Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Which .243?

I figured out that I "need" a .243, because I do not have one. (Actually, I have a New England Firearms single-shot in .243, but it's a youth model, and too short for me. I'll save it for young shooters, or perhaps grandkids down the road.) Although I have plenty of deer rifles, I likely will use this one for deer occasionally, so I'd much prefer that it shoots 100 grain bullets well. That means 1 in 10" twist is out. Kimber and Tikka both use 1 in 10" twist, so I'm looking past them. I am interested in accuracy, and lean toward a synthetic stock. The Ruger American gets great reviews, and, right now, the Ruger American All Weather is my front runner. Since this is more of a knock-around gun than anything, I do not want to spend an exorbitant amount, probably under $700. Anything out there better than the RAR, given my criteria?

A 1 in 10 will shoot a 100 grain just fine

Howa 1500...twice the gun as the Ruger American, IMO.

10" twist won't work with 100gr Bullets??? You'd have a hard time convincing my pre64 FWT That it can't shoot 100 grainers accurately!! The 10" twist in M70's is the reason the 243 killed the 244.


Having said that, I'm quite impressed with the value and accuracy of my RAR 243.

I have read many reports that SOME rifles with a 1 in 10" twist will not stabilize SOME 100 grainers, but I freely admit that I have no experience with this, with regard to the .243. I was hoping to avoid this issue completely by finding a faster twist than 1 in 10.

i have a ruger all american in 270,i also have a 243 in rem sps. the ruger is mid 300,the rem 600

My top choice for an inexpensive 243 would be a stainless Marlin XS7, if you can find one of the Connecticut-built rifles. I have a CM XS7 in 243 that I keep at my MIL's ranch and it is a proven varmint killer with 80 grain Federal blue box factory ammo.

I like Howa 1500s and think that they are a particularly good buy from Whittaker's, as long as SAS is selling them for $330.

I have an RAR-Predator that is very accurate, mostly shooting 95 grain Federal Fusions and Winchester/Olin BTs. When I get some free time, I'm going to load some 75 grain VMax for it, as that has been a very accurate bullet in every rifle and cartridge that I've used it in. Actually, I'td start loading them today if Berry's had sent me the ammo boxes that I ordered from them a month ago.

Then, there is always the 700 ADL option from Wal-Mart for around $380. 24" barrels on the full size rifles or 20" barrels on the youth guns.

Or, use lighter bullets and not be limited on twist rate.

I shoot the 80 grain TTSX and they will go from brisket to tail of big whitetails, if needed. They shoot great in a 9 or 10 twist. Some also use the 90 grain Partitions.

Remington, Savage & Ruger all have a faster twist

CDNN has most Ruger Hawkeye models for $499, or they did recently. I've handled a few RARs and they shoot well, but I still think the Hawkeye is a lot more rifle.

I also agree on the Marlin XS7 as a great choice.

I figure a 10 twist should shoot just about any hunting style bullet. The only thing you'll have trouble with is the long boattail target bullets, and even factory 9 twists may not shoot them. Most of those type bullets are recommended for 8 twist barrels.

I have a CZ 550 .243 with a supposedly 1/10 twist that refuses to shoot 100gr bullets (Core-Lokt handloads). Having said that, it will bughole Sierra 85 gr HPBTs.

I have a Marlin XS7 Stainless I picked up for around 3 bills. It shoots 100s fine and 85 TSXs well.

At the risk of showing this again, I recently picked up a 700ADL in 243. The Rem has a 9.1 twist. Didn't want the 24" barrel...







First day out with the Wal Mart Remmy, the laminate stock and handloads I developed for the Marlin:

Not sure if they are still available but CDNN had the synthetic/blued Marlin XS7s for $249. If I was in the market for another knock around .243, that would be high on my list.

It should!

Here's what an old push-feed Model 70 "Sporter Varminter" will do with a 10 twist. The target on the far left is my Varmint load with a 58 Vmax (5 shots). The other two were shot with 85TSXs driven a little over listed max (3 shots).

They still have the XS7s in 243, 7mm-08, and 308 for $249.99. I bought 2 of them in 243 for a couple of kids in Vermont after I couldn't find a better deal. If you can get some other guys to go in with you on a purchase, CDNN will ship up to 5 rifles for a flat rate of $15.

