Attempting to resolve between the 223 Remington and 243 Winchester cartridges? Right here’s what it is advisable learn about them.
I believe most hunters would agree that the 223 Remington and 243 Winchester each unbelievable cartridges for looking quite a lot of recreation. Nonetheless, whereas there’s numerous overlap of their capabilities, there are some important variations between the 243 vs 223 cartridges you ought to be conscious of.
Sadly, it’s typically exhausting to separate truth from fiction or to find out the true capabilities of a cartridge nowadays. As you’ll study right here shortly, each cartridges are finest fitted to totally different duties, however might be tailored to different makes use of to a sure diploma by switching bullet weights and kinds.
On this article, I’m going to analyze the 243 vs 223 debate intimately and supply some perception into which cartridge is healthier fitted to varied conditions so you may make an knowledgeable determination on which one will work finest for you.
Earlier than we get began, I’ve two administrative notes for you.
First, although the .223 Remington and the 5.56x45mm NATO are technically totally different cartridges, the sensible distinction in efficiency between the .223 vs 5.56 may be very small and doesn’t make any distinction for the needs of this text. Use excessive warning when making an attempt to interchange the .223 Remington and 5.56x45mm NATO cartridges although.
For a extra detailed dialogue on the variations between the .223 Remington and 5.56x45mm NATO cartridges, learn this text: 5.56x45mm NATO vs .223 Remington
Subsequent, a few of the hyperlinks beneath are affiliate hyperlinks. This implies I’ll earn a small fee (at no additional value to you) in case you make a purchase order. This helps assist the weblog and permits me to proceed to create free content material that’s helpful to hunters like your self. Thanks in your assist.
Historical past Of The 223 Remington and 243 Winchester
The story of the .243 Winchester and the .223 Remington each start with the .308 Winchester.
Winchester unveiled the cartridge we now know because the .308 Winchester again in 1952 and the brand new cartridge rapidly developed a repute for accuracy, energy, and effectivity with hunters and shooters. As is the case with many good cartridges, wildcatters and gun designers began modifying the .308 Winchester to develop new and extra specialised wildcat cartridges virtually instantly after it hit the market.
Amongst others, the .260 Remington, 7mm-08 Remington, .338 Federal, and .358 Winchester are all descended from the .308 Winchester as designers necked the case up or down as essential to shoot smaller or bigger 6.5mm, 7mm, .33 caliber, or .35 caliber bullets respectively.
Experiments with necking down the .308 to shoot smaller, 6mm/.243″ bullets yielded one of many first cartridges descended from the .308 Winchester in 1955: the .243 Winchester.
By necking down the .308 case to shoot smaller caliber bullets, the designers of the .243 Winchester constructed a cartridge with the next velocity, flatter trajectory, and fewer recoil than the .308 Winchester.
The brand new .243 Winchester actually caught on with a phase of the looking inhabitants that needed a flat capturing and light-weight recoiling rifle cartridge that was nonetheless highly effective sufficient to cleanly take large recreation like deer and pronghorn.
Able to capturing heavy in addition to gentle bullets with superb accuracy, the .243 Winchester was additionally an ideal varmint looking cartridge and efficiently bridged the hole between conventional varmint cartridges of the day just like the .22 Hornet and .220 Swift on one hand and widespread large recreation looking cartridges just like the .270 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield on the opposite.
Whereas the .243 Winchester was certainly a really properly designed and really efficient cartridge, there are many good cartridges that don’t expertise industrial success for one purpose or one other. Luckily for the .243 Winchester, Area & Stream editor Warren Web page extolled the virtues of the .243 in his columns.
Much like what Jack O’Connor did for the .270 Winchester at Out of doors Life, Web page’s columns virtually definitely helped drive demand for the .243 Winchester.
Nonetheless, the .243 additionally obtained one thing of an unintended help from Remington after they launched the competing .244 Remington the identical yr Winchester launched the .243. Designed by necking down a .257 Roberts case (itself a necked down 7x57mm Mauser) to .243 caliber, the .244 Remington had a small ballistic benefit over the .243 Winchester.
Nonetheless, Large Inexperienced made the unlucky preliminary determination to make use of a slower 1:12″ rifling twist of their .244 Remington rifles. These rifles carried out very properly with lighter bullets to be used on smaller predators and varmints like coyotes, however they have been unable to stabilize the longer 100gr bullets that have been finest fitted to use on greater recreation like deer and antelope.
