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?

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.

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?

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.

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

Why?? Not trying to start an arguement but I disagree. You can easily get 3100 fps out of a 25-06 with a 24" barrel and that is with a 110gr bullet. An 85 gr bullet would get you close to 3300 fps. I think thats doing pretty good speed wise. I really like the 25-06 cartridge, I can groundhog hunt in the spring and deer hunt in the fall and it isnt loud or doesnt have alot of recoil. Im not saying a .243 is bad at all, but If Im choosing between two identical guns on the rack, Im picking the 25.

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.

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.

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

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.