25-06 or 223

anschutz · 01-12-2008, 11:39 PM

hey guys im new here, Great forum btw =)
i just wanted your oppinion on either the .223 or 25-06, the majority of vermin i shoot are fox's the occasional rabbit and roos for dog food. but i am lookin at doing some hunting on a mates farm where he has the odd average size pig , what im after is a gun that could handle all the above
Thanks in advance for your replies

lyle

Bravo · 01-13-2008, 12:18 AM

They're really completely different. The 25-06 is quite a bit bigger than the 223. You could actually take deer sized animal with the 22-06 with ease.

A better set of choices would be the .223 vs 22-250.

Is money an issue? If so, the .223 is going to offer the cheapest ammo. The .223 is a great varmint cartridge. It's range is limited to about 400 yards though.

If you want a gun that will reach out farther, or take bigger game, like deer, I would look at the .243win. The .243 will do great for varmint like fox, coyote, and pig, but would be too much for rabbit (Maybe too much for fox also...I'm thinking the .223 or 22-250 might be better choices).

Anyway, what distances will you be shooting, and how much are you looking to spend on a rifle? If you can provide these, then we can give you some real solid recommendations.

By the way, Welcome to G&G

madtrapper1969 · 01-13-2008, 12:28 AM

Let me come over there and shoot some 'roos with you and I'll bring my 25-06 with me for you to try...........

anschutz · 01-13-2008, 04:54 AM

thanks for the quick replies guys, at the moment im shootin fox's and rabbits up to 100mtrs with my .22lr but the fox's are really flighty around the areas i shoot, even with a whistle its hard to get them in closer than 150mtrs realisticly im lookin at 100-300mtr range. and also because alot of the vermin are shot on the fly i was leaning more towards the .223 any how thanks again in advance

lyle

nathangdad · 01-13-2008, 04:58 AM

Well, your range of shooting could justify
both guns. But if you have only one choice
I would go for the .25-06 as you have power, long range capability, and it is a better fit for the larger game you mentioned.

GRUNTER HUNTER · 01-13-2008, 05:56 AM

Get a .243, it fits right in on the game you are hunting because you can go from 55 grain projectiles to 100 for the pigs.

Farmer · 01-13-2008, 06:47 AM

Im with grunter, i shoot 223 all the time on anything from bunny to pig upto 80kg. 223 is a little small on the big thing.

243 is a great round for bigger animals and you can load them down to 60gn for fox and goat.

but my next gun is going to be 25-06, i dont really know why, but i just like guns that have a history of good shooting not necessarily for being the best in class

ArkansasHunter · 01-13-2008, 06:47 AM

Spring for the 25-06 and you'll be able to hunt a lot of different game with it.
Though I don't own a gun in that caliber, I became interested in it from some one else asking about it here.
I don't think you can go wrong with the 25-06. Just my 2 cents...A.H

samuel · 01-13-2008, 08:18 AM

The .25-06 will shoot way further,faster,flatter than a .223,but the real potential of this cartridge can only be realised if you hand load.They have very good factory loads as long as you use 100gr and under bullets or have a 1in9" twist barrel instead of the 1in10".This cal. will deliver hog killing power out to 500yds+,something the .223 cant do,even with a fast twist and heavy bullets.the .223 does great to 200yds+ with moderately heavy bullets.In my area I would choose the .223 because there would be little chance of a shot over 200yds,but in beautiful,wideopen,Australia where the great countryside was built by GOD for real hunting,I definitly would choose the .25-06.I have never had the great honor to hunt that country,something I will always regret. sam.

300 wsm · 01-17-2008, 01:23 PM

I own a browning 25-06 and it is a tack driver for the game mentioned the 06 is a LITTLE over powered for rabbits unless they grew up next to chernobyl and are 150 lbs or 75Kg in australia I would go mid-range and get a 223 WSSM but ya can't go wrong W/ a 25-06... ya can never use too much gun...

leroy · 01-17-2008, 11:25 PM

id say the 25-06 is a little overkill for foxes and such but if u dont keep the pelts then that would sure kill them and it handles the wind beter than the 223. but iv shot alot with the 223 and its a great round

win39 · 01-25-2008, 06:42 AM

Well someone finally took this to were I was affraid to. I will have to agree with maybe considering the 223 or 243 WSSM. I say that the 25/06 is a great caliber and as I mentioned in my other threads is my deer caliber. But I do believe it is an overkill for fox and rabbit. I would have to go with the 243 W. or 243 WSSM.

Benny

samuel · 01-25-2008, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slaughterhouse

DO NOT get a 243 they won't reach out and touch If you want a good long range rifle go for 22-250 or 300 ultra mag is my personal favorite.

Most people that know absolutely nothing about firearms dont post advice and thereby showing how little they know.That didnt stop you in the least,did it?

