243 Ballistics Tables From All Major Ammunition Manufacturers

You’ve discovered our in-depth look at 243 Winchester ballistics from all the major ammo manufacturers.

Save time by clicking the links below to jump to your preferred ammo company and find the 243 ballistics data you need for your favorite factory load.

243 Ballistics Charts

Jump to an ammo company: Barnes | Browning | Federal | Fiocchi | Hornady | Norma | Nosler | Prvi Partizan | Remington | Sellier & Bellot | Sierra | Winchester

Barnes Ammunition Ballistics - 243 Winchester

Barnes VOR-TX 243 Win 80 grain TTSX BT Ballistics Chart

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Browning Ammunition Ballistics - 243 Winchester

Jump to a ballistics chart: Browning BXV 243 Win 65 grain Polymer Tip | Browning Max Point 243 Win 95 grain Polymer Tip | Browning Max Point 243 Win 100 grain

Browning BXV 243 Win 65 grain Polymer Tip Ballistics Chart

Browning Max Point 243 Win 95 grain Polymer Tip Ballistics Chart

Browning Max Point 243 Win 100 grain Ballistics Chart

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Federal Ammunition Ballistics - 243 Winchester

Jump to a ballistics chart: Federal 243 Win 85 grain Trophy Copper | Federal 243 Win 85 grain TSX | Federal 243 Win 90 grain ELD-X | Federal 243 Win 95 grain Hybrid Hunter | Federal 243 Win 100 grain Partition | Federal Fusion 243 Win 95 grain SP | Federal Power-Shok 243 Win 80 grain JSP | Federal Power-Shok 243 Win 100 grain JSP | Federal Power-Shok Copper 243 Win 85 grain HP | Federal Varmint & Predator 243 Win 75 grain JHP | Federal Varmint & Predator 243 Win 75 grain V-MAX

Federal 243 Win 85 grain Trophy Copper Ballistics Chart

Federal 243 Win 85 grain TSX Ballistics Chart

Federal 243 Win 90 grain ELD-X Ballistics Chart

Federal 243 Win 95 grain Hybrid Hunter Ballistics Chart

Federal 243 Win 100 grain Partition Ballistics Chart

Federal Fusion 243 Win 95 grain SP Ballistics Chart

Federal Power-Shok 243 Win 80 grain JSP Ballistics Chart

Federal Power-Shok 243 Win 100 grain JSP Ballistics Chart

Federal Power-Shok Copper 243 Win 85 grain HP Ballistics Chart

Federal Varmint & Predator 243 Win 75 grain JHP Ballistics Chart

Federal Varmint & Predator 243 Win 75 grain V-MAX Ballistics Chart

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Fiocchi Ammunition Ballistics - 243 Winchester

Jump to a ballistics chart: Fiocchi Field Dynamics 243 Win 100 grain PSP | Fiocchi Hyperformance 243 Win 90 grain Scirocco | Fiocchi Hyperformance 243 Win 95 grain SST | Fiocchi KnockDown 243 Win 80 grain Copper HP

Fiocchi Field Dynamics 243 Win 100 grain PSP Ballistics Chart

Fiocchi Hyperformance 243 Win 90 grain Scirocco Ballistics Chart

Fiocchi Hyperformance 243 Win 95 grain SST Ballistics Chart

Fiocchi KnockDown 243 Win 80 grain Copper HP Ballistics Chart

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Hornady Ammunition Ballistics - 243 Winchester

Jump to a ballistics chart: Hornady American Whitetail 243 Win 100 grain InterLock | Hornady Custom 243 Win 87 grain V-MAX | Hornady Custom Lite 243 Win 87 grain SST | Hornady Outfitter 243 Win 80 grain CX | Hornady Precision Hunter 243 Win 90 grain ELD-X | Hornady Superformance 243 Win 95 grain SST | Hornady Superformance Varmint 243 Win 58 grain V-MAX | Hornady Superformance Varmint 243 Win 75 grain V-MAX

