Rifle cartridge Not to be confused with .243 Winchester Super Short Magnum.

.243 Winchester
A .243 Winchester cartridge (middle) next to a .223 Remington (left) and .308 Winchester (right)
Type	Rifle
Place of origin	United States
Production history
Designer	Winchester
Designed	1952–1955
Manufacturer	Winchester
Produced	1955–present
Variants	.243 Winchester Improved (Ackley)
Specifications
Parent case	.308 Winchester
Case type	Bottlenecked
Bullet diameter	.243 in (6.2 mm)
Land diameter	.237 in (6.0 mm)
Neck diameter	.276 in (7.0 mm)
Shoulder diameter	.454 in (11.5 mm)
Base diameter	.471 in (12.0 mm)
Rim diameter	.473 in (12.0 mm)
Case length	2.045 in (51.9 mm)
Overall length	2.7098 in (68.83 mm)
Case capacity	53.7–54.8
Rifling twist	1-10 in (250 mm) to 1-8 in (200 mm)
Primer type	Large Rifle
Maximum pressure (C.I.P.)	60,191 psi (415.00 MPa)
Maximum pressure (SAAMI)	60,000 psi (410 MPa)
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy 58 gr (4 g) V-MAX 3,925 ft/s (1,196 m/s) 1,984 ft⋅lbf (2,690 J) 80 gr (5 g) TTSX 3,350 ft/s (1,020 m/s) 1,994 ft⋅lbf (2,704 J) 85 gr (6 g) TSX 3,200 ft/s (980 m/s) 1,933 ft⋅lbf (2,621 J) 95 gr (6 g) SP 2,980 ft/s (910 m/s) 1,873 ft⋅lbf (2,539 J) 100 gr (6 g) BTSP 2,960 ft/s (900 m/s) 1,945 ft⋅lbf (2,637 J)
Test barrel length: 24 in (610 mm)Sources: Barnes, Federal, Hornady factory specifications, AccurateShooter.com[1]

The .243 Winchester (6×52mm) is a popular sporting rifle cartridge. Developed as a versatile short action cartridge to hunt both medium game and small game alike, it "took whitetail hunting by storm"[2] when introduced in 1955, and remains one of the most popular whitetail deer cartridges. It is also commonly used for harvesting blacktail deer, pronghorns and mule deer with heavier rounds, and is equally suited to varmint hunting with lighter rounds. The .243 is based on a necked down .308 Winchester, introduced only three years earlier. Expanding monolithic copper bullets of approximately 80[3] to 85[4][5] grains or traditional lead rounds of 90 to 105 grains with controlled expansion designs are best suited for hunting medium game, while lighter rounds are intended for varmints.[6][7]

In at least ten U.S. states[8] and the United Kingdom,[9] the .243 or similar cartridges are the smallest bore cartridges that are legal for hunting deer; this has been revised in the UK to allow Muntjac and Chinese Water Deer to be taken with .22 (5.56mm) chambered weapons.[10] The cartridge can be extremely accurate to 300 yards (270 m) and beyond, but may not retain enough terminal energy to reliably drop medium game at that distance.[4][11][12] Highly experienced hunters use the .243 Winchester to routinely drop bucks up to 250 pounds (110 kg),[2] while less experienced hunters can be just as capable with the .243 because of its very low recoil yet high velocity.[7][11][13] Besides hunting applications, the cartridge is popular with target and metallic silhouette shooters for those same recoil and velocity properties, with superb accuracy.[12]

The .243 Winchester has regularly made the top five of rankings for "Best Whitetail Deer Hunting Cartridges" from sources such as Field and Stream[14] and Outdoor Life,[2][15] and its widespread popularity (called the "whitetail hunter's favorite" by the Browning Arms Company[16] and "American favorite" by American Rifleman[7]) assures chamberings in newly manufactured offerings of not only bolt-action rifles, but also semiautomatic rifles (e.g., Browning BAR and AR-10 platforms), lever action rifles (e.g., Henry Long Ranger and Browning BLR), and even pump action rifles (e.g., Remington 7600).[2] Gun Digest estimates that (as of the end of 2018) the .243 Winchester is the second-most popular of all hunting rifle chamberings (after the long action .30-06).[17]

History

[edit]

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: ".243 Winchester" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Field and Stream editor and Harvard-educated[18] technical gun enthusiast Warren Page began experimenting with wildcatting a .243 caliber (6.2mm) round in the 1940s sometime after the 6mm Lee Navy was discontinued.[19] When the .308 Winchester was introduced in 1952, Page started necking down the .308 design into a new .243 wildcat cartridge.[17] After Page's hunting success with and much writing about this new version, Winchester developed a factory loaded .243 soon thereafter.[19] It was first introduced in 1955 for the Winchester Model 70 bolt-action and Model 88 lever-action sporting rifles and quickly gained popularity among sportsmen worldwide.[20]

It was a ground-breaking development with at first only two factory loads, combining a versatile and effective combination of 80-grain bullets optimized for high-velocity, long-range performance for varmint hunters (e.g., groundhogs, coyotes, prairie dogs) and 100-grain bullets suitable for game up to the size of deer and pronghorn antelope. Its predecessor in the Winchester lineup, the very similar .257 Roberts, could have easily been selected to accomplish the same tasks, but was not available factory loaded with either lighter, varmint-weight bullets or pointed, long range spitzer bullets, so it never achieved the popularity of the newer round.