Since Winchester produced their .243 rifles with a quicker twist fee of 1:10″, they may precisely shoot heavier bullets along with lighter bullets and have been thus far more versatile than the .244 Remington initially.
Remington renamed the .244 the 6mm Remington a number of years later and began producing rifles with a 1:9 twist fee, however the injury had already been performed and the .243 Winchester was already properly established and had claimed nearly all of the 6mm centerfire rifle market share.
The .244/6mm Remington was not a industrial success for the corporate, however Remington did a lot better with one other cartridge they developed within the Fifties.
The US Navy started looking for a alternative for the comparatively new M-14 rifle and seven.62x51mm cartridge throughout the Fifties. They ultimately settled on the M-16 rifle and the excessive velocity 5.56x45mm cartridge, which was derived from the .222 Remington.
Remington noticed the potential for an incredible industrial alternative and developed a civilian model of the brand new cartridge that was extraordinarily comparable, however not similar to the 5.56 NATO cartridge. Formally standardized with SAAMI because the .223 Remington within the early Nineteen Sixties, the brand new cartridge was able to firing a 55 grain bullet at muzzle velocities approaching 3,300 toes per second (1,330 foot kilos of power).
The 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge had very comparable ballistics and the unique 5.56x45mm M193 ball load fired a .224″ 55 grain full steel jacket bullet at 3,250 toes per second (1,290 foot kilos of power).
Sadly, the 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge and M-16 rifle obtained off to a really tough begin in service with the U.S. Military and Marine Corps in Vietnam. Modifications to the rifle and ammunition solved many of the reliability issues that plagued the system throughout the warfare. Massive numbers of individuals within the U.S. army nonetheless had severe considerations relating to the stopping energy of the diminutive cartridge although.
This was very true for the brand new M855 load adopted with the M-16A2 rifle. Incorporating a brand new bullet design with a metal penetrator, the M855 load fired a 62 grain full steel jacket bullet at 3,025 toes per second (1,260 ft-lbs of power).
The M855 penetrates a lot better than the M193, however complaints in regards to the terminal efficiency of the 5.56x45mm cartridge from Troopers grew even louder after the brand new ball load noticed use in fight within the Nineties and early 2000s.
Civilian hunters who adopted the AR-15 and .223 Remington cartridge over the last couple a long time of the twentieth Century shared a lot of these considerations. The rifle and cartridge labored extraordinarily properly for predator/varmint looking and goal capturing, however the .223 Remington additionally developed a repute for unsatisfactory efficiency on greater recreation like deer.
With all that stated, the 223 Remington stays probably the most widespread cartridges in North America immediately. When it comes to ammo gross sales, it’s most likely the most well-liked centerfire rifle cartridge in the US.
The cartridge is extraordinarily widespread amongst those that take pleasure in capturing the AR-platform in addition to predator and varmint hunters. It’s additionally in quite common utilization with leisure shooters starting from informal plinking to extra severe aggressive capturing.
Moreover, whereas it’s nonetheless on the sunshine aspect for that form of work, advances in bullet expertise have made the 223 Remington far more efficient on deer sized recreation immediately than was the case even 10-20 years in the past.
243 Winchester and 223 Remington Cartridge Sizes
You’ll be able to see variations between the 223 Remington and the 243 Winchester within the pictures beneath.
First, the 223 Remington is bodily fairly a bit smaller than the 243 Winchester.
The 243 Winchester has an extended general size and makes use of an extended case size than the 223 Remington. The Winchester cartridge has an general size of two.71″ and makes use of a case 2.045″ lengthy. The 223 Remington has an general size of two.26″ and makes use of a 1.76″ lengthy case.
That stated, the 223 Remington is designed to be used in an AR-15, which might solely accommodate cartridges as much as 2.26″ lengthy. So, the 223 is the utmost dimension cartridge that may slot in an AR-15. The longer 243 Winchester is not going to slot in an AR-15 and requires using a bigger AR-10.
Each cartridges are generally present in short-action bolt motion rifles although.
The 243 has a bigger rim diameter than the .223 Remington as properly (.473″ vs .378″).
For all these causes, the 243 Winchester has fairly a bit extra case capability than the 223 Remington.
