I have had three 25-06's. I shot two of them a lot. NO Problem what-so-ever with excess barrel wear. They are quite easy on barrels and much more effective on game the size of deer and antelope. I would pick the 243 for just varmits of the ones mentioned but never mostly for deer. I class the 243 about at the level of the 22-250 for deer. just my opinion but from a lot of expierence with both of them. I have also had three 243's.