Latest Loads: Budget-Friendly .243 Win.

by
posted on January 23, 2018
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
243.jpg

Low cost doesn’t necessarily equate to lousy performance. A case in point: Recently, while using a Savage Axis rifle in .243 Win.—purchased at Walmart for $269 and subsequently fitted with an aftermarket Timney trigger and a Bushnell Banner 6-18X 50 mm scope in basic Weaver bases/rings—and the recipe below, I was able to achieve sub-m.o.a. performance for five consecutive, five-shot groups at 100 yds. Three-shot, one-half-m.o.a. groups were commonplace. These groups weren’t achieved using match-grade, target-specific bullets, either; rather, I used Hornady’s high-performance, yet low-cost, 95-gr. Super Shock Tip (SST) bullets, which were designed for hunting medium-size game, such as deer and antelope. This all speaks to the quality of firearms, optics and handloading components available to shooters and hunters today—even those with low price points. You can get a lot for a little.

Latest

Army 250Th Part 4 6
Army 250Th Part 4 6

250 Years of the U.S. Army: From Vietnam to Today

For more than half a century, the U.S. Army's standard infantry rifle has undergone a remarkable transformation, from the battle rifles of World War II to the compact, modular carbines carried by soldiers today.

The Alpha Foxtrot Attila: Not Just Another 2011

In a marketplace filled with 2011-style pistols, Alpha Foxtrot decided to go a different direction with its Attila handgun design, which is built to use Shield Arms S15 magazines.

JP Morgan Rescinds Discriminatory Policy Against Gunmakers

In January, JPMorgan Chase joined Citigroup and Bank of America in rescinding policies discriminating against lawful businesses in the firearm industry—in this case, reversing their policy against lending to rifle manufacturers.

Remembering Past NRA President David A. Keene

David A. Keene, a prominent conservative leader and NRA President from 2011 to 2013, died on March 8, 2026, at 80 years old, from pancreatic cancer.

Semi-Automatic Bans Are Unconstitutional

If the logical application of the rule of law means anything in this constitutional republic, bans on massively popular semi-automatic firearms will be found unconstitutional.

New Handloading Helpers: The Latest Reloading Gear From RCBS

When Hodgdon Powder Company took over RCBS in 2024, company leaders said positive change was coming. By looking at the new products RCBS introduced in 2026, it’s clear they were right.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.