Bullet dimension is one other one of many different vital variations between the 243 vs 223 Remington. The 243 Winchester makes use of .243″ diameter bullets whereas the 223 Remington makes use of smaller .224″ bullets.
The 223 Remington is able to utilizing bullets within the 35-77 grain vary. Of those, 55 grain and 62 grain bullet weights are by far the commonest.
Alternatively, the overwhelming majority of 243 Winchester manufacturing facility hundreds shoot bullets within the 55-115 grain vary, with 55, 87, 90, and 100 grain bullets being the commonest.
The 243 Winchester can also be loaded to the next stress than the 223 Remington (60,000psi vs 55,000psi).
Word: whereas the powder capability figures listed beneath do give a great indication of the variations between the 2 cartridges, precise case capacities range barely in keeping with the model of brass used.
243 vs 223 Ballistics
As you possibly can most likely think about, the variations within the exterior dimensions of those cartridges additionally translate into some vital variations of their ballistic efficiency. That is illustrated within the desk beneath evaluating Hornady Superformance Varmint, Nosler Varmageddon, and Winchester Deer Season XP manufacturing facility ammunition.
Particularly, the 223 Remington hundreds use 35gr NTX (.177 BC), 55gr Varmageddon (.255 BC), and 64gr Excessive Level (.282 BC) bullets.
The 243 Winchester hundreds use 58gr V-Max (.250 BC), 70gr Varmageddon (.305 BC), and 95gr Excessive Level (.363 BC) bullets.
The Hornady hundreds use gentle for caliber varmint bullets fired at a really excessive velocity for every cartridge, the Nosler hundreds use mid-weight varmint bullets for every cartridge, and the Winchester hundreds use heavy for caliber bullets designed for deer looking. This enables us to conduct as near an “apples to apples” comparability as is feasible for each cartridges for varmint and deer looking functions.
All six hundreds used a 200 yard zero.
As you possibly can see, that light-weight 58gr 243 Winchester has by far the flattest trajectory of the group and has about 10″ much less bullet drop at 500 yards than the flattest capturing 223 Remington load. That 58gr load has a muzzle velocity over 800fps quicker than the 55gr 223 Remington load and makes use of a heavier and extra aerodynamic bullet than the marginally quicker 35gr 223 Remington load.
By the identical token, the 243 Winchester can also be able to firing 95gr bullet as quick or quicker than the 223 can hearth a 55gr or a 64gr bullet. That exact Deer Season XP load has 56-72% extra muzzle power than the varied 223 Remington hundreds. Because it makes use of a extra aerodynamic bullet, that edge in kinetic power grows as vary will increase.
That 243 load drops beneath 1,000 ft-lbs of power simply shy of 400 yards, however nonetheless has greater than double the retained kinetic power of essentially the most highly effective 223 load.
The chart beneath compares how a lot a ten mile per hour crosswind impacts those self same 223 Remington and 243 Winchester hundreds out to 500 yards.
That is one other space the place the 243 Winchester shines and the cartridge has a major benefit over the 223 Remington in any respect ranges by way of wind drift. It’s because the cartridge makes use of heavier and customarily extra aerodynamic bullets than the 223 Remington.
Whereas the 223 Remington is taken into account a excessive velocity cartridge, it’s additionally typically loaded with lighter bullets with a reasonably low BC that don’t retain power or resist wind deflection very properly.
Now let’s discuss recoil.
The desk beneath compares the recoil produced by handloads that approximate the efficiency of the Winchester manufacturing facility hundreds above firing the 64gr and 95gr bullets for the 223 Remington and 243 Winchester respectively when fired from similar 7 pound rifles.
Felt recoil will range from shooter to shooter and rifle to rifle, however free recoil power continues to be a helpful method to examine cartridges.
As you possibly can see, the .223 Remington has considerably much less recoil than the 243 Winchester.
In truth, the 243 Winchester has roughly 67% extra recoil! That’s actually saying one thing too as a result of the 243 Winchester is a really delicate recoiling cartridge itself.
All issues thought of, most hunters ought to have the ability to deal with recoil from the 243 Winchester with out an excessive amount of bother. The .223 Remington simply has a particularly delicate (virtually non-existent) recoil.
So, the .223 Remington has an enormous benefit on this respect, particularly for smaller or recoil shy hunters.
Don’t underestimate the affect that recoil has on the power of an individual to shoot precisely both.