Hornady American Whitetail 243 Win 100 grain InterLock Ballistics Chart

Hornady Custom 243 Win 87 grain V-MAX Ballistics Chart

Hornady Custom Lite 243 Win 87 grain SST Ballistics Chart

Hornady Outfitter 243 Win 80 grain CX Ballistics Chart

Hornady Precision Hunter 243 Win 90 grain ELD-X Ballistics Chart

Hornady Superformance 243 Win 95 grain SST Ballistics Chart

Hornady Superformance Varmint 243 Win 58 grain V-MAX Ballistics Chart

Hornady Superformance Varmint 243 Win 75 grain V-MAX Ballistics Chart

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Norma Ammunition Ballistics - 243 Winchester

Jump to a ballistics chart: Norma Jaktmatch 243 Win 95 grain FMJ | Norma Oryx 243 Win 100 grain SP | Norma TIPSTRIKE 243 Win 76 grain Polymer Tip | Norma Whitetail 243 Win 100 grain SP

Norma Jaktmatch 243 Win 95 grain FMJ Ballistics Chart

Norma Oryx 243 Win 100 grain SP Ballistics Chart

Norma TIPSTRIKE 243 Win 76 grain Polymer Tip Ballistics Chart

Norma Whitetail 243 Win 100 grain SP Ballistics Chart

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Nosler Ammunition Ballistics - 243 Winchester

Jump to a ballistics chart: Nosler 243 Win 90 grain E-Tip | Nosler Ballistic Tip 243 Win 70 grain Polymer Tip | Nosler Ballistic Tip 243 Win 90 grain Polymer Tip | Nosler Trophy Grade 243 Win 85 grain | Nosler Trophy Grade 243 Win 90 grain AccuBond | Nosler Trophy Grade 243 Win 100 grain Partition | Nosler Varmageddon 243 Win 55 grain Polymer Tip | Nosler Varmageddon 243 Win 70 grain Polymer Tip

Nosler 243 Win 90 grain E-Tip Ballistics Chart

Nosler Ballistic Tip 243 Win 70 grain Polymer Tip Ballistics Chart

Nosler Ballistic Tip 243 Win 90 grain Polymer Tip Ballistics Chart

Nosler Trophy Grade 243 Win 85 grain Ballistics Chart

Nosler Trophy Grade 243 Win 90 grain AccuBond Ballistics Chart

Nosler Trophy Grade 243 Win 100 grain Partition Ballistics Chart

Nosler Varmageddon 243 Win 55 grain Polymer Tip Ballistics Chart

Nosler Varmageddon 243 Win 70 grain Polymer Tip Ballistics Chart

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Prvi Partizan Ammunition Ballistics - 243 Winchester

Jump to a ballistics chart: Prvi Partizan 243 Win 90 grain SP | Prvi Partizan 243 Win 100 grain SP

Prvi Partizan 243 Win 90 grain SP Ballistics Chart

Prvi Partizan 243 Win 100 grain SP Ballistics Chart

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Remington Ammunition Ballistics - 243 Winchester

Jump to a ballistics chart: Remington Core-Lokt 243 Win 100 grain PSP | Remington Core-Lokt Copper 243 Win 85 grain HP | Remington Core-Lokt Tipped 243 Win 95 grain Polymer Tip | Remington High Performance Rifle 243 Win 80 grain PSP | Remington Premier 243 Win 90 grain Scirocco | Remington Premier AccuTip-V 243 Win 75 grain Polymer Tip

Remington Core-Lokt 243 Win 100 grain PSP Ballistics Chart

Remington Core-Lokt Copper 243 Win 85 grain HP Ballistics Chart

Remington Core-Lokt Tipped 243 Win 95 grain Polymer Tip Ballistics Chart

Remington High Performance Rifle 243 Win 80 grain PSP Ballistics Chart

Remington Premier 243 Win 90 grain Scirocco Ballistics Chart

Remington Premier AccuTip-V 243 Win 75 grain Polymer Tip Ballistics Chart

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Sellier & Bellot Ammunition Ballistics - 243 Winchester

