243 or 25/06

Here is my favorite quote :

"If you want a varmint rifle that you can hunt deer with , go with the .243 . If you want a deer rifle that you can hunt varmints with , go with the 25-06 . "

In your situation where you already have a 223 , I would choose a 25-06 .
 
Get the quater bore and don't look back. Not knocking the 243 I'm just a firm beleiver the 25-06 is one of the best cross over guns out there.
 
Thanks for all the input guys.

Looks like the 25/06 is the favorite so far.

Does anyone have a Stevens in 25/06?? For the money, doesn't look like you can beat it.

kevlars
 
I Have a 6mm rem which is for the most part very similar to a 243, and I also have a 25-06. That is a tough decision. Almost like choosing between two of your children. However, I think i would have to toss my vote into the 25-06 arena. The 243 is incredible but I believe that the 06 is a better cross over. Especially if you are going for deer.
 
I just bought a Stevens 25.06, my sportsmans had them on sale for $259. I bought a Timney a good while ago when Midway had them on sale, so I installed the trigger and camo painted the stock.

I have not had time to mess with the rifle very much, been to the range with it 2 times. Once the deer season is over here, I will start working up a load for the gun. I bought some blemished bullets from midway, and have 200 peices of brass, so I will get a good load worked up.

IMHO, you can't come close to the value of a Stevens. Get you some fine grit sandpaper, and some paint, and in just a few minutes you have a rifle in whatever color you like. Even if you don't mind the color of the stock, it will have sharp edges that will need to be taken care of.

Good luck.
 
Thanks for the info Double D. That sounds like a great price, how can you beat that!! Even if you put a new trigger and upgrade the stock, you would have an even better rifle, just the way you want it and still not have a ton of money in it.

Let us know how it shoots!!

kevlars
 
I like them both and have used them extensively. However, I think that I would go with the 25/06 as well. Why? No reason other than pure gut reaction. That's not a very good answer but, really, they will both give great service so flip a coin and head to the gun store.

Landrum
 
Quote:
Here is my favorite quote :

"If you want a varmint rifle that you can hunt deer with , go with the .243 . If you want a deer rifle that you can hunt varmints with , go with the 25-06 . "

In your situation where you already have a 223 , I would choose a 25-06 .



That pretty much says it all for me. I've got a 223, a 25-06, and a 260. I've been considering adding a 243 or 7-08. Still can't make up my mind, but leaning toward the 7-08. Got an extra snowmobile for sale right now to possibly finance that or even an O/U 12 ga.
 
Well I have owned both. Right now I have a 243 and it got its first deer kill last week. The deer was quartering toward me and I shot him in the point of the shoulder and the bullet angled through him and didn't exit. The deer was around 185 pounds and ran about 50 yards. He was really messed up on the inside and I was really impressed. It was a 100 grain core-lokt. I have killed one deer with a 25-06 shooting 100 grain hornady's. I shot it in the neck and it was DRT, however it didn't exit either. Both cartridges are great, but right now my vote is 243.
 
The .25-06 will get you a little more range with its greater powder capacity and heavier bullets, if that is important to you.

The .243 has a slightly better selection of long-range varmint and target bullets (Hornady 87 V-Max, and various 100-105 grain match bullets) than the .25, however I hear that Nosler has come out with a 115-grain .25 Ballistic tip with a very high (.450?) ballistic coefficient, which really gives the long range edge to the .25. This is great for deer and more than you need to kill a chuck or a 'yote, but it will certainly buck the wind better on long shots than the lighter bullets, and at ranges past about 300-350 that becomes extremely important.
 
If big Wisconsin whitetails are on the agenda, the QuarterOtter is the obvious choice. Heck Joe Bradshaw aka ArkyYoter, has slain a pile of coyote with his. I think the 243 is a cool little chambering, but the 25 is a blast to shoot. No great amount of recoil, and a nice selection of bullets. Love mine,R.J.
 
Back
Top