RE: Why the 243's will fade...
 

Not sure if that's where the 243Win. will fall back to, but I'll agree - varminting is where they belong!

RE: Why the 243's will fade...
 

The 243 win. has been here since 1955. It has survived numerous "hot new" cartridges. It will be here for a very long time. And the
6.8 is nothing remarkable out of a bolt gun. It was designed solely for more power out of the m16.

RE: Why the 243's will fade...
 

I don't know if Winchester wants that 1955 cart to be around for a long time.

Winchester seems to be toting the .243 WSSM in all there new rifles now. Who knows, maybe the .243 will be faded out with the even shorter .243. Either way, there is a need for a 24 cal.

RE: Why the 243's will fade...
 

I could jump from the 224 to the 25's with no problem at all. I have a 243 but it sits around a lot anymore. I use the 223 or 22-250 for varmits and jump to 25 cal Minimum for deer and bigger game. However there are a jillion 243's around and I think they will stay around. I don't know how sales of the 243 WSSM are doing. I have not heard of anyone around here that has either the 223 or 253 WSSM. There are most likely a few though.

RE: Why the 243's will fade...
 

What about a cartridge for Coyotes? .22-250 or a .243 win?

RE: Why the 243's will fade...
 

FastShootingCarts, I wouldn't waste a large bullet on yotes, thus if I needed both range and speed, and economical bullets, I would stick to the .22 centerfires. Hands down, though, the 243 and 25-06 bullets are better at bucking wind at long ranges IMO.

RE: Why the 243's will fade...
 

I was thinking of the wind factor as well. I was thinking a 80-85gr .243 win for the job over a 55gr .22-250 I own. Anybody?

RE: Why the 243's will fade...
 

You might be correct about the military adoptin' the 6.8, but it ain't much. Now a round like the .260 could replace both of the current military standards, with a 125 grain bullet at 2800 a similar round danged near won acceptance between WWI an WWII when the Army officially adopted the 7mm and Chief of Staff Douglas MacArthur nixed the change due to the amount of .30-06 ammo in storage. The 6.5 Grendel could well be that cartridge, but Army ordinance ain't known for smart thinkin'. :eek:
As for the .243 fadin' away, that's purely wishful thinkin', its been chambered in too many popular rifles and has sold well in all of them. Millions of folks have one and use it for both vermin and deer huntin'. It is adequate at both roles, and the standard owner ain't a rifle looney who cares about somethin' else bein' superior. ;)

RE: Why the 243's will fade...
 

The .243 isnt going anywhere. It will take the 6.8 too long to catch up to the .243 in popularity. Another thing is it will probably go through a name change like the .280 remington did. It started out as 7mm-06 then went to 7mm Remington Express then finally the .280 Remington over several years. The 6.8 Will probably do the same if you give it time.

RE: Why the 243's will fade...
 

I agree there. Looking at the .243 win as a in-between cart for Varmit and target shooting mostly.