT to buy a .243 model 70. Is there a chance that heavier bullets wouldn't be accurate???
Generally speaking, the .243 twist was intended for bullets of up to 100 grains. However, stability is a length issue, not a weight issue. So, a heavier bullet can certainly stabilize if the length does not exceed a standard 100 grain factory bullet. Rounded ogive profiles and flat bases are the means to this end.
Great video. .243 is an excellent caribou rifle.