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

Six of one half dozen of the other. If you want the .25 hold out for it otherwise you give up nothing going .243. Recoil is a non factor with both, and both will kill any deer or antelope that walks.

Don't hold out for nothing buy both. th 243 and 25-06 are great cartriges that perform well and are easy to shoot. Why screw yourself with the woulda,shoulda, and coulda crap. Buy that Tikka 243 and scope it, while you wait for the 25-06 to show up. Then you can just swap the scope back and forth. Phock, can't believe this chit 5 pages of posts arguing over which shade of white to paint the wall no one sees. Magnum man

Dumbphuckery of this magnitude knows no bounds

Some of you just don't appreciate humor trolling.

Isn't it great when there's no wrong answer?

Less recoil, short action, better bullets (extreme long range, more options) favor the 243, More juice and options for heavier bullets, the 25-06.

Cool factor for both is high, and as a big fan of both, I call it a tie - but the 25-06 fans will claim the win...grin.

Neither falls short of anything you want to do involving deer and antelope.

DJ

As a deer cartrige I'll take the .243 over the .25-06 every time. I've killed alot of deer with the .243 over the past 3 decades and have yet to see anything that makes me think it isn't totally competent. On the other hand, the .25-06 kicks enough, bellers enough and burns enough powder that you might just as well step up to a .270.

Ted, now that is some open country!

Guessing you don't want to sell your 243 MT?


grin

Either. But as somebody already said, if you're stuck on the Tikka I'd go 25-06 because of the long action for all calibers. I've had a Tikka 25-06 and liked it. But got rid of it as I'm not a long action guy.

I'd shuck the Tikka platform and go with a Rem 700 243, or really do it right and go Kimber Montana. I hate to admit because I'm a 25 caliber slut, but a 243 with good bullets will do just about anything a 25-06 will do. My son shoots the 85 TSX in a 6mm-250 and it kills deer easily. I shoot 105 AMAX in a 243 fast twist varmint-weight, and I think I'm in love.......for the last time.

Yep, it's wide open. I shot that doe at just over 300 yards and there was no way to get any closer as there was nothing to hide behind.

Nope, it's not for sale. It's a fun coyote/antelope/deer rig. Might even bust an elk with it this fall just for kicks. A guy with a sweet .257 Bob can't be hurtin' that bad, can he?

Hope things are good up your way.

I really like the Montana 243. FWIW, it will stabilize 95 VLDs.

6mm over the 25 everyday. Bullet choices!

Randy

How do you like those on game?

Have used them to make several mule deer and whitetail most assuredly dead. No complaints. Haven't tried to shoot through bone though, just behind the shoulder.

Cool, thanks.

Interesting.

I'm only worried about shooting 400-500 max anyway. Thinking laserbeam.

Not up on the 243 reloading component situation.

Brass and bullets hard to find right now?


Found one on the internet over in Lolo ID but I'm a rookie when it comes to buying guns online. Might just try and order one locally(if wait time isn't +3 or 4 months).

Sam,

The online ordering thing is a piece of cake, as long as you have a local FFL that doesn't mind you shipping through them. Might charge 20 buck or so, might not. Montanas are pretty tough to come by, I would snatch that one up!

I like 55 Ballistic Tips for Laser Beam coyote bullets. The 80 ttsx/80 Ballistic Tip or 85 tsx/87 vmax combos are great for general use, but the 95 grain Ballistic Tip is probably my fave for deer. I had a bad Amax experience, so don't rely on them for big game, but the 95 VLD has worked well. Really prefer the Ballistic Tip, though.

I've also run the 65 Vmax, and 70 grain Ballistic Tip through the Montana. All seemed to work well. I should mention the 105 Amax didn't really wanna stabilize, but everything lighter seemed to work fine. 55 grain Ballistic Tip was certainly the most fun.

Thanks PG, I should be able to figure it out. Think they wanted $1200, maybe a little high but whatever.

Just looked online and brass is available, Remington anyway.

What brass you guys like for the 243, any diff between 'em?

I have H4350 and R17 and a extra large rifle primers.

My only issue with the 243 Montana is that my GF has officially latched onto it. That's ok, she's leveled a couple coyotes and lots of skunks and porcupines with it.

laughin'


How loud is it without earplugs...from the cab of a pickup?


Gotta be a little quieter than a 22" 270.