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.243 vs .25-06
I'm looking at picking up a varmint rifle for ground hogs, coyote and possibly the odd back up on deer. Not sure if I want a .243 or .25-06 ? I have owned a .243 before but never the .25-06. My concern with the 25-06 mostly is the increased noise and scaring farmers with that. Opinions?
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RE: .243 vs .25-06
Per Chuck Hawks tables the .243 Win shooting a 100gr bullet has a Maximum Point Blank Range of 283 yards vs. a .25-06 shooting a 120gr bullet has a MPBR of 291 yards. Recoil velocity on the .243 shooting the 100gr bullet is a 9 vs. a 10 shootingthe 120gron the .25-06. Not much of a difference there. A 100gr bullet is going to be plenty for varmits and I think you can get a little heavier bullet if needed as a backup for deer on the .243.
Not much help. I just thought I would look at the tables and see if there was much difference. |
RE: .243 vs .25-06
For varmits I would think the price of shells could make a big difference if you are touching off 100 rounds at prarrie dogs in an afternoon. Do you reload your own ammo, or would the price of shells be a deciding factor for you?
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RE: .243 vs .25-06
I guess I'm bored. Looking online at www.midwayusa.com (I just happened to be on their site because I was buying a scope there) a box of Federal Power-Shok in .243 Win is $13.29 (either 80gr or 100gr) and a box of Federal Power-Shok in .25-06 is $21.99. $8.70 a box times 5 boxes on a good afternoon varmit shooting and that's $40 more expensive on the .25-06. I'm sure it wouldn't be that much more if you are reloading your own though.
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RE: .243 vs .25-06
The difference between the .243 and 25-06 is the difference between the 30-06 and .308. Not much.
However the 25 needs a 26" barrell to get everything out of it. With its longer action and 26" barrell it will be a larger gun. Price of shells is would be another factor. I like the.243. Thats my choice |
RE: .243 vs .25-06
ORIGINAL: zrexpilot However the 25 needs a 26" barrell to get everything out of it. With its longer action and 26" barrell it will be a larger gun. |
RE: .243 vs .25-06
Thanks for the replys. No the price of ammo is no concern. I reload and would never have the chance to shoot at 100 groundhogs in a day. Smaller farms around here which is why I'm concernrd about the noise level of the .25-06 vs .243.
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RE: .243 vs .25-06
Ive had both and sold my 25-06. The biggest thing I noticed with reloading was that there are alot more bullets avail for the 243 then the quarter bore for whatever reason.
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RE: .243 vs .25-06
A .243 would serve you fine, seems like your leaning towards that option. Put a good scope on it, and you'll have a nice groundhog gun:D
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RE: .243 vs .25-06
I think you would be happy with either of them. But if I were pinned down on one ,I would take the 25-06. Lots of my huntin buddies have them and they just thump deer.
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RE: .243 vs .25-06
I have never owned a 25-06, but I have owned several 243's. Ballistically, I like 25-06, but I have never had any problems killing deer with a 243.
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RE: .243 vs .25-06
Both descent deer calibers, but i'd go with the 243. Just personal preference.
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RE: .243 vs .25-06
Terry,
I'm a HUGE fan of the 25-06 Rem,and even though you can cross over with it.It makes a long day shooting a ground hogs,if your shooting 100-300 rounds a day. If this would be a deer rifle and the ocasinoal gopher or coy-dog thenI would say the 25-06. BUT I'm not a fan of 243 win either.Since you roll your own I would recomend the 6mm Rem.It will beat the .243 win hands down.It makesa great varmiter and deer round. Remington make the Modl 700 VLS in the sweet little 6,and it will server you fine on them long outings on ground hogs at 400+ yds. Take a look. BBJ |
RE: .243 vs .25-06
I have both calibers also,my 25-06 has killed chuck's past 500 yards...;)
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RE: .243 vs .25-06
If I was going to varmint hunt, and maybe shoot a few deer I would get a .243
If I was going to deer hunt, and maybe shoot a few varmints I would get a 25. If you want to keep the pelts of a coyote, you better not get varmint loads for the 25, they will leave a huge exit hole. This is not the case with a 55 or 75gr bullet in the .243. I have a .243 for varmints, and a .270 for deer size game. Works great for me. |
RE: .243 vs .25-06
Well thanks for the advice everybody. I ordered a .243 today. I needed a varmint rifle more than a deer rifle ( have few of those already ) and those Stevens 200 bolt rifles were just too darn cheap to not try one. I'll get it in about 3 weeks I'm told so I'll let you know how it shoots. Now I have a bit of time to decide on a scope.
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RE: .243 vs .25-06
ORIGINAL: BareBack Jack Terry, I'm a HUGE fan of the 25-06 Rem,and even though you can cross over with it.It makes a long day shooting a ground hogs,if your shooting 100-300 rounds a day. |
RE: .243 vs .25-06
ORIGINAL: mossy33oak ORIGINAL: BareBack Jack Terry, I'm a HUGE fan of the 25-06 Rem,and even though you can cross over with it.It makes a long day shooting a ground hogs,if your shooting 100-300 rounds a day. |
RE: .243 vs .25-06
go for the 243
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RE: .243 vs .25-06
I have a few 243 win ,couple 25-06 and a couple 6MM Rem. and ifI had to choose just one for all around it would be the 25-06 .