Some individuals do deal with recoil higher than others, however all different issues being equal, they are going to completely shoot extra precisely with a milder recoiling cartridge.
What about 243 vs 223 accuracy?
The .223 Remington particularly has seen in depth use within the arms of competitors shooters and has an excellent repute in that space. Nonetheless, the 243 Winchester additionally excels in that space as properly and, if we’re being trustworthy, each cartridges are completely able to tack driving accuracy (sub-MOA, typically a lot better) in the precise arms.
Although the exceptionally delicate recoil of the .223 Rem provides that cartridge a bonus at brief vary (200 yards or much less), the 243 Winchester has an extended efficient vary and an enormous benefit at ranges previous 200 yards as a result of these heavier and extra aerodynamic bullets retain extra power and are much less vulnerable to wind drift.
Moreover, there are a few different elements which can be additionally value discussing.
First, the 243 Winchester makes use of bigger diameter bullets than the 223 Remington.
Particularly, the bigger diameter .243″ bullets utilized by the cartridge have about 18% extra frontal floor space (also referred to as cross sectional space) than the .224″ bullets utilized by the 223 Remington (.0464 vs .0394 sq. inches). All different issues being equal, an even bigger bullet will make an even bigger gap, trigger extra tissue injury, and end in extra blood loss.
It is a small, although particular benefit in favor of the 243 Winchester, particularly on greater recreation.
Particularly when mixed with the truth that the 243 Winchester carries extra kinetic power downrange, these bigger diameter bullets will also be useful when looking large recreation, particularly deer.
On the similar time, the bullets utilized by the 243 Winchester often have the next ballistic coefficient than these utilized by the 223 Remington.
The 6mm bore diameter can also be in one thing of a candy spot the place it’s simpler to fabricate very excessive BC bullets that’s aren’t particularly heavy (just like the Hornady ELD Match or ELD-X). These aerodynamic projectiles don’t decelerate as quick and are extra immune to wind drift.
That’s not a tough and quick rule. As an example, the 55gr .224″ V-Max has a .255 BC vs the .250 BC of the 58gr .243″ V-Max.
Nonetheless, it’s usually the case that .243″ bullets in the commonest weights will probably be extra aerodynamic than in any other case similar .224″ in the commonest bullet weights.
On the similar time, the 243 Winchester additionally has an edge over the .223 Remington in bullet sectional density.
Sectional density (SD) is a measure of the ratio of the diameter of a projectile to its mass.
All different issues equal, a heavier projectile of a given caliber will probably be longer and subsequently have the next sectional density and consequently penetrate deeper than projectiles with a decrease mass and sectional density.
For example, 58 grain, 87 grain, and 100 grain .243″ bullets have sectional densities of .140, .210 and .242 respectively.
This compares favorably to 55 grain, 62 grain, and 77 grain .224″ bullets which have sectional densities of .157, .177, and .219 respectively.
Whereas there’s a little bit of overlap in SD with the 2 cartridges, the heavier .243″ bullets supposed to be used on greater recreation (the place bullet penetration is extra vital) far outclass these utilized by the 223 Remington.
All issues thought of, the 243 Winchester is solely a considerably extra highly effective cartridge. It’s not a heavy hitter on the extent of cartridges just like the 7mm Rem Magazine or 300 Win Magazine, nevertheless it’s nonetheless in a very totally different league from the .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO.
223 vs 243 Barrel Life
Neither cartridge is understood for being notably exhausting on barrels. Nonetheless, the .243 Winchester will most likely burn out a given barrel a bit of quicker than the .223 Remington as a result of it makes use of a lot extra powder.
Precisely how briskly that happens is dependent upon quite a few elements like the standard of the barrel, the precise ammunition used, and so forth.
For severe goal shooters, this generally is a concern.
The excellent news for hunters is that typical barrel life for even the 243 Winchester is greater than sufficient to final for a few years of looking with no points. Precisely when the barrel is unusable is dependent upon the rifle in addition to the hunter in query and what kind of efficiency they count on from their rifle.
Those that need extraordinarily tight teams for lengthy vary capturing are most likely going to need to change their barrel out before these with barely decrease requirements.
All different issues being equal, the 223 Remington will most likely have an extended barrel life than the 243 Winchester, however the distinction might be not large enough for the common hunter to fret about until they’re placing A LOT of rounds downrange.
So the place will we stand with every cartridge?
