243 vs. 25-06
03-11-2008, 11:05 AM
#11
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 2,862
RE: 243 vs. 25-06
ORIGINAL: nchawkeye
The problem with asking questions on public forums are that many give advise but have no experience....
I have used a .243 for deer and other critters since 1980 and have no problem killing deer with it...I prefer a .243 over a 25-06 because of the readily avaliable factory loadings and the typical .243 will have a 22 inch barrel vs a 24 inch barrel for a 25-06...
I also know several hunters that successfully use a 25-06...
There is no way that a 25-06 is inferior on deer vs a .243, if proper bullets are used...Get whichever turns your crank...
Frankly, when talking about deer sized game, within 250-300 yards (which is the MAX range most hunters should be shooting at deer anyway), and using proper bullets you will see very little difference in how far a deer travels after the shot between a .243 to a 30-06...The difference you see will be because of bullet placement and the type bullet used...
Now if anyone wants to disagree with this last statement, sound off and I can give you a few real life examples, it's the off season and seems we all need some entertainment...
The problem with asking questions on public forums are that many give advise but have no experience....
I have used a .243 for deer and other critters since 1980 and have no problem killing deer with it...I prefer a .243 over a 25-06 because of the readily avaliable factory loadings and the typical .243 will have a 22 inch barrel vs a 24 inch barrel for a 25-06...
I also know several hunters that successfully use a 25-06...
There is no way that a 25-06 is inferior on deer vs a .243, if proper bullets are used...Get whichever turns your crank...
Frankly, when talking about deer sized game, within 250-300 yards (which is the MAX range most hunters should be shooting at deer anyway), and using proper bullets you will see very little difference in how far a deer travels after the shot between a .243 to a 30-06...The difference you see will be because of bullet placement and the type bullet used...
Now if anyone wants to disagree with this last statement, sound off and I can give you a few real life examples, it's the off season and seems we all need some entertainment...
The MOST crowd consists of guys who buy a gun thats bore sighted, assume its on and go hunting, or the guys who shoot their guns about 2 times a year. I'd pick the 243 over the 25-06 for a deer gun.
03-11-2008, 11:11 AM
#12
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,425
RE: 243 vs. 25-06
Rammer...I actually almost added 150...Because it seems that's when most of our hunters start missing...I just didn't want to insult any of these fine marksmen that we have on this forum...
Doedumper...I'm just at work...and Bored!!!
Doedumper...I'm just at work...and Bored!!!
03-11-2008, 11:13 AM
#13
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,695
RE: 243 vs. 25-06
Hey. I shoot my gun about once a year. I dont see all the need for shooting over and over. I check its zero, and I am good to go.Why would you need practice with laser sight trajectory, and 9 power scopes. Practice is for shotgunning. LOL.
Serious, it really not that difficult to hit a 3" circle at 200 yds over and over. Thats freaking easy. 1" at a 100 is a cake walk.
But I also have been toting a gun of some sort since I was 5, that was 36 years ago. I got all my practice in by the age of 10, shooting is like riding a bike. LOL you never forget.
Serious, it really not that difficult to hit a 3" circle at 200 yds over and over. Thats freaking easy. 1" at a 100 is a cake walk.
But I also have been toting a gun of some sort since I was 5, that was 36 years ago. I got all my practice in by the age of 10, shooting is like riding a bike. LOL you never forget.
03-11-2008, 11:26 AM
#14
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,425
RE: 243 vs. 25-06
I shoot much more than that...Groundhogs, coyotes, crows, even shot 6 deer with the .243 last year...I just use the same gun because the .243 is the only centerfire I have owned since 1980....I love to go our to the farm with a buddy, put up a target at 300 yards, put the Harris Bipod on their gun and have them lay down and take 3 shots at it...Most of the time, the deer would have lived for another day...
03-11-2008, 01:25 PM
#16
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Michigan
Posts: 3,476
RE: 243 vs. 25-06
I don't own a 25/06 but do own a .243.
From my own experience I know the .243 is fine for deer as long as the hunter/shooter respects its use and takes appropriate shots. The 25/06 I only know about from reading and seeing other peoples successes. from my armchair they are both fine cartridges. If I didn't own a .243 and a bunch of 6.5 X 55's I'd probably buy a 25/06.