Jump to a ballistics chart: Sellier & Bellot 243 Win 80 grain FMJ | Sellier & Bellot 243 Win 95 grain PTS | Sellier & Bellot 243 Win 100 grain SP

Sellier & Bellot 243 Win 80 grain FMJ Ballistics Chart

Sellier & Bellot 243 Win 95 grain PTS Ballistics Chart

Sellier & Bellot 243 Win 100 grain SP Ballistics Chart

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Sierra Ammunition Ballistics - 243 Winchester

Jump to a ballistics chart: Sierra GameChanger 243 Win 90 grain Tipped GameKing | Sierra Outdoor Master 243 Win 100 grain JHP | Sierra Prairie Enemy 243 Win 70 grain BlitzKing

Sierra GameChanger 243 Win 90 grain Tipped GameKing Ballistics Chart

Sierra Outdoor Master 243 Win 100 grain JHP Ballistics Chart

Sierra Prairie Enemy 243 Win 70 grain BlitzKing Ballistics Chart

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Winchester Ammunition Ballistics - 243 Winchester

Jump to a ballistics chart: Winchester Ballistic Silvertip 243 Win 55 grain Polymer Tip | Winchester Ballistic Silvertip 243 Win 95 grain Polymer Tip | Winchester Copper Impact 243 Win 85 grain Polymer Tip | Winchester Deer Season XP 243 Win 95 grain Extreme Point | Winchester Power Max Bonded 243 Win 100 grain PHP | Winchester Power-Point 243 Win 100 grain SP | Winchester Super-X 243 Win 80 grain SP | Winchester Super-X 243 Win 90 grain PHP | Winchester Varmint X 243 Win 58 grain Polymer Tip | Winchester Varmint X Lead Free 243 Win 55 grain HP

Winchester Ballistic Silvertip 243 Win 55 grain Polymer Tip Ballistics Chart

Winchester Ballistic Silvertip 243 Win 95 grain Polymer Tip Ballistics Chart

Winchester Copper Impact 243 Win 85 grain Polymer Tip Ballistics Chart

Winchester Deer Season XP 243 Win 95 grain Extreme Point Ballistics Chart

Winchester Power Max Bonded 243 Win 100 grain PHP Ballistics Chart

Winchester Power-Point 243 Win 100 grain SP Ballistics Chart

Winchester Super-X 243 Win 80 grain SP Ballistics Chart

Winchester Super-X 243 Win 90 grain PHP Ballistics Chart

Winchester Varmint X 243 Win 58 grain Polymer Tip Ballistics Chart

Winchester Varmint X Lead Free 243 Win 55 grain HP Ballistics Chart

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Administrative Note: The information above comes from the manufacturer and is only informational. The actual ballistics obtained with your firearm can vary considerably from the advertised ballistics. Also, ballistics can vary from lot to lot with the same brand and type load. When manufacturer ballistic data was unavailable, ballistics were calculated using a ballistics calculator.

243 Trajectory Chart

A bullet’s flight path to the target is its trajectory. We often measure the bullet’s elevation in inches of bullet drop, but it’s also measured in minutes of angle (MOA).

A flat trajectory is preferred for long-range shooting because it allows the shooter to make fewer adjustments to compensate for bullet drop. The 308 Winchester and 6.5 Creedmoor are excellent examples of flat-trajectory cartridges, which is why they’re so popular among long-range shooting enthusiasts.

While the 243 Win is not the typical long-range caliber, it has a relatively flat trajectory out to 500 yards downrange thanks to its lightweight projectiles' relatively high ballistic coefficients. Depending on the load you're firing, a 243 round typically drops between -30” to -45” at 500 yards.

