I dont mean to upset anyone, I really would like to know what the 6mms do that some other cartridge cant do better. A 22 centrefire I can see a niche for. The 6.5s and the 270 win I can see a niche for also. Is the 243/ 6mm only claim to fame that it can at a stretch either way substitute for something better.
If this is a misconception, I have been labouring under it for a long time.
Can someone please enlighten me.

Question:
How many people who use the 243 or 6mm
on deer would :

Choices:
prefer something bigger
find it ideal for deer sized game
are happy to use it on even bigger game

 

Although it has probably taken alot of deer, elk and many other relatively large critters, I prefer something a little larger. I like the 243 for coyotes and other varmints over 300 yards. Lou

Boet,
Sounds like your trying to pick a fight with those of us who love our 243s I own a number of other rifles, some smaller, some larger than my 243 and they all have there place. In SE Oklahoma USA they are more than adequate for whitetail deer and wild hogs. My 243 is extremely accurate, has a flat trajectory, has plenty of energy for anything around here and the recoil is mild. Mine is not finicky about loads and it's just plain fun to shoot. The 243 has its pros and cons just like any gun. Variety is the spice of life.

Red C
No, really, no fighting I just dont knw what its good for. I dont mean OK for or acceptable for, but really good for. I have found it more wind sensitive than a 120gr 257 or 130gr 270 for instance and I imagine it to be too heavy for varmints - though I dont shoot varmints as a rule. I am open minded enough to change my ideas, all I need is the right education.
boet

I think the 6mm's are FAR better at doing what people TRY to do with the big 22's.

Longer ranger varminting that can be done with a 223rem with 40gr or a 22-250 can do with a 50-55gr bullet.

They are "passable" deer rifles for a skilled shooter but I think they are misapplied as "Beginner's rifles".
(something a 260rem or 7mm-08 might do better)

boet, I love my .243 Win. and have to agree with Red C. I have used the .243 in the west since 1974 on Mule Deer and antelope, and it has worked just fine.

OK. I'll say it. A 243 with a Barnes TSX 85 grainer in it doesn't lack in the least for energy when it's travelling at 3200 FPS and it's normal characteristic of 100% weight retention means it has no problem with penetration, bone included.

It certainly measures up to a 30-30 as a deer gun and it would take a jackass without the sense to hold his ears apart to argue that a 30-30 isn't enough gun.

My experience with the Barnes is that it penetrates not as well as a typical cup and core 150 grain 30 cal at '06 velocity, but better, and it tends to deflect after hitting bone less than the C & C. You have to be an incurable optomist to expect to have a Barnes stop in an animal. Yet, a flimsey little rib can undo a C & C 150, and I have recovered more than a few of them from deer.

Who would argue that a 150 C & C is inadequate? A whole lot of elk and moose have died with them. That says nothing about the number of deer.

I reload to produce the most accurate ammo I can so I have room to make a mistake. I load Barnes so that if IF I make a mistake I have a bullet that will keep moving and offer what it can for forgiveness. Would a nice 150 TSX out of a dead nuts accurate 308 offer more forgiveness? Of course! But... you begin to trade weight, recoil etc for insurance.

A 243 gives me plenty of power to kill deer, very, very flat trajectory, almost no recoil, accuracy to throw in the toilet and a much wider range of bullets than the next alternative, the .25s.

Man, no offense but I think, as usual this will stir up a number of 243 luvers. As I load for over thirty chamberings I don’t have a dog in this fight,…

but let me think a minute,

What is a 243 good for?

Well, in 1969 it was good enough to take this deer with one shot. He was on a dead run at 75 yds having been flushed out of some brush (Junction, Tx.)



In 2000, it was good enough to take this guy



In 2007 this kid took this 270 lb. hog at 139 yds.




It’s pretty good for punching itty bitty holes pretty close together in this Sako Forrester in varmint configuration.




I could probably go on, but maybe you get my drift!!
GWB

ps. it also fills a niche between my 6 x 45 and 240 weatherby

I only use mine on deer and paper. Only hunting load I use is a 95 gr Nosler PT. It kills em dead as any thing else and can tack drive with anything short of full out varminters etc. Load a premium bullet is my only caveat. Either the Partition or TSX or their equals. If your worried re penetration then use the TSX or the new tipped version if you can get them.

I use a 100 gr Hornady SP interlock on everything. I am pushing them out at 3150 and I love the gun and the load. I have shot a lot of large mule deer with this load and it flat out gets the job done NOW. Ron

With a 55 - 58 grain bullet at near 4,000 fps it is an absolute grenade on varmints.

With the 75 grain varmint bullets it is a great 400+ yard varminter.

With the 85 grain TSX or 85-95 grain partition it works great on deer and antelope sized game.

With the 105-115 VLD bullets it kills paper out to 1,000 yards.

243 is my number one cartridge for pronghorns and coyotes. Also gets used on rock chucks, mule deer and prairie dogs although I have other rifles I prefer for those critters.

What's it good for???

Burning Data Powder 85!!! roger

I am a fan of the 6x45 with 75 gr. BarnesX or GS Customs bullets for deer, pigs and varmints. It has always worked for me within its limits..

I know a 7x57, 270, 30-06, is a better big game rifle, but if I do my part the 6x45 is sufficient, and I always do my part..

I enjoy deer hunting with my .243. It is a old Model 70 F/W. My 15 year old son has taken four Pa. White-tails with it including a heavy horned big bodied eight point last year. We use the 100 grain Sierra BT Prohunter with excellent results. If I could only use one gun to hunt deer with the above would be my choice.

