.243 win?

[VKC]

I have been shooting 308win, 22LR, and 5.56 rifles for some time. Now I'm looking for a caliber with less wind drift and drop. I don't reload.

I plan on shooting out to 1000 yards, and using rifle for target shooting and amateur competitions. I may use it for hunting, mostly coyotes and deer, already have 308win for larger animals.

I've considered .260rem, 6.5 Creedmoor, .300WSM, and 7mm WSM. 338 Lapua & 50 BMG are out of my ammo price range, and not practical for my applications. I am not aware of 260rem having any match grade ammo? 6.5 Creedmoor seems to be a popular round, but ammo is expensive without reloading and of limited availability, plus I will be using in bolt gun not semi-auto. 300WSM gives heavier bullet for larger animals, but I'm worried about limited barrel life and will mostly be usually for target shooting. 7mm WSM, I need more info.

Do you think .243win is a good choice for me? Any other caliber suggestions, please provide reason. Thanks.

 

[Force_Multiplier]

Re: .243 win?

look at the 7mm-08

 

[Winny]

Re: .243 win?

I'm no expert on these things....but I'm pretty sure .243 is going to be a decent barrel burner. .260 or 7-08 might be worth taking a gander at.

B.

 

[cav1993]

Re: .243 win?

As far as ammo goes, triad is selling 260 match grade ammo from black hills now. Corbon makes match grade ammo for 243 with 115 dtacs which i wouldn't use for hunting but are great paper punching rounds in the correct wisted barrel. Lots of commercially availably ammo for 243 hunting. Ammo for 6.5 creed is little hard to find now but relatively on par cost wise with 260 from black hills. Corbon also makes match ammo for 7-08 with 168 gn vld if i remember correctly but it's a little more expensive.

for ammo availability and hunting 243 all the way, very versitile and lots of ammo. If start reloading any and all the calibers you noted are good.

 

[Remoah]

Re: .243 win?

Faster Rounds generally equal less barrel life. So you've got a choice.

.243 is a good start, popular and cheap. However its got less stopping power and will kill your barrel soonish.

7-08 would be my bet. Its a bit more expensive to run than the .243 but it's got more stopping power for hunting and it'll have a slightly longer barrel life.

You're talking Ford V Holden here mate. They're pretty much the same thing and you'll be happy either way.

 

[JamieD]

Re: .243 win?

All are great calibers - I own both the .243 and .260 - I sort of favor the .260. The better option if you are not reloading is the .308 or .223. Abundance of ammo and easy to reload for.

Do you reload now at all? If not, a good site with some good reloading info is Varmint Als

Good luck.

JamieD

______________________________
Jamie Dodson
Wolf Precision
814-262-7994

 

[RobertB]

Re: .243 win?

I own both and would say youd be happy either way.

 

[BgBmBoo]

Re: .243 win?

One thing not mentioned yet....to shoot the heavy,match bullets out of a .243 you are going to need a fast(er) twist barrel then you are going to find in a factory rifle. Most factory .243's have 1:10 twist barrels. You will want a 1:8 twist to reliably shot the 107,115,etc., bullets and better yet a barrel with a 1:7.5 twist.

The only match grade ammo I am aware of for the .243 is made by Corbon and it uses the .115 DTAC bullet....and it is expensive if you can find it in stock.

You really should get started in reloading. It opens a whole new world for long range shooting. I myself put it off for years and wish I would have started sooner.

Take care,Stan

 

[Bacarrat]

Re: .243 win?

Skip getting a new rifle and get yourself some reloading gear.

 

[Mike]

Re: .243 win?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: vkc</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have been shooting 308win, 22LR, and 5.56 rifles for some time. Now I'm looking for a caliber with less wind drift and drop. I don't reload.

I plan on shooting out to 1000 yards, and using rifle for target shooting and amateur competitions. I may use it for hunting, mostly coyotes and deer, already have 308win for larger animals.

