243 Winchester Ammo

Overview of .243 Winchester Ammo

.243 Winchester is one of America's favorite dual-purpose hunting cartridges. It fires a .243-inch bullet, from 55-grain varmint loads to 100-grain deer loads, at around 2,900 to 3,900 fps. Light bullets make it a flat-shooting varmint and predator round, while 90 to 100-grain soft points make it a proven deer and antelope cartridge with mild recoil that suits youth and new hunters.

.243 Win runs in bolt-action, lever-action, and semi-auto hunting rifles from nearly every major manufacturer. For a modern long-range 6mm, see our 6mm Creedmoor ammo, and for a classic alternative, 6mm Remington.

.243 Winchester Brands We Carry

• Remington .243 Win Ammo: Core-Lokt 100gr soft point for deer and 80gr pointed soft point for varmints.
• Hornady .243 Win Ammo: American Whitetail 100gr InterLock and Superformance Varmint 58gr V-MAX.
• PPU .243 Win Ammo: 90gr and 100gr soft points at value prices.
• Federal .243 Win Ammo: Power-Shok 100gr soft point.
• Winchester .243 Win Ammo: 55gr Ballistic Silvertip for varmints and predators.
• Black Hills .243 Win Ammo: Black Hills Gold 95gr SST.

Best .243 Win Ammo for Specific Uses

Why Buy .243 Win Ammo from BulkMunitions?

• In stock and ready to ship. We only list ammunition that is physically in our warehouse. No backorders.
• Next-business-day shipping from our Knoxville, TN warehouse on orders placed before our daily cutoff.
• Case pricing before deer season. 100 and 200-round cases cost less per round than 20-round boxes and cover sight-in, practice, and hunting.
• We tithe 10% of profits to Christian-based, 2A-supporting organizations every quarter, and our customers vote on where it goes.

.243 Winchester Ballistics Chart

The tables below show how .243 Winchester varmint and deer loads compare out to 600 yards. The 58gr V-MAX shoots flattest for varmints, while the 85 to 100gr hunting bullets carry more energy for deer.

Loads compared:

• 58gr V-MAX: Hornady Superformance Varmint 58gr V-MAX, 3,925 fps
• 85gr Copper: Federal Trophy Copper 85gr, 3,200 fps
• 90gr ELD-X: Hornady Precision Hunter 90gr ELD-X, 3,150 fps
• 100gr SP: Federal Power-Shok 100gr soft point, 2,960 fps

Velocity (fps)

Energy (ft-lbs)

Bullet Drop (inches, 100-yard zero)

Wind Drift (inches, 10 mph crosswind)

Calculated from each manufacturer's published muzzle velocity and G1 ballistic coefficient, standard atmosphere, 1.5-inch sight height, 100-yard zero, 10 mph full-value crosswind. Velocities come from manufacturer test barrels. Your rifle, barrel length, and conditions will change these numbers, so always confirm your own data at the range.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is .243 Win good for deer hunting?

Yes. With a 90 to 100-grain soft point or bonded bullet and good shot placement, .243 Winchester is a proven whitetail cartridge out to about 300 yards. Its mild recoil makes it especially popular with youth and new hunters. Check your state's hunting regulations.

What grain .243 is best for deer?

Most hunters choose 90 to 100-grain bullets for deer, such as Remington Core-Lokt 100gr or Hornady American Whitetail 100gr. Lighter 55 to 80-grain bullets are designed for varmints and can fail to penetrate properly on deer.

Can I shoot 6mm Remington in a .243 rifle?

No. Both fire .243-inch bullets, but the cases are different. .243 Winchester is based on the .308 case, while 6mm Remington is based on the 7x57 Mauser case. They are not interchangeable.

More About .243 Winchester Ammo

Winchester introduced .243 Winchester in 1955 by necking down the .308 Winchester case to hold 6mm bullets. Gun writer Warren Page had been experimenting with a similar wildcat, and the factory version caught on almost immediately.

Within a few years, .243 Win became one of the best-selling hunting cartridges in North America. Nearly seven decades later it remains a top choice for youth hunters, varmint shooters, and anyone who wants one light-recoiling rifle for both coyotes and deer.