Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association
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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Brookhaven, Pennsylvania
    (Delaware County)
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    183
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    1053326

    Default Ya gotta love .243

    Whenever I run into guys starting hunting in Pennsylvania they ask me what caliber to buy.

    Most of them are indoctrinated into the old American idea that "Any problem can be solved by the application of massive firepower". I mean lots of guys think that the bigger the caliber, the better the kill. Like many guys who buy 300 WIN MAG for their first deer gun.

    It's no argument that the good old 30-30 is THE whitetail gun for Pennsylvania hunting but what if you also want to do chucks or turkey, etc.

    That's where the magnificent .243 comes into it's own.

    Low recoil, great accuracy and the ability to be variable for deer and varmints.

    According to Federal Cartridge Co. the .243 is the TOP selling cartridge above .22 cal.

    And RCBS it's in the top 30 cartridges for die sales.

    I would also say that for the 6mm Remington which is practically the same but harder to get ammo locally.

    There are other calibers that are great for deer but I think .243 is very desirable for the bulk of PA hunters.

    The other really amazing caliber for PA is the 6.5x55mm
    Designed in 1895 but totally ignored by US hunters until recently when
    it's potential finally became recognized.

    It ranks up there with 30-06 as one of the world greatest cartridges.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Central Pa, Pennsylvania
    (Cumberland County)
    Posts
    298
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    21474851

    Default Re: Ya gotta love .243

    I've only taken two shots at a deer in my life. Both were a kill. Tons of chucks from my gal's dad's back 40 - 50yds to 270yds (some luck involved in that one).

    An excellent caliber for the game mentioned.



    fritz
    Obama. AYFKM?! / Pravda vit'azi.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    FTKC, Pennsylvania
    (Butler County)
    Posts
    1,790
    Rep Power
    6141749

    Default Re: Ya gotta love .243

    I agree with the 6.5 comment. I really like it. Not the most powerful but it's served me well.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
    (Allegheny County)
    Posts
    33,571
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    21474887

    Default Re: Ya gotta love .243

    Yeah, 243, 244. Whatever it takes.






    According to Federal Cartridge Co. the .243 is the TOP selling cartridge above .22 cal.
    Seriously? I've never even heard of it. (seriously)
    I called to check my ZIP CODE!....DY-NO-MITE!!!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    On the range, Pennsylvania
    (Berks County)
    Posts
    3,739
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    21474851

    Default Re: Ya gotta love .243

    Yeah, that's been around for a long time. I never had one but used to hunt with guys that owned rifles chambered in that caliber.

    Good round to own. As you stated, it can be used for many different things.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Kepler-22b
    Posts
    3,760
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    2946389

    Default Re: Ya gotta love .243

    I use the same 6mm bullet the USDA uses on deer. It kills them dead.
    Quote Originally Posted by dkf View Post
    Official Gun Bully and corn flakes pisser inner since March 2007.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Lancaster, Pennsylvania
    (Lancaster County)
    Posts
    4,879
    Rep Power
    21474857

    Default Re: Ya gotta love .243

    I'd say both the 6.5x55 and the .30-06 gain a lot from modern powders and bullet offerings not available at their inception. Loaded up to what we can do now, they can equal or beat stuff created after them to work past their limitations they had then. This really has me getting the itch for a .243 or Swede in heavy barrel....
    Last edited by Yellowfin; September 30th, 2014 at 02:26 PM.
    "You can't stop insane people from doing insane things by passing insane laws--that's insane!" -- Penn Jillette

    "To my mind it is wholly irresponsible to go into the world incapable of preventing violence, injury, crime, and death. How feeble is the mindset to accept defenselessness. How unnatural. How cheap. How cowardly. How pathetic." -- Ted Nugent

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Penfield, Pennsylvania
    (Clearfield County)
    Posts
    60
    Rep Power
    18

    Default Re: Ya gotta love .243

    My 243 is a Stevens 200, cant imagine any better weapon for Pa hunting.

    Next Stop,,, Willoughby !

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Prospect, Pennsylvania
    (Butler County)
    Posts
    306
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    41103

    Default Re: Ya gotta love .243

    And, in the right setup, it is a 1000 yard capable cartridge. If .223 can't get the job done I think the .243 is the next best option.

    Bill

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Ev, Pennsylvania
    (Bedford County)
    Posts
    429
    Rep Power
    1009623

    Default Re: Ya gotta love .243

    .243 is my dads deer gun and groundhog gun of choice. Ruger m77. That is a great caliber. If I were to buy another bolt gun it would be that.

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