The Over Looked .243
#190472
03/15/2018 6:20 PM
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Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 68
Hendog
OP
journeyman
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OP
journeyman
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 68 |
I have been Hunting & Shooting with single shot handguns since the 1980`s. For some reason I have over looked a .243 in a handgun. I recently purchased a CVA Scout in .243 & it shoots Speer 85gn btsp w/Varget under MOA to 200yds.
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Re: The Over Looked .243
[Re: Hendog]
#190473
03/15/2018 6:43 PM
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,006
Zee
Shooting Expert
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Shooting Expert
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,006 |
One of my favorite and most used cartridges.
"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
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Re: The Over Looked .243
[Re: Zee]
#190477
03/15/2018 9:18 PM
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Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 68
Hendog
OP
journeyman
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OP
journeyman
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 68 |
I have owned many .243 rifles but, this is my first Handgun. I don't see much Info on Handgun Hunting with the .243 Winchester.
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Re: The Over Looked .243
[Re: Hendog]
#190479
03/15/2018 10:31 PM
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,006
Zee
Shooting Expert
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Shooting Expert
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,006 |
I have one. Works like a champ.
"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
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Re: The Over Looked .243
[Re: Zee]
#190483
03/15/2018 11:55 PM
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Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,821
45MAN
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,821 |
YEARS AGO, ON THE ENCINO DIVISION OF THE KING RANCH, MY BROTHER SHOT A BUCK IN THE SHOULDER WITH A 243 RIFLE. THE BULLET BUGGERED HIS SHOULDER BUT DID NOT PENETRATE TO THE VITALS, AND THE DEER TRIED TO CRAWL OFF. FOR YEARS I CONDEMNED THE 243 WHEN IT WAS THE BULLET, NOT THE CARTRIDGE, THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. I SUSPECT THAT THE 243 CAN BE AN OUTSTANDING HANDGUN ROUND.
Last edited by 45MAN; 03/15/2018 11:57 PM.
"ADAPT OR DIE". I USE ALL CAPS, NOT BECAUSE I AM YELLING, BUT BECAUSE IT IS AN OLD HABIT FROM MY ARMY DAYS, PLUS IT IS EASIER TO TYPE AND READ.
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Re: The Over Looked .243
[Re: 45MAN]
#190487
03/16/2018 12:56 AM
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,006
Zee
Shooting Expert
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Shooting Expert
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,006 |
My boy has used the .243 Win exclusively for the past two seasons and taken 8 deer.
I have culled some 50 (+/-) pigs and deer in the past couple years with the cartridge and either 85gr Sierra HPBT-GK bullets or 105gr Hornady A-Max.
It is about as stellar an accurate, low recoil, smooth shooting cartridge for medium game as can be found.
If I had to choose a handful of cartridges to last me the rest of my life...........the .243 Winchester would assuredly be one.
"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
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Re: The Over Looked .243
[Re: Zee]
#190489
03/16/2018 1:00 AM
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,596
racksmasher1
veteran
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veteran
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,596 |
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Re: The Over Looked .243
[Re: racksmasher1]
#190517
03/16/2018 3:23 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,048
wvhitman
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,048 |
I wasn't a big .243 fan for a long time. I had my Encore barrel rechambered to 6mmAI. Since then I've done several hundred groundhogs with 70 gr. BTs out to 400, about half dozen deer with 85 gr. NPT out to 400, and my big javelina at 110 with a 85 NPT. This has caused me to rethink the value of .243 bullets in handguns. It has been a pleasant surprise. I'll be giving them more use.
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Re: The Over Looked .243
[Re: wvhitman]
#190519
03/16/2018 4:08 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 685
Boartuff
addict
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addict
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 685 |
I've been shooting a 243 Striker for years and have yet to experience anything negative. Very accurate and pleasant to shoot. An 87 gr Hornady SP over H4895 has accounted for numerous deer and antelope.