243 vs 223
The 243 Winchester fires a bigger diameter, heavier, and extra aerodynamic bullet at a quicker velocity than the 223 Remington. Subsequently the 243 Winchester has extra recoil, a a lot flatter trajectory, extra resistance to wind drift, and carries extra retained kinetic power downrange than the 223 Remington.
223 vs 243 Ammo
Each cartridges are extraordinarily widespread amongst hunters and shooters everywhere in the world. Certainly, each are additionally probably within the Prime 10 hottest centerfire rifle cartridges in the US. Nonetheless, the 223 Remington is by far essentially the most extensively used of the 2 and is usually the most well-liked centerfire rifle cartridge in the US by way of uncooked ammo gross sales.
Whereas it’s typically very simple to search out quite a lot of ammo for each cartridges throughout regular instances, ammo is often best to search out for the 223 Remington. Typically, 223 Remington ammo is usually the least costly of the 2 as properly.
In the course of the 2020-2022 ammo scarcity, the distinction between the 2 cartridges has grow to be much more obvious and 223 Remington ammo is mostly MUCH simpler to search out and far more fairly priced than ammo for the 243 Winchester.
Nearly each ammunition producer produces a number of totally different a great deal of .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO ammunition.
This ammo ranges from match grade and surplus FMJ ammo finest fitted to work on the vary on one finish of the spectrum, to hole level, delicate level, and ballistic tip ammo designed for looking and private safety on the opposite finish.
Word that FMJ ammo is usually NOT authorized for looking in most states. So, whereas that army surplus 5.56x45mm ammo is sweet to be used on the vary, I don’t advocate taking it afield searching for recreation.
Most .223 and 5.56 NATO ammunition is designed for goal capturing or plinking, however firms like Barnes, Federal Premium, Hornady, Nosler, Remington, and Winchester all produce ammunition in these chamberings appropriate for looking.
Most of that is varmint looking ammo, like Hornady’s Varmint Specific and Superformance Varmint traces, Nosler’s Varmageddon line, and Winchester’s Varmint X line.
Nonetheless, there are additionally a handful of .223 Remington ammo choices particularly designed and marketed for large recreation looking. As an example, there are each .223 and 5.56 hundreds within the Barnes VOR-TX line, Federal affords .223 Remington ammo of their Fusion line, Nosler affords 223 ammo of their E-Tip line, and Winchester produces .223 Remington ammo of their Deer Season XP, Energy Max Bonded, and Tremendous X traces.
Alternatively, 243 Winchester ammo tends to be extra widespread in ammo traces designed for deer looking.
The large ammunition producers like Barnes, Browning, Federal Premium, Hornady, Nosler, Remington, Sierra, Swift, and Winchester all produce a big number of high quality .243 Winchester manufacturing facility ammunition appropriate for looking most species. In every case, there’s usually a wide variety of bullet sorts and weights for every cartridge appropriate for large recreation looking.
That stated, predator and varmint rounds just like the Hornady V-Max and Nosler Varmageddon are additionally generally obtainable for the .243 Winchester.
Ammo availability can also be often wonderful on-line and the larger retailers usually have a wide variety of high quality manufacturing facility ammo for each cartridges as properly.
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Should you’d wish to study extra about a few of the varied looking ammunition decisions for the .243 Winchester, learn this text:
Greatest 243 Ammo For Looking Deer, Hogs, And Varmints
Handloaders will respect the truth that reloading parts for each cartridges are extensively obtainable and there’s a superb number of bullet decisions for every cartridge. So, you shouldn’t have any bother working up a great customized load for both one in case you wish to handload.
The .243 Winchester makes use of the identical 6mm/.243″ bullet dimension as different 6mm cartridges just like the 6mm Remington, the .240 Weatherby Magnum, and the 6mm Creedmoor.
The .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO use the identical .224″ bullet dimension because the 219 Zipper, 222 Remington, 22 Hornet, 225 Winchester, 224 Valkyrie, 224 Weatherby Magnum, .22-250 Remington, and .220 Swift.
223 vs 243 Rifles
As soon as once more, the .223 Remington is far more widespread than the 243 Winchester. Nonetheless, there’s a wide variety of rifles chambered in each cartridges.
Bear in mind: a rifle with a 5.56 NATO chamber can often safely and precisely hearth .223 Remington ammunition, however the reverse shouldn’t be at all times true. So, many (however not all) gun producers chamber their rifles in 5.56x45mm NATO so their prospects have extra flexibility with ammo.
