Looking to compare 223 to 243 recoil from various loads. Wanting a truck gun that I can have light loads to shoot short ranges at small varmints and still keep a sight picture like you would with something like a 22 hornet but could have heavier loads for coyotes or in the case of 243 for deer. Is there anyway to compare recoil from reloading data in 223 'light loads' vs 243 'light loads'? Not sure if I can load 243 rounds light enough for what I want. Would velocity or comparing CUP ratings give me an approximate value?

I guess ultimately what I'm asking is can a 243 be reloaded light enough to equal to 22 hornet recoil. This to me would make a near perfect all around caliber.

In my experience the 243 has essentially zero perceived recoil

No there is mor powder and a heavier bullet in all 243 rounds compared to a 22 hornet if in equal weight guns.
That said my kids have been shooting deer with 243 and 7mm08(heavier bigger bullet than 243? With no problems since they were 7 years old. But they have a suppressor on them and that does reduce what little recoil those guns have.

A 243 with 55gr bullet can hit 4k fps or be loaded with 100gr bullets at 3k for deer. It's a versatile round for sure. I'm not overly fond of a 223 in comparison.

X2

With a little supervision 10-11 year olds can shoot one all afternoon

Yeah, .243's don't kick. Carry a .243 with a 75 gr. Vmax and you'll be ready for anything from a cottontail to a mule deer buck.

Download a recoil calculator. It all has to do mostly with weight of gun, weight of bullet, and muzzle velocity. Not pressure.

unless you have 2 sighting systems that is a tall order , if you had an optic with sub tenses that let you know where to hold like a MOA hash every 2moa

then you need to make up rounds and know your hold for each round

that is a lot of work and stuff to remember when you might want to be shooting quick

I just went the other direction one load in my case 308 , learn where it shoots near to far and shoot deer with it and anything else

if you shoot a wood chuck with a deer load it won't be any less dead , it might be a little louder but if you were also super sonic with the light load not a lot.

if you shoot a coyote with a 100gr 243 you might have to do a little sewing but not necessarily any more than a 75gr

I see post referring to truck guns. What is the definition or criteria for a "truck gun"?
Just curious.

Lookup hodgdonreloading.com 243 data for Trail Boss. You can make the 243 as limp as you like.
The alternative is over on 24hourcampfire. Google Blue Dot 243 loads.
https://www.predatormastersforums.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=3224108

I'm running 55gr Sierra Blitz Kings as fast as I can push them. Even full bore there is very little recoil and no damage to coyote hides as long as I stay off of bone.

I would tend towards the 223. I assume there are more yotes than deer. Yote season is longer than deer. Find a load that will be good for yotes and adequate for deer.

Good point GREENCOUNTRYPETE. I guess I was just hoping for making a load that makes minimal noise and muzzle lift while plinking but could switch to another load that would be suitable for longer distance coyote shot or even a deer. As far as a truck gun, I am just referring to a lower cost plastic stalk bolt gun. All of the guns i own now have too much sentimental value to just leave in my pickup and get beat around. They are nothing fancy but mean a lot to me.

For me it one that is cheap accurate and doesn't mater if it gets roughed up.

Now my van gun is a moss erg 590a1 mariner 12g . It's made for a salt water environment has an 18" cylinder bore and hold 6+1. It liven in my wife van in the compartments in the floor. Stays loaded with 3" 00 . 2 leg varmint gun.

Tractor. And mower gun is normally what's on my hip.

With a recoil calculator like Grousewit recommended you can compare recoil energy between various loads and firearms. The comparison should be indicative of felt recoil unless you are comparing semi auto vs bolt or single shot. The semi auto will use some of the recoil energy in shell ejection and reloading operations. Different recoil pads between rifles have an effect too. As others have said, .243 recoil is so mild as to not be an issue for most folks, but if you have had open heart or other surgery that has split you down the breastplate, it may be an issue for you.

Coyote market is toast. Why worry about bullet damage to them?????

Get a good coyote market buy another rifle. Pay for it with skins

it means a lot of things to a lot of people

at it's most simple it is a gun you keep in your truck.

typically utilitarian in purpose
my truck or rather Van gun was a bolt action Mossberg with a C-lect choke
I gave 75 dollars for it used , it shot very nice patterns , it was in good shape and it was kept in a case in a locked tool box in the back of my van next to a few boxes of shells always some #4 high brass but often some buckshot or 7 1/2 also.

how you carry your truck gun and what your truck gun is, has everything to do with your state laws and how much you want to follow them. as well as your needs.

it used to be in WI you had to have guns unloaded and cased to be legal

in my case the locked box in my van gave me an additional layer of security , it was a wooden box so not a ton but also it was a quick type combination lock I could undo it fast or forget the combo if I needed to , because it was locked and inaccessible from the passenger area it was out of bounds of a search in most cases. I drove that van all over Madison and sometimes for work.

my "need" was mostly all the times I said darn it if I only had a gun with I could take care of that varmint
so mostly I shot 13 stripe ground squirrels with it
thankfully never needed it to get home or for any 2 legged issues but it was there.

I also used to spend a fair amount of time at the in-laws where I would hunt by opportunity if something wandered into the back yard , they were township back then backing up to 2200 acre swamp that was state owned and between Grandma and an Uncle owned the 34 acre around my in-laws 2 there were a few other 2 acre lots that other family lived on on the same road sold from the original 40 grandpa and his brother bought and split in about 1948

back to guns

I had a rifle stolen from another truck and I no longer leave any guns in vehicles over night if I can help it

Now I have a door gun we will call it , this is a 308 bolt action with removable magazines 15 rounds of ammo in a Hornady cheek riser bag with storage 2 mags and 5 in loops on the outside , it is alwasy ready to go , it is a Mossberg Patriot Predator if I need to go deal with something at the farm I am grabbing that as it is alwasy just inside the door and ready to go.

in WI we have to keep long guns unloaded but they can now ride in the cab with you and no case is needed since 2011

If I was thinking the threat more 2 legged my AR pistol would be the go too because as a pistol it can stay loaded in a car since 2011 it is still quite good to 200 yards.

mostly these days I am just carrying my carry pistol if I leave the house with no particular purpose. I have shot a few raccoon that made themselves a nuisance with that.

for the OP if you have the 243 and want to use it I would go the one load and learn it well. if you were buying something a 223 can fill the role of lower cost ammo and less recoil while still taking deer with the right shot placement.
shotguns can be handy if stuff is typically close

decide on what you would be shooting and why and go from there

the thing about reduced loads is unless you go really reduced you don't cut noise that much also why a lot of guys carry a 22mag as a truck gun it is a little less noise , some less cost and still powerful enough for a lot of vermin .

My Truck gun!

Truck gun…any gun you that will hold a zero when bounced around and is light enough for small predators and large enough for hogs.
I keep a .22 revolver and rifle in the truck.
One AR15 with 1 full mag in it and 3 other full mags.
One single shot .243 that is a tack driver.
And generally a .44 pistol somewhere in there.
When riding and shooting deer we use our regular deer rifles. I drive because I’m right handed and my son sits in the passenger seat because he’s left handed. Shots may be anywhere from 50-200yds.

I got an old remington 700 in 22-250 with a timney trigger thats my "truck gun".