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Myth-Busting Versatility of the .243 Winchester
by Shane Jahn
The 308 Winchester has been the parent case for a lot of good rounds since its inception in 1952, including the 243 Winchester, 260 Remington, 7mm-08 Remington, 338 Federal, and 358 Winchester. There isn’t much a true hunter can’t bag with this assortment of cartridges pushing good bullets designed for penetration. We’ve used the 308 Winchester and 7mm-08 Remington to hunt a variety of critters at home in Texas and in South Africa. The one I want to talk about today is perhaps the most versatile of the bunch—the 243 Winchester.
My friend Richard Mann is a fan of the 243 Winchester. His chapter on it in his good book Rifle Cartridges for the Hunter should settle the question as to the cartridge’s qualifications as a hunting round. Deer, gemsbok, warthogs, blue wildebeest, and more, the Mann family has an impressive track record with the 243. Not to mention trophies on the wall and meat in the freezer. It’s amazing how a good bullet in the right spot pays dividends in the world of hunting. Mann’s book is a must-have for every hunting and rifle cartridge enthusiast. His tell-it-like-it-is writing style makes for great reading and entertainment. When Richard offers his opinions, you can be sure he’s been there and done that.