I've considered .260rem, 6.5 Creedmoor, .300WSM, and 7mm WSM. 338 Lapua & 50 BMG are out of my ammo price range, and not practical for my applications. I am not aware of 260rem having any match grade ammo? 6.5 Creedmoor seems to be a popular round, but ammo is expensive without reloading and of limited availability, plus I will be using in bolt gun not semi-auto. 300WSM gives heavier bullet for larger animals, but I'm worried about limited barrel life and will mostly be usually for target shooting. 7mm WSM, I need more info.

Do you think .243win is a good choice for me? Any other caliber suggestions, please provide reason. Thanks.</div></div>

Don't take this the wrong way, but you need to do quite a bit more research because most of what you have stated is wrong. Let me show you.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: vkc</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> don't reload. </div></div>

If you don't reload, you can just about forget about the 243 and most every other cartridge you listed if you want to take maximum advantage of that round.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: vkc</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have been shooting 308win for some time.
I plan on shooting out to 1000 yards, and using rifle for target shooting and amateur competitions. I may use it for hunting, mostly coyotes and deer, already have 308win for larger animals. </div></div>

Actually, you already have your caliber; the 308. It will do everything you want so far with ample match ammo.


<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: vkc</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I've considered .260rem, 6.5 Creedmoor, .300WSM, and 7mm WSM.</div></div>
First, Black Hills makes a fantastic 260 match grade ammo. Triad Tactical sells it here. It shoots like a dream and is very accurate. However you do not shoot the Black Hills, you're stuck reloading, which you said you will not do.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: vkc</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> 6.5 Creedmoor seems to be a popular round, but ammo is expensive without reloading and of limited availability, plus I will be using in bolt gun not semi-auto. </div></div>
Where in the world did you get that 6.5 Creedmoor ammo is expensive? At $24 a box it's about the cheapest match ammo you can find.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: vkc</div><div class="ubbcode-body">300WSM gives heavier bullet for larger animals, but I'm worried about limited barrel life and will mostly be usually for target shooting. 7mm WSM, I need more info.</div></div>

First, forget the 300wsm if the 7 wsm is in the picture. The 7 will outperform it every day and twice on Sunday. Do some research on it and you will see the 7wsm is an excellent round. Another issue you get into is to eek out the maximum performance, you must reload and it can start to get expensive too.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: vkc</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Do you think .243win is a good choice for me? Any other caliber suggestions, please provide reason. Thanks.</div></div>

If you're not going to reload I would stay with the 308 or the 6.5 CM. Any of the other cartridges, especially the 243, is going to require reloading to really see the benefits of it.

 

[RobertB]

Re: .243 win?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bacarrat</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Skip getting a new rifle and get yourself some reloading gear. </div></div>Agreed

 

[427Cobra]

Re: .243 win?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RobertB</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bacarrat</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Skip getting a new rifle and get yourself some reloading gear. </div></div>Agreed </div></div>

+2

 

[JRose]

Re: .243 win?

Mike laid it out perfectly... He speaks the truth.

 

[desertrat1979]

Re: .243 win?

I thought about the Creedmore, but the only turn off to that is the lack of brass for reloading. At least thats what it was a few months ago. I figure I will just wait until Hornady puts out more, or other brass companies decide to pick it up. The match ammo Hornady makes may be cheap, but that too is hard to find. I thought of either the .243Win or the .260Rem as an acceptable choice instead. Just looking at other alternatives as opposed to your typical .308 caliber rounds.

 

[JRose]

Re: .243 win?

I called CM Sports last week and they had it in stock...

 

[VKC]

Re: .243 win?

Thanks for the responses. Yes, I realize I need to get into reloading, but for now.

So Black Hills makes match grade ammo for 260 Rem, good to know. From the suggestions sounds like 260rem or 6.5Creedmoor are better options then 243win because of factory ammo choices. I noticed that Hornandy makes ammo, not a good choice? 243win also seems to have more types of ammo than 6.5Creedmoor and 260rem.

Could someone tell me more about 7-08 and 7wsm?

 

[JRose]

Re: .243 win?

The CM ammo is very accurate, but way too slow in my experience... I was only getting around 2680 fps with the 140 AMAX's. I don't know if they have fixed that or not. I called them to see if it was a bad lot, but they claimed it was good and that their testing yielded 2810 fps.

