.243 vs. 25-06

bandhuntr

bandhuntr

New member
Alright guys I need yalls expert opinions, I am in the market for a dual purpose rifle. The rifle that I will be purchasing will mainly be used for yotes, hogs, deer, and anything else. It has to have light recoil and a large variety of factory loads. I will be using the rifle in Oklahoma where long shots present themselves frequently along with shots through brush. I have been looking at the .243 or the 25-06. What is your opinion on which caliber offers the most versatality?
 
I think the .243 recoil is lighter in the same weight rifle. I have used the .243 for so many different animals that I never felt the need for a 25-06.
 
having a 243 and looking at the trajectory of the 25-o6 will shoot heaver bullets at faster velocities and flatter.
 
The .243 is definitely the lighter recoiling of the two, but the 25-06 isn't a heavy recoiling round. I think the .243 is probably cheaper to shoot using factory ammo, and it definitely has a wider variety of bullets available as a reloader, but I'm not sure how true that is in factory.

The 25-06 will be better for larger game of course, but the .243 works on deer just fine.

Either one is a time proven chambering and will suit you well as a dual purpose rifle.
 
nmleon pretty well summed it up. I've never been a one gun type of fella, but if your not planning on hunting elk the 243 will stand you well for what your describing.

The 25-06 is no slouch either, but there is a little more recoil and though it will do fine for varmints and excel for deer you will find it can be tiring for a day of ground squirrel shooting.

Both are great guns and like Leon says both will work as good dual purpose rifles.
 
Bandhuntr,

I shot a 6mm Rem. for many years and it was my favorite rifle til a case ruptured and trashed the chamber. Killed antelope in their tracks to 400 yds. I only used one load with Sierra 100 gr. BTSP bullets and they worked great for everything from ground squirrels to deer. I built a 25-06 about 10 years ago for long range hunting and it will do everything the 6mm will plus some. It is a dependable rifle to 700 yards if I have the courage to shoot an animal that far away. I only use one load with a Nosler 100 BT. It shoots fast, flat and knocks them down. The 25-06 is a long action with a little more recoil than the short action .243's and 6mm's. Not that much more though. There are tradeoffs in everything. If you will only have the one rifle and plan on hunting game regularly beyond 300 yds, I would opt for the 25-06. Stick with one load and learn to shoot it. If most of your shooting is less than 300 yards I would go with the .243. Either way don't rule out future rifles. Like I tell my wife, I only want one more dear.

As far as factory ammo goes, the .243 will have the better, more varied selection of ammo from varmints to big game. If you are not a reloader, that might be a very important factor in your decision.

Good hunting.
 
We as shooters and hunters tend to "ask alot" of our selected cartridges. We expect ample killing power for deer sized game but not to much over-kill on the smaller species such as "yotes. The cartridge case is just the launching pad,the bullet and load selected for the species being hunted determines the outcome along with shot placement.

The premium bullet weight range for the 243 runs between 85 gr. and 95 gr. Where as for the 25-06 is runs from 100 grains to 120 grains. If most of your hunting will be for the larger of game animals and the shots will be long and often past 300 yards the 25-06 has the edge.

Hog
 
I have both, and the 25-06 is definitely the superior caliber for deer, particularly beyond 200 yards. If having to use a gun delivering the least amount of recoil is not a problem for you, for an all around rifle, I think the .25-06 will do better what you ask of it.
 
I have the 243 ,6mm Rem, 240 Wby and the 25-06. I like all three but the 25-06 is the clear winner for big game hunting for varmints there isn't a whole lot of different. If big game is the primary target you will be hunting get the 25-06 if varmints is the primary target then take your pick, but i would lend more toward the 6mm's . /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Thanks guys for all the good opinons,I really enjoy all the great points about each caliber. I was concerned about the recoil on the 25-06 just in case I can talk my twelve year old daughter into the woods this year.
 
Quote:
A What is your opinion on which caliber offers the most versatality?



I have a 6mm Rem, and a couple of 25-06 Rem rifles, and the
short answer for this question is, in my mind, clearly the
25-06.

Yes the 6mm bullet selection is better, and yes the
.243 Win, is going to be lighter recoil wise, but
versatility hunting wise, the 100-120 gr. bullets of the 25
caliber make this a better game hunting cartridge. My
6mm Rem has a pet load, using 65 gr. Vmax bullets, and hits
from this are pretty impressive. But if one wants maximum
varmint carnage, hit them with a 25 caliber 75 gr. Vmax, at
25-06 velocities. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Actually my Tikka M695 likes
the 85 gr. Nosler BT's, and this round will vaporize the
front, the middle, or the back third of a full grown rabbit.
I was testing this load on winter tree damage pests /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I really like my 6mm Rem. but if I had to choose one, to
live with the rest of my life, it would be something in
a 25-06 Rem.

There is only one caveat to this testimonial. I think I
read, this rifle choice may be used by a young hunter.
I have had the scope, on a 25-06 rifle bump my shooting
glasses, a time or two. It is not unmanageable recoil,
but it does have a pretty sharp snap to it. Make sure
the scope has generous eye relief. Or get a .243 Win,
if it is most often used as a youth rifle.

Squeeze
 
I live in Oklahoma, too, and I'm sure I've hunted in the type of terrain you've desribed. I'd go with the .25-06. I think it would be better for deer, especially at the longer distances possible in western OK, and you can still get some light loads for the predators if that's what you'll mostly be using it for. Plus, it can serve as a great back-up, or good primary, elk gun. I don't think you'd be disappointed with the .25-06. But whatever your choice, good luck.
 
FWIW, the perceived recoil of a .25-06 shooting a 100-120 gr. bullet, to me, is not a whole lot different than my .270....but the .243 IS noticeably less.
 
FWIW, the perceived recoil of a .25-06 shooting a 100-120 gr. bullet, to me, is not a whole lot different than my .270....but the .243 IS noticeably less.
 
My 25-06 has a 26" heavy target barrel and it has hardly any recoil at all, less than a .410 shotgun. I've shot tons of deer and hogs with it and it works great, i'd go with the 25-06.
 
I took the yote in my avitar with a 25-06. It's great practice for deer season. The rest of the year I use the smaller calibers on coyotes.
 
Quote:
I took the yote in my avitar with a 25-06. It's great practice for deer season. The rest of the year I use the smaller calibers on coyotes.

Is that the yotes liver laying next to him?
 
If your lookin at a 25-06 you might as well go with a .270, or even better a .280 rem. You'll have a lot better luck finding ammo, if you not going to reload right away, and even if you do you can get a 90 grain .270 bullet. Then you would be well set for deer. You could shoot a .270 at yotes it's not gonna be any harder on fur then a 25-06. Then later when you have a little extra money buy a .204 for yotes if you wanna start saving fur. If your not worried about fur which I assume your not with your two choices of rifles then go big.
 


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