Is the .243 win on the way out?

[ButterBean]

I'll never jump on the 6.5 band wagon it's just a phase

Nor will I

 

[wbm]

how odd

 

[Pinoniper]

It's so easy to see the world through our own lens and believe that is how the world really is.

If most of the rifle consuming public were dedicated long-range specialists like us then, yes, the 243 would be in danger. However, that's just not the case.

 

[Velvet]

If most of the rifle consuming public were dedicated long-range specialists like us then, yes, the 243 would be in danger. However, that's just not the case.

High BC 100gn at 3200fs perfectly works for LR. This is what my 243ai allows me, so also for LR the 243win works perfectly. By simply changing the barrel for a faster Twist rate one, you are in the LR league.

 

[AlphaDogs]

The only defect of the 243 is donuts. AI cures that and makes a great 6mm.

 

[fmuguira]

Kissing Cousins, both will stay.

Only difference is twist rate in factory rifles which gives 6 CM a heavy for caliber high BC advantage. If doing a custom that difference out the window.

Only real advantage of 6 CM is shorter OAL thus runs better in internal magazine true short actions. ( like Rem 700)

My shot out 243 at Smith being re-barreled, switching to 6 CM only because of OAL. Means new dies, and brass. That's about it.

 

[Velvet]

The only defect of the 243 is donuts. AI cures that and makes a great 6mm.

Agree.
Other minor defect is a slight short neck.
With a long throat reamer, you can fully exploit the potential of long / heavy bullets for caliber, without leaving the maximum allowed OAL of short action magazines, say 2.90 ".

 

[Radman]

Hi all, every 2 months it seems someone posts a "is the .270 dying" post (and is met with an emphatic "NO!") but I don't actually see much talk about the plain vanilla .243 Winchester, either of it's popularity or lack thereof.

the 6mms are in general a bit more of a "love it or hate it" cartridge family, neither fish nor fowl, over and underestimated, some regarding them as little more than the .22 centerfires and some regarding them able to do anything the bigger diameters can do, both probably wrong (according to me anyway ) - for a long time where I live the .243 was the minimum legal caliber for big game hunting and I personally feel changing that was a mistake, gotta draw a line somewhere and that made sense - there's also lots of shots I've taken with my .270 that I would have opted to pass on with my .243.

but with the advent of rounds like the 6 creedmoor and the advent of truly high bc 224" projectiles and cartridges to launch them fast along with the ever rising popularity of the 6.5s which some could argue don't recoil notably more, I wonder if many will be questioning the point of the old .243 win with its now anathema stubby neck and gentle shoulders and less than extreme twist rates.

any big .243 fans or shooters on here?

what do you think the future holds for this old workhorse?

While it may never be the top seller again, from what I see and hear in the field, the .243 will be around for a long time. (As long as we vote properly)

 

[Unoboats]

Hi all, every 2 months it seems someone posts a "is the .270 dying" post (and is met with an emphatic "NO!") but I don't actually see much talk about the plain vanilla .243 Winchester, either of it's popularity or lack thereof.

the 6mms are in general a bit more of a "love it or hate it" cartridge family, neither fish nor fowl, over and underestimated, some regarding them as little more than the .22 centerfires and some regarding them able to do anything the bigger diameters can do, both probably wrong (according to me anyway ) - for a long time where I live the .243 was the minimum legal caliber for big game hunting and I personally feel changing that was a mistake, gotta draw a line somewhere and that made sense - there's also lots of shots I've taken with my .270 that I would have opted to pass on with my .243.

but with the advent of rounds like the 6 creedmoor and the advent of truly high bc 224" projectiles and cartridges to launch them fast along with the ever rising popularity of the 6.5s which some could argue don't recoil notably more, I wonder if many will be questioning the point of the old .243 win with its now anathema stubby neck and gentle shoulders and less than extreme twist rates.

any big .243 fans or shooters on here?

what do you think the future holds for this old workhorse?

Yep I love my 7 twist 243. It's a hammer. Eats Creedmores all day long.

 

[73driver]

For a period the 243 was the hot trendy caliber, back when FPS = flat shooting and nothing else mattered. The 6C and the 6X47L appear to be at the match/target range and as a hunting caliber its nice for kids and women. I am not sure what "on its way out means" but my guess is it will bumble along for small hunters or varmint shooters with factory or custom rigs. It would be interesting to know how much 243 ammo gets sold every year.

 

[Methow Packer]

Agreed. The .243 Win will be around for many, many years to come. It is too well established & entrenched to go away. Besides, its an awesome little round. The 6mm Creedmoor is the latest "shiny" new thing, which is fun, but it won't take out the classic .243 filling safes around the world.

And if you turn your favorite .243 into a 243AI its really impressive. I run 105's @ 3200 plus with no problem

 

[NDAR15MAN]

Sure it is.....I own a Tikka 243 that shoots 3/4 inch groups with factory ammo. Only people that dont think the 243 cal is NOT obsolete is because they have one that they are emotionally attached too and have a ton of ammo for it and it dont make since to make a change which includes me. I also own a 6.5 Creedmoor which out performs the 243 cal in every category even the cost of ammo for any man , woman or child.
Ammo will be made for it for a long time because 10's of thousands of guns are out their already for the 243 cal guns. I think the 243 will be me made in small numbers in the future and with lower barrel life I think in 20 years the 243 cal will finally be dead. Just my opinion. MD

 

[Muddyboots]

The .243 is dead and buried. So to help you out, I will be willing to take them off your hands at 0.10 on a $1 since they are so worthless. Its just my generosity that I will do that for you. Thank you in advance for these worthless rifles.

 

[Lee Goodwin]

...Check back in twenty years....