Best groundhog caliber in my opinion.Have killed pumpkins,gourds,gopher,turtle,squirrel,horse,brother shot a coyote with the rifle.All instant kills.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/tula9130/100_2092.jpg

WHat's the .243 WCF good for? That's easy: CONTROVERSY. It's always been a controversial round and will continue to stir debate as long as there are campfires (or computers!) around which to sit and trade opinions.

In skilled hands, it will handle any deer or antelope out to 250 yards and maybe a bit farther.

THose who useand understand the cartridge's limitations will continue to love its performance. Others simply love to hate it; many of them have never given it a fair shake. And those who can't estimate range or insist on taking long shots that are beyond their capability (or that of the round) will want to blame something, and the cartridge is always first in line.

I rarely use a .243 WCF but have taken lots of game with lesser 6mm cartridges such as the 6mm-.223 (aka 6x45) and 6 TCU. Yes, they are specialized cartridges and not without limitations. But for me, they work without fail.

Thus, the .243 WCF is only more of a good thing...

I have used the 6MM Remington a lot over the years and the 243 some. If I had to add up the yards deer have traveled after being hit with them I wouldn't be surprised if the total is shorter than any of the other round I have used. A dam fine coyote rifle and very accurate in general to boot. I often wonder why there is any controversy at all.

quote:

243 win. Whats it good for.....?

anyone that has actually used them on deer and pronghorns can tell you.......they just kill very dead!

Although I have two, when next I go deer hunting, I will take my 257R.
Peter.

For me and my kids our 243 has been good for:
chipmunks
ground squirrels
prairie dogs
antelope
whitetail deer
mule deer

Most of you know I love the Roberts.
I usually shoot 100 grain bullets. I am thinking hard about a 6mm Rem.
With the 100 grain bullets at about the same speed it should be prety darn good.
More wind sensitive than a 120 grain Roberts, probably.
But a 130 grain .270 ,likly is more wind sensitive than a 120 grain Roberts.
Doesn't make the Roberts a bad choice in my mind...tj3006

I've been playing with one with the VLDs at 1k, it's really surprised me so far. May go to the 6-06 though.

Both of my daughters shoot them, They've got more than thirty head (wt, md, antelope) between them. They have both tried my 270 and 06, they went right back to .243. They do take my 06 when an elk may present itself though.

With a 243/6mm you can drop down to a 55 to practice with and then shoot a 100 for deer.
Is the only cal I know of, that offers such a range of weights that it shoots well.

You would also be suprised how close traj is between the diff weight bullets, with the 100 being a little flatter at the longer ranges.

243 is enough for deer.
260 or 7/08 would be better except recoil.
308 might as well go to 06.

RC

quote:

Originally posted by boet:
... I have found it more wind sensitive than a 120gr 257 or 130gr 270 for instance and I imagine it to be too heavy for varmints - though I dont shoot varmints as a rule. ...

Hey Boet, When compared to Bigger and Larger(diameter, case capacity, bullet weight) as you have done, the only advantages I can think of are Reduced Recoil and a slightly lower Cost to Reload.

As many have said, they will Kill Deer and Hogs. What they have not said is regardless of the Bullet you use, if you Hunt where the Understory is Dense, you will have difficulty finding all of them. The Entrance and Exit holes are so small that they get plugged by the innards very easily, which means often there is ZERO Blood Trail. Owning or having access to a Tracking Dog is a real plus if a person is forced to use a 243Win.

It is a great cartridge for Varmints and stray Pets chasing Cattle and Horses. None will recover from a good old Shoulder or Chest shot with any bullet you care to shoot. But I prefer the 75gr fragile Bullets for them.

I have had a good many 243Wins and they were all accurate. The current one is the most accurate one I've ever had. But it is nowhere near as good of a Deer, Hog and Bear Killer as is a Larger cartridge.

Good Hunting and clean 1-shot Kills.

Based on shooting a lot of animals with all three, I would opt for the 250-3000 or 257 Roberts over a .243 anyday..Now that usually stirs up controversy, but I am firm in that opinnion..however no one is required to agree.

The .243 is somewhat superior to a .22-250 or .220 Swift for long range varminting. It is less sensitive to wind drift and carries more punch at extended ranges.

In a sporter, it provides ample power with minimal recoil for deer-sized game. Factory loads are mysteriously anemic, but loaded to pressures similar to other high-intensity cartridges in bolt guns, its 100 grain bullet at 3000-3100 fps is as effective on this size game as just about any load you find. It is without peer for young or female shooters who don't need the distraction of significant recoil.

Hint: Leave the 2750 fps factory loads on the shelf where they belong. That's plenty of speed for a 180 grain bullet in an '06, but the little hundred grain pill in the .243 needs the additional 300 fps for adequate trauma-inflicting energy.

I find Ray Atkinson's post interesting on the .250/3000, .257 Roberts opting it over the .243. I have only killed one deer with the .250/3000, and it did a decent job. My Son, and me have killed quite afew with the .243, and we both have been more then pleased with the results. I was wondering Ray have you foud in your experience that they are better killers of deer. Or, do you like these cartidges over the .243 for nostalga reasons.

Geedubya,

Is that a domestic sheep on your wall?

I agree with Ray, I prefer my 250 Savage and 257 Roberts for deer. However I've to to admit that three of the biggest bucks I've ever seen were taken with .243s
Like this one



didn't work bad on this one either.



I figure that within reason, it's more about where you hit them and bullet construction than dia.