243or 243ai
 

well im done hunting until september,so im gonna rebuild my 110 22-250 to a 243,im just wanting it for yotes and deer.i want something bsides my 06.just thought i wood ask for yalls opinions,im also looking at the ruger hawkeye in 243.thanks

JD,

I like the idea of shooting yotes with a .243 AL alright, just as long as you reload !


Honestly, how many shots do you expect to get in a day anyway ?


Would be one great flat shooting cartridge for predators & pronghorns out west, that's for sure !!!

Unless you reload, stay away from the AI. Keep your 22.250 and just buy a .243. That's what I'd do. The .243 is a great round for deer and yotes.

yes i reload all my ammo.the 250 has the original barrel and its a 1999.it still shoots fantastic but i been wanting a 243 for dual purpose.im fighting hep c and the recoil from the 06 is just too much for me right now as im sick.i just figgured a 243 will be just the ticket

The nice thing about AI'ing a round is you still can shoot the parent cartridge. Here's some drop rate numbers in comparision for you;

CartridgeBulletVel FPS
300yd Drop/Drift600yd Drop/Drift1000yd Drop/Drift

.243 AI 115 DTAC 3200fps 8.32″ | 4.08″57.15″ | 17.57″218.6″ | 54.8″

.243 Win 115 DTAC 3120fps 8.97″ | 4.24″60.82″ | 18.25″232.3″ | 57.0″

6XC 115 DTAC 3040 9.67″ | 4.41″64.82″ | 19.01″247.2″ | 59.5″

6mm Dasher 105 Berger VLD 3030fps 9.92″ | 4.85″67.33″ | 21.24″262.7″ | 67.4″

6mm BR 105 Berger VLD 2920fps 10.91″ | 5.08″73.33″ | 22.35″286.0″ | 71.4″

Here's a link for more info;
http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/243win/

I have a remington 700 SPS in .243 with a detachable box magazine that might be the most accurate rifle I own; if I do my part !

I shoot 75 gr. V-max bullets for coyotes & hornady 95 gr. SST's for deer.


I did have a basic trigger job done on it and the barrel hand lapped; when it was new.............

i know i want a 1-9 or better a 1-8 twist with a 22 or 24 in barrel.my 250 still shoots good but the throat is starting to wear so it needs to be redone either way.i looked at a ruger hawkeye 243,for some reason i like rugers.where we hunt we get quite a few shots but if the winds blowing it sucks with the 250

Personally, here's how I cut it:

Reloading the AI (like RR mentioned) is a bit easier and it's easier on brass, but I don't know that I'd have ever classified the .243win as "difficult" to reload in the first place? No substantial difference to me, except maybe a little longer brass life.

The AI will hold a little more powder, giving you a little more speed. Then again, the AI will BURN a little more powder, and have a little higher pressure and a little higher speed, meaning your powder bills are a little bit higher, and you'll see a little more wear and tear on your barrels/throats. Significant? No, probably not. No real difference in my book.

Finding an AI rifle, or reaming a rifle for the AI is an added expense, or at best an added hassle. Advantage to the .243win for me on this one.

Fireforming AI brass, while occasionally pleasureful, does indeed take time, and cost money (powder, primer, bullets), and puts wear on your barrels. Guys that use AI rounds for competition generally use a "fireforming barrel" that was chambered with the same reamer as their match barrel (or guys use their OLD match barrel with a burned out throat) to fireform brass, so they don't burn up the barrel they'll use against the clock. Advantage to the .243win in my book.

The .243 AI is indeed faster, dropping slightly less, and drifting slightly less in cross winds. Is it substantial? Personally, I don't see it. 50-100fps more doesn't mean much to me, and will only account for a few inches even at 1000yrds. I classify the .243WSSM in this boat as well. Sure, the AI and WSSM are faster, but what does it gain you? Nothing in my book. No substantial difference for either.

Cool factor: Let's face it, AI's are just plain cool, and having a "wildcat" does carry a certain allure. Is it worth it? Not really, based on the above points, but is driving a hummer to work cool enough to make it worth it? To some people, it sure is.

In your search, I'd throw the .243WSSM in the mix just as an added complication for you (only really makes sense if you're wanting a .243XXX in an AR platform, mind you).

Personally, I'd just get a plain jane .243win.

ditto............:wink:

The 243, there isnt enough difference between the two warrant the AI.