Remington also saw the 6 mm (.243 in) family as suitable for this dual-purpose use and introduced their version, the .244 Remington, in the same year (1955) based upon the .257 Roberts necked down to accept .243 bullets up to 90 grains in weight. The Winchester round remains available today whereas the .244 Remington, later renamed the 6mm Remington with the introduction of 100-grain bullets, is far less popular even though it can push all bullet weights slightly faster with maximum loads due to the larger capacity case. The fact that the .243 Win was originally offered in a 1 in 10 inch rifling twist rate, a rate better able to stabilize heavier, 100- and 105-grain bullets, versus the .244 Remington's 1 in 12 inch twist (hence the 90-grain factory offering) was also a factor in their popularity.

Since the enactment of the Deer Act 1963 in the United Kingdom, which stipulates a minimum bullet diameter of .240 inches, together with minimum levels of muzzle velocity and bullet energy, the .243 has long been perceived as the entry-level caliber for legal deer-stalking.[9] Firearms that would normally be chambered in .308 Winchester/7.62×51mm NATO are sometimes available in .243 in countries–such as Spain–whose regulations restrict or forbid private ownership of so-called military calibers (restricted to bolt action-repeating rifles). No military is known to currently designate this round for service.

In a non-sporting context, bolt-action rifles chambered for the .243 were utilized by the Los Angeles Police Department's special weapons and tactics (SWAT) unit during its early years.[21] A specialist 115-grain projectile can move up to 3,150 fps from a 28-inch barrel, or over 3,000 fps from a 26-inch barrel.[22]

P. O. Ackley created an improved version of this cartridge called the .243 Winchester Improved (Ackley).[23] Like other improved cartridges, this created a steeper shoulder and blew the sides out, giving about 10% more powder capacity, and some small improvement in velocity.

Performance

[edit]

Performance-wise, the .243 Winchester closely matches the 6mm Creedmoor but the .243 Win has more bullet and casing options, as well as more factory loadings and firearm options available.[24] The .243 Win also has slightly more powder room, while the 6mm Creedmoor is usually loaded to slightly higher pressures.[24]

With very little recoil, even less[25] than that of the .30-30 Winchester cartridge introduced sixty years earlier, the .243 brought higher chamber pressures, larger powder volumes, and sharply tipped bullets, which all combine to lend the .243 more muzzle energy and far greater downrange energy than the .30-30 is able to achieve.[2] The .243 Winchester has also been found to shoot flatter and more accurately than the 7mm-08 Remington out to 500 yards, with less recoil yet also less terminal energy.[11]

The recoil has been measured to be so light that it "can be shot by anyone that can handle a rifle."[26] Among popular small-bore rifle ammunition the .243 does have approximately three times the recoil factor of the .223 Remington and twice the recoil factor of the .22-250 Remington, but only half the recoil factor of the more powerful long action .25-06 Remington (without muzzle brakes).[26] As the .223 and .22-250 are not recommended for deer hunting,[27] the .243 has the lowest recoil factor among small bore deer hunting cartridges.[26]

Lack of overpenetration on medium game has traditionally been perceived either as a problem (lack of exit wounds and blood trails[2]) or as a feature ("uses up all the energy in the deer"[13]) of traditional lead .243 cartridges versus larger and heavier rounds, but monolithic copper .243 ammunition weighing as little as 80 grains (5.2 g) negates this characteristic and causes adequate penetration and blood trails through even larger-bodied medium game like wild hogs.[3]

The .243 produces a velocity of 3,200 feet (980 m) per second from factory-loaded expanding monolithic copper projectiles weighing 85 grains (5.5 g) fired from a 24-inch (610 mm) barrel.[28] Other variations of commercially loaded .243 ammunition are available with bullet weights ranging from 55 grains (3.6 g) up to 115 grains (6.8 g). Twist rate of the barrel can sometimes be a factor in deciding which bullets to use, 1:10 being the most popular as it is sufficient to stabilize up to 100 gr bullets. However, for very low drag-profile or bullets heavier than 100 gr, a 1:8 or 1:7 (for 115 gr VLD bullets) is necessary.[29]