I load mine with H4831sc now and get about 2800 fps, it's a killer load, I have some loads that are up around 2900fps with RL17, but it is hard on the brass and not near as consistent as the 4831.

If the factory ammo would shoot around the 2800 fps mark, than I would go back to using it b/c it's pretty affordable.

 

[M855]

Re: .243 win?

black hills 260 is $34 a box 308 fggm 168 $20 abox,you choose

 

[Chiller]

Re: .243 win?

vkc....where in Nevada are you?

 

[JRose]

Re: .243 win?

Where are you getting Fed Match for $20 a box??? Share please.

 

[Mike]

Re: .243 win?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: M855</div><div class="ubbcode-body">black hills 260 is $34 a box 308 fggm 168 $20 abox,you choose</div></div>

First, please enlighten us where we can get 168gm at $20 a box.
Second, BH 260 will embarrass 168 at any distance; the farther, the more embarrassing.

 

[tt350z]

Re: .243 win?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JRose</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Where are you getting Fed Match for $20 a box??? Share please. </div></div>

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mike</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
First, please enlighten us where we can get 168gm at $20 a box.
</div></div>

http://www.palmettostatearmory.com/1120.php

 

[paulyosh]

Re: .243 win?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tt350z</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JRose</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Where are you getting Fed Match for $20 a box??? Share please. </div></div>

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mike</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
First, please enlighten us where we can get 168gm at $20 a box.
</div></div>

http://www.palmettostatearmory.com/1120.php </div></div>

Ammoman.com also has it for $499/500, including shipping. But, as Mike pointed out, .260 is a better long-range round...

 

[JRose]

Re: .243 win?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tt350z</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JRose</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Where are you getting Fed Match for $20 a box??? Share please. </div></div>

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mike</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
First, please enlighten us where we can get 168gm at $20 a box.
</div></div>

http://www.palmettostatearmory.com/1120.php </div></div>

Holy crap, thx for the link!!!

 

[VKC]

Re: .243 win?

Seems like whenever I read about a different caliber, there is an advocate for that caliber saying that is the best caliber. The next caliber I read about, same thing.

As I read about 7mm-08, seems like a great round for hunting and silhouette shooting with heavier bullets, but has more wind drift that .243win. So if I'm planning on using rifle for target shooting and competitions, wouldn't .243win be a better choice?

What kind of barrel life can you expect from .243win?

 

[Mike]

Re: .243 win?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: vkc</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

What kind of barrel life can you expect from .243win?</div></div>

There are ample shooters here including myself that have had 2K+ on a 243 barrel. I personally know of someone who had nearly 3K and it was still .5 moa.

Much of the issue is how fast you're trying to throw them.

 

[dontstrokeme]

Re: .243 win?

Mike doesn't reload for the 243 either!!!!

If I remember correctly alot of the full time shooters here do not reload. Mainly because of time constraints, that's where dallasreloads.com comes in and I belive Mike has a load at Corbon...when he needs a case he calls it in. Ship it out and be done, however this might take some tuning just as would reloading but once you get the right load you just hit "submit order".

I belive the 7mm-08 is a more usefull round than the 308Win....but my reasoning is: If you have to ask what caliber....get a 308Win.

The ammo selection, drop data, all the info you could ever want has been tested to death and you will get responses if you have a problem with it....funny how those NATO rounds really build a following!!!

 

[Chiller]

Re: .243 win?

In a pure drift/drop discussion the .243 and the like are hard to beat (.243, .243AI, Super 6, etc). At the end of the day everything is a compromise the question being what works for you and what are you willing to accept?

 

[BobinNC]

Re: .243 win?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: vkc</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

As I read about 7mm-08, seems like a great round for hunting and silhouette shooting with heavier bullets, but has more wind drift that .243win.....

What kind of barrel life can you expect from .243win? </div></div>

VKC,

As they say; "What you talking about, Willis?"

If you go to the Cor-bon website they list a 243 Win w/115 gr DTAC bullet @ 2900 FPS.

