Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 243 vs, 25-06

THAT is the primary appeal of any of the hot quarter bores. It's not a matter of cartridge overlap. It's a matter of emotional attachment!

It's hard to imagine any chambering fitting your bill better than a 25-06.
If you are serious about double duty as varmints/big game you may want to consider some quick detachable mounts and a big game scope and a varmint scope.

Short action or long action? Personally I can't see going to the long action unless using a belted mag case. The .243 through .308 just offers so much in a compact package.

Just go 240 Weatherby and have the best of both cartridges.

25-06

.243 will do all that needs doing to a deer.

Can't see needing a flat shooting rifle for 200yds...

A lightweight 243 sounds about right.

My 25-06 will out shoot either of my 243's I perfer it for antelope and deer. It shoots a little flater and is better for longer distances than the 243.

The man said pronghorn were on the menu. That easily creates justification for shots longer than 200 yards.

I do reload so I can make any sort of mild or hot load for either caliber. I do appreciate all of your comments... and now it might end up being a coin flip after reading all of your posts. It sounds like neither of them (243 or 25-06) will be a bad choice. The 243 will "fill the gap" and the 25-06 kinda mirrors my 270 when it come to the heavier 25 cal. bullets and the lighter 270 end. My friends son has a 25-06 and has shot some damn nice deer D.R.T.... including a 200+ lb 13 point whitetail. I only take "killing" shots so busting a shoulder type caliber etc. isn't an issue. Hmmm.... so will it be heads or tails when I flip the coin??

Bullets matter far more than headstamps. In the end,the 25-06 can't hang with the 243Win,due simply to boolits. At spitting distances,both will pile-drive schit,stretch things out and it's ALL 243. Very easy to scoot a .530BC at 3000fps+,from a 22" 243Win spout.

There's no way in hell I'd go long action,add more powder,increase recoil and drive more barrel length,to come in 2nd Place to a 22" s/a 243Win.

Cheer up,I've more 25's than anyone I know.

Hint.

Beat me to it. Great cartridge and even better for handloaders.

Of the two mentioned, I'd take the .25-06.

I truly love the 25. Have most of all in the 25 cal guns most in multi-guns. The 243 with a 105 or 107 beats it @ long range. I hunt with 25-06 a lot and would not trade it but the bullet companys sure dont make very good bullets for the 25. .243 bullets are the best bullets made today because of the bench rest boys. Brass munufactures also make a lot better stuff with 243 markings vs any 25 cal rounds. Buy several of each cal they dont eat grass.

243 makes the most sense. Boxer pretty well summed it up for ya.

Here you go:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=279760124

or

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=279842896

+1

257 Roberts!! :-)

25-06 if a Bib cannot be found.

Boxer's advice on this matter (once again) is worth it's weight in gold. He speaks the truth.

Agree Boxer, but it's all moot if he's not reloading and or doesn't have a fast twist barrel.

To fire Boxer's 530BC bullet you will need a 1 in 8 twist barrel which will mean a custom barrel but they are a sweet working combination. But for what you say you are doing I think the 2506 with the option of 115 & 120 grain bullets might make more sense and Berger makes a .257 vld bullet that will work in a 1 in 10 twist that most 2506 have.