No love for the .243?

[ianpadron]

The .223 and 6.5CM/.260 threads are in the running for greatest Rokslide threads of all time IMHO.

With that said, where's the love for the .243?

I just ran the numbers on a 90 grain ELD-X leaving the muzzle at 3100 FPS, and at my elevation that bullet doesn't fall below 1800 FPS 'til just past 700 yards. A 143 out of my CM gets me to 800.

I'm planning on carrying my .243 extensively this fall in the high-country, so post up some pics of your .243 kills and let's here the ranges/bullets used.

I'll start things off with my .243's first kill last fall, roughly 50 yards with an 87 grain Berger VLD. Quartering to, held just in front of the front shoulder, bottom of the neck. Damage was as expected, internals jello, broken opposite leg, exit behind opposite shoulder baseball sized, 10 yard death sprint. Backstraps for dinner.

 

[Formidilosus]

6mm /.243 hunting success on Big Game

With the success of .223 and 6.5 threads on big game, thought I’d throw this one into the mix. Show and detail your results harvesting big game (deer, bear, elk, moose, African game) using 6mm/.243 cartridges. Please detail bullet, MV, impact velocity, and whether hand load or factory ammo.

rokslide.com

 

[ianpadron]

6mm /.243 hunting success on Big Game

With the success of .223 and 6.5 threads on big game, thought I’d throw this one into the mix. Show and detail your results harvesting big game (deer, bear, elk, moose, African game) using 6mm/.243 cartridges. Please detail bullet, MV, impact velocity, and whether hand load or factory ammo.

rokslide.com

AH the 6mm got me...missed it entirely when I searched.

Can ya take this one down?

 

[Ryan Avery]

The .223 and 6.5CM/.260 threads are in the running for greatest Rokslide threads of all time IMHO.

With that said, where's the love for the .243?

I just ran the numbers on a 90 grain ELD-X leaving the muzzle at 3100 FPS, and at my elevation that bullet doesn't fall below 1800 FPS 'til just past 700 yards. A 143 out of my CM gets me to 800.

I'm planning on carrying my .243 extensively this fall in the high-country, so post up some pics of your .243 kills and let's here the ranges/bullets used.

I'll start things off with my .243's first kill last fall, roughly 50 yards with an 87 grain Berger VLD. Quartering to, held just in front of the front shoulder, bottom of the neck. Damage was as expected, internals jello, broken opposite leg, exit behind opposite shoulder baseball sized, 10 yard death sprint. Backstraps for dinner.

View attachment 577497

Mostly because we made the 6UM…. All other 6mm are obsolete. LOL!

 

[Lawnboi]

Mostly because we made the 6UM…. All other 6mm are obsolete. LOL!

Is it not okay to be creed curious

 

[NRA4LIFE]

My .243 is one of my main battle rifles I call them. Antelope and mule deer mainly. I have killed probably 60-70 of them combined with that rifle. A Browning A-Bolt, circa 1987. Still is my favorite gun.

 

[justin davis]

Love the .243. I use a 6 mm for coyotes and antelope, deer, elk etc

 

[B23]

Mostly because we made the 6UM…. All other 6mm are obsolete. LOL!

I bet every barrel maker out there is in full support of everyone having a 6UM. Your 6UM makes our 6-284's look like they're easy on barrels.

 

[Ryan Avery]

I bet every barrel maker out there is in full support of everyone having a 6UM. Your 6UM makes our 6-284's look like they're easy on barrels.

I buy my barrels like I buy tires.... four at a time. HAHA!

 

[Rich M]

I was in a hunting lease and 243 was popular, we also found dead deer in the woods and had late night tracking patrties.

I shot my biggest deer - 300# muley w 243. Still think it is a minimal catridge and prefer bullet weights over 150 gr.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Lol

 

[Long Cut]

.243 doesn’t get the love it deserves because the .223 & 6.5 stole the show. Most guys are going .30 cal and larger if they already own the two noted above.

I agree, though. .243 has arguably killed more deer than most calibers, aside from maybe the 30-30 or -06

 

[doc holiday13]

243 is a solid cartridge. if the 6cm didn't exist it would be my next rifle. sure you can get a non saami 243 but then I gotta handload. the 6cm is just a hair better in the same form factor

 

[CCooper]

Just got done building a 6 Creed for a “cheapish” to shoot practice rifle. Need to find time to go pick it up.

 

[DWinVA]

I got my .243 when I was in my late teens. Still going strong with me at 53 years old. It's a Remington 700 Mountain Rifle. A dream to carry in the VA mountains. God Bless.

 

[LoggerDan]

On POW or Reville islands, it’s pretty tough to beat the old 243 for Sitkas.

 

[sbaker0029]

I actually just ordered a couple boxes of the 90gr eldx to see how my weatherby likes them and to use this fall.
Always been a fan of the 243 just never owned one until last year when I couldn't pass up a deal on a weathermark in 243. I mounted a scope, sighted it in, and put it in the safe. Carried my bergara .30-06 last fall.
I mounted a leupold vx3hd identical to the one form just tested, so now I'm pondering on another lightweight scope to go on it.
I'm excited to carry it in the fall.

 

[KenLee]

My son keeps grabbing 243s over multiple options. I started him out with a youth model NEF (H&R) single shot when he was 5. He killed 6 whitetail and a couple yotes with it that season. Used Hornady 100 gr btsp with excellent results out of that little rifle and later a couple a-bolt 243s.
The cheap Hornady Whitetail 100 gr rounds now work just fine to 350 yards out of a 22 inch barrel. Past that, they don't get much expansion. Farthest potential shot we have now is 375 yards and that hasn't happened in the last 5 years, so not much of an issue.
This will be his 29th season carrying a 243. He has a 270 that never leaves the safe.
He did recently tote off my 270wsm white gold medallion, but I expect it will show back up when it's time to buy more ammo and he sees the price.
I keep most of my expensive ammo hid well .
I've seen numerous deer fall drt over the years with shot placement that made me scratch my head. I have 4 youth model 243s that kids and ladies use and they get the job done, even with 20 inch barrels.

 

[83cj-7]

Mostly because we made the 6UM…. All other 6mm are obsolete.

My .243 might disagree. 105 Amax @ 2950, 8 twist Krieger with 1800+ rounds though it!

 

[Ryan Avery]

My .243 might disagree. 105 Amax @ 2950, 8 twist Krieger with 1800+ rounds though it!

Very nice! But if I put that bullet in a 20” 6UM it would send it over 3400.