Should I get a .243 win or .25-06?

[benzy2]

I believe the comment meant that the light weight bullets shoot very flat, though he hasn't seen many that were overly accurate with the lighter bullets. He has seen many rifles shoot the heavier bullets into small groups, though the trajectory isn't as flat.

I personally haven't noticed much of a difference in accuracy between the light and the heavy bullets, at least at in and inhearant accuracy point of view. The lighter bullets get pushed around more at longer ranges in the wind, but other than that they have all been fairly even from an accuracy point of view. One thing to check is the twist rate of the .243. I believe a few are slow twists and may not be able to stabilize heavier deer rounds. Just something to double check on a given rifle before spending money.

 

[MachIVshooter]

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.

even with a 27 or 28" tube, I'm finding it very difficult to believe. I've pushed 117's to just over 3,200 from my 24" Remington 700 .25-06, and that's burning 55 grains of 4831. The nastiest load I've worked up for the .25 is a 100 gr. Barnes TSX boattail over 57.1 grs. 4831 for 3,585 FPS.

My 6mm Rem pushes, 90 gr. FMJ's at 3,310 (my coyote load) from a 22" Ruger M77, using 47.3 grs. H4350. That'd be a primer flattening load in the smaller .243 case.

I just don't think the .243 case can get 3,150 with a 115 safely from a normal length tube. A 30 or 32 incher, maybe. That would make sense, since RL-25 is a very slow powder, intended for BIG magnums, like the RUM family that ignite 90-100 gr. charges with a mag primer. The guy who got 3,340 with a 106 grainer using RL-25 in the AI case lists a 29" tube.

I'd still like to see what a strain gauge has to say about those loads. I bet brass life is short.

 

[joed]

even with a 27 or 28" tube, I'm finding it very difficult to believe. I've pushed 117's to just over 3,200 from my 24" Remington 700 .25-06, and that's burning 55 grains of 4831. The nastiest load I've worked up for the .25 is a 100 gr. Barnes TSX boattail over 57.1 grs. 4831 for 3,585 FPS.

I also think it was a .243 AI that was used for that velocity. I've seen people chrono the .243 and their rifles are well under advertised velocities with a 24" barrel.

 

[rangerruck]

... thanks Benzy...

 

[rdsii64]

If you have to ask, get both!!