308 vs 243
- Thread starter native
- Start date
IDBob
New member
If your going to combine a coyote and deer gun and you want your wife or kids to pack it I'd say a heavy bbl is probably out of the question. Your going to want something light enough to pack. Most of the guys that use a gun for calling also like a lighter gun.
There are a bunch of good one's on the market. I have a Ruger #1B in 243 that I like, but there are lots of good bolt guns also. Most of mine are Remington and one you might look at is the Remington model 7. It's compact, light and in 243 the kids and mom can shoot it without becoming recoil shy.
Savage, Ruger, Browning, CZ, and Weatherby all make great bolt guns in 243 along with several others. Just depends on how much money your willing to part with at the time your ready to buy.
If you can get to one of the big gun shops that stock several different brands pick up and try out a bunch for feel and fit. I'd bet you'll find one that just says "take me home".
There are a bunch of good one's on the market. I have a Ruger #1B in 243 that I like, but there are lots of good bolt guns also. Most of mine are Remington and one you might look at is the Remington model 7. It's compact, light and in 243 the kids and mom can shoot it without becoming recoil shy.
Savage, Ruger, Browning, CZ, and Weatherby all make great bolt guns in 243 along with several others. Just depends on how much money your willing to part with at the time your ready to buy.
If you can get to one of the big gun shops that stock several different brands pick up and try out a bunch for feel and fit. I'd bet you'll find one that just says "take me home".
bowhunter57
Well-known member
native,
Since you already have a .308 for deer, I'd pick a rifle that can cover your coyote needs. However, if you're looking for a second rifle and want it to do both too....I wouldn't choose a .243 Win.
I'm NOT a fan of .243 Win. because it's not as much of a long range rifle for coyotes as a .25-06 is and it's does not have the knock-down power of your .308 for deer.
I would choose a .25-06 to do both tasks that you're asking a rifle to do, as it can be loaded up or down....depending on what you're hunting. I'm also a huge fan of Savage rifles. Savage's out-of-the-box accuracy is well known.
Good luck with your choices!
Good hunting, Bowhunter57
Since you already have a .308 for deer, I'd pick a rifle that can cover your coyote needs. However, if you're looking for a second rifle and want it to do both too....I wouldn't choose a .243 Win.
I'm NOT a fan of .243 Win. because it's not as much of a long range rifle for coyotes as a .25-06 is and it's does not have the knock-down power of your .308 for deer.
I would choose a .25-06 to do both tasks that you're asking a rifle to do, as it can be loaded up or down....depending on what you're hunting. I'm also a huge fan of Savage rifles. Savage's out-of-the-box accuracy is well known.
Good luck with your choices!
Good hunting, Bowhunter57
peterjc
New member
Native,
One thing I will caution you about. The 243 win is basically a necked down 308 win. case. Which means the difference in diameter of the two projectiles is .065 inch.
That is not much if your not an experienced reloader. What I'm getting at is if you have both guns out with you and your wife or whomever, DO NOT get the cartridges mixed up. If you put a 243 in the 308 the bullet will probably just wobble down and out the barrel but if you put a 308 in the 243 and slam it home... you got big trouble. Just a thought.
One thing I will caution you about. The 243 win is basically a necked down 308 win. case. Which means the difference in diameter of the two projectiles is .065 inch.
That is not much if your not an experienced reloader. What I'm getting at is if you have both guns out with you and your wife or whomever, DO NOT get the cartridges mixed up. If you put a 243 in the 308 the bullet will probably just wobble down and out the barrel but if you put a 308 in the 243 and slam it home... you got big trouble. Just a thought.
hickerx2
Member
Quote:
If you put a 243 in the 308 the bullet will probably just wobble down and out the barrel but if you put a 308 in the 243 and slam it home... you got big trouble.
A .308WIN will not even come close to chambering in a .243WIN rifle. Your caution is correct, but in this case there is no danger.
If you put a 243 in the 308 the bullet will probably just wobble down and out the barrel but if you put a 308 in the 243 and slam it home... you got big trouble.
A .308WIN will not even come close to chambering in a .243WIN rifle. Your caution is correct, but in this case there is no danger.
bowhunter 25-06 is a good gun but i had a buddy tha had bad luck with his. he lost 4 deer in one year. dont know what the deal use but i have only lost 2 in the 23yr of hunting and still makes me sick know i had 2 deer wounder out there.so im not to keen on the 25-06.i just want a new gun tha is good for ever thing .
Sportsman-n-1
New member
The 25-06 uses a larger bullet with better ballistics then a 243. I would guess it was either bullet selection or shot placement.
