Cheap .243’s

[Shabz]

Never in two decades has anyone ever asked to see my ammunition. That includes on contracts that have stipulated non toxic be used. I’ve never heard of anyone having their bullet chronographed to see if it meets minimum velocities or energy. Every deer I’ve ever shot could have been shot with a subsonic load and nobody would have ever known about it. I can’t imagine the police will be patrolling woodlands looking for lead bullets after the ban.

I would imagine that accepting that, while the vast majority of people will just switch to non lead bullets, some people will stockpile lead bullets for after the ban will be the most practical way forward by the police. It’ll be a temporary problem with the majority of the risk gone.

 

[Shabz]

This is true however there was a lot more options when it came to lead, with copper being longer bullets to get the weight to make them deer legal very few if any slow twist .243 will stabilise them. Therefore making them completely unethical if you want to make a guarantee clean shot.

Drive them faster. You need weight or speed to make energy.

 

[andyk]

This is true however there was a lot more options when it came to lead, with copper being longer bullets to get the weight to make them deer legal very few if any slow twist .243 will stabilise them. Therefore making them completely unethical if you want to make a guarantee clean shot.

I don’t agree that very few will stabilise, the vast majority of 243 non-lead ammo is intended for 1:10 barrels. My own has stabilised 80gr Hornady CX, Barnes TTSX and 85gr TSX.

Almost all, if not all, of the 80-85gr bullets are intended for 1:10. There’d be very little point in manufacturers making it if it didn’t, as only a few rifles are specced with a faster twist barrel outside of the semi-custom route.

The 90gr plus bullets will need 1:8, but I’m aware of few, if any, manufacturers who make factory 243 win ammo with those bullets.

 

[muddy42]

I don’t agree that very few will stabilise, the vast majority of 243 non-lead ammo is intended for 1:10 barrels. My own has stabilised 80gr Hornady CX, Barnes TTSX and 85gr TSX.

Almost all, if not all, of the 80-85gr bullets are intended for 1:10. There’d be very little point in manufacturers making it if it didn’t, as only a few rifles are specced with a faster twist barrel outside of the semi-custom route.

The 90gr plus bullets will need 1:8, but I’m aware of few, if any, manufacturers who make factory 243 win ammo with those bullets.

A short stubby bullet helps with stability. Im using up lead but Id be interested to try those Peregrine VRG3 in 80 and 100g one day. The shape a BC doesn't matter for sensible ranges and woodland stalking.

 

[the prowler]

These were shot with the last of my fox non toxic 80grain bullets. Kills fox no problem. Back to using up some 75vmax. As for the 243. It's not going anywhere.

 

[HonestJohn]

Basically every RFD says no .243’s are getting sold and zero demand. Yet, every owner argues they’re here to stay…

The market will dictate, not nostalgic current users

I’m going to forecast that in a couple of years the .243 will be what the .270 has been for the last 20, great, works, but commercially 6ft under

 

[Beagle boy]

Basically every RFD says no .243’s are getting sold and zero demand. Yet, every owner argues they’re here to stay…

The market will dictate, not nostalgic current users

I’m going to forecast that in a couple of years the .243 will be what the .270 has been for the last 20, great, works, but commercially 6ft under

Yeah I’d tend to agree John. I know a couple of guys who run gun shops and both are saying the same.
I think what might save the .243 though, is the fact variations take a long time to process.
So even if you wanted rid of your .243. The process will be so long that you may have to buy more rounds to shoot if you don’t have another deer rifle.
Then the market may create the demand and the suppliers will fill it with a decent .243 bullet.
This is all speculation, but if there is a cheap enough “nice rifle” I might risk it

Cheers Rob

 

[Beagle boy]

Does anyone have feedback from Scottish firearms dealers regarding second hand trade in .22 centrefires (222, 223, 22-250 etc.) ? Exempt from the lead ban and useable of Scottish roe deer and fox.

I’d love to see England and Wales allow 22 cf for roe.
If the results are not great with the lead ban it would be a good idea to make 22-250 .223 legal for roe

Cheers Rob

 

[Rake Aboot]

Does anyone have feedback from Scottish firearms dealers regarding second hand trade in .22 centrefires (222, 223, 22-250 etc.) ? Exempt from the lead ban and useable of Scottish roe deer and fox.

