bucklessyooper

Looking for a new coyote / occasional deer rifle in the near future.

Currently shoot 30-06(s),338 win mag , 223 in AR, 450 Bushmaster upper, and 50 cal inline muzzleloaders.*

Considering 25-06 or 243. I'm more of a coyote eliminator vs hide saver type .*

Nothing against saving hide just haven't done it.*

So far only coyote I put down was when I was bear hunting. The 338 with 160 ttsx took care of him.Stealing my donuts on the last day of the hunt put him on the list...

Based on the above what do you guys recommend
243 or 25-06?

Topgun 3006

I use both and the only thing that gives the 25-06 a little bit of an edge over the .243 is longer range and better in the wind. Both are mild recoil calibers and I love them both.

Sheridan

I'd stick with your .338 WM - LOL

I like my .243 if expecting long shots or if there is a stiff wind.

Although I use my AR-15 mostly for coyotes now-a -days.

alleyyooper

243 here also. I hand load a 85gr.HPBT to about 2800 FBS. Same load for every thing crows to whitetail deadly on coyotes. It works fine for most areas of Michigan where you can hunt coyotes or deer.

Al

Nomercy448

My personal preference would be the .243win, but either will treat you just fine. If I were picking based on maximum performance, the .25-06 would be the pick, same velocity with ~20% higher bullet weights, or higher velocity with equivalent weights. But the advantage isn't huge in the field, as most fellas aren't able to capitalize on that advantage in hunting fields. If you can field shoot 1,000yrds, then the 25-06 pulls away, but at the normal 600yrds or less MAXIMUM ranges guys hunt, either will knock coyotes down clean.

EDIT: You could save yourself some money and just use that AR. The 223rem is my go-to, almost always in an AR-15. For super long coyote poking, the 243WSSM or Win are great. For shooting dogs farther than I really should, a 284win has been my go to lately (was formerly a 6.5-284).

Big Uncle

If it will be used on large body deer very much I would go with a .25-06. I know there are many 243 Win fans that will disagree but I have shot a lot of game with both cartridges and would pick the 243 only if it was mostly a groundhog/varmit rifle with only occasional use as a small body deer rifle.

GTOHunter

I'd go with the .243 and a lighter bullet for shooting further out and bucking the wind!

Personally I would consider other Smaller,Faster Calibers also....the .204 is a fast,flat shooting and very accurate,the .17 Calibers seem to be well liked also as in .17 Remington,.17 Fireball and the newer .17 Hornet if and when ammo is available for it?

Topgun 3006

***He's looking for something that he can use for deer once in a while and the calibers you mentioned certainly aren't for that and aren't even legal in many jurisdictions. By the way, lighter bullets do not buck the wind better.

GTOHunter

Oh......I thought Bucklesyooper was wanting a Predator Only Rifle in a heavier Caliber?

As far as the .243 it would still do better in the wind than any .204 or .17 Caliber.....and just how light of a Factory Loaded Bullet can You go in a .243.....I didn't think they went very low in weight/grain?

I use to use my Browning A-bolt Hunter .243 for Deer and occasional Coyote Hunting,I used 100 grain Hornady Custom bullets and didn't care if I saved the hides or not until I bought the CZ .204 and gave my Predators to a local Trapper and plan on having a few mounted and I also Hunt for Foxes and Bobcats so a lighter Caliber was needed.

alleyyooper

.243 dia. (6mm) 55 gr. BlitzKing BlitzKing

.243 dia. (6mm) 60 gr. HP .243 dia. (6mm) 60 gr. HP Varminter

.243 dia. (6mm) 70 gr. HPBT MatchKing
.243 dia. (6mm) 70 gr. HPBT MatchKing MatchKing, Not real;ly a hunting bullet.

.243 dia. (6mm) 70 gr. BlitzKing .243 dia. (6mm) 70 gr. BlitzKing

.243 dia. (6mm) 75 gr. HP .243 dia. (6mm) 75 gr. HP Varminter

.243 dia. (6mm) 80 gr. SBT Blitz .243 dia. (6mm) 80 gr. SBT Blitz Varminter

.243 dia. (6mm) 85 gr. SPT .243 dia. (6mm) 85 gr. SPT Varminter

.243 dia. (6mm) 85 gr. HPBT .243 dia. (6mm) 85 gr. HPBT GameKing

.243 dia. (6mm) 90 gr. FMJBT .243 dia. (6mm) 90 gr. FMJBT GameKing

.243 dia. (6mm) 95 gr. HPBT MatchKing

.243 dia. (6mm) 100 gr. SPT .243 dia. (6mm) 100 gr. SPT Pro-Hunter

.243 dia. (6mm) 100 gr. SBT .243 dia. (6mm) 100 gr. SBT GameKing

.243 dia. (6mm) 107 gr. HPBT MatchKing not really a hunting bullet

.243 dia. (6mm) 107 gr. HPBT MatchKing not really a hunting bullet

Al