They also list a 7mm-08 with 168 Gr Berger VLD @ 2720 FPS

Plunging those numbers into JBM, and using the Litz calculated G7 BC's, I get the following:

First the 243 Win 115 Gr DTAC @ 2900 FPS
1000 Drop -7.9 Mils -27.3 MOA Wind 2.0 Mils 6.8 MOA

Next the 7mm-08 168 gr VLD @ 2720 FPS
1000 Drop -8.6 Mils -29.4 MOA Wind 1.8 Mils 6.2 MOA

The wind drift for the slower 7mm-08, as produced by Cor-Bon is less than the 243 Win 115 DTAC, produced by Cor-Bon, by 0.2 Mils or 0.6 MOA. Yes, a handloader can get the 243/DTAC combo going faster, but in factory offerings, it is what it is.

So the 7mm-08 load as published by the factory has LESS wind drift than a 243 Win, factory production. And it's barrel life should be about double.

Bob

 

[Mike]

Re: .243 win?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BobinNC</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: vkc</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

As I read about 7mm-08, seems like a great round for hunting and silhouette shooting with heavier bullets, but has more wind drift that .243win.....

What kind of barrel life can you expect from .243win? </div></div>

VKC,

As they say; "What you talking about, Willis?"

If you go to the Cor-bon website they list a 243 Win w/115 gr DTAC bullet @ 2900 FPS.

They also list a 7mm-08 with 168 Gr Berger VLD @ 2720 FPS

Plunging those numbers into JBM, and using the Litz calculated G7 BC's, I get the following:

First the 243 Win 115 Gr DTAC @ 2900 FPS
1000 Drop -7.9 Mils -27.3 MOA Wind 2.0 Mils 6.8 MOA

Next the 7mm-08 168 gr VLD @ 2720 FPS
1000 Drop -8.6 Mils -29.4 MOA Wind 1.8 Mils 6.2 MOA

The wind drift for the slower 7mm-08, as produced by Cor-Bon is less than the 243 Win 115 DTAC, produced by Cor-Bon, by 0.2 Mils or 0.6 MOA. Yes, a handloader can get the 243/DTAC combo going faster, but in factory offerings, it is what it is.

So the 7mm-08 load as published by the factory has LESS wind drift than a 243 Win, factory production. And it's barrel life should be about double.

Bob
</div></div>

I wouldn't necessarily look at "off the shelf" offerings even from Corbon. Remember he has to have a safety factor in there as well. If you are going to order the Corbon 243 I would personally talk to Pete Pi, jr. as, although the box says 2900, it's not that slow. 2900 fps in a 243 with a 115 DTAC is a waste of time and money. My 243 with Corbon ammo was 6.5 mil to 1K 1.5 @ 10mph FV @1K with ZERO pressures signs and this includes rapid fires in the Texas heat.

One of the great things about Corbon is Pete can build a load specifically for your rifle, and then make all of your ammo for it.

 

[VKC]

Re: .243 win?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BobinNC</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: vkc</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

As I read about 7mm-08, seems like a great round for hunting and silhouette shooting with heavier bullets, but has more wind drift that .243win.....

What kind of barrel life can you expect from .243win? </div></div>

VKC,

As they say; "What you talking about, Willis?"

If you go to the Cor-bon website they list a 243 Win w/115 gr DTAC bullet @ 2900 FPS.

They also list a 7mm-08 with 168 Gr Berger VLD @ 2720 FPS

Plunging those numbers into JBM, and using the Litz calculated G7 BC's, I get the following:

First the 243 Win 115 Gr DTAC @ 2900 FPS
1000 Drop -7.9 Mils -27.3 MOA Wind 2.0 Mils 6.8 MOA

Next the 7mm-08 168 gr VLD @ 2720 FPS
1000 Drop -8.6 Mils -29.4 MOA Wind 1.8 Mils 6.2 MOA

The wind drift for the slower 7mm-08, as produced by Cor-Bon is less than the 243 Win 115 DTAC, produced by Cor-Bon, by 0.2 Mils or 0.6 MOA. Yes, a handloader can get the 243/DTAC combo going faster, but in factory offerings, it is what it is.

