.243 Winchester

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.243 Winchester
.243 Winchester cartridge
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	.243 in (6.2 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^[quantify] used on medium to large game such as whitetail deer, mule deer, pronghorn,and wild hogs.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.

History

.243 Winchester Improved (left) and .243 Winchester (right)

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, giving about 10% more powder capacity, and some small improvement in velocity. Both versions of the .243 cartridge are good for hunting deer.

Performance

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 100-gr. bullets. However, for VLD (very low drag)-profile and bullets heavier than 100 grs., 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.^{[citation needed]}

(Left to Right) .223 Remington, .243 Winchester, .308 Winchester

See also

• List of firearms
• List of rifle cartridges
• .243 WSSM
• 6mm Remington
• Delta L problem
• Sectional density
• 7.62 mm caliber
• 6.8 mm Remington SPC

References

External links

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

v t e Winchester Firearms and Cartridges Rifles Model 43 Model 47 Model 51 Model 52 Model 53 Model 54 Model 55 Model 56 Model 57 Model 58 Model 59 Model 60 Model 60A Model 61 Model 62 Model 62A Model 63 Model 64 Model 65 Model 67 Model 68 Model 69 Model 70 Model 71 Model 72 Model 74 Model 75 Model 77 Model 88 Model 100 Model 121 Model 131 Model 141 Model 150 Model 190 Model 250 Model 255 Model 270 Model 320 Model 325 Model 490 Model 670 Model 770 Model 1866 Model 1873 Model 1876 Model 1878 Hotchkiss Model 1885 Model 1886 Model 1890 Model 1892 Model 1893 Model 1894 Model 1895 Model 1895 Lee Model 1897 Model 1900 Model 1901 Model 1902 Model 1903 Model 1904 Model 1905 Model 1906 Model 1907 Model 1910 Model 9422 Shotguns Model 20 Model 21 Model 24 Model 25 Model 36 Model 37 Model 37A Model 40 Model 41 Model 42 Model 50 Model 59 Model 96 Model 101 Model 1200 Model 1300 Model 1400 Model 1500 Model 1887 Model 1901 Model 1911 SL Model 1912 Model 9410 SX-1 Cartridges .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 WCF .256 Winchester .25-35 Winchester .25 Winchester Super Short Magnum .264 Winchester Magnum .270 Winchester .270 Winchester Short Magnum 7mm Winchester Short Magnum .30-30 Winchester .307 Winchester .308 Winchester .300 Winchester Short Magnum .300 Winchester Magnum .32 Winchester Special .325 Winchester Short Magnum .33 Winchester .338 Winchester Magnum .348 Winchester .375 Winchester .458 Winchester Magnum