I want to get me a small to "middle of the road" rifle. I am thinking either .243 win or 25-06. I don't rifle hunt for deer much because I can't where I live. I only go up north rifle hunting for a long weekend. So it would mostly be for varmints. I don't reload and the longest shot I could get here is proly 250 yards. What say you?
Should I get a .243 win or .25-06?
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stubbicatt
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If you don't reload, the 243 is a more commonly available store bought cartridge in my neck of the woods anyways.
Abel
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243.
375shooter
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It sounds like the primary use will be varmint hunting with the possibility of the odd deer hunt now and then. A 243 will kill any varmint out there and will also cleanly take deer, especially with the right bullet. I don't see the need for the extra power of the 25-06, so I say go for the 243. It's got light recoil, ammo is readily available and can be had in a short action.
FLNT4EVR
Member
Defenitely .243
BushyGuy
Member
.243 win cuz its easier to find bullets, i rather get the .243 WSSM Browning a bolt if you want more power. I used to have a Winchester model 70 super shadow in .243 WSSM it was a tack driver out to 200 yards.
.243 ......
.... better ammo availability. If you handload, 6mm bullets are generally cheaper (can you say bulk packs?) than .257s, and the .243 case more economical than the long action /06 sized .25/06.
The .25/06 is better further out, and packs more wallop ...... but at under 300 yards, a deer hit in the boiler room with an expanding bullet from either would be unable to tell the difference, as he'd be dead within 100 steps.
.... better ammo availability. If you handload, 6mm bullets are generally cheaper (can you say bulk packs?) than .257s, and the .243 case more economical than the long action /06 sized .25/06.
The .25/06 is better further out, and packs more wallop ...... but at under 300 yards, a deer hit in the boiler room with an expanding bullet from either would be unable to tell the difference, as he'd be dead within 100 steps.
jonboynumba1
Member
The people I know that have a .25-06 LOVE it....but to me it's a bit of an oddball I'd rather have the short action offering in .243 You have a full choice of varmint bullets to choose from and can always load up some remington 100gr coreloked if you want to wack bambi or her big brother...they do well and don't ruin a whole lot of meat like the lighter bullets tend to (cheap to) Just zero for your varmint bullet of choice that it likes then count clicks and right down your bambi zero with the heavier bullet and it'll only take you a few shots to check and possibly fine tune before a sudden hunting opertunity should you get one....then roll it back to your varmint setting. Just buy a good scope so you can trust it to be repeatable. I've done that with a $200 Nikon Buckmaster 3-9x40 with no problems and have a 50 and 100 yard zero for my .22 with same scope (we have the occassional odd match at 100 for fun at the club...plus plinking fun while barrels cool on the 100 yard range...comes in handy)
I've owned a Remington 700 in .25-06 for 32 years. I remember buying it as clearly as yesterday. I was looking for something to use for varmint hunting in OH with a group of friends. I wanted a S&W 1500 but balked when I found it wasn't US made. The clerk put a 700 Varmint Spec in my hands and I fell in love with it. Next was the list of calibers. I wanted a .270 but the gun did not come in that caliber. The closest thing was the .25-06. Reluctantly I ordered the gun in .25-06. In 1978 I paid $225 for that Remington 700.
Back then ammo wasn't easy to come by for the .25 so I bought it when I could find it and learned to reload. Now days I can buy ammo at Walmart if I need it. But because I learned reloading I haven't bought factory rounds in 31 years.
I've made a lot of mistakes in my life, the .25-06 was surely not one of them. That rifle loaded with 87 gr bullets is one of the hardest hitting varmint cartridges I've ever seen. It easily bested all my friends rifles for ground hog hunting from .220 Swift to .270 Win. The trajectory was amazingly flat. If I could see a ground hog it was in mortal danger no matter how far away it was. I've used the gun for deer with 100 or 120 gr bullets. It even went bear hunting up in Canada. You won't find this kind of versatility in a .243.
Three years ago I learned that the barrel was worn out and I had to face a hard decision. I could sell the gun and buy something else or get it rebarreled with a custom barrel. I opted for a new match barrel from Kreiger. The gunsmith looked at me and asked me what cartridge I wanted the new barrel in. For all of 3 seconds I thought about it. Yes, the choice was real easy, .25-06.
I know lots of people like the .243, but not me while the .25-06 exists.
For a cartridge that I never thought would last it's still around, and gaining in popularity.
Back then ammo wasn't easy to come by for the .25 so I bought it when I could find it and learned to reload. Now days I can buy ammo at Walmart if I need it. But because I learned reloading I haven't bought factory rounds in 31 years.
I've made a lot of mistakes in my life, the .25-06 was surely not one of them. That rifle loaded with 87 gr bullets is one of the hardest hitting varmint cartridges I've ever seen. It easily bested all my friends rifles for ground hog hunting from .220 Swift to .270 Win. The trajectory was amazingly flat. If I could see a ground hog it was in mortal danger no matter how far away it was. I've used the gun for deer with 100 or 120 gr bullets. It even went bear hunting up in Canada. You won't find this kind of versatility in a .243.
