.243 Winchester vs 25-06
- Thread starter Hog huntin Harry
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Nothing wrong with that!
Weflyfast
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Just built this 260 Rem from a take off stock and a short SS action in the back of the safe- barrel was on sale - shoots good with 95gr up to 140s- the 260 Rem is a nice mild cartridge-
Most use 24" for standard cartridges and 26" for magnum. But it isn't just the length. There is a lot of variance between the size of individual chambers and barrels. A quality match grade barrel will be cut to closer specs than most typical factory barrels. Even from the same length barrel many barrels will be significantly faster.
I've owned a couple of 243's, never a 25-06 and I've never actually shot either over a chronograph. But based on published data a 243/105 is going to leave the muzzle pretty much at the same speed as a 25/06/115. At most the 25-06 has a 50 fps advantage. IME I can achieve the numbers listed in load data, or come very close even with a barrel 2" shorter. The actual speeds from virtually all factory loads are quite optimistic every time I've shot some over a chronograph.
On paper the 25-06 looks a little better. But in the real world both are in the same class as far as suitable game. Any of the 24 and 25 caliber cartridges are dual purpose varmint and deer rounds. And while they can be used to take bigger game like elk both are decidedly borderline for game bigger than deer.
Once you get to 26 caliber and up now you're moving into another class of cartridges shooting bullets heavy enough to be acceptable for deer as well as bigger game. The 26's will also bridge the gap between varmint and big game.
JFrank
Member
Verrrry Nice.
Aletheia
Member
A .25-06 is a better deer rifle but messier on coyotes and smaller. The ..243 is better for coyotes and smaller, and will absolutely work on deer if called to do so. It depends on what the prime use will be, but if you have either one, you can do both jobs just fine. Bullet choice will make more difference than will the cartridge choice.
OP
OP
Hog huntin Harry
Member
How many fps could you crank out of a beat up Remmy 770 22" barrel .243 and some 100 grain Winchester power points ?
Gordon
Member
In Calif.where I hunted 40 years, I used 16"-24" .243 with good success on the small coastal Blacktail out to a little over 300 yards. I like the 90- 95 grain premium bullets . For Coyotes ect. 70-80 grain bullets as far as I could spot and hit them.
In Oregon where I live now or Northern Calif ect. with bigger mulies and whitetail I prefer a 6.5mm .264WM or Creedmore or the longer action .25s .25-06 or .257weatherby..
In Oregon where I live now or Northern Calif ect. with bigger mulies and whitetail I prefer a 6.5mm .264WM or Creedmore or the longer action .25s .25-06 or .257weatherby..
Top end, and with handloads (I bought win pps to load) 2900-3000 depending on the specific rifle. I'd be happy with 2850-2900 on average tho.
From FACTORY ammo I'd expect 2800-2850, which is what two of my .243s got. Still it was an effective loading for deer, sheep, goats, and pigs. I did loose one buck that I probably would have gotten with a larger gun, or even better expanding loads.
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Gordon
Member
Up to 2900 FPS depending on barrel , usually around 2850 fps
My 770 youth 20" can crank a handloaded 100 gr pill at 2920 (over a Chrono) without pushing pressure limits (h1000), my general rule with factory is to subtract 40 fps per inch from 24".
OP - you had specified 200 yards and under - varmints and coyote, deer.. then I would say 243. I don't know what the terrain is like where you shoot but for those in flat open spaces, Dakotas and Wyoming, the 25-06 has been great on pronghorns and also used on deer. It is flat and gets out there so if you were leaning towards 400 yards then 25-06. Coyotes to 200 yards, we used a handy 243 truck gun. Didn't have concern about the velocity - they both work.
Varminterror
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Buying 150fps more with 20-25% more powder with a hair lower SD...?
Nah, .243win for me. Or better still, 6 creed with a proper twist to handle a bit heavier bullet.
Nah, .243win for me. Or better still, 6 creed with a proper twist to handle a bit heavier bullet.
DustyGmt
Member
I considered a 25-06 briefly, then I was at the range one day when a guy was sighting his in. I couldnt stand the report of the rifle. Might sound weird to reject a gun on that basis alone but my interest for the 25-06 stopped right there. I figured if I shot a deer with no plugs even one time I'd walk out of the woods deaf. It sounded like the loudest crack I'd ever heard in my life.
If it is mostly coyote with a few medium size whitetails from a blind at 100-200 yds then I say no.
If it is a steady diet of large deer or big hogs with just an occasional coyote then I say yes.
Also the 110 Accubond is a nice bullet.
I switched from 100 gr to 115-117 gr. in my Weatherby for larger deer and I do not regret that. I have seen both 100 gr and 117 gr. bullets drop deer at 250 yds., one shot.