Poset · 01-25-2008, 04:32 PM

Maybe Anshutz bought a 220 Swift and went hunting--?

lefty o · 01-30-2008, 01:52 AM

i dont have a .243, but can acquire one, i'll shoot against you any day of the week, and at any range you care to. the .243 is a dang handy cartridge, especially since we're talking varmints and some pigs. a .243 will do anything a .22-250 will and then some, and i do have a .22-250. ignorance is bliss DIPSTICK!

Lng Rng · 01-30-2008, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slaughterhouse

Your smokin something cheap old man and definitly dont don't know what you are talkin about a 243 ain't worth wastin the money on the shells and by the way a 243 is only good out to about 350 yards and much after that it is completly useless. So tell you going to out shot at 350 yards when I can go out to 700 yards

The .243 is a fine cartridge for varmints. It is not completely useless past 350 yards, but then again, not many hunting shots go out to 350 yards in the first place.

Please refrain from the low-ball insults on senior members with skill and experiance. Lefty-O is one of those members.

lefty o · 01-30-2008, 02:09 AM

you really dont know what your talking about. as far as someone smoking something, best go look in the mirror.

Lng Rng · 01-30-2008, 02:20 AM

I am trying to figure out why you think the 243 is such an inaccurate POS.

It is based of a necked down version of the .308-which IS an accurate round. So, we know we already have a case that is inherently accurate.

So, by necking it down, it makes one of the mose common bench rest rounds inaccurate? In terms of velocity, with a 55 gr bullet, the 243 will stomp a 22-250...meaning it will shoot flatter. The accuracy part would come down to the quality of equipment, not the actual round itself.

lefty o · 01-30-2008, 02:22 AM

where the hell do you come up with west virginia? i also dont believe i started the insults in the thread. your going to be a big hit around here, if you can make more than a week or 2 without getting banned!lol if you dont care for the .243, thats fine. at long distances, it has alot more going for it that the 22-250. there are reasons the 6mm's hold records at 1000yds, its called ballistics. heavier bullets with high BC's tend to get where they are aimed, where as the lighter lower BC 22's get blown around. ive done quite a bit of long range shooting, and do happen to know what im talking about. long range shooting starts at 500yds, and all the .22's start falling apart after that.

slaughterhouse · 01-30-2008, 02:25 AM

The 243 is an accurate round I ain't saying it ain't I own a 243 and 308 and 223 and I am saying it won't shoot 800 yards accuratly like most 22-250s will.

01-12-2008, 11:39 PM	#1
anschutz Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2	25-06 or 223 hey guys im new here, Great forum btw =) i just wanted your oppinion on either the .223 or 25-06, the majority of vermin i shoot are fox's the occasional rabbit and roos for dog food. but i am lookin at doing some hunting on a mates farm where he has the odd average size pig , what im after is a gun that could handle all the above Thanks in advance for your replies lyle

01-13-2008, 04:58 AM	#5
nathangdad Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 3,229	preference Well, your range of shooting could justify both guns. But if you have only one choice I would go for the .25-06 as you have power, long range capability, and it is a better fit for the larger game you mentioned.

01-13-2008, 06:47 AM	#7
Farmer Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Limbri NSW Au Posts: 346	Im with grunter, i shoot 223 all the time on anything from bunny to pig upto 80kg. 223 is a little small on the big thing. 243 is a great round for bigger animals and you can load them down to 60gn for fox and goat. but my next gun is going to be 25-06, i dont really know why, but i just like guns that have a history of good shooting not necessarily for being the best in class __________________ Cheers, Rob I'm into gun control - I always use both hands!!!!!!!

01-13-2008, 06:47 AM	#8
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 11,267	Spring for the 25-06 and you'll be able to hunt a lot of different game with it. Though I don't own a gun in that caliber, I became interested in it from some one else asking about it here. I don't think you can go wrong with the 25-06. Just my 2 cents...A.H Last edited by ArkansasHunter; 01-13-2008 at 08:23 AM.

01-13-2008, 08:18 AM	#9
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 6,081	The .25-06 will shoot way further,faster,flatter than a .223,but the real potential of this cartridge can only be realised if you hand load.They have very good factory loads as long as you use 100gr and under bullets or have a 1in9" twist barrel instead of the 1in10".This cal. will deliver hog killing power out to 500yds+,something the .223 cant do,even with a fast twist and heavy bullets.the .223 does great to 200yds+ with moderately heavy bullets.In my area I would choose the .223 because there would be little chance of a shot over 200yds,but in beautiful,wideopen,Australia where the great countryside was built by GOD for real hunting,I definitly would choose the .25-06.I have never had the great honor to hunt that country,something I will always regret. sam. Last edited by samuel; 01-13-2008 at 08:20 AM.