~BT~
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Re: The Over Looked .243
[Re: Boartuff]
#190526
03/16/2018 8:39 PM
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Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 68
Hendog
OP
journeyman
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OP
journeyman
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 68 |
The Speer 85gn BTSP is a medium game bullet, not a varmint bullet. I get 2800 fps from a 14" barrel with an almost max load of Varget. I plan on using it this deer season and possibly on a Hog hunt next year.
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Re: The Over Looked .243
[Re: Hendog]
#190535
03/17/2018 1:17 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,512
Ernie
Distinguished Master
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Distinguished Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,512 |
243 Win, 6 Creed, 6 Dasher or BRX will all do a great job.
Ernie the Un-Tactical
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Re: The Over Looked .243
[Re: Hendog]
#191849
04/11/2018 10:03 AM
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Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 16
SamuelKing
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 16 |
I have one. Works like a champ.
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Re: The Over Looked .243
[Re: Zee]
#192778
06/04/2018 3:42 AM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 3
Smokin284
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 3 |
For 14 inch encore do you use the same load data as for rifles or are there other considerations when hand loading for 14 inch barrels?
I have my dad's encore and would like to reload. Is there reloading data specific for short barrel rifle cartridges?
Thanks!
Smokin284
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Re: The Over Looked .243
[Re: Smokin284]
#192781
06/04/2018 1:52 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 860
karl
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 860 |
Here is my take on it, but I would love to hear what some of the others have to say. There are a few reloading manuals that have specific sections discussing reloading for the TC Contender and Encore platforms. Typically this is because the Contender or Encore frames will be loaded a bit differently (hotter, different bullet choices due to single shot configuration or non-standard bullet weights) then the traditional platform that the cartridge would normally be used in (45 colt is an example, low power loads for safety in most revolvers, higher power loads for a few stronger revolvers and break open TC guns). When you get to bottle neck rifle cartridges those differences largely disappear (the contender is often not suitable for use due to action strength). Barrel length would point toward faster powders vs slower powders listed by manufacturers to help optimize the load and reduce flash. The contender/encore specific recipes are good references to figure out optimum bullet/velocity combinations for what you want to do. Often this means lower weight bullets to keep the velocity up for hunting, but it depends on what you want to do with it.
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Re: The Over Looked .243
[Re: karl]
#192785
06/04/2018 5:15 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,048
wvhitman
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,048 |
I keep it really simple. Most of my Encore and Contender barrels are made by SSK. I use their load data. On the few regular Encore barrels I use rifle data minus 1 1/2 gr. for safety and less stress on the gun. My only regular Contender barrel is a .223. I use rifle data for this for the last 41 years. The only two guns I had problems with was a SSK .45-70 barrel with 3000+ rounds and a stretched frame and a .416 Taylor Encore barrel with a stretched frame from excessive use of AFrames (no longer recommended by SSK due to increased pressures). Both frames were replaced by T/C.
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Re: The Over Looked .243
[Re: Smokin284]
#192801
06/05/2018 1:37 AM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,669
Chance Weldon
Distinguished Expert
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Distinguished Expert
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,669 |
For 14 inch encore do you use the same load data as for rifles or are there other considerations when hand loading for 14 inch barrels?
I have my dad's encore and would like to reload. Is there reloading data specific for short barrel rifle cartridges?
Thanks! Hornady has separate data for several rifle cartridge Encore handguns. They tend to be a grain or so lower than rifle data with the same bullets and powders. I tend to use some of the faster burning powders listed for the cartridge to maximize performance. IMR 4064 does really well.
Formerly TN Lone Wolf
"We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided." - J.K. Rowling
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Re: The Over Looked .243
[Re: Chance Weldon]
#192853
06/06/2018 3:45 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,155
Gregg Richter
Distinguished Expert
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Distinguished Expert
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,155 |
My daughter-in-law Barbara has used a .243 for years and taken several antelope bucks and a mule deer buck with hers.
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Re: The Over Looked .243
[Re: Gregg Richter]
#192858
06/06/2018 10:08 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,512
Ernie
Distinguished Master
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Distinguished Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,512 |
H-4350 has been my staple powder for the 6XC, 6 Creed, and 243 Winchester. These cartridges are fairly similar in capacity.
Ernie the Un-Tactical
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