Everything About 243 Ammo

1. Everything About 243 Ammo

2. Hunters and shooters widely use 243 ammunition because of its versatility. 243 ammo can really do it all, from 55-grain varminters to 100-grain medium game killers. However, 243 is not a big game cartridge and is not meant for big stuff. Though it will surely kill the big game, it may not be the most suitable option. 243 ammo first appeared in the year 1955 in Winchester’s Model 70 bolt-action. It was considered a dual-version cartridge, which can be used for varmints and medium games. Considering that the shooters will primarily use 244 for varmint-size games, the guns were fitted with a 1:2 twist barrel. But this did not help to stabilize the bullets over 90 grains. But Winchetser’s 243 barrels were rifled with a faster 1:10 twist that could stabilize 100-grain shots and the lighter ones. Though 244 is a better case design due to its long neck and larger case capacity, it has never come close to 243. What makes 243 such a versatile round? There are many reasons for this, including universal availability, excellent accuracy, great performance on varmints, low recoil, handling the wind better than others, can take the deer-size game with reliability and authority, and these are available in every action type and rifle style from single shots to semi-autos. Versatility is really the strong point of 243 ammo. You can use your medium-game rifle for varmints and predators in the off-season, as it will give you a better shot and also increase your familiarity with your ammo combination or rifle. 243 loaded with 55 to 70-grain bullets are ideal for small creatures or pest hunters. The 55s muzzle velocity can go up to 4000 fps for the best performance on small pest targets like prairie dogs, crows, rock chucks, and groundhogs.

3. The most common weight range is 80 grain, but most bullets in this range are not constructed stoutly enough to be recommended for antelopes and deer. On the other hand, the 70-80 grain 243 bullets can retail velocity and buck the wind better. Thus, they are better for bobcats, foxes, and coyotes if you want longer shots. The Barnes or other solid copper bullets are typical medium-game bullets for any caliber. Though they weigh less, they have a premium bullet construction and hold together well. The 85-grain Barnes TSX is also known to excel. But for a medium game like pronghorn and deer, the 90-105 grain bullets are perfect. Many hunters go for 100 grains for medium game. The greatest advantage of 243 is that it provides adequate killing power for medium game at a lower noise and recoil level, thus helping any hunter to shoot calmly and accurately. 243 is sometimes the maximum power tolerable for lightly built-hunters or those suffering from shoulder injuries. It is a commercially suitable choice for such hunters. But you should ensure that you fully understand its strengths, weaknesses, and game anatomy by emphasizing humane killing. Remember that the results will completely depend on the aptitude of the hunter. 243 ammunition has enough power to penetrate medium-sized deer shoulder bones but may not exit broadside. This means that you cannot expect the penetration to exceed a distance of 12 to 14 inches, thus limiting the effectiveness of conventional projectiles on raking shots. 243 is ideal for games weighing between 40-60Kg, but it can also be used for games weighing 80 kg. Although 243 can produce sufficient penetration on larger game, the wounds may be free bleeding due to rear lung shots, thus making the kills slow to allow animals to run significant distances. One should prioritize careful shot placement for a heavy-boned deer.

4. Though the 243 projectiles will penetrate through and into the flesh of a mature boar, the wounding will be minimal, thus allowing the animal to escape. There is a wide variety of medium-burning rate powders that give good results. 4895, 3031, H-450, and H-414 work well with 100-grain flat base bullets. 243 ammo has a great ammunition selection available to hunters, shooters, and reloaders. Remember that bullet selection is crucial when using 243 to hunt medium size big game animals. You need to make sure that they can give rapid but controlled expansion. This is because the small diameter 6mm bullets have less shocking power if they cannot expand, thus delivering their energy inside the animal. Shots in the 90-100 grain weight range are perfect for medium size big game animals. The Bottom Line Furthermore, you must know that all cartridges must match the bullet to the game animal. 243 has a mild recoil, thus making it better for shooters. It showcases the lower-end threshold of killing effectiveness for antelope, deer, and black bears. However, it can be entirely inadequate if the appropriate bullets are not used, and the shots are not well- placed. So if your hunting only includes creatures up to the size of deer, then 243 ammo is the most suitable choice.

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