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243 Ammo For Sale

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The .243 Winchester is one of the most popular small to medium game hunting cartridges in America, performing well on deer-sized game at ranges beyond 200 yards. Its accuracy, mild recoil and wide ammo selection make it a great choice for hunting. Learn More
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  1. Browning BXR 243 Win Ammo - 200 Rounds of 97 Grain Rapid Expansion Matrix Tip Ammunition

    $259.99

    72 In stock now

    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +10
    Bullet type Polymer Tipped
    Primer Type Boxer
    Casing Type Nickel-Plated Brass
    Condition New
    Muzzle Velocity 3100 FPS
    Muzzle Energy 2069 ft lbs
    • 200 Rounds
    • $1.3 per round
    • Made by Browning
  2. Hornady American Whitetail 243 Win Ammo - 200 Rounds of 100 Grain InterLock SP Ammunition

    $269.99

    70 In stock now

    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +10
    Bullet type SPBT
    Primer Type Boxer
    Casing Type Brass
    Condition New
    Muzzle Velocity 2960 FPS
    Muzzle Energy 1945 ft lbs
    • 200 Rounds
    • $1.35 per round
    • Made by Hornady
  3. Federal Power-Shok 243 Win Ammo - 200 Rounds of 100 Grain SP Ammunition

    $274.99

    6 In stock now

    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +10
    Bullet type SP
    Primer Type Boxer
    Casing Type Brass
    Condition New
    Muzzle Velocity 2960 FPS
    Muzzle Energy 1945 ft lbs
    • 200 Rounds
    • $1.37 per round
    • Made by Federal
  4. Hornady 243 Win Ammo - 20 Rounds of 100 Grain SP Ammunition

    $27.99

    79 In stock now

    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +10
    Bullet type SP
    Primer Type Boxer
    Casing Type Brass
    Condition New
    Muzzle Velocity 2960 FPS
    Muzzle Energy 1945 ft lbs
    • 20 Rounds
    • $1.4 per round
    • Made by Hornady
  5. Fiocchi 243 Win Ammo - 20 Rounds of 95 Grain SST Ammunition

    $28.99

    77 In stock now

    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +10
    Bullet type SST
    Primer Type Boxer
    Casing Type Brass
    Condition New
    Muzzle Velocity 2950 FPS
    Muzzle Energy 1835 ft lbs
    • 20 Rounds
    • $1.45 per round
    • Made by Fiocchi
  6. Federal 243 Win Ammo - 20 Rounds of 100 Grain SP Ammunition

    $29.99

    21 In stock now

    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +10
    Bullet type SP
    Primer Type Boxer
    Casing Type Brass
    Condition New
    Muzzle Velocity 2960 FPS
    Muzzle Energy 1945 ft lbs
    • 20 Rounds
    • $1.5 per round
    • Made by Federal
  7. Fiocchi 243 Win Ammo - 20 Rounds of 100 Grain PSP Ammunition

    $29.99

    19 In stock now

    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +10
    Bullet type PSP
    Primer Type Boxer
    Casing Type Brass
    Condition New
    Muzzle Velocity 3200 FPS
    Muzzle Energy 2274 ft lbs
    • 20 Rounds
    • $1.50 per round
    • Made by Fiocchi
  8. Browning BXR 243 Win Ammo - 20 Rounds of 97 Grain Rapid Expansion Matrix Tip Ammunition

    $30.99

    106 In stock now

    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +10
    Bullet type Polymer Tipped
    Primer Type Boxer
    Casing Type Nickel-Plated Brass
    Condition New
    Muzzle Velocity 3100 FPS
    Muzzle Energy 2069 ft lbs
    • 20 Rounds
    • $1.55 per round
    • Made by Browning
  9. Hornady Custom Lite 243 Win Ammo - 20 Rounds of 87 Grain SST Ammunition

    $31.99

    23 In stock now

    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +10
    Bullet type SST
    Primer Type Boxer
    Casing Type Brass
    Condition New
    Muzzle Velocity 2800 FPS
    Muzzle Energy 1514 ft lbs
    • 20 Rounds
    • $1.60 per round
    • Made by Hornady
  10. Winchester Copper Impact 243 Win Ammo - 20 Rounds of 85 Grain Copper Extreme Point Ammunition

