Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Minimizing - should I get rid of the .243 Win?

I'm currently rationalizing my rifles in order to reload for a fewer number of cartridges. I'm a recreational shooter who enjoys using hunting weight sporters mainly for target practice in field positions out to about 300 yards. Hunting is of much lesser import for me.

I have .223, .243, .308, and .375. The .223 and .308 stay for sure. I haven't really tried the .243 yet.

- Should I sell off the .243 Win in the middle, or are there reasons to load for it as a recreational non-hunting cartridge?

- Is the cost about the same as the .308 to shoot?

- Can the shorter barrel life be lengthened by loading heavier bullets to ~2700 fps or so? Will they always wear out faster than .308? Would 110 or 130 grain .308 bullets be a better choice than lightly loaded 100 grain .243?

I would ditch the 375 before any of the others

Get rid of most of them. Keep the .223 rem and buy a good 30-06...

I agree.

That and I'd not get rid of the 308 for a 30/06 as some have mentioned. That's about as stupid as it comes.

The nice thing about paper is any cartridge incl air rifles has sufficient power. I think it's you are keeping the best of the two rounds and don't think the 243 offers anything the other two won't cover. The 30-06 trade idea doesn't appeal to me . The one suggestion from me would be a good 22 rimfire

I wish you a long enough life and enough shooting opportunities to wear out the barrel on a 243.

Based on what you say your needs are, I'd ditch the 243. The 223 and 308, while being two of the absolutely, most boring cartridges on the face of the earth, are generally accurate and have all the same ground covered as the 243. Since hunting isn't a priority and your not smacking long range coyotes, something the 243 excels at, there really is no need for it in your arsenal based on your criteria. Nor is there for a 375 for that matter.

Never. The .243 is the one you should keep. And forget the .30-06 when you have a good .308.

Apparently some people missed the fact that you mostly shoot targets, but do hunt too, though hunting isn't as important.

The .243 will have the shortest barrel life of any. The other three will cover any centerfire hunting on earth.

My requirements for the range are different than for hunting. When shooting at the range, I want to shoot more rounds hence wanting less recoil. With that said, I'd much prefer to shoot a .243 over a .308 as it's more enjoyable to shoot for longer durations.

For hunting, I want something that I feel confident with and that has is sufficient for the game I'm after. If traveling to a new (rural) area to hunt, I want the ability to easily find factory ammo should I ever need it.

with the above said, I would have to ditch the .375 above all others and keep the .243. That is unless you plan on an African Safari.

Here's an idea- If you want to cut down your reloading, just stick the 243 in the back of the gun safe, and don't shoot it much. It keeps ALL your options open at not much additional cost. It is entirely possible with the current ammo situation that 243 bullets might be more available than 223 bullets or even 308 bullets.
Royce

I would keep the .243 and use varmint bullets for coyote,varmints and targets. You could always load 100 grain if you were invited on a deer hunt.

Or you could sell them all and get a 6.5 Creedmore.

The .375 would go first. The .243 second, mainly because you can get good, cheap, military brass for the other two and as JB mentioned, its barrel life is shorter, especially if you're pounding it hard at the range.

I've only had a .243 for a year and like it very much for the scrawny deer we have and really like the old Sako chambered for it, but I likely won't put even a hundred full-power rounds a year through it.

You're an idiot.

Exactly. I would much rather shoot .223 and .243 at the range than the bigger stuff.

...The .223 and .308 stay for sure...

You asked, and answered.

Very true!

Unless the type of game you intend to hunt requires it, I would consider selling the .375 and the .243 and adding a quality .22 to the arsenal. A nice CZ would work well. I would also then consider adding a 260 or 6.5 creede as well. Another fun option would be to add a 30-30 for relatively cheap paper punching and all around fun.

All I shoot is the 243.killed every thing with it from coyotes to elk. An extremely effective long range cartridge. Anyone who has ever had one very long, and shot it very much, usually keeps them. Long slick bullets shoot like a laser. Can't go wrong with a 223 or a 308 either.

I was in agreement with the poster's statement of getting rid of the 375. I would keep the rest.