Some 243 Winchester cartridges (circle size proportional to recoil)

• Game class vs 6 in maximum point blank range
• Sectional density vs ballistic coefficient

Platforms

[edit]

Manufacturer	Model	Type	Country
Chattahoochee Munitions	CM10 [30]	Semi-automatic rifle	United States

See also

[edit]

• .22 CHeetah
• .243 Winchester Super Short Magnum
• .308 Winchester
• 6 mm caliber
• 6mm Remington
• Delta L problem
• List of firearms
• List of rifle cartridges
• Sectional density
• Table of handgun and rifle cartridges

References

[edit]

1. ^ ".243 Winchester Brass Weight and Capacity Tested". AccurateShooter.com, September 25, 2008. Accessed March 8, 2021.
2. ^ a b c d e f Ron Spomer. "Whitetail Deer Cartridge Shoot-Out: .30-30 Win. vs. .243 Win. vs. .30-06 Springfield". Outdoor Life, October 28, 2019. Accessed March 2, 2021.
3. ^ a b "6mm - Barnes TTSX". Terminal Ballistics Research. Accessed March 8, 2021
4. ^ a b ".243 Winchester". Terminal Ballistics Research. Accessed March 2, 2021
5. ^ ".243 Winchester 85gr. Controlled Chaos Solid Monolithic Hunting & Self Defense Ammo". Description. Underwood Ammo. Accessed March 6, 2021
6. ^ Chuck Hawks. "The .243 Winchester". ChuckHawks.com. 2004. Accessed March 4, 2021.
7. ^ a b c John Haviland. "An American Favorite: The .243 Winchester". American Rifleman, November 18, 2013. Accessed March 2, 2021.
8. ^ "Which AR-15 Can You Hunt With?". Stag Arms. Accessed March 2, 2021.
9. ^ a b "Deer Act 1963 Chapter 36". The National Archives. Schedule 2: "Prohibited Firearms and Ammunition". 1963. Accessed March 2, 2021.
10. ^ "Deer Stalking Code of Practice".
11. ^ a b c Ron Spomer. "243 Winchester Versus 7mm-08 Remington". Ron Spomer Outdoors, November 25, 2019. Accessed March 3, 2021.
12. ^ a b Gary Zinn. "The .243 Winchester: Its Capabilities as a Deer Cartridge". Chuckhawks.com. 2017. Accessed March 2, 2021.
13. ^ a b William W (Bill) Goddard. "BEST CALIBER FOR DEER HUNTING". Mossy Oak, November 13, 2018. Accessed March 6, 2021.
14. ^ Jeff Johnston. "11 Best Rifle Cartridges for Whitetail Deer". Field and Stream, August 22, 2019. Accessed March 3, 2021.
15. ^ Bryce M. Towsley. "Top 10 Cartridges for Hunting Whitetail Deer". Outdoor Life, September 14, 2017. Accessed March 3, 2021.
16. ^ "BAR Mark III Archived 2020-12-25 at the Wayback Machine". Browning Arms Company. Accessed March 4, 2021.
17. ^ a b Gun Digest Editors. "Ammo Brief: The Versatile .243 Winchester". Gun Digest, December 26, 2018. Accessed March 6, 2021
18. ^ "Warren Page, 67, Ex-Gun Editor Of Field and Stream Magazine". The New York Times, January 24, 1977. Accessed March 6, 2021.
19. ^ a b Mike Ramienta. ".25-06 Remington vs. .243 Winchester: The Better Overbore". Gun News daily, August 17, 2020. Accessed March 6, 2021.
20. ^ Cartridges of the World 8th Edition, Book by Frank C. Barnes, DBI Books, 1997, ISBN 0-87349-178-5
21. ^ Cobb, Kenneth (June 27, 2009). "The .243 Winchester has been the subject of praise and criticism". The Inter-Mountain. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
22. ^ "243 Win Cartridge Guide". accurateshooter.com.
23. ^ Handbook for Shooters & Reloaders vol I, Book by P.O. Ackley; Plaza Publishing, 1962, ISBN 978-99929-4-881-1 p.305
24. ^ a b Chuck Hawks. "Compared: .243 Winchester and 6mm Creedmoor". ChuckHawks.com. Accessed January 29, 2022.
25. ^ "Recoil Energy Calculator". ShootersCalculator.com. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
26. ^ a b c "RECOIL!'. AccurateReloading.com, April 29, 2000. Accessed March 9, 2021.
27. ^ Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading. Fourth Edition (1996).
28. ^ Barnes TSX 243 Win. Federal Premium Ammunition. Accessed March 9, 2021.
29. ^ "Twist Rate - Everything You Need To Know!". Rifle Shooter. Fieldsports Press Ltd. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
30. ^ "CM10". 2025-03-10. Retrieved 2025-03-10.