Read the thread
A dealer has already commented on all the above

If you’re not a member of a range or can prove visits to an approved range, it will be hard to argue possession of banned ammunition. If one is, I suppose in theory possession of target ammo is allowed

It’s not being banned so it won’t be banned ammunition

 

[Smellydog]

I’d love to see England and Wales allow 22 cf for roe.
If the results are not great with the lead ban it would be a good idea to make 22-250 .223 legal for roe

Cheers Rob

Hahemmm, 222 as well please

 

[Beagle boy]

Hahemmm, 222 as well please

Yeah sorry 222 aswell.

 

[Smellydog]

Yeah sorry 222 aswell.

Thank you

 

[Smellydog]

Yeah sorry 222 aswell.

Can I err push for hornet

 

[Beagle boy]

Can I err push for hornet

Of course you can pal
It probably wasn’t ideal, but it did the job for a few of the older guys.
Seems odd to think how commonly they were used now

Cheers Rob

 

[25 Sharps]

If you’re not a member of a range or can prove visits to an approved range, it will be hard to argue possession of banned ammunition. If one is, I suppose in theory possession of target ammo is allowed

I just think that you are wrong, possession is not being banned.

But yes, I am a member of 2 clubs and will be using up my stock of lead expanding bullets .243 and above up for target use so not just target ammunition.

It will probably all change after a few people get caught using ELD-M or similar for deer stalking, but I will enjoy it while it lasts.

 

[muddy42]

Read the thread
A dealer has already commented on all the above

where is this comment, I have read through a few times now?

 

[Rake Aboot]

where is this comment, I have read through a few times now?

My apologies
It was the other thread this week about .243

Have a look for the post by Edinburgh rifles

C

Thread '243 second hand market dead'

Jul 6, 2026

Im in the market to change my deer/foxing rifle have got the chance at a sako 75 243

Went to 2 local rfds to sell my used howa 243 and point blank “we dont buy 243 because of the ban”
Is this the same story with anyone else

• charlie-fox
• Replies: 55
• Forum: Rifles & Calibres

• 

 

[MilesW]

There was an old BDS survey once that suggested that 70% of deer stalking rifles were .243 Its probably less now. Obviously I don't want a lead ban, but I just cant see a ban being introduced that excludes such a large proportion of deer rifles.

Why not? "They" don't like you, and "they" don't like your rifles, and "they" don't care.

When you think about it, add the 6.17mm exemption to that nominal 70% and the effect of the ban would be almost meaningless. May as well just scrap it

 

[andyk]

Some RFDs may just be saying there’s no demand as it’s plausible and allows them to knock down the price on any 243 they’re taking in. I got told by one when I needed to get rid of an ASE mod that they couldn’t give me anything for it, not even a box of HMR, due to the lack of a market for second hand mods (this was pre the recent law change). A few weeks later they were advertising it for £100 and it appears to have sold…

I expect demand will pick up for 6mm. There’s going to be a bit of a blip while some people panic about things that aren’t really a problem and then scare others off from buying one. However, there are some good non-lead bullets being offered in 6mm that can be shot at healthy velocity from a low recoiling package. The only question is whether that niche stays filled with 243 (perhaps with a quick twist) or by something else like the 6mm Creed.

 

[muddy42]

Why not? "They" don't like you, and "they" don't like your rifles, and "they" don't care.

When you think about it, add the 6.17mm exemption to that nominal 70% and the effect of the ban would be almost meaningless. May as well just scrap it

sorry you've lost me there.

For the record, I don't support the ban or any shooting organisation that went along with it. Personally I think this was a pathetic attempt to save the image of industrial scale pheasant shooting in the South of England which releases the vast majority of lead into the environment (there was a table and study showing this somewhere). Joe public wants to eat chicken not pheasant and there will never be a commercially viable outlet for that volume of pheasant meat. For the financiers that have the cash for this sport, it makes no difference to buy a new shotgun. There has been too little thought for exceptions for the little syndicates and once in a season one-for-the-pot shooter. Its frankly none of the government's business if I shoot a pheasant on my own land and eat it.