With the advent of the 6.8 mm SPC, a necked down version of the 30 Remington, we will eventually see the .243 class of rounds fade in popularity. Here is why:

Military cartridges find a commercial role; the 45 70, 30 40 Krag, 30 06, 308 and .223 are in current production and will stay that way. Once commercial rifles come out with the short action, handy 6.8 rounds, we will have:

Greater bullet frontal area
Sufficient velocity and trajectory
More thump at practical hunting ranges

The 243's will fall back to varminting. And, out west where the shots can really be long, hunters will be using the bullets with the higher ballistic coeffecient anyway. (7 mm's on up.)

My prediction.

I am going to have to disagree slightly. First off the 6.8 SPC is just that. A special purpose cartridge. It will not be adopted as a general issue cartridge. Second, it really isn't that impressive. If I want 270 Win performance in a short action I use a 7mm-08 Rem.

I know nothing about the new 6.8mm. What will be the velocity of the round? I have not kept up on my reading the last few years. Thanks.

Two cartridges will always be around, standard length (30-06) and everything thats built off of it and short length( .308) and everything thats built off of it. these arent ever going anywhere.

James if I remember right, the 6.8 SPC has a velocity of about 2600 FPS. As Frizz said, the the 7MM-08 will out preform the 6.8 hands down!
As for the .243/6MM fading out, I seriously doubt that! It is a great starter gun, and doubles very well as a varminter. Whitetail deer are not all that hard of a kill, so the .243/6MM's with good 100gr. bullets is a very good minimum caliber for deer.

I dont agree with you the rounds are so similar i dont see people with 243s already running out to buy a rifle chamber in 6.8 heres some ballsistc compairisons off the remington site so everyone can see. I know i wouldnt trade my 243 for the 6.8 SPC
The 243 the higher ballistic Coefficient, well using these 100 gr loads from remington they only ones offered on hte compairison

In my oppinion, theres no way the 6.8 spc will have any effect on the 243's popularity.

Sierra has a match 105 gr .243 bullet that has a BC of .500
handloaders woud smear that 6.8

Thanks for the info gentlemen.

I agree there.