The .223 tends to be extra widespread in bolt motion rifles just like the Browning X-Bolt, Ruger American, Remington 700, and Winchester XPR. The 5.56 NATO is a particularly widespread chambering for AR-15 type rifles like these made by Bushmaster, CMMG, Noveske, Smith & Wesson, Sig Sauer, and Wilson Fight.
It’s additionally obtainable in different semi-automatic sporting rifles just like the Ruger Mini-14.
That’s not a tough and quick rule although and it’s commonplace to search out bolt motion 5.56 rifles. As an example, the light-weight CZ 527 and the Ruger American Ranch bolt-action rifles are each obtainable in 5.56 NATO.
Alternatively, the 243 Winchester is extraordinarily widespread in bolt-action rifles. In truth, nearly each actually widespread bolt-action looking rifle in present manufacturing is offered within the cartridge.
As an example, the .243 Winchester is offered in a number of totally different variations of the Remington Mannequin 700 and Winchester Mannequin 70. The identical goes for the Browning X-Bolt, Kimber Hunter, Mossberg Patriot, Nosler M48, Remington Mannequin 7, Ruger American, Ruger Hawkeye, Savage Axis, Savage 110, Tikka T3x, Weatherby Vanguard, and Winchester XPR.
Whereas the 243 Winchester is commonest in bolt-action rifles, it’s additionally obtainable in a number of totally different semi-auto rifles just like the Browning Automated Rifle (BAR). Some firms (like Wilson Fight and Remington with the R-25) have additionally manufactured the AR-10 in .243 Winchester over time as properly, although that chambering was nowhere close to as widespread because the .308 Winchester within the AR-10.
Each cartridges are additionally obtainable in lever motion rifles. As an example, the Winchester Mannequin 88 lever gun was one of many authentic rifles obtainable for the 243 (the Mannequin 70 was the opposite). Moreover, the Henry Lengthy Ranger and the Browning Lever Motion Rifle (BLR) are at the moment manufactured in each 223 and 243.
So, yow will discover a great deer rifle obtainable in both cartridge whatever the motion kind you favor.
Barrel lengths do range relying on the producer and precise mannequin.
Nonetheless, the 243 Winchester is generally obtainable in rifles with a 22″ barrel, although some fashions have 16″, 18″, 20″ and even 24″ barrels.
Many .223 Remington rifles have 22″ barrels as properly, nevertheless it’s additionally commonplace to see that cartridge in rifles with shorter 16″ or 18″ barrels, particularly with the varied AR-15 fashions.
All issues thought of, rifles chambered in 243 Winchester are typically barely longer, heavier, and extra unwieldy than rifles chambered in 223 Remington.
Having a shorter and lighter rifle is extra vital on some hunts than on others. So, simply preserve that in thoughts.
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243 vs 223: Which Is Proper For You?
Do you primarily hunt medium sized recreation like whitetail deer, feral hogs, or black bear at ranges inside 200 yards? Each will work on deer sized recreation in case you do your half. Nonetheless, the 243 Winchester is considerably extra highly effective and I strongly advocate utilizing it for looking deer as an alternative of the .223 Remington. A 243 capturing 100-grain bullets is a really efficient deer load with a protracted historical past of success afield.
The 223 Remington will work on deer with good bullet choice (just like the Winchester Deer Season XP or a Barnes load) and with good shot placement. It’s undoubtedly on the sunshine aspect although and has a a lot shorter efficient vary on deer than the 243. Additionally, you will have a lot much less of a margin for error along with your shot placement and you ought to be ready for a probably longer and harder to comply with monitoring job with the 223 as properly.
Are you in search of a cartridge to hunt predators, varmints, and small recreation animals (like prairie canines) with? The 243 Winchester will work very well on this position and many individuals use it for predator looking because of the extraordinarily flat trajectory and exhausting hitting traits of the cartridge. Nonetheless, I believe the .223 Remington is your best option right here as a result of it has a comparatively flat trajectory, ammunition is cheaper, and there are a lot of varieties of .223 ammo particularly designed for predator and varmint looking.
Moreover, the 223 Remington is extraordinarily widespread in AR-15 sample rifles, that are nice for individuals who need the power to take a particularly fast follow-up shot in case of a miss or in case a number of coyotes are available directly.
