Pennsylvania Game News - November 2024 - 62

and fl attest-shooting big game cartridge,
producing lightning kills.
With a 1-in-14-inch twist, the .25
caliber, 87-grain spire bullet fl ew at an
unheard of 3,000 feet per second (fps). A
few years later, Winchester brought out
the heavier 100-grain spitzer that fl ew
slower at 2,800 fps but promised deeper
penetration, better suiting deer hunters.
Demand for the .250 Savage soared
to the point that most rifl e manufacturers
chambered it in their bolt-action lines.
Later, in the 1970s, the twist was
changed to 1-in-10-inch so that slugs
up to 120 grains could be used, fl ying
at 2,650 fps.
With a 100-yard zero, the 87-grain
bullet drops just 3 inches at 200 yards and
12 inches at 300 yards. The 100-grain
slug drops 4 inches at 200 yards and 15
inches at 300, while a 117-grain drops 5
inches and 17 inches, respectively, at 200
and 300 yards.
All the while, the limited recoil of
these cartridges boosted accuracy.
While manufacturing of the .2503000
seems to have ceased, Remington
still off ers a 100-grain bullet and a couple
of custom ammo makers produce loads
ranging from 87 to 115 grains.
But it was the .257 Roberts cartridge
that came out in 1934 that really caused
dual-purpose rifl es to take off .
The .243 faced new competition
in 1963 with the debut of the 6mm
The Roberts was introduced with a
1-in-10-inch twist that could accurately
throw an 87-grain bullet at 3,100 fps for
varmints, along with heavier 100-grain
(3,000 fps) and 117-grain (2,800 fps)
bullets that could drive through to the
heart and lungs of deer and black bears.
Handloaders of that day found they
could add another 100 fps, further
fl attening trajectory while extending foot
62
Remington. Due to its slightly greater
case capacity, longer neck, sharper
shoulder, 1-in-9-inch twist and higher
operating pressure, it bettered the .243
by 100 fps. It better stabilized bullets
over 100 grains, too.
But the 6mm never overtook the .243
Win., and it's no longer manufactured.
There are plenty out there, though, with
factory ammo available.
pounds of energy. The " Roberts " became
a favorite of many hunters who wanted
an all-around cartridge, and ultimately
its popularity exceeded that of the .250
Savage.
When I was in gunsmithing school
in the 1970s, I bought a Springfi eld
" 03 " action and built a lightweight .257
Roberts rifl e with a 22-inch barrel. I put
a Leupold 3X9 duplex scope on its deck.
For many years, it was my go-to rifl e for
varmint, antelope and deer hunting.
But if there is one cartridge that
eclipsed both the .250 Savage and the
.257 Roberts in popularity, it's the .243
Winchester introduced in 1955. In 26inch
test barrels with a 1-in-10-inch
twist, it threw an 80-grain bullet at 3,300
fps and a 100-grain bullet at 3,000 fps. In
more-common 22-inch barrels, velocities
were closer to 3,200 and 2,900 fps with
80- and 100-grain bullets, respectively.
Gun writers heralded the .243 Win.,
which built quite a reputation as a
varmint and deer cartridge eff ective on
larger game like bears and elk, as well.
Today it remains popular enough that
every rifl e manufacturer chambers it in a
variety of models, and several members
of our group swear by the .243 Win. as
their all-around rifl e.
Pennsylvania Game News - November 2024

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