The 243 is among the best rifles

[Odinsraven]

A few trips culling in Africa will make you realise..any reasonable calibre works.Have taken springbok with 222 thru 375h&h.....put the bullet where it should be and it works
As I get older the fit of a rifle is more important than the calibres.

 

[Field28]

A few trips culling in Africa will make you realise..any reasonable calibre works.Have taken springbok with 222 thru 375h&h.....put the bullet where it should be and it works
As I get older the fit of a rifle is more important than the calibres.

Agree, shot placement trumps everything.
I mentioned reasonable distance in a previous post. For a younger shooter with a 243, to me that's around 150 yards on the shoulder. I personally wouldn't have a problem taking a 200 yard head shot on a cull whitetail with a 243. Then again if I were head shooting cull whitetails, of which I have shot many, I'd much prefer a 222 or a 22-250.

 

[F. Vaccaro]

I think a lot of the bad press the .243 gets is the shooters fault not the cartridges fault.
Use a proper bullet for the game, place bullets in the vital area, don't shoot farther than your capability, and most problems disappear.
I like the .243, one of my favorite varmint cartridges.

 

[Jonathan Kashouty]

I perfer the 244/6mm Remington, for its longer neck and less taper.....less trimming!
I helped bring the 22 CM to the for front and yet absolutely detest the 6.5 but just started playing with the 6mm CM and it may have some usefulness. In truth the 243 necked to .224 and a 40 degree shoulder (aka 224 Durham Jet) is an all time favourite as is the 6MM Ackley Improved. The 22 CM
is great in 8" twist with 75gr Berger's or in 11-12" twist with light twist as both will smoke a 22-250.

Now go on and stir the hornet's nest. While you contemplate some academic ballistics!

6MM Remington is a great cartridge had one in a Ruger M77 that could really shoot. I do like my .243 Ackley Improved shooting a Sierra 85 grain HPBT at 3370 FPS.

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

Still prefer a 242 vickers/nitro express


Gumpy

 

[steve white]

I was near a bluff in SW Colorado one year, when looking down at the road, saw a car stop, fellow get out, walk about 40 yds and shoot standing. He had seen a Muley meat buck I had not. It was almost lunch, so walking out I offered to help him load it, and asked what he shot it with. "243" he said. It works 'cause I always shoot them right THERE. He pointed mid-shoulder and said, "wait, where is it?" Then he found the tiny hole about 1 1/2 inches down, and said "right THERE."
Thing looked like a large donkey laying on its side, fairly weighty. Haven't thought about that for years. Would I then risk my tag with a 243 on a mule deer?? no.