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RE: .243 vs .25-06
I just bought a 4 X 12 Nikon Monarch w/bdc for $280 from SWFA. You might want to look at that scope, if you do not want to pay alot.
I completely understand what you mean about noise on small farms. My go to small farm gun is a Kimber 22 Hornet. It is very effective out to 225 yards, and the noise level is drastically reduced. Tom. |
RE: .243 vs .25-06
ORIGINAL: ewolf If I was going to varmint hunt, and maybe shoot a few deer I would get a .243 If I was going to deer hunt, and maybe shoot a few varmints I would get a 25. If you want to keep the pelts of a coyote, you better not get varmint loads for the 25, they will leave a huge exit hole. This is not the case with a 55 or 75gr bullet in the .243. I have a .243 for varmints, and a .270 for deer size game. Works great for me. I love the .25-06, but in your case i would get the .243. |
RE: .243 vs .25-06
If I was even thinking of deer hunting with it, I would get the 25-06. I have shot quite a few deer with both the 243 and the 25-06. IMO the 25-06 wins this contest hands down.
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RE: .243 vs .25-06
ORIGINAL: James B If I was even thinking of deer hunting with it, I would get the 25-06. I have shot quite a few deer with both the 243 and the 25-06. IMO the 25-06 wins this contest hands down. A 30-06 doesnt even win hands down. A .243 or 30-06 to the boiler room and the results are the same, a dead deer. The 30-06 doesnt kill any better or any faster than the .243. The 25-06 is the same. I have used them all. 7 mag, 270, 308, 30-06, 243, 300 mag, and neither gun killed anybetter than the other. The results were the same, a dead deer that sprinted maybe 40 yds. |
RE: .243 vs .25-06
I think the 243 is a rip snortin pest rifle, albeit a little loud for that, but personally I wouldn't be caught dead hunting anything big with it.
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RE: .243 vs .25-06
Most of the mule deer hunter friends of mine in our area agree that the 25-06 is a better deer round than the 243. So its not just in my little world. Although I have had several of each, I no longer have a 243. Don't miss it. I prefer the 250, 257 R and the 25-06.
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RE: .243 vs .25-06
The question at hand is a varmint round with occasional deer,
which is better for deer is very arguable, they both shoot pretty small pills 100 gr. and 115 are the most common, not much difference and a deer wouldn know it either. For varmints the .243 will have the edge because of the smaller bullets readily available. The .25's are just not that popular, and ammo is harder to find. If you dont handload the .243 is the way to go, ammo is available everywhere ranging from 55gr pills all the way to a 100gr. The .243 with 75gr bullets are terrible medicine for varmints. The .243 does indeed have less recoil, if that matters, it has the shorter action, which some say are more accurate. The .25's are vary rare in competition shooting, but the .243 wins all the time in 1000yd matches I wonder why that is.....Hmmmmm. The .243 has the the higher coefficiency .Yep I say go with the .243 Actually if you handload the .243 is still the way to go, loaded up they are smoking hot. |
RE: .243 vs .25-06
ORIGINAL: zrexpilot The question at hand is a varmint round with occasional deer, which is better for deer is very arguable, they both shoot pretty small pills 100 gr. and 115 are the most common, not much difference and a deer wouldn know it either. For varmints the .243 will have the edge because of the smaller bullets readily available. The .25's are just not that popular, and ammo is harder to find. If you dont handload the .243 is the way to go, ammo is available everywhere ranging from 55gr pills all the way to a 100gr. The .243 with 75gr bullets are terrible medicine for varmints. The .243 does indeed have less recoil, if that matters, it has the shorter action, which some say are more accurate. The .25's are vary rare in competition shooting, but the .243 wins all the time in 1000yd matches I wonder why that is.....Hmmmmm. The .243 has the the higher coefficiency .Yep I say go with the .243 Actually if you handload the .243 is still the way to go, loaded up they are smoking hot. If the .243 is "smoking hot" with handloads, the .25-06 will be "smoking hotter"!:D Looking at Federal's website they offer 9 different combinations for the .243 and 7 combinations for the .25-06. Not that big of a difference. Personally, I'll take the .25-06. |
RE: .243 vs .25-06
ORIGINAL: VAhuntr If the .243 is "smoking hot" with handloads, the .25-06 will be "smoking hotter"!:D Looking at Federal's website they offer 9 different combinations for the .243 and 7 combinations for the .25-06. Not that big of a difference. Personally, I'll take the .25-06. Not taking anything away from the .25, it's a bad ass round, and I would like to get one one day. but the .243 is a better varmint round. For deer the 25 has a slight edge because of the heavier bullet, but the difference is minimul. thats all I meant. |
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