The 223 Remington is a really efficient coyote cartridge, however there’s a better probability of wounded and misplaced animals when utilizing it in comparison with the 243. This isn’t as large of a difficulty with the 223 as it’s with smaller cartridges, nevertheless it’s one thing to remember.
So, hunters who need to decrease this difficulty as a lot as attainable (like members in a coyote looking contest) ought to use the 243 Winchester. The draw back of the 243 Winchester is that fur injury will probably be an even bigger drawback.
Are you in search of the cartridge higher fitted to lengthy vary attempting to find recreation like mule deer or pronghorn antelope in open nation the place you would possibly have to take a shot at longer ranges? The 243 Winchester is certainly the way in which to go right here between these two cartridges. Be very cautious attempting to shoot recreation at longer distances with this spherical although. Folks do it on a regular basis with numerous success, however bullet weight and kind are each crucial right here.
I might not shoot previous 300 yards on a deer or pronghorn with a typical looking bullet, however might probably prolong that to 350 or perhaps 400 yards with a load utilizing a excessive BC bullet (just like the Hornady ELD-X). All of it is dependent upon the situations and the ability of the shooter although. If we’re being trustworthy, most individuals don’t have any enterprise capturing at recreation previous 300 yards with a 243 in any respect.
Would you like a looking cartridge that’s properly fitted to caribou, moose, elk, eland, kudu, or pink stag looking? I personally wouldn’t advocate looking recreation like elk or moose with both cartridge. Certain, some individuals do with success annually, however I believe that’s asking for bother. When you have nothing else, then sure, the 243 Winchester will certainly work. Use heavy for caliber, managed growth bullets (like a 100gr Nosler Partition), preserve you capturing distances brief (beneath 100 yards), solely shoot broadside or very barely quartering angles, and be extraordinarily cautious along with your shot placement.
Would you like a cartridge appropriate for self or residence protection? Each cartridges will definitely work on this regard, however I’d go along with the 223 Remington right here primarily resulting from rifle choice. In sensible phrases, an AR-15 in 223 Remington is a better to search out rifle that’s probably smaller and simpler to deal with in shut quarters than an AR-10 or a bolt-action rifle in 243 Winchester, even when the 243 is extra highly effective.
Are you delicate to recoil and in want of a severe low recoil cartridge? Each are very delicate recoiling cartridges, however the 223 Remington has the sting over the 243 Winchester right here. It actually is dependent upon what you’re attempting to do although. The 223 Remington would undoubtedly be my advice for informal capturing on the vary or predator looking. The 223 Remington is a good selection as a centerfire rifle cartridge for a very model new shooter to start out out with.
Even for a more moderen and/or recoil shy hunter, the 243 Winchester might be a greater general selection for deer looking because it has an extended efficient vary and provides the hunter so extra room for error. It’s additionally obtainable in Hornady’s Customized Lite line of ammo that recoils even lower than typical 243 Winchester ammo (which may be very delicate recoiling itself).
As I’ve said earlier than: the .223 Remington and .243 Winchester are each strong rifle cartridges. Nonetheless, for the reason that distinction between them (243 vs 223) is fairly large in sure respects, every cartridge is healthier suited to particular conditions than the opposite. Fastidiously consider your wants as a hunter primarily based upon the circumstances you foresee utilizing the cartridge in, get a great looking rifle chambered within the cartridge you choose, study to shoot it properly, use high quality bullets, and it ought to serve you properly afield.
NEXT: 308 vs 30-06 SPRINGFIELD vs 300 WIN MAG: WHICH SHOULD YOU HUNT WITH?
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The Lyman fiftieth Version (p139-143 & p159-162) and Hornady tenth Version (p160-168 and p231-237) reloading manuals have been used as references for the historical past of the cartridges. I obtained the information used to match the trajectory of the cartridges from Hornady (right here and right here), Nosler (right here and right here), and Winchester (right here). Knowledge used to calculate recoil was obtained from the Nosler ninth version reloading handbook (p119 & p202). Case capability data for the 223 Remington and 243 Winchester was obtained from Chuck Hawks. Most stress and knowledge to match cartridge sizes for the 223 Remington and 243 Winchester have been obtained from SAAMI (p26, p68, and p71). I used ShootersCalculator.com to match trajectory and recoil for the cartridges.
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