Guide

.243 Winchester Ammo 2026: Hunting and Varmint Loads From the Makers

By Cole Harlan, EditorUpdated Nov 4, 2026How we verifyEditorial standards

We checked 26 current 243 Win loads on Federal's, Remington's and Hornady's own product pages on November 4, 2026: 11 from Federal, 6 from Remington and 9 from Hornady. The bullet weights, velocities, energy figures, test barrels and statuses below are copied from the maker pages. We don't use retailer prices or third-party ballistics. This is a comparison of popular loads from 3 makers, not every .243 Winchester load sold.

Grouping follows each maker's own usage label ("Big Game," "Hunting," "Predator" and "Varmint"). Hornady prints no usage label or stock status on our capture, so its loads sit in their own table. The Cartridge column shows the name the maker page uses.

Hunting loads

These are the loads Federal and Remington label Big Game or Hunting on their own pages. Figures are copied from each maker page.

Load	Cartridge	Item #	Bullet	Muzzle velocity	Muzzle energy	Test barrel	Box	Maker status (Nov. 4)
Federal Barnes TSX	243 Win	P243K	85 gr Barnes Triple-Shock X Bullet (TSX)	3,200 fps	1,933 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available
Federal Berger Hybrid Hunter	243 Win	P243BCH1	95 gr Berger	3,050 fps	1,962 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available
Federal ELD-X	243 Win	P243ELDX1	90 gr ELD-X	3,150 fps	1,983 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Discontinued
Federal Fusion Rifle	243 Win	F243FS1	95 gr Fusion Soft Point	2,980 fps	1,873 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available
Federal Fusion Tipped Rifle	243 Win	F243TFS1	95 gr Fusion Tipped	3,050 fps	1,962 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available
Federal Power-Shok Copper Rifle	243 Win	24385LFA	85 gr Copper HP	3,200 fps	1,933 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available
Federal Power-Shok Rifle	243 Win	243B	100 gr Jacketed Soft Point	2,960 fps	1,945 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available
Federal Power-Shok Rifle	243 Win	243AS	80 gr Jacketed Soft Point	3,330 fps	1,970 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available
Federal Trophy Copper	243 Win	P243TC1	85 gr Trophy Copper	3,200 fps	1,933 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available
Remington Core-Lokt	243 Win	R27802	100 gr Pointed Soft Point Core Lokt	2,960 fps	1,945 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available
Remington Core-Lokt Copper	243 Win	R27856	85 gr Copper HP	3,200 fps	1,933 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available
Remington Core-Lokt Tipped	243 Win	29015	95 gr Core-Lokt Tipped	3,140 fps	2,080 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available
Remington High Performance Rifle	243 Win	27800	80 gr Pointed Soft Point	3,350 fps	1,993 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available
Remington Premier Scirocco	243 Win	29320	90 gr Swift Scirocco Bonded	3,120 fps	1,945 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available

Varmint and predator loads

These are the loads Federal and Remington label Predator or Varmint on their own pages. Figures are copied from each maker page.

Load	Cartridge	Item #	Bullet	Muzzle velocity	Muzzle energy	Test barrel	Box	Maker status (Nov. 4)
Federal Varmint & Predator	243 Win	AE24375VP	75 gr Jacketed Hollow Point	3,375 fps	1,897 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	40	Available
Federal Varmint & Predator	243 Win	V243VM75	75 gr Hornady® V-Max®	3,425 fps	1,953 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available
Remington Premier AccuTip-V	243 Win	29194	75 gr AccuTip-V	3,375 fps	1,897 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available

Hornady loads

Hornady's pages show no usage label and no stock status on our capture, so these loads are listed by product line. Velocity and energy are the muzzle figures from each page's ballistics table.

Load	Cartridge	Item #	Bullet	Muzzle velocity	Muzzle energy	Test barrel	Box	Maker status (Nov. 4)
Hornady American Whitetail	243 Win	8047	100 gr InterLock® BTSP American Whitetail®	2,960 fps	1,945 ft-lb	24 in	20	Not listed on maker page
Hornady American Whitetail Tipped	243 Win	80461	95 gr SST® American Whitetail® TIPPED	2,960 fps	1,848 ft-lb	24 in	20	Not listed on maker page
Hornady Custom	243 Win	80468	87 gr V-MAX® Custom	3,240 fps	2,028 ft-lb	24 in	20	Not listed on maker page
Hornady Custom Lite	243 Win	80466	87 gr SST® Custom Lite®	2,800 fps	1,514 ft-lb	24 in	20	Not listed on maker page
Hornady Outfitter	243 Win	804574	80 gr. CX® Outfitter®	3,200 fps	1,819 ft-lb	24 in	20	Not listed on maker page
Hornady Precision Hunter	243 WIN	80462	90 gr ELD-X® Precision Hunter®	3,150 fps	1,983 ft-lb	24 in	20	Not listed on maker page
Hornady Superformance	243 Win	80463	95 gr SST® Superformance®	3,185 fps	2,140 ft-lb	24 in	20	Not listed on maker page
Hornady Superformance	243 Win	8343	58 gr V-MAX® Superformance®	3,925 fps	1,984 ft-lb	24 in	20	Not listed on maker page
Hornady Superformance Varmint	243 Win	83433	75 gr V-MAX® Superformance® Varmint	3,580 fps	2,134 ft-lb	24 in	20	Not listed on maker page