Jim n Iowa
New member
You would be covering a good range of bullet weights adding the 243. The 243 is a great caliber, low recoil good bullet selection for reloaders, and the local stores stock the ammo also. It is a great gun for the wife to start out with(I am in fact still working on it) If you go that way get the fastest twist available. Mine is a old Parker-Hale with a 1:10 twist, 90-100gr are not that accurate. If I were to rebarrel I would look for 1:9 or 8, however 75-85 3 shot you can cover with a dime.
Jim
Jim
wildarcher
New member
I shoot a 25-06 rifle and a 243...the .o6 is hands down the better rifle period.Every deer i shoot with the .06 i watch fall out of the scope before recoil.The fartherest i have had one run is 5 yards.Usually it turns them over,and see their hoofs facing the opposite direction when they hit.However the 243 cal.the deer will run unless shot placement is percise.I own a 7mm.as well but the .06 is my personal choice hands down,and i shoot the 100 grain coreloc.for coyotes they make a 85 grain winchester ballistic tip....bam !!!
je4bowhuntin
Active member
the 243 is one of the most enjoyabe rifles i have ever hunted/shot paper with. i have drpped two deer and about 10 yotes just this last season. i never evne took my 30-06 to the woods this year. i shot a buck at 80yds facing me and dropped him dead in his tracks. i shot a doe at 170yds. broadside and it was a boom flop kinda deal to.
native, i dont think your buddy should blame the caliber/rifle for lost deer. $100 bucks says its shot placement that cost him those deer. i have several friends who's kids hunt with a .223 and they kill deer jsut find.
native, i dont think your buddy should blame the caliber/rifle for lost deer. $100 bucks says its shot placement that cost him those deer. i have several friends who's kids hunt with a .223 and they kill deer jsut find.
MPFD
Well-known member
The big advantages possessed by the 6mm cartridges are that they are extremely efficient varmint cartridges, probably better for long range shooting than either the .22's or the .25's, while remaining adequate for hunting the popular medium size big game animals. The 6mm's are modest in recoil and fun to shoot, at the range or in the field. Because 6mm bullets have relatively good sectional density and ballistic coefficient, as a group the .24/6mm cartridges offer high velocity and a flat trajectory. They are also highly accurate cartridges. The combination of light recoil, high velocity, flat trajectory, and outstanding accuracy make the .24/6mm tribe easy to hit with. And cartridges that are easy to hit with bring home the gold from matches and the venison from the field.
The lightest 6mm bullets, from about 55-80 grains, are usually frangible bullets intended for varmint shooting. The 85-87 grain bullets may be intended for either varmints or medium game. The 90-115 grain bullets are intended for the medium size species of big game. In addition, specialized bullets for target shooting are produced in a variety of weights.
---Chuck Hawks---
http://www.chuckhawks.com/friendly_6mm.htm
The lightest 6mm bullets, from about 55-80 grains, are usually frangible bullets intended for varmint shooting. The 85-87 grain bullets may be intended for either varmints or medium game. The 90-115 grain bullets are intended for the medium size species of big game. In addition, specialized bullets for target shooting are produced in a variety of weights.
---Chuck Hawks---
http://www.chuckhawks.com/friendly_6mm.htm
Squeeze
New member
Bullet range, for .257 caliber bullets, is 75 gr. to 120
gr. The 75-85 grain ballistic tips, are violent expansion
bullets, and they do violent damage, at 25-06 velocities.
Less so for 250 Savage, and 257 Roberts, but still pretty
messy exit holes. The 100 to 120 gr bullets are tougher,
game hunting bullets. I personally use 100 gr. Barnes
Triple Shock bullets, in my hand loads, and they are
death to deer. A number of more conventional jacketed
lead core bullets, in 120 gr. weights, are good bullets,
for hogs, and deer, sized game, too.
I have both a 6mm Rem.(slightly beefier than the 243 Win,
but in the same class), and a 25-06 Rem. The 6mm/.243
rifle is going to kick less than the 25-06 Rem, and
there is a larger selection of 6mm/.243 bullets available.
Factory ammo selection will be larger for 243 Win, also.
The 25-06 Rem, is flat a better "deer" rifle than the
243 Win, all BS aside. It is flatter shooting, and can
handle a larger bullet. The 25-06 is a low volume
varminter, due to barrel heating, and damage is dramatic.
If maximum carnage is your thing, then the 25-06 is the
right chambering /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif If you are looking for a gun
that can both handle varmints(low volume shooting), and
deer sized game, then recoil, and effectiveness on
game, should make the decision for you.
Lower recoil=243 Win
More Effective on deer sized game=25-06 Rem.
