.25-06 -vs- .243 - Page 2

jimkim · 03-12-2008, 02:18 PM

has a deer ever said hmm that felt like it was 300 fps faster. Around here I get a lot of next year im gonna get a... whatever...magnum that way if I hit near him hell go down. I know its off topic.
same guys always have to track their deer for miles...bottom line learn to shoot whatever you have.

turner · 03-12-2008, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vikingpreacher

It would probably be used almost exclusively for hunting, I'm leaning toward the .25-06 because I think its better for deer even though I can't use a centerfire here in iowa for deer I think I'll move out of state eventually, and in the mean time for varmints I think the .243 is better but, a coyote is about the only varmint in Iowa other than a ground squirrel and I think the .25-06 would be excellent for coyotes.

If deer hunting is most important, than I'd agree with the 25/05 for sure. The ability to buy bullets up to 120gr make the little '06 much better on CXP2 game. Any idea what rifle? Tikka is a nice platform in 25/06 and the Encore I have is very handy even with it's 24" barrel (and you can add the .243 later too...lol) good luck

Magnumsrule · 03-13-2008, 06:14 PM

Id say go with a 243. More selection on pretty much everything: guns, ammo, bullets. The 25-06 as said above fills a relatively small nich. From what i have heard it recoils a fair amount and has a large case capacity for such a small bullet. I would get a 243 for a varmit/deer gun, and then buy something along the lines of a 7mm mag or 3oo mag for biig game.

wildmountain · 03-29-2008, 10:48 PM

I prefer the 25-06 i,ve kill pronghorn deer elk & a moose with weatherby vangaurd my mom &sister have done about the same with the 243 probaly get my oldest girl a 243 or a 7mm-08

vikingpreacher · 03-30-2008, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turner

If deer hunting is most important, than I'd agree with the 25/05 for sure. The ability to buy bullets up to 120gr make the little '06 much better on CXP2 game. Any idea what rifle? Tikka is a nice platform in 25/06 and the Encore I have is very handy even with it's 24" barrel (and you can add the .243 later too...lol) good luck

For now it would be a coyote gun with deer in mind for the future.

Ron AKA · 03-30-2008, 06:09 PM

I would be tempted to pick the gun I wanted first and then decide on the caliber, as the caliber decision may already have been made for you based on what the manufacturer offers.

Ron

kansas22shooter · 04-01-2008, 09:43 AM

have both , both good round ,but 25-06 better for bigger game ,and longer range

twyo · 04-06-2008, 10:39 AM

People that tell you that a 243 won't drop a deer need to practice a little more. They will and they do, it's that simple. Plus you might also have enough meat left to actually eat when you are done instead of having a guarter of the animal blown apart. I also get a charge out of people that say that a so and so caliber is a good ladies or kids round. Hmmm, you mean it will kill animals as long as a guy isn't shooting it? It's either a good round or it's not. Let the tuff guys nurse their sore shoulders and develop recoil flinch while you enjoy shooting your rifle and make great shots. Both of the calibers you are talking about are great, and I tend to agree with the get em both trend, but you will be happy with either!

Bigbuck 215 · 04-06-2008, 03:55 PM

The 25-06, of course, uses a little more powder but gives you a lot more bang for your hard earned buck plus the fact that bullets range from 75gr to 120gr. Quite a range. The 75s can easily be loaded to over 3700 fps which gives toy an awsome coyote gun. A good friend has killed quite a number of elk with his using the 115 and 120 gr bullets.

IMO, .243s are pretty well limited to deer and antalope but they are very good coyote guns, also.

For all around, the 25-06 comes out way ahead.

Magnumsrule · 04-06-2008, 04:05 PM

A little more powder! The 243 has a capacity of about 45 grains while the 25-06 has a capacity of more than 60 grains. PLus i would never feel comfortable taking elk with such a small bullet. Sorry for cutting you down on ur first post but its true!

Blackrock · 04-06-2008, 05:21 PM

[ If you compare ballistics the 6mm beats the 243 by a margin worth looking at, the 6mm isnt as popular so it is generally overlooked. JMHO[/quote]

I own a 6mm and like it for Coyotes, I also have a .222 and have shot Yotes and P dogs with it. Powder goes farther when reloading for the .222. As for the 25-06; years ago I owned one and found it fickle to reload for. My new to me .257 Bob seems a little more forgiving. Bullet placement is maybe more critical than knockdown power in many cases. You can gut shoot a Whitetail with a 300 Mag and still chase it for miles.

But all BS aside a 25-06 will throw a heavier bullet faster and just as flat as a .243.

GlennM · 04-06-2008, 06:51 PM

Quote:

I've got both, and both are a blast to shoot..

One thing to consider is that .243 ammo is available pretty much everywhere, where 25-06 is a touch harder to find.

+1

And if you reload, the way all the prices are screaming on power, lead and supplies, you can make the .243 boom accurately for less powder than the .25 /06 uses (per charge).

Just make a choice on one, and put the "didn't get but still want" on your want list. We all have to have SOMETHING on that need/want/gotta get list.

Magnumsrule · 04-07-2008, 05:22 PM

Who dosn't have somethin on that list lol

338RemUltraMag · 04-12-2008, 01:23 AM

MagnumsRule the only way a 25-06 will hold over 60 gr of powder is if it is lead powder. 60 gr of powder is 300 win mag range and the last time i checked the two cartridges are very different in