Three years ago I learned that the barrel was worn out and I had to face a hard decision. I could sell the gun and buy something else or get it rebarreled with a custom barrel. I opted for a new match barrel from Kreiger. The gunsmith looked at me and asked me what cartridge I wanted the new barrel in. For all of 3 seconds I thought about it. Yes, the choice was real easy, .25-06.
I know lots of people like the .243, but not me while the .25-06 exists.
For a cartridge that I never thought would last it's still around, and gaining in popularity.
For strictly varmints the .25-06 is a bit overkill. The .25-06 would make a better option if deer hunting is more of an option but for strictly varmints I would go .243. I think of .25-06 as more a deer rifle that can hit the varmint fields fairly well and the .243 as a varmint round that can take deer fairly well. As such, if this is a deer rifle primarily I would go .25-06 and if it is to be a varmint rifle primarily I would go .243.
bobelk99
Member
I own both, and love them both.
For varmints, it is the 243 all the way.
If your deer hunting with the new rifle is to be very limited, I would not hesitate to use it for deer at the 250 or less range. Something like the 95 grain Nosler BT should work well for carefully selected shots.
For varmints, it is the 243 all the way.
If your deer hunting with the new rifle is to be very limited, I would not hesitate to use it for deer at the 250 or less range. Something like the 95 grain Nosler BT should work well for carefully selected shots.
BK
Member
I chose the .25 when this question came up for me, but our situations couldn't be more different. You'll be well suited with the 243.
W.E.G.
Member
Either one will be fine for your deer hunting.
Sounds like you don't shoot a lot, and a "coupla' boxes of shells" should be plenty of ammo for you for a season.
The .243 is more common.
Which, for some folks, would be reason enough to buy the 25-06.
Both of 'ems "barrel-burners" if you shoot a lot of rounds, and both of 'ems "too much gun" for any volume of scrawny varmint hunting.
Sounds like you don't shoot a lot, and a "coupla' boxes of shells" should be plenty of ammo for you for a season.
The .243 is more common.
Which, for some folks, would be reason enough to buy the 25-06.
Both of 'ems "barrel-burners" if you shoot a lot of rounds, and both of 'ems "too much gun" for any volume of scrawny varmint hunting.
TargetTerror
Member
Read this article on the .243: http://www.6mmbr.com/243Win.html
That pretty much convinced me to get a .243 at some point. I'm not in the market for such a rifle now, but if I were, I would give it a STRONG consideration.
That pretty much convinced me to get a .243 at some point. I'm not in the market for such a rifle now, but if I were, I would give it a STRONG consideration.
Al LaVodka
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.243
What a fine cartridge for you and there are many guns of all types and levels that shoot it.
Al
What a fine cartridge for you and there are many guns of all types and levels that shoot it.
Al
Uncle Mike
Member
Come on now....when it comes to vermin, especially yotes, nothing is overkill! lol
Better to have it and not need it....then to need it and not have it......
MachIVshooter
Member
Either will probably do your bidding. If it is primarily varmint shooting you'll be doing, the .25-06 is gonna be a bit more noise and recoil to tolerate. On the flip side, if you ever wanna go after anything bigger than white tail, the .25-06 has a decided advantage in both range and payload. It is about the minimum acceptable for Elk.
If you only intend to ever own one rifle to cover everything from varmints to big game, the .25-06 would be a better choice. However, if you plan to have at least two, I'd suggest something more along the lines of a .22-250 and a .30-06 or 7mm Rem Mag.
If you only intend to ever own one rifle to cover everything from varmints to big game, the .25-06 would be a better choice. However, if you plan to have at least two, I'd suggest something more along the lines of a .22-250 and a .30-06 or 7mm Rem Mag.
rangerruck
Member
even though I am a straight up whore for the 243, the 25. loaded with some bullets under 100 grains, is a flat shooting laser out to 4oo yds easy.
Then again, if you don't plan on taking any laser shots past 300 yds,
the 243 will do all you need, and is a great round in itself.
If you can find a 243, that shoots the under 90 grainers into a little dot, that would be great; 243's tend to not like the lighter loads for some reason, but anything 90 grains up to 110, they will shoot into 1 hole usually.
the 243 will shoot laser like with bullets from 58 to 85 grains, and they do make factory loads this light.
Then again, if you don't plan on taking any laser shots past 300 yds,
the 243 will do all you need, and is a great round in itself.
If you can find a 243, that shoots the under 90 grainers into a little dot, that would be great; 243's tend to not like the lighter loads for some reason, but anything 90 grains up to 110, they will shoot into 1 hole usually.
the 243 will shoot laser like with bullets from 58 to 85 grains, and they do make factory loads this light.
The .25-06 I own was my only centerfire for 30 years, I never doubted that it could cover any hunting I would ever want to do. It never let me down.
I'm actually amazed at how many of you prefer the .243 to the .25-06. I always considered the .243 barely adequate for deer.
The link above was interesting, a 115 gr bullet from the .243 at 3150 fps. Must be a 27" barrel with a 1-7 twist to get that velocity and shoot that bullet.
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chains1240
Member
I got a little confused after reading this. Do .243s prefer 90-110 or 58-85?
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