External links

[edit] Wikimedia Commons has media related to .243 Winchester.

• .243 Winchester Cartridge Guide by AccurateShooter.com
• Cartridge Dimensions

v t e Cartridges derived from the .30-03 Springfield
Prototype	.30-01 Thick-Rim
First generation	Based on .30-03 Springfield .30-06 Springfield
Second generation	Based on .30-06 Springfield .250 Savage .25-06 Remington 6.5-06 A-Square .270 Winchester .280 Remington .30-06 JDJ .338-06 .35 Whelen .400 Whelen .44 AMP .50 BMG 7mm Backcountry wildcat cartridges
Third generation	Based on .250 Savage .22-250 Remington 6 mm XC .250 Ackley Improved .300 Savage Based on .280 Remington .280 Ackley Improved Based on .50 BMG .416 Barrett .460 Steyr .510 DTC EUROP .55 Boys 14.5mm JDJ
Fourth generation	Based on .300 Savage .308 Winchester/7.62×51mm NATO Based on .22-250 Remington .22-250 Ackley Improved
Fifth generation	Based on .308 Winchester .22 CHeetah .243 Winchester 6.45×48mm XPL Swiss .260 Remington 7mm-08 Remington .307 Winchester .308×1.5-inch Barnes 7.62×51mm CETME .338 Federal .358 Winchester .45 Raptor
Sixth generation	Based on .243 Winchester .243 Ackley Improved Based on .307 Winchester .356 Winchester .308 Marlin Express Based on .308×1.5-inch Barnes .22 BR Remington 6mm BR .30 BR
Seventh generation	Based on 6mm BR 5 mm/35 SMc 6mm Dasher 7mm BR Remington Based on .22 BR .20 BR
Eighth generation	Based on 7mm BR Remington .338 Whisper
Related	.30 Thompson Center

v t e Winchester firearms and cartridges
Rifles	Lever-action Henry rifle Model 1866 Model 1873 Model 1876 Model 1886 Model 1892 Model 1894 Model 1895 Model 53 Model 55 Model 64 Model 65 Model 71 Model 88 Model 150 Model 250 Model 255 Model 9422 Bolt-action Model 1878 Hotchkiss Model 1895 Lee Navy Model 1900 Model 1902 Model 1904 Model 43 Model 47 Model 51 Imperial Model 52 Model 54 Model 56 Model 57 Model 58 Model 59 Model 60 Model 60A Model 67 Model 68 Model 69 Model 70 Model 72 Model 75 Model 121 Model 131 Model 141 Model 320 Model 325 Model 670 Model 770 Pump-action Model 1890 Model 1906 Model 61 Model 62 Model 62A Model 270 Semi-automatic Model 1903 Model 1905 Model 1907 Model 1910 Model 30 Model 63 Model 74 Model 77 Model 100 Model 190 Model 290 Model 490 M1 carbine Full-automatic Olin/Winchester FAL Model 1917 WAR Falling-block action Model 1885
Shotguns	Pump-action Model 1893 Model 1897 Model 1912 Model 25 Model 42 Model 1200 Model 1300 Lever-action Model 1887 Model 1901 Model 9410 Single-shot Model 20 Model 36 Model 37 Model 37A Model 41 Double-barrel Model 21 Model 24 Model 96 Model 101 Semi-automatic Model 1911 SL Model 40 Model 50 Model 59 Model 1400 Model 1500 SX-1
Cartridges	.17 Winchester Super Magnum .22 Magnum (WMR) .218 Bee .219 Zipper .22 Hornet .220 Swift .223 Winchester Super Short Magnum .225 Winchester .243 Winchester .243 Winchester Super Short Magnum .25-20 Winchester .256 Winchester Magnum .25-35 Winchester .264 Winchester Magnum .270 Winchester .270 Winchester Short Magnum 6.8 Western 7mm Winchester Short Magnum .284 Winchester .30 carbine .30-30 Winchester .307 Winchester .308 Winchester .300 Winchester Short Magnum .300 Winchester Magnum .32 Winchester Special .32-20 Winchester .325 Winchester Short Magnum .33 Winchester .338 Winchester Magnum .345 Winchester Self-Loading .348 Winchester .35 Winchester .35 Winchester Self-Loading .350 Legend .351 Winchester Self-Loading .356 Winchester .358 Winchester .375 Winchester .38-40 Winchester .38-55 Winchester .38-56 WCF .38-72 Winchester .40-60 Winchester .40-72 Winchester .400 Legend .401 Winchester Self-Loading .405 Winchester .44 Henry .44-40 Winchester .45-60 Winchester .45-75 Winchester .458 Winchester Magnum .50-110 Winchester