From my own experience I know the .243 is fine for deer as long as the hunter/shooter respects its use and takes appropriate shots. The 25/06 I only know about from reading and seeing other peoples successes. from my armchair they are both fine cartridges. If I didn't own a .243 and a bunch of 6.5 X 55's I'd probably buy a 25/06.
03-11-2008, 01:47 PM
#17
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 10
RE: 243 vs. 25-06
They should both handle deer very well. MyGreat Uncle uses a .243 and .223 for deer he has taken many 200lb bucks with his .243. I don't know much about the .25-06. I do know, however, it was developed as a long range Varmint round then adapted for deer as it was not very good as a pelt saver.
03-11-2008, 01:51 PM
#18
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: PA
Posts: 2,313
RE: 243 vs. 25-06
OK thanks everyone. I shoot alot more then most people i know. I make it to the range atleast 2 times a month. Most of my shooting is with rimfires or small bore centerfires but i do shoot atleast 1 box out of my big game hunting rifles atleast every other month or so. I also do most of my shooting at 200 yards.
03-11-2008, 05:25 PM
#19
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: IL
Posts: 6,575
RE: 243 vs. 25-06
.25-06 goes up to 120gr but most popular tends to be 115 or 117gr
.243 standard loads are up to 100gr, though I think in a .243 I like 90 or 95gr
6mm remington I may go 100gr,
While I'm not nuts about the .25-06, i do think it would do a better job on deer than a .243 or 6mm would. But to me the .25-06 is kinda a middle ground round that kinda does 2 things well but not either superbly. I'm considering a .243 or 6mm in a lightweight rifle setup primarily for antelope, and maybe mule deer, or at least a back up on a mule deer hunt. The 6mm Rem would come much closer to .25-06 performance than the .243 also. But I like both, kinda comes down to handload vs. factory/ popularity.
Also a .243 is a shorter case, so when you go to that .25-06 you're getting a longer action, and in that case I kinda like the .270 which I have already. It also comes down to what you already have, what niche in your arsenal you're trying to fill. Some guys say the .25-06 is on the lightside for deer, let alone the .243, but both can kill a deer, and i think anyone can shoot a .243 accurately, whereas not everyone is comfy with a .270 etc...
.243 standard loads are up to 100gr, though I think in a .243 I like 90 or 95gr
6mm remington I may go 100gr,
While I'm not nuts about the .25-06, i do think it would do a better job on deer than a .243 or 6mm would. But to me the .25-06 is kinda a middle ground round that kinda does 2 things well but not either superbly. I'm considering a .243 or 6mm in a lightweight rifle setup primarily for antelope, and maybe mule deer, or at least a back up on a mule deer hunt. The 6mm Rem would come much closer to .25-06 performance than the .243 also. But I like both, kinda comes down to handload vs. factory/ popularity.
Also a .243 is a shorter case, so when you go to that .25-06 you're getting a longer action, and in that case I kinda like the .270 which I have already. It also comes down to what you already have, what niche in your arsenal you're trying to fill. Some guys say the .25-06 is on the lightside for deer, let alone the .243, but both can kill a deer, and i think anyone can shoot a .243 accurately, whereas not everyone is comfy with a .270 etc...
03-11-2008, 05:45 PM
#20
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: VA, USA
Posts: 3,116
RE: 243 vs. 25-06
ORIGINAL: zrexpilot
Just remember a 100 gr .243 is a deer bullet and a 100 gr .25-06 is a varmint bullet. The 25-06 is best with the 117 or 120 gr. In my opinion.
Just remember a 100 gr .243 is a deer bullet and a 100 gr .25-06 is a varmint bullet. The 25-06 is best with the 117 or 120 gr. In my opinion.
I have only used the 117 grain Sierra Game Kings on deer but Federaloffers the 100 grain Barnes Triple Shock and the 100 grain Nosler Balistic Tip for the 25-06. Now I'm not a big fan of Balistic Tips but the Triple Shock is definately not a varmint bullet. That bullet fired from a 25-06around 3200 fps will have zero problems with W/T deer.