Squeeze
gr. The 75-85 grain ballistic tips, are violent expansion
bullets, and they do violent damage, at 25-06 velocities.
Less so for 250 Savage, and 257 Roberts, but still pretty
messy exit holes. The 100 to 120 gr bullets are tougher,
game hunting bullets. I personally use 100 gr. Barnes
Triple Shock bullets, in my hand loads, and they are
death to deer. A number of more conventional jacketed
lead core bullets, in 120 gr. weights, are good bullets,
for hogs, and deer, sized game, too.
I have both a 6mm Rem.(slightly beefier than the 243 Win,
but in the same class), and a 25-06 Rem. The 6mm/.243
rifle is going to kick less than the 25-06 Rem, and
there is a larger selection of 6mm/.243 bullets available.
Factory ammo selection will be larger for 243 Win, also.
The 25-06 Rem, is flat a better "deer" rifle than the
243 Win, all BS aside. It is flatter shooting, and can
handle a larger bullet. The 25-06 is a low volume
varminter, due to barrel heating, and damage is dramatic.
If maximum carnage is your thing, then the 25-06 is the
right chambering /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif If you are looking for a gun
that can both handle varmints(low volume shooting), and
deer sized game, then recoil, and effectiveness on
game, should make the decision for you.
Lower recoil=243 Win
More Effective on deer sized game=25-06 Rem.
Squeeze
Squeeze
New member
Quote:
I've never seen a pelt saved after beening shot
with a 25-06.
The bobcat, you are holding in your Avatar, isn't much
bigger than a feral cat, I just recently dispatched, with
my 25-06 Rem. Lets say it was dispatched with extreme
prejudice /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif Imagine that the middle of the cat,
from just in front of the back leg, to the back of
the front leg, was missing half of the tissue, and bone,
and pelt. EEEEWWWWW! Yes the 25-06 Rem, launching 85 gr.
Nosler Ballistic Tips, in the 3500 fps range, are
NOT FUR Friendly!
Squeeze
I've never seen a pelt saved after beening shot
with a 25-06.
The bobcat, you are holding in your Avatar, isn't much
bigger than a feral cat, I just recently dispatched, with
my 25-06 Rem. Lets say it was dispatched with extreme
prejudice /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif Imagine that the middle of the cat,
from just in front of the back leg, to the back of
the front leg, was missing half of the tissue, and bone,
and pelt. EEEEWWWWW! Yes the 25-06 Rem, launching 85 gr.
Nosler Ballistic Tips, in the 3500 fps range, are
NOT FUR Friendly!
Squeeze
Last edited:
Mike Pearson
New member
I think if a man lost 4 deer with a .25-06, he would have lost them with a .270 or .30-06 as well. Of course, the above poster never gave us the particulars. Was he using a varmint bullet on deer? Taking a bad angle shot with said (varmint) bullet? Or just shot poorly? When I think of the .25-06, I think of a cartridge that is near IDEAL for deer, not just excellent. With that said, if there is a wife and kid shooting the gun, I'd prefer the .243. No...it does NOT have the range of a .25-06 to be sure (on deer). A .25-06 is a full 400 yard cartridge. To me, that is TOO FAR for new, inexperienced hunters (and most EXperienced hunters as well for that matter) to be shooting. A .243 with a good load can do 300 yards on deer and that is MORE than sufficient. Heck, if truth be told, new hunters should be set up to succeed as much as humanly possible and then taught to pass up shots when necessary. That's all part of ethical hunting. A .243 can take a coyote out to 500 yards. How much more range is needed than that? A .25-06's wider diameter and heavier bullets, plus the extra powder (all the things that make it a further range deer gun over a .243) work AGAINST it when it comes to young and/or new shooters. A .25-06 is a standard action cartridge and really needs a 24" (or more) barrel to do it justice. Such a rifle is not only longer than your usual run-of-the-mill .243, it's also heavier.
I think the wisest thing to do is to get really clear about WHO this new rifle is for? If a (inexperienced) wife or child is involved, make it EASIER for them to succeed (not harder). A .243 is easier to carry, handle and shoot in the field and 300 yards effective range on deer is AT LEAST 100 yards more than inexperienced hunters should ever be shooting. Enough of my rambling, best of luck in your buying decision however you decide!
I think the wisest thing to do is to get really clear about WHO this new rifle is for? If a (inexperienced) wife or child is involved, make it EASIER for them to succeed (not harder). A .243 is easier to carry, handle and shoot in the field and 300 yards effective range on deer is AT LEAST 100 yards more than inexperienced hunters should ever be shooting. Enough of my rambling, best of luck in your buying decision however you decide!