01-13-2008, 12:18 AM	#2
Bravo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Maine, USA Posts: 2,125	They're really completely different. The 25-06 is quite a bit bigger than the 223. You could actually take deer sized animal with the 22-06 with ease. A better set of choices would be the .223 vs 22-250. Is money an issue? If so, the .223 is going to offer the cheapest ammo. The .223 is a great varmint cartridge. It's range is limited to about 400 yards though. If you want a gun that will reach out farther, or take bigger game, like deer, I would look at the .243win. The .243 will do great for varmint like fox, coyote, and pig, but would be too much for rabbit (Maybe too much for fox also...I'm thinking the .223 or 22-250 might be better choices). Anyway, what distances will you be shooting, and how much are you looking to spend on a rifle? If you can provide these, then we can give you some real solid recommendations. By the way, Welcome to G&G

01-13-2008, 12:28 AM	#3
madtrapper1969 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: springfield, Missouri.Michigan transplant Posts: 10	Let me come over there and shoot some 'roos with you and I'll bring my 25-06 with me for you to try...........

01-13-2008, 04:54 AM	#4
anschutz Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2	thanks for the quick replies guys, at the moment im shootin fox's and rabbits up to 100mtrs with my .22lr but the fox's are really flighty around the areas i shoot, even with a whistle its hard to get them in closer than 150mtrs realisticly im lookin at 100-300mtr range. and also because alot of the vermin are shot on the fly i was leaning more towards the .223 any how thanks again in advance lyle

01-13-2008, 05:56 AM	#6
GRUNTER HUNTER Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 55	Get a .243, it fits right in on the game you are hunting because you can go from 55 grain projectiles to 100 for the pigs.

01-17-2008, 01:23 PM	#10
300 wsm Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: cumberland, md Posts: 77	I own a browning 25-06 and it is a tack driver for the game mentioned the 06 is a LITTLE over powered for rabbits unless they grew up next to chernobyl and are 150 lbs or 75Kg in australia I would go mid-range and get a 223 WSSM but ya can't go wrong W/ a 25-06... ya can never use too much gun... __________________ "oh bother" said pooh as he chambered another round

01-17-2008, 11:25 PM	#11
leroy Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: SE IoWa Posts: 97	id say the 25-06 is a little overkill for foxes and such but if u dont keep the pelts then that would sure kill them and it handles the wind beter than the 223. but iv shot alot with the 223 and its a great round

01-25-2008, 06:42 AM	#12
win39 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 201	Well someone finally took this to were I was affraid to. I will have to agree with maybe considering the 223 or 243 WSSM. I say that the 25/06 is a great caliber and as I mentioned in my other threads is my deer caliber. But I do believe it is an overkill for fox and rabbit. I would have to go with the 243 W. or 243 WSSM. Benny

01-25-2008, 04:32 PM	#14
Poset Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 13	Maybe Anshutz bought a 220 Swift and went hunting--?

01-30-2008, 01:52 AM	#15
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 5,358	i dont have a .243, but can acquire one, i'll shoot against you any day of the week, and at any range you care to. the .243 is a dang handy cartridge, especially since we're talking varmints and some pigs. a .243 will do anything a .22-250 will and then some, and i do have a .22-250. ignorance is bliss DIPSTICK!

01-30-2008, 02:09 AM	#17
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 5,358	you really dont know what your talking about. as far as someone smoking something, best go look in the mirror.

01-30-2008, 02:20 AM	#18
Lng Rng Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 969	I am trying to figure out why you think the 243 is such an inaccurate POS. It is based of a necked down version of the .308-which IS an accurate round. So, we know we already have a case that is inherently accurate. So, by necking it down, it makes one of the mose common bench rest rounds inaccurate? In terms of velocity, with a 55 gr bullet, the 243 will stomp a 22-250...meaning it will shoot flatter. The accuracy part would come down to the quality of equipment, not the actual round itself.

01-30-2008, 02:22 AM	#19
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 5,358	where the hell do you come up with west virginia? i also dont believe i started the insults in the thread. your going to be a big hit around here, if you can make more than a week or 2 without getting banned!lol if you dont care for the .243, thats fine. at long distances, it has alot more going for it that the 22-250. there are reasons the 6mm's hold records at 1000yds, its called ballistics. heavier bullets with high BC's tend to get where they are aimed, where as the lighter lower BC 22's get blown around. ive done quite a bit of long range shooting, and do happen to know what im talking about. long range shooting starts at 500yds, and all the .22's start falling apart after that.

01-30-2008, 02:25 AM	#20
slaughterhouse Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 26	The 243 is an accurate round I ain't saying it ain't I own a 243 and 308 and 223 and I am saying it won't shoot 800 yards accuratly like most 22-250s will.