|
|
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,032
Campfire Tracker
|
OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,032 |
I already have a 30-06: Ruger tang safety, metal duracoated, B&C stock, 6x Leupold.
What I'm trying to decide is whether the second rifle should be a .243 or a 25-06. It'll be a Marlin XL-7 (or XS-7, as appropriate) with a Weaver Grand Slam 2.5-10x scope.
It will be used for deer and antelope in Nevada, and possibly for a backup on an elk hunt. However, elk tags are quite rare in Nevada, and it may be some time before I get the chance.
Pros and cons: the 25-06 has slightly greater range and the capability of using heavier bullets (although I'd be using a 100 gr bullet 95%+ of the time). The .243 costs less in factory configuration and is no slouch (3200 fps+) with a 85-87gr bullet.
I don't hunt varmints and I've got the necesary handloading gear, but I don't routinely handload.
What do you think?
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing -- Edmund Burke
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 23,624
Campfire Ranger
|
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 23,624 |
With varmints not a consideration, I'd take the 25-o6 for sure of you find a rifle you like in that caliber.
If you find a rifle you like better in 243, then I'd get that..........243 with 85 gr. TSX is a wicked good sumbeetch.
As for a back up for elk, the edge goes to the 25 again, for sure.
MM
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,162
Campfire Tracker
|
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,162 |
With antelope in the mix, I'd opt for 25-06.
If you're fixin' to put a hole in something,
make it a hole to remember.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 24,660
Campfire Ranger
|
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 24,660 |
If Elk is possibly on the menu, then .25-06 is the way to go.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 43,737
Campfire 'Bwana
|
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 43,737 |
Yep, elk would remove the 243 from consideration for me. Is a 243 even legal for elk in Nevada? Something to look into.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,105
Campfire Tracker
|
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,105 |
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 302
Campfire Member
|
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 302 |
Like most othes, with Elk a possibility then 25-06.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,076
Campfire Kahuna
|
|
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,076 |
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.”
John Steinbeck
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,185
Campfire Tracker
|
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,185 |
Another vote for the 25-06.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 21,715
Campfire Ranger
|
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 21,715 |
Another vote for the 25-06.
"The Church can and should help modern society by tirelessly insisting that the work of women in the home be recognized and respected by all in its irreplaceable value." Apostolic Exhortation On The Family, Pope John Paul II
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,961
Campfire Regular
|
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,961 |
First choice: 25-06.
Second choice: 25-06
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 26,218
Campfire Ranger
|
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 26,218 |
I already have a 30-06: Ruger tang safety, metal duracoated, B&C stock, 6x Leupold.
What I'm trying to decide is whether the second rifle should be a .243 or a 25-06. It'll be a Marlin XL-7 (or XS-7, as appropriate) with a Weaver Grand Slam 2.5-10x scope.
It will be used for deer and antelope in Nevada, and possibly for a backup on an elk hunt. However, elk tags are quite rare in Nevada, and it may be some time before I get the chance.
Pros and cons: the 25-06 has slightly greater range and the capability of using heavier bullets (although I'd be using a 100 gr bullet 95%+ of the time). The .243 costs less in factory configuration and is no slouch (3200 fps+) with a 85-87gr bullet.
I don't hunt varmints and I've got the necesary handloading gear, but I don't routinely handload.
What do you think? 243. Darn little muzzle blast, nil recoil, and although the wind can blow the bullet around more than the 25-06, I've seen enough muleys and pronghorns killed with 243's to think it's plenty good. Besides, the biggest pronghorn I've ever witnessed killed was by my reloading mentor--a 16 1/2 buck running dead away at 300+ yards. The 100 gr Sierra folded the buck up instantly. Besides, I've killed 6 elk in recent years with a 243 and 100gr Partitions, and two different youngsters have killed two more bulls with the same rifle and load. I'm not claiming the 243 as an elk cartridge by any stretch, but with the right bullets it will work when needed. Casey
Casey
Not being married to any particular political party sure makes it a lot easier to look at the world more objectively...
Having said that, MAGA.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 15,746
Campfire Ranger
|
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 15,746 |
i had a lot of respect for the .243 and owned a lot of them. but since i tried the .25-06 i have one of those instead.
easy to load for, can load up for deer and elk or down for varmints.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,143
Campfire 'Bwana
|
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,143 |
Since you're not going to shoot varmints and want the ability to shoot elk, why not go with a 270 in lieu of either the 243 or 25-06?
Jeff
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 15,746
Campfire Ranger
|
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 15,746 |
or the  best choice, the swede...
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,482
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,482 |
If you've been killing elk with your .243, then I would say that it's an elk rifle. It may not be an elk rifle for everyone, but it's an elk rifle for you. I wouldn't hesitate too much to shoot a big bull with an 85gr TSX.
Having said that, and having hunting a fair amount with the .243, and more recently with the .25-06, I would go with the .25-06 if varmints are out of the picture and if ammo and component prices, recoil, and muzzle blast of no concern.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,482
Campfire Outfitter
|
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,482 |
Since you're not going to shoot varmints and want the ability to shoot elk, why not go with a 270 in lieu of either the 243 or 25-06?
Jeff Because the .25-06 will do the job just as well with less muzzle blast and recoil.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,936
Campfire Tracker
|
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,936 |
Go with a 240 Weatherby mag and have a great deer, antelope cartridge, and with a solid copper bullet, able to make you as happy as the others for Elk emergency use.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 21,810
Campfire Ranger
|
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 21,810 |
I'd select the 25-06. The 243 (while it has taken elk) is too light, even with premium bullets.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 21,810
Campfire Ranger
|
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 21,810 |
First choice: 25-06.
Second choice: 25-06 My first choice would be a 30-06, with the 25-06 as second. Since the question was between the 243 and 25-06, I picked the 25-06 previously, but the 30-06's versitility with light and heavy weight bullets is unmatched, IMO.
|
|
|
|
|
218 members (30Gibbs, 10gaugemag, 345dl, 1_deuce, 264mag, 16penny, 34 invisible),
2,756
guests, and
1,025
robots. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,191,277
Posts18,467,633
Members73,927
| |
Most Online11,491
Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|
