The .243 falls right in-between the .223 and the .308. The .243 has less recoil then the .308, and yet it sends bullets down range at near .223 speeds, with twice the bullet weight. This flat shooting cartridge Doesn't suffer from some of the over penetration problems of the .308 and it doesn't suffer from some of the under penetration problems of the .223. In reality, this round is very suitable for the Law Enforcement arena. While there is no match grade ammo for the .243, there is quite a few premium quality loads out there. The .243 has never been used in any military rifle, but it would lend itself well to the 500-meter sniping role.

Recommendation: The .243 would be an excellent Law Enforcement sharpshooter caliber. It provides good energy and good trajectory with some mid weight bullets. There is no over penetration concerns in the military (At least not generally) so really there isn't any Military use for the .243, anything the .243 can do, the .308 can do also, and at greater ranges.

Ballistics:

Note: There really is no Military application for the .243 since there is no military rifles chambered for the .243. I'll provide a suitable longer ranged round that would make a nice 500 meter sniping round. The selected bullet is a Soft Point, which is illegal to use in combat (Both The Hague and Geneva Convention)

Federal Premium - .243 100gr Sierra Gameking BTSP, at 2960fps

Bullet Drop (Inches)

Energy (Muzzle - 1950 Ft-Lbs.)

Wind Drift (Inches) 10mph Crosswind

Note: I have chosen the 70gr ballistic tip round for my Law Enforcement round. I chose this round for its high speed, which equates to lower flight time, which is highly desirable when dealing with a Hostage type situation, there is less time for a target to move, and a victim to get in the way. Another reason for the ballistic tip is that they rapidly expand upon impact, allowing for less penetration, reducing the possibility of over-penetration casualties. My standard disclaimer still applies - test ALL ammunition choices to determine if the desired performance is met.

Federal Premium - .243 70gr Nosler Ballistic Tip, at 3400fps

Bullet Drop (Inches)

Energy (Muzzle - 1795 Ft-Lbs.)

Wind Drift (Inches) 10 mph Crosswind

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