HuntingNet.com Forums - the 243 -vs- .30 cal rifles

Yeah... I have no idea why you're comparing a .243 to a .30-06. The velocity is almost identical, so there is no velocity advantage for the .243, nor is there a velocity 'problem' with the .30-06. A much more valid comparison would be a .243 to a .30-30, since the velocity from a .30-30 is so much less, and the bullet size is the only thing it has going for it. In that comparison, I'd take the .243 every day of the week, since it lets me shoot an extra couple hundred yards.

Example comparison: out of the barrel, the '06 and the .243 have almost identical velocities - 50 fps off between a 100gr .243 and a 150 gr '06. The greatest velocity difference between the two is at 500 yards, when there's a 100fps difference. Since there's no difference in speed, of course the energy difference is what makes the difference between the two cartridges.

However, out of the barrel, the .243 has a 600 fps difference with a 150gr .30-30, which becomes a 800 fps difference at 500 yards. Now, in this case, do you want the slow, heavy bullet, or the fast, light bullet? In most cases you want the fast, light one that will definitely do its damage at whatever range you fire it at.

And I don't think, in any way, shape, or form, that anyone should ever use a .243 on animals bigger than whitetails.