I didn't know that Winchester ever made 243 with anything except a 1-10" ROT.

Since having a 1-12" ROT was the primary nail in the 244's coffin, driven by the 1-10" ROT 243, I'm surprised to learn that Winchester would ever make a 1-12" ROT 243.

My Marlin XS7 does pretty darn well. I use it as a truck gun and loaner on the farm. Shoots 85 TSXs well and 100 Sierras better.

My bad- I will edit my post above for accuracy. The Winchester is a 10 twist. It's the old 6mm (I had) that is 12 twist.

I just went through the same process with the same caliber for the same reasons.

What "I" found is I didn't want a clip magazine, I wanted great accuracy - box stock - out of the bolt action and barrel, and I wanted a popular action to build on if the urge struck me. I was going to put on a 2 x 7 scope with a small objective, I wanted a good adjustable trigger, I would have liked a fancy finish but I did not get that one.

After weighing all of those options for the intended purpose of deer hunting Blacktail and Mulies I decided on the SPS model 700 Remington.

I found a BuckMaster edition at my local gun store that had gone on sale for $479 and I was in. I plan on adding the H-S Precision stock and Ceracoat and I will be done.

The thing shoots sub MOA @ 100 and one inch groups at two hundred with all of the factory furniture and the VX-III. Factory Fusion @ 95 grain.

I am a Winchester guy for more years than I can count but I gotta admit I am happy with the build so far.

quote" this one for deer occasionally, so I'd much prefer that it shoots 100 grain bullets well. That means 1 in 10" twist is out. Kimber and Tikka both use 1 in 10" twist, so I'm looking past them." shocking. my sako w 10 twist for 1967 are amazing.

kimber and tikka are among the better ones. I would get a sako.

My older (90's era) Ruger M77 MK II stainless .243 has a 1:9 twist.

Berger even makes their classic 95 grain specifically for 1:10 twist. That gets you a .427 BC.

I have 243s in Winchester, Remington, and Ruger 77 Mk2...

only the Winchester is 1 in 10... which will shoot the 105 BTHP just fine as also the old Speer 105 grain SP...

Picking up another, I'd just on the Marlin for $250 first, followed by the Howa from Whittaker Guns for $330.

the older I get the more I appreciate the cartridge...

WHICH 100 gr bullets are you wanting to shoot? A lot of the problems you read about with a 10 twist and the 100-105 range of bullets, are usually the long target bullets like the AMAX, Lapua and Bergers. That there, is a whole different bag of nuts. Standard hunting bullets will be much shorter and should work just fine.

When I was recently looking for a 243 (had hundreds of brass, 500 bullets, dies, etc....but no gun) I was REAL temped on the RAR. Should have picked up the used one for 299 at BPS, but I passed in the end because I found a sale on a 1:8 bbl for my Encore. I don't think you'd go wrong with the RAR or the Marlin. Way under your budget, so that will allow some more cash for the glass!

If you're gonna connect many dots you'll need 105's and a fast twist. Or so I've read. I use Federal blue box 100's.

1Nut - +1. Purchased a New Haven Marlin XS7C (camo synthetic stock), in .243W, before Marlin left NH to become part of Remington's new 'empire' - fit and finish great. It shots MOA or better with 100gr factory ammo. On par with a newer .243W RAR Predator that has a slightly heavier barrel. Actually feeds better (blind mag) then the RAR from its newer rotary DBM's.
The XS7C replaced a way older M700 BDL dating to the 70's that was sold. Love the cartridge. Homesteader

Don't want to be 'that' guy but what about just getting a 6mm Rem? 1-9 twist. Mine shoots 85 and 105's that shoot both to same tight poi with IMR 4350. Just an idea.

Good luck finding a new 6mm..... or ammo, or brass. Always wanted one, but finally sucked it up and went .243. 1-10 is fine for 100gr NPs, Sierra PHs, 95gr BTs, etc. Unless you're shooting across a fiord (hint), it'll work.

I haven't had any problems finding anything for mine but I neck size and can reuse brass time and time again. I haven't heard anyone with problems shooting 100 grainers out of a 243. I have a batch of 105 grains gifted to me (thank you EFW) that work fine in the 6mm. A non issue but wonder how they would work in a 243. I have found twist rates are a guide but not an absolute.