| .243 Winchester | ||
|---|---|---|
.243 Winchester cartridge |
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| Type | Rifle | |
| Place of origin | USA | |
| Production history | ||
| Designer | Winchester | |
| Manufacturer | Winchester | |
| Produced | 1955 | |
| Variants | .243 Winchester Improved (Ackley) | |
| Specifications | ||
| Parent case | .308 Winchester | |
| Bullet diameter | .24 in (6.1 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) | |
| Rifling twist | 1-10 | |
| Primer type | Large Rifle | |
| Ballistic performance | ||
| Bullet weight/type | Velocity | Energy |
| 55 gr (3.6 g) BT | 4,058 ft/s (1,237 m/s) | 2,012 ft·lbf (2,728 J) |
| 65 gr (4.2 g) BT | 3,746 ft/s (1,142 m/s) | 2,026 ft·lbf (2,747 J) |
| 75 gr (4.9 g) HP | 3,447 ft/s (1,051 m/s) | 1,979 ft·lbf (2,683 J) |
| 90 gr (5.8 g) SP | 3,203 ft/s (976 m/s) | 2,051 ft·lbf (2,781 J) |
| 105 gr (6.8 g) BT | 2,986 ft/s (910 m/s) | 2,080 ft·lbf (2,820 J) |
| Source(s): Hodgdon http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp | ||
The .243 Winchester is a popular sporting rifle cartridge. Initially designed as a varmint round, it is now more frequently used on medium to large game such as whitetail deer, mule deer, pronghorn, wild hogs, and even black bear and caribou. However, due to the smaller caliber bullet used, its suitability for large animals is dependent on skill level and the hunter's ability to make a clean and accurate shot. The .243 is based on a necked down .308 cartridge case and is known widely for its accuracy, flat trajectory, and relatively mild recoil.
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This cartridge was first introduced in 1955 for Winchester's Model 70 bolt-action and Model 88 lever-action sporting rifles and quickly gained popularity among sportsmen worldwide.[1] Just about every major manufacturer offers rifles chambered in .243.
Since the enactment of the Deer Act 1963 in the United Kingdom, which stipulated a minimum bullet diameter of .240 in., together with minimum levels of muzzle velocity and bullet energy, the .243 is now perceived as the entry-level caliber for legal deer-stalking. Firearms that would normally be chambered in .308 Winchester/7.62x51mm NATO are sometimes available in .243 in countries – such as France and Spain – whose regulations restrict or forbid private ownership of so-called military calibers.
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.[2]
P. O. Ackley created an improved version of this cartridge called the .243 Winchester Improved (Ackley).[3] Like other improved cartridges, this created a steeper shoulder and blew the sides out, plus slightly lengthens the case, giving about 10% more powder capacity, and some small improvement in velocity. Both versions of the .243 cartridge are good for hunting deer.
The .243 produces a velocity of 2,960 feet (902.21 m) per second with a 100 grain (6.6 gram) projectile from a 24-inch (610 mm) barrel. Commercially loaded .243 ammunition is available with bullet weight ranging from 55 grains (3.6 g) up to 115 grains (6.8 g), twist rate of barrel is the major deciding factor in which bullets to use, 1:10 being the most popular as it is sufficient to stabilize up to 100gr bullets however for VLD (very low drag) profile bullets and bullets heavier than 100gr a 1:8 or 1:7(for 115 gr VLD bullets) is necessary.
The .243 has gained substantial worldwide popularity, and commercially loaded ammunition is easy to find on every continent. Along with the .270 Winchester, the .308 Winchester, .223 Remington, and .30-'06, it is among the most popular and widely available of all centrefire cartridges.
