the .243 rifle and its load

[JonBailey64]

I would think this would be a great black bear (or lion) cartridge.

Not too powerful so as to damage the pelt for a good rug.

Not a whole lot of kick but a well-placed shot should do.

Is this gun still powerful enough to saw off a limb to get a stuck "Smokey" down from a tree top?

Will the guide usually have a big-bore rifle for this task?

[Mike Leonard]

Never seen a guide carry a rifle to dislodge a stuck animal but I suppose it could happen. 45-70 Marlin Guide gun might be good for that. LOL!

243 is fine for what you explained and it is a sweetheart to shoot. You can get a Model 7 Remington that is light and short and in synthetic makes a good little rough country rifle for many uses. Those little Savages would work fine too.

Lots of good load information out there for the 243, we like the 80 Gr. TTSX Barnes bullet we handload but Vortex ammo can be bought with it. My wife has used this combo on mule deer, cow elk, and with a well placed shot it does the trick. Lion and black bear up close it would be dynamite. One hole in one hole out.

We generally don't encourage the use of 6MM's for game larger than deer, but if you don't stretch your shot and can place it this load will do some pretty big things.

Equip your 243 with a good quality low power scope, in a solid two piece mount or a PC rail and it will take a lot of abuse.

[JonBailey64]

[Pnwhunter]

At the price point , take a look at Tikka t3. Also, that would keep you away from weatherby ammo too.
They are made with same hammer forged barrell and same action as sakko rifles.
I Archery hunt but bought oldest daughter one in 270 two days later I bought one in 300wm for myself
I've been very Happy with purchase

[JonBailey64]

[rockytrails]

Take a look at CZ 527 bolt action with set trigger. You might change your mind. Not to argue.

[david]

[Jeff Eberle]

Well I’m going in a different route, Mossberg will no longer supply Dicks sporting goods any more of their gun due to dicks new lobbyists. Hard not to back a company That takes a stand like that. At least for me it is. Going to give a Mossberg Patriot a try. As for bear and lion I’ve got a 30-30 it’s not very elegant but doubles as a walking stick part time and has never let me down even when i don’t have time for the perfect shot placement in thick brush on a bay up.

[david]

Glad to hear about Mossberg taking a stand.
I agree, We should support Mossberg. And I hope their added sales will make up for any missed sales from that place you and I and Mossberg won’t support.

[raisinriver]

.243 is the go to in our hunting group I have an old Husqvarna husky and a new Thompson centre predator. I would not want to count the amount of coyotes and bears that I have taken with the old husky I use 58 grain hornady for coyotes and 95 grain silver tip for bears both factory ammo



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[JonBailey64]

[Mike Leonard]

The 243 is truly an American creation debuting just 3 years after it's parent case the 308 Winchester was premiered in 1952. 1955 saw the unveiling of 2 6MM cartridges the still popular 243 Winchester and the now obsolete 244 Remington. Both great designs that get some of their early promotion form early Sport Afield Shooting Editor Warren Page and famous RCBS Executive Fred Huntington.
Their experimentation with wildcat 6MM's such as the Page Super Pooper led them to promote these to the arms manufacturing giants of Remington and Winchester. Winchesters Engineers, a crafty lot saw a market for a dual purpose deer/varmint round and wisely chose a 1-10 twist barrel for their Model 70 featherweight. While Remington felt they had that notch already filled with their long heralded 257 Remington Roberts, so they hung a long 26" barrel 1-12 twist on the 244 which used the parent case of the 7x57 Mauser the same as the Roberts. The slow 1-12 twist was fine with varmint bullets up 90 Grs. but failed to stabilize longer 100 gr and above big game bullets. Also the 244 was in a rather drab looking rifle the Model 722 which was not as slick as the model 70. A fine old gun which later led to the model 700, but plain in comparison.

The 243 took off like a rocket but the 244 lagged far behind, not because of it's performance because with a slightly larger case a good 100 plus feet a second could be gained with it, but perception is everything. Later Remington seeing the error of their decision came out with the same cartridge in rifles with a 1-10 twist and called it the 6MM Remington, but it was too late to repair the damage.

I own and love both and have killed a great many game animals and varmints with each. The did lead to the nearly antique status of the fine 257 Roberts which was the rifle I used to kill my first mule deer so many years ago now.

With today's bullets and propellants the scope of the 6MM's use is greater than it was when it came out.

The 243 Winchester is truly an American success story.


The Weatherby Vanguard is a fine rifle, no doubt. The Howa action they use for this model is a sound design but it is made by Howa of Japan, and has been used in many other brands of rifles as well. The fine Smith and Wesson bolt actions for example.

Good luck and good shooting!