driftrider

The .243 is an awesome caliber too, but the .25-06 is a bit better deer medicine, IMO. The .243 is good for deer, and is excellent for varmints/predators too and will have a better ammo selection for both roles. But I'd recommend that you seriously consider handloading. I just recently started handloading and now I wish I'd taken the plunge 10 years ago. Handloading is great for many reasons, but in this case it'd let you shoot the cartridge you want loaded with the bullets you want. Ammo makers only make ammo they think they can sell and make money (obviously), and since the .25-06 isn't too commonly used as a varmint/predator round the demand for factory ammo doesn't justify making a variety of such ammo. By handloading you can load that .25-06 with premium bullets suited exactly to your shooting needs for a fraction of the cost/round of factory ammo. Handloads, if loaded with care, are usually more accurate than factory loads too because you can find your rifles "pet load". Plus, reloading in an enjoyable hobby!

Mike

PaJack

The 25-06 is a great caliber for deer and varmints! I took deer,pronghorn and shot a woodchuck at 503 yards with mine...

James B

I guess if a guy wanted to carry a 7MM Mag along he could but the 25-06 is just as capable of a 400-500 yard hit as any 7MM. Recoil with the 25-06 could cause some wear and tear after a few hundred rounds. As does the 243 unless its in a very heavy gun. A guy I know shoots a lot of dogs with a 243 but the gun weighs 34 lbs.

driftrider

How did he get it to weight so much? Did he fill the stock with lead shot or similar to make it heavier? Or is it a "rail gun" or similar specialized bench rest rifle?

Mike