    $32.75

    23 In stock now

    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +10
    Bullet type Solid Copper
    Primer Type Boxer
    Casing Type Brass
    Condition New
    Muzzle Velocity 3260 FPS
    Muzzle Energy 2005 ft lbs
  11. Hornady Superformance Varmint 243 Win Ammo - 20 Rounds of 58 Grain V-MAX Ammunition

    $32.99

    113 In stock now

    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +10
    Bullet type V-MAX
    Primer Type Boxer
    Casing Type Brass
    Condition New
    Muzzle Velocity 3925 FPS
    Muzzle Energy 1984 ft lbs
    • 20 Rounds
    • $1.65 per round
    • Made by Hornady
  12. Hornady Superformance 243 Win Ammo - 200 Rounds of 95 Grain SST Ammunition

    $339.99

    8 In stock now

    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +10
    Bullet type SST
    Primer Type Boxer
    Casing Type Brass
    Condition New
    Muzzle Velocity 3185 FPS
    Muzzle Energy 2139 ft lbs
    • 200 Rounds
    • $1.7 per round
    • Made by Hornady
  13. Hornady 243 Win Ammo - 20 Rounds of 95 Grain SST Ammunition

    $34.99

    36 In stock now

    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +10
    Bullet type SST
    Primer Type Boxer
    Casing Type Brass
    Condition New
    Muzzle Velocity 3185 FPS
    Muzzle Energy 2139 ft lbs
    • 20 Rounds
    • $1.75 per round
    • Made by Hornady
  14. Remington Core-Lokt Tipped 243 Win Ammo - 20 Rounds of 95 Grain Polymer Tip Ammunition

    $34.99

    52 In stock now

    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +10
    Bullet type Polymer Tipped
    Primer Type Boxer
    Casing Type Brass
    Condition New
    Muzzle Velocity 3140 FPS
    Muzzle Energy 2080 ft lbs
    • 20 Rounds
    • $1.75 per round
    • Made by Remington
  15. Federal Power-Shok Copper 243 Win Ammo - 20 Rounds of 85 Grain SCHP Ammunition

    $38.99

    119 In stock now

    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +10
    Bullet type SCHP
    Primer Type Boxer
    Casing Type Brass
    Condition New
    Muzzle Velocity 3200 FPS
    Muzzle Energy 1933 ft lbs
    • 20 Rounds
    • $1.95 per round
    • Made by Federal
  16. Barnes 243 Win Ammo - 20 Rounds of 80 Grain TTSX Ammunition

    $41.99

    15 In stock now

    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +10
    Bullet type TTSX
    Primer Type Boxer
    Casing Type Brass
    Condition New
    Muzzle Velocity 3350 FPS
    Muzzle Energy 1994 ft lbs
    • 20 Rounds
    • $2.10 per round
    • Made by Barnes
  17. Federal 243 Win Ammo - 20 Rounds of 90 Grain ELD-X Ammunition

    $41.99

    90 In stock now

    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +10
    Bullet type ELD-X
    Primer Type Boxer
    Casing Type Nickel-Plated Brass
    Condition New
    Muzzle Velocity 3150 FPS
    Muzzle Energy 1983 ft lbs
    • 20 Rounds
    • $2.10 per round
    • Made by Federal
  18. Black Hills Gold 243 Win Ammo - 20 Rounds of 95 Grain Polymer Tipped Ammunition

    $44.99

    63 In stock now

    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +10
    Bullet type Polymer Tipped
    Primer Type Boxer
    Casing Type Brass
    Condition New
    Muzzle Velocity 2950 FPS
    Muzzle Energy 1835 ft lbs
    • 20 Rounds
    • $2.25 per round
    • Made by Black Hills Ammunition
  19. Sierra 243 Win Ammo - 20 Rounds of 90 Grain GameChanger Ammunition

    $44.99

    3 In stock now

    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +10
    Bullet type Polymer Tipped
    Primer Type Boxer
    Casing Type Brass
    Condition New
    Muzzle Velocity 3200 FPS
    Muzzle Energy 2046 ft lbs
    • 20 Rounds
    • $2.05 to $2.25 per round
    • Made by Sierra Bullets
  20. Nosler Ammunition 243 Win Ammo - 20 Rounds of 90 Grain Nosler AccuBond Ammunition

    $49.99

    60 In stock now

    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +10
    Bullet type Nosler AccuBond
    Primer Type Boxer
    Casing Type Brass
    Condition New
    Muzzle Velocity 3100 FPS
    Muzzle Energy 1920 ft lbs

History of 243 Ammo

In 1955, Winchester introduced the .243 for two of their rifles, the bolt action Model 70 and the lever action Model 88. Known for its efficiency, the .243 cartridge enjoys a positive reputation to this day, with all major American ammo manufacturers selling the caliber with a large array of bullet weights and types. Additionally, most major firearms manufacturers have at least one weapon chambered for the .243 Winchester – which is why it’s never difficult to find bulk 243 ammunition.