So the 7mm-08 load as published by the factory has LESS wind drift than a 243 Win, factory production. And it's barrel life should be about double.

Bob
</div></div>

Got the info from
http://www.6mmbr.com/243Win.html
http://www.6mmbr.com/7mm284.html#7mm08

But they must be talking about hand loads.

So what are saying the barrel life of 7mm-08 should be?

 

[VKC]

Re: .243 win?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dontstrokeme</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Mike doesn't reload for the 243 either!!!!

If I remember correctly alot of the full time shooters here do not reload. Mainly because of time constraints, that's where dallasreloads.com comes in and I belive Mike has a load at Corbon...when he needs a case he calls it in. Ship it out and be done, however this might take some tuning just as would reloading but once you get the right load you just hit "submit order".

I belive the 7mm-08 is a more usefull round than the 308Win....but my reasoning is: If you have to ask what caliber....get a 308Win.

The ammo selection, drop data, all the info you could ever want has been tested to death and you will get responses if you have a problem with it....funny how those NATO rounds really build a following!!! </div></div>

That's why I have a 308win already. Guess, I just need an excuse for another rifle.

 

[BobinNC]

Re: .243 win?

vkc,

If the barrel life for the 260 Rem is in the 2.5-3k range, and the 308 win is in the 6k-8k range (some go longer), the 7mm-08 occupying the middle position, so by extrapolation the barrel life should be between the 260 and 308

Bob.

 

[dontstrokeme]

Re: .243 win?

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1854156&page=1

Food for thought.

BTW if you are dialing dope in anyways....what is another .3 Mils? If it gets you another 1k rounds of usable barrel accuracy life....well worth it. In a world of "bigger and better this week" the old tried and true medium velocity cartridges work very well and are more consistant than a person might think.

Either way 243Win or 260Rem or 7mm-08Rem or 308Win....all will get the job done. Just remember that if you spend your whole barrel life getting used to the rifle only to need a new barrel once you have good dope and know where your bullet willl impact.....doesn't make a whole lot of sense ya know!!!

 

[VKC]

Re: .243 win?

I agree and bullet drop is not as much a factor for me as wind drift to me. For example, yesterday I went shooting and the wind was 10 to 15 mph with gushes up to 20mph. Plus with shooting in mountains, the wind tends to swirl and change directions.

 

[Mike]

Re: .243 win?

One thing to remember about "barrel life" is that once your throat erodes you don't toss it out, you just have the chamber bumped about 1/4". So you're not going to lose velocity, or dope, or anything. If you take into account bumping a barrel back it's possible to get 4-5000 rounds out of a 243 easily.

 

[VKC]

Re: .243 win?

Barrel life for 243win is my only concern. But everything else is pointing me towards this caliber. Lighter recoil than 308 win, cheap factory ammo, lots of different ammo...both match target and hunting. Since I don't reload, I'm always a little scarred that if I pick a less mainstream caliber, that companies may stop making factory ammo in that caliber.

 

[dontstrokeme]

Re: .243 win?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mike</div><div class="ubbcode-body">One thing to remember about "barrel life" is that once your throat erodes you don't toss it out, you just have the chamber bumped about 1/4". So you're not going to lose velocity, or dope, or anything. If you take into account bumping a barrel back it's possible to get 4-5000 rounds out of a 243 easily. </div></div>

Wow Mike....I didn't realize you could get that much life out of the 243Win....kinda always assumed underbore so much tended to destroy barrel quality....but mainly just on the throat for effecting accuracy?

 

[Mike]

Re: .243 win?

a good, quality barrel does not have to be "tossed" when accuracy starts to fade. You will get other erosion in the body of the barrel but most of it occurs in the throat area. When you have a barrel turned down for a "barrel burning" caliber like the 243, just make sure they keep some extra space in the chamber area to allow you to set it back.

 

[JFComfort]

Re: .243 win?

What part of NV are you in?

 

[VKC]

Re: .243 win?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JFComfort</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What part of NV are you in? </div></div>

Answered with PM, thanks.