At high speeds (close shots) I am banking on those bigger bullets hanging together a little better/ anchoring game with one shot, not three.
cdb1
Member
My .243 has a 24” barrel. I’ve never chronographed anything shot from it. It has taken a bunch of coyotes, some hogs and a few Axis deer. I’ve been happy with performance - factory loaded Remington 80 grain PSP. It must be some weird anomaly but 25-06 recoil bothers me. I’ve shot a Weatherby Mark V, Model 70 and 700 BDL in 25-06 and the recoil stung for lack of a better term. It was not stock fit, I’ve shot plenty of other cartridges through the same style stocks with no issues.
So give me a .243. I also could care less whether a cartridge is long or short action. My .243 is the only short action cartridge I have in a bolt action, the others are long action.
So give me a .243. I also could care less whether a cartridge is long or short action. My .243 is the only short action cartridge I have in a bolt action, the others are long action.
sage5907
Member
I have been using a 25-06 for many years and at the current time I have two of them. I don't hunt with them much now but I shoot them during the summer mostly at steel targets and they are really fun to use. The 25-06 really comes into it's own with heavier bullets like the 115, 117 and 120 grain loads. Despite what some would say there are many bullets available for the 25-06 and I have used those made by Sierra, Speer, Berger, Nosler and Hornady. One of the things I really like is the great selection of powders that work great and I have used IMR 4831, IMR 4350, Reloader 17, Reloader 22 and Reloader 25. Bullets out of a 25-06 really get to the target quickly and it is so easy to find a load that works. If I had to choose between the 243 and 257 diameter bullets I would always pick the bigger bullet because I am a deer hunter and bigger works better.
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My Ruger RSI #1 in .243 was nasty w blast.
My 18.5" Rem 600 was not pleasant either.
A 26" Ruger #1 is much more refined (in looks and report LOL).
You want something maybe tolerable hunting, w no ear pro................neither the .243 or .25-06.
.35 rem
But then, you bounce the noise off a tree right back into your ear, they all suck.
Nowadays there's inexpensive electronic earpro.
BUY SOME.
40 yrs ago we didn't have any and hot summer chuckin w .243 win has cost me my high freq hearing.
It's flat out gone.
Replaced w tinnitus.
Not cool
My 18.5" Rem 600 was not pleasant either.
A 26" Ruger #1 is much more refined (in looks and report LOL).
You want something maybe tolerable hunting, w no ear pro................neither the .243 or .25-06.
.35 rem
But then, you bounce the noise off a tree right back into your ear, they all suck.
Nowadays there's inexpensive electronic earpro.
BUY SOME.
40 yrs ago we didn't have any and hot summer chuckin w .243 win has cost me my high freq hearing.
It's flat out gone.
Replaced w tinnitus.
Not cool
sage5907
Member
Another comparison of the 243 as compared to a 25-06 as a deer hunting cartridge is that I would think that most hunters with a 243 would use a lung shot and a deer almost always runs after a lung shot. To me the reaction is similar to bow hunting. So, a follow up tracking job is needed even if the deer does not go far. I always read about other hunters wanting an exit hole and a exit hole is not needed with larger heavier bullets. With the larger heaver bullet of the 25-06 I have always been able to use a high shoulder shot from which the animal is likely to drop when it is hit. I am talking about shooting larger deer in the 200 pound category where larger bones and a thicker body are common.
Some rifles are long action no matter what cartridge.
Shorter actions are sometimes easier to scope.
Bolt throw is lesser.
And.......they may be stiffer, lending to accuracy.
I won't own another long action for a short action cartridge. Had one, hated it.
Shorter actions are sometimes easier to scope.
Bolt throw is lesser.
And.......they may be stiffer, lending to accuracy.
I won't own another long action for a short action cartridge. Had one, hated it.
Ks5shooter
Contributing Member
.243 with 103 gr ELD-X pretty deadly on deer.
I hunted for many years with a friend who had a 2506. I shot a 7mm mag. I was using 140 gr he was 120 mabey. The trajectories down range were nearly identical. The bullets recovered from the animals were so hard to tell apart he started marking the backs of his with an x! Anyhow as to your question, neither coyote nor deer nor antelope will know the difference. Both are great choices. The 243 will probably give you a bit better burn ratio on powder use. The 06 can be loaded up to be a barrel burner, kind of like a 220 swift is known for.
Hokkmike
Member
Have shot both:
.243...........[ X ]
.25-06........[ ]
In Pennsylvania the .243 will do whatever the 06 will with much less noise and fuss. Ultimately, though - the middle calibers 6.5X55, 7mm08, .257 Roberts win out in my book. The .243 does make an excellent varmint/deer combo gun.
.243...........[ X ]
.25-06........[ ]
In Pennsylvania the .243 will do whatever the 06 will with much less noise and fuss. Ultimately, though - the middle calibers 6.5X55, 7mm08, .257 Roberts win out in my book. The .243 does make an excellent varmint/deer combo gun.
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