243 Winchester: The King of 6mm Cartridges

It’s the only 6mm cartridge that ever effectively captured the imagination of the American ammunition market. There are certainly other 6mm cartridges available – 6mm BR, 240 Weatherby Magnum, 6mm Remington Auto and the 243 WSSM – but when was the last time you saw any of them in the wild? Other 6mm rounds are obscure, precisely because the .243 Winchester round got it right the first time. It’s a difficult bullet to improve upon – though you can’t blame Winchester’s rivals for trying.

The .243 Winchester was the first centerfire rifle for many shooters, and it was also likely the caliber they used to take their first deer. The case is a necked-down .308 that provides ample room for the powder that pushes these light, small bullets to peak performance – allowing it to take a spectrum of animals, from varmints to predators and deer (some hunters have even successfully taken an elk with this round).

Bullets for the .243 are made in power point and soft point types, with bullet weights commonly ranging between 55 and 115 grains. Muzzle velocity starts at about 2,800 feet per second at the low end, and peaks at a near 3,900 feet per second – putting muzzle energies between 1,700 and 2,600 foot pounds.

These features make it ideal for shooting varmints and medium-sized or smaller big game. Indeed, it is the first commercially available round to straddle the fence between these two worlds. Some examples include blacktail deer, whitetail deer, mule deer, wild hogs, prong horns and coyotes.

Noted wildcatter P.O. Ackley has an improved version of the cartridge. This is known as the .243 Winchester Ackley. It differs from the standard round with a modified shoulder and sides, resulting in 10 percent greater powder capacity and a slightly increased velocity. That was about as much powder as you could realistically burn in 1955, and it’s not much less efficient today.

The Life of P.O. Ackley

Parker Otto Ackley, better known as P.O. Ackley, was an American gunsmith, wildcatter, barrel-maker and writer. He is the father of an entire family of wildcatted rounds known as Ackley Improved. Specifically, Ackley was almost always looking for a larger case capacity. He found this by rechambering his own weapons, decreasing body taper and increasing shoulder angle by fireforming. Ackley was known for tinkering not just with factory-standard ammunition, but also with rounds he liked from his fellow wildcatters.

Ackley started his gunsmithing business in Oregon in 1936. The Second World War, however, interrupted his plans. He re-opened his smithing business in 1945, this time in Trinidad, Colorado. In addition to his business, he was also a staff writer for Shooting Times and Guns & Ammo. He also taught at Trinidad Community College from 1946 to 1951, where he shared his extensive knowledge of American firearms and ammunition with a new generation of up-and-coming gunsmiths. In the end, he innovated no less than 30 different kinds of wildcat rounds.

Beyond his mastery of the craft of wildcatting, Ackley was a keen researcher of firearms and ballistics – often testing weapons to the point of destruction. In fact, he made rounds specifically designed to test the limits of what a weapon could do.

The .22 Eargesplitten Loudenboomer, one of the most famous wildcatted rounds, was one of his creations. He developed this for Bob Hutton of Guns & Ammo, with the sole intent of creating a round capable of traveling faster than 5,000 feet per second. Sadly, the round was only ever able to travel at 4,600 feet per second. The round, a modified .378 Weatherby Magnum way over the appropriate bore diameter, remains nothing more than a footnote and a curiosity today.

He was a fan of humorous rounds in general. For example, Ackley was also the mind behind the 17 Flintstone Super Eyebunger, which was a necked down .22-250. Australian gunsmith Bill Hambly-Clark, Jr. has successfully made this round travel at speeds of nearly 4,800 feet per second out of a 52-inch barrel weapon.