Barrel length matters: the test barrels

Muzzle velocity depends on barrel length, so compare loads tested on the same barrel. Of the 26 loads, 17 list no test barrel, 9 list 24 in. The loads with no test barrel are from Federal and Remington. A rifle with a shorter barrel than the maker's test barrel will likely give lower velocities than the box. SAAMI's test barrel for rifle cartridges such as the .243 Winchester is 24 in. For how velocity changes with barrel length in .243 Winchester, see our barrel length vs velocity data for .243 Winchester.

243 Win: what SAAMI lists

SAAMI lists the cartridge as "243 WINCHESTER [243 WIN]" in ANSI/SAAMI Z299.4, its centerfire rifle standard (approved Feb. 10, 2025). The cartridge drawing was issued 05/29/1979 and revised 04/05/2022. SAAMI lists a maximum average pressure of 60,000 psi, measured by transducer (the table shows 600 in psi/100), and 52,000 CUP by crusher (the table shows 520 in CUP/100). Cartridge overall length runs from 2.540 in minimum to 2.710 in maximum. Case length is 2.045 in (−.020), and bullet diameter is .243 in (−.003). Bore is .237 in and groove is .243 in, with 6 grooves and a twist of 1 in 10.00 in, right-hand (marked optional). Read the standard at the SAAMI Z299.4 PDF.

SAAMI says all standard rifle test barrels are 24 in long and that exterior ballistic data for centerfire rifle cartridges is based on that length. Its listed exceptions (7.62x39, 277 Sig Fury, 30 Carbine, 300 AAC Blackout and 300 HAM'R) do not include the .243 Winchester.

Not yet verified

These makers and loads are not in the tables.

Winchester: every Winchester product page we opened for these calibers says "There is no ballistics data available at this time," so we have no Winchester figures to copy yet.
SIG Sauer: the maker's site returned an access error (403) to our automated check, and we did not verify its product pages this round.
Speer and CCI: Speer's ammunition page has no 243 Win caliber filter value and CCI's rifle page returned not found, so we found no 243 Win load from either maker and neither is in the tables.
Test barrels and stock status: Federal and Remington pages list no test barrel on some loads, and Hornady's pages list no stock status.

1 load in the tables carries a "Discontinued" badge on the maker page as of Nov. 4, 2026: Federal ELD-X P243ELDX1. We list them because the maker page still shows them.

Rifles for .243 Winchester

The .243 Winchester is a rifle cartridge, and the loads in the tables run from 58 gr to 100 gr. Barrel length changes velocity, as the .243 Win barrel length data shows. See also new rifle releases and the new hunting rifles of 2026.

Where to buy

We link only to maker pages, listed in the sources below. Federal and Remington show availability on their own product pages (for example "Available" or "Currently Unavailable"). Hornady's pages show none on our capture. We don't track retailer stock. Before you order, check your state's ammunition rules, because some states require a background check or restrict shipping.

For more ammo, see .25-06 Remington ammo, 7mm-08 Remington ammo, .204 Ruger ammo, .308 Win ammo, .30-06 Springfield ammo, 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, 6mm ARC ammo, 22 Creedmoor ammo, the .243 Winchester barrel length data, new ammo for 2026 and all ammo releases.

Frequently asked questions

What is the SAAMI maximum pressure for .243 Winchester?

SAAMI lists a maximum average pressure of 60,000 psi for 243 Win, measured by transducer, in ANSI/SAAMI Z299.4 (the table shows 600 in psi/100).

What grain is .243 Winchester ammo?

In our tables the bullets run from 58 gr to 100 gr. Check your firearm maker's manual for what your rifle is set up to shoot.

How fast is .243 Winchester ammo?

In our tables, listed muzzle velocities run from 2,800 fps to 3,925 fps, and muzzle energies from 1,514 ft-lb to 2,140 ft-lb. Test barrels vary, and some maker pages list none. See the test barrel section of this guide.

What does test barrel mean?

It is the barrel length the maker used to measure the listed velocity. A shorter barrel will likely give lower velocities than the box. See our .243 Winchester barrel length data.

Do you list prices or stock for .243 Winchester ammo?

No. We link only to maker pages. Where a maker page shows a status, such as "Available" or "Currently Unavailable," we copy it as of Nov. 4, 2026. Hornady's pages show none.

.243 Winchester Ammo 2026: Hunting and Varmint Loads From the Makers

Hunting loads

Varmint and predator loads

Hornady loads

Barrel length matters: the test barrels

243 Win: what SAAMI lists

Not yet verified

Rifles for .243 Winchester

Where to buy

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Keep exploring

Hunting loads

Varmint and predator loads

Hornady loads

Barrel length matters: the test barrels

243 Win: what SAAMI lists

Not yet verified

Rifles for .243 Winchester

Where to buy

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Keep exploring

The Gun Release Report