The 243 Winchester's low recoil, high velocity, and flat trajectory are why so many varmint and small game hunters love it. However, lightweight projectiles are more susceptible to wind deflection than heavier ones, especially as their velocities decrease.

Below is a sample 243 bullet drop chart that provides a general idea of the 243 Winchester trajectory.

Note: The chart above is an example of one 243 Winchester load, and actual ballistic performance may vary depending on bullet weight, lot, barrel length, and environmental conditions while shooting.

243 Velocity

The bullet’s muzzle velocity is the rate at which it exits the rifle barrel, measured in feet per second (fps).

Generally, a longer barrel length produces a higher muzzle velocity, as it gives the exploding propellant more time to exert its energy against the base of the projectile. Bullet weight and bullet design also play significant roles in how much velocity a projectile will exhibit downrange.

For example, heavier bullets tend to have lower muzzle velocities than lighter ones, and polymer-tipped hollow point boat tail projectiles tend to conserve velocity more efficiently than traditional soft point bullets.

Handloads also tend to have higher velocities than factory-loaded ammo – hence one reason why reloading is so popular among dedicated shooting enthusiasts.

The muzzle velocity of factory ammo will range from 3,900 fps to 2,800 fps, which isn’t bad considering the overall length of the cartridge and its variety of bullet weights.

243 Energy

A bullet’s energy is measured in foot pounds (ft lbs). Muzzle energy reflects the force with which a bullet exits the barrel. Heavier bullets tend to have higher muzzle energy, although velocity is also a significant factor.

A higher muzzle energy usually means the round has more recoil. Since the 243 Win fires lighter projectiles, it has relatively little recoil, making it an excellent cartridge to introduce someone to rifle shooting.

Lightweight projectiles conserve relatively less energy downrange. For instance, an 80-grain copper hollow point exiting the barrel at 3,415 fps has a muzzle energy of 2,072 ft lbs; by the time it reaches the 500-yard mark, it retains only 764 ft-lbs of energy. Conversely, a 100-grain pointed soft point exiting the barrel at 3,200 fps has a muzzle energy of 2,274 ft lbs; at 500 yards, it will possess 977 ft-lbs of energy.

This is why shot placement becomes even more critical as you increase the distance from your target when harvesting game animals with your Ruger or Savage hunting rifle.

243 Effective Range

The 243 Winchester is a popular cartridge due to its versatility. It is used to hunt big game like whitetail deer, mule deer, and antelope, as well as medium-sized game animals like hogs and coyotes. It also excels as a varmint hunting cartridge.

Though it doesn’t have the knockdown power of other hunting rifle rounds, such as the 308 Win or 300 PRC, it still has a respectable effective range.

The 243's effective range is much shorter when antelope and deer hunting: typically about 300 yards. You can stretch it to 400 yards when varmint hunting and about 750 yards when target shooting.

Frequently Asked Questions

The team at Ammo.com has rounded up and answered some of the most commonly asked questions regarding 243 ballistics.

What is the G1 BC of a 243 Ballistic Silvertip 95 grain?

The G1 BC of a 243 ballistic SilverTip 95 grain bullet is 0.400.

What are the best .243 Winchester loads for long-range shooting?

The best .243 Winchester loads for long-range shooting are 115-grain bullets pushing 3,150 fps. The 105-grain Berger VLD, 105-grain Hornady A-MAX, and 107-grain Sierra MatchKing also make excellent long-range 243 bullets.

What is the muzzle velocity of a .243 Winchester with a 100-grain bullet?

The muzzle velocity of a .243 Winchester round with a 100-grain bullet ranges between 2,850 fps and 3,200 fps.

What is the maximum effective range of a .243 for varmint hunting?

400 yards is the maximum effective range of a .243 cartridge for varmint hunting.

What is the effective range of a 243 bullet?

The effective range of a 243 bullet is about 750 yards for target shooting and 400 yards for hunting small game.