The term “Ackley Improved” has been applied to rounds that Ackley himself never worked on. This is because Ackley had clear guidelines about what constituted an “improved” round. According to Ackley, “Improved” meant that the chamber for the new round should be capable of shooting the original parent round. The cartridge case of an Ackley Improved round should also be necked up or down to accommodate a different bullet size, without stretching out the casing.

The Benefits of 243 Ammo

Stopping power is one feature that makes this one of the most popular calibers on the ammo market since its introduction in 1955. This, combined with low recoil and relatively low noise, make it ideal for the hunter who wants help staying calm while shooting accurately. For smaller hunters and those with shoulder issues, this might be the heaviest-duty ammunition they can realistically use.

The .243 has a light recoil and hits the target with high accuracy. It performs well out to 200 yards and beyond on deer-sized game – some hunters claim to regularly take whitetail deer at 400 yards. The LAPD Special Weapons And Tactics unit employed the cartridge in urban counter-sniper roles soon after the creation of the unit. There are currently no military units using the .243 Winchester.

While the U.S. enjoys the many benefits this round has to offer, it’s subject to a special law in the United Kingdom – the Deer Act of 1963, requiring a floor for bullet diameters at .240. This makes the .243 the entry-level round for deer hunting in the U.K., where the Deer Act is still in force.

If you’re a serious gun collector (or just someone who has trouble leaving a gun at a gun shop), you probably already have a weapon chambered for .243. Its benefits seem endless – it can take out varmints, hunt virtually any North American game, or take out a hostile intruder from a distance. On top of all that, this caliber is easy to find – making it pretty easy to find cheap 243 ammunition. This capable cartridge will likely be in demand for many years to come.

243 Ballistics: Chart of Average 243 Ballistics

Note: This information comes from the manufacturer and is for informational purposes only. 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.

FAQ

What is the difference between 223 vs 243 ammo?

When comparing the .223 Remington to the .243 Winchester, the two rifle cartridges have some differences. Although they both sit in a rimless, bottleneck case, the .243 has a wider diameter bullet (by about 0.5mm) and tends to weigh more. The .223 uses a small rifle primer and is loaded to a pressure of 55,000 psi, while the .243 uses a large rifle primer and has a pressure of 60,000 psi. This combination leads to a more powerful round, with the .243 performance beating the .223 in both velocity and muzzle energy.

What grain of 243 ammo should you use to hunt turkey?

Most hunters don’t recommend using a .243 for turkey hunting as the round is too powerful and may ruin much of the meat. In some jurisdictions, rifle hunting for turkey is prohibited, so check local regulations. If you want to use a .243, which is ideal for medium- to large-sized game and varmint hunting, opt for a light bullet between 55-75 grain, which will lower the velocity and reduce the wound size. If you prefer to have much of a bird left to roast, consider using a 12 gauge or 20 gauge shotgun. If you want to stick with a rifle, you may have better luck with the .17 HMR, the .22 Hornet, or the .22 WMR.

How much does 243 ammo cost?

Due to its popularity, .243 ammo remains readily available and affordable. On average, the ammo ranges from about $0.67 per round for soft point ammo to over $2.00 a round for specialty ammo.

What is the best .243 ammunition for deer hunting?

Most deer hunters opt for something other than a full metal jacket (FMJ) .243 ammo to increase stopping power. Consider Hornady’s Super Shock Tip or Speer’s Grand Slam, both of which feature an expanding bullet to create a deeper and more deadly wound.

Don't forget to visit our Hornady 243 ammo page for additional options.

Federal 243 Fusion ammo is another exceptional option when hunting whitetail deer. Their Fusion soft point is designed for reliable and consistent expansion, and their 95 grain bullets traveling at nearly 3,000 FPS will provide excellent penetration to ensure a clean kill.

What animals can be hunted with .243 Winchester ammo?

The .243 Winchester can be used to hunt a variety of North American game. It’s appropriate for medium game, as well as for some of the smaller large game, such as whitetail deer and elk. The .243 is also popular for hunting varmints and is often considered a top coyote gun.

What is the effective range of a .243?

The effective range of the .243 depends on what you’re shooting. For varmints, the ammo is effective up to 400 yards, while for hunting large game, such as whitetail deer, the maximum range is about 300 yards for commercial ammo.

Is .243 ammo good for target shooting?

The .243 Winchester is popular as a target shooting ammunition. The round is powerful, but doesn’t cause too much recoil and is manageable by most shooters. What’s more, the cartridge has a flat trajectory, making it easy to use at the range or silhouette course. The ammo is readily available and affordable, especially when bought in bulk. Opt for soft point or full metal jacket ammo for the best price for target shooting.

What ammo is cheaper 270 or 243?

The prices of .270 Winchester and the .243 Winchester are rather similar. Because it’s more popular and versatile, the .243 Win is often found cheaper, with the caliber starting at about $0.67 a round, where the .270 Win starts at around $0.90 a round.

243 Ballistics: Chart of Average 243 Ballistics

Note: This information comes from the manufacturer and is for informational purposes only. 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.

243 Bullet WEIGHT Muzzle VELOCITY (fps) Muzzle ENERGY (ft. lbs.) TRAJECTORY (in.)
  Muzzle 100 yds. 200 yds. 300 yds. 400 yds. Muzzle 100 yds. 200 yds. 300 yds. 400 yds. 100 yds. 200 yds. 300 yds. 400 yds.
55 Grain 4025 3597 3209 2853 2525 1978 1579 1257 994 779 0.6 0 -4 -12.2
55 Grain WSSM 4060 3628 3237 2880 2550 2013 1607 1280 1013 794 0.6 0 -3.9 -12
58 Grain 3925 3465 3052 2676 2330 1984 1546 1200 922 699 0.7 0 -4.4 -13.8
60 Grain 3600 3110 2660 2260 1890 1725 1285 945 680 475 2 1.8 -3.3 -15.5
70 Grain 3400 3020 2672 2350 2050 1797 1418 1110 858 653 0 -2.5 -9.7 n/a
70 Grain 3400 3040 2700 2390 2100 1795 1435 1135 890 685 1.1 0 -5.9 -18
75 Grain 3350 2955 2593 2259 1951 1993 1551 1194 906 676 2 0.9 -5 -19
80 Grain 3350 2955 2593 2259 1951 1993 1551 1194 906 676 2 0.9 -5 -19
80 Grain 3425 3081 2763 2468 2190 2984 1686 1357 1082 852 1.1 0 -5.7 -17.1
80 Grain Superformance 3425 3080 2760 2463 2184 2083 1684 1353 1077 847 1.1 0 -5.7 -17.1
85 Grain 3320 3070 2830 2600 2380 2080 1770 1510 1280 1070 2 1.2 -4 -14
87 Grain 2800 2574 2359 2155 1961 1514 1280 1075 897 743 1.9 0 -8.1 -23.8
90 Grain 3120 2871 2635 2411 2199 1946 1647 1388 1162 966 1.4 0 -6.4 -18.8
95 Grain 3185 2908 2649 2404 2172 2140 1784 1480 1219 995 1.3 0 -6.3 -18.6
95 Grain WSSM 3250 3000 2763 2538 2325 2258 1898 1610 1359 1140 1.2 0 -5.7 -16.9
100 Grain 2960 2697 2449 2215 1993 1945 1615 1332 1089 882 2.5 1.2 -6 -20
100 Grain Light Magnum 3100 2839 2592 2358 2138 2133 1790 1491 1235 1014 1.5 0 -6.8 -19.8
100 Grain WSSM 3110 2838 2583 2341 2112 2147 1789 1481 1217 991 1.4 0 -6.6 -19.7
105 Grain 2920 2689 2470 2261 2062 1988 1686 1422 1192 992 2.5 1.6 -5 -18.4
Sam Jacobs
Written by
Sam Jacobs

Customer Reviews

  • Mr. Jimmy said:

    Five deer taken on my ranch with this ammo: two neck shots, two head shots, and one shoulder shot ( 106 yds) . All dropped in their tracks! The shoulder shot hit a rib but still exited the body with a one inch exit wound that would have facilitated tracking, had it been necessary.

  • Jimmy said:

    My friends and family have taken five deer from my ranch this season, all taken with this ammo. All dropped in their tracks! Two were heart/lung shots, two were neck shots, and one head shot. Both chest area shots penetrated completely with minimal meat damage and left a quarter size exit which would have left a good blood trail if tracking had been necessary. Tremendous performance!

  • Bamaboy said:

    Punched right through 1/4 inch steel plate like hot butter. Same plate easily stops steel core .223 rounds.