ORIGINAL: M77man
I'm thinking about getting a rifle in 25-06 for my son who will be 12 in a couple of years and I really want to take hunting. We mostly hunt from a tower blind over-looking a 357 yard firing range. I was also thinking about a .243 Win but I think the 25-06 might offer a slight advantage for distance and increase his chances for a good clean harvest.
So, I guess my question is, does a 25-06 have much more recoil then a .243 Win?
Recoil on either gun is not bad at all. The .25-06 has a slight advantage over a .243 in that it will handle bullets up to 120 grains. If your son ever gets into hand loading, the .25-06 is a blast. I've got a few loads for heavier game, and a load with 75 grain Hornady V-Max's for predators. So while a lot of deer rifles are put back in the safe when the season's over, mine's downing open country coyotes.
The .25-06 shoots nice and flat, so it makes it a little easier for less experienced shooters to shoot longer distances accurately. And the recoil shouldn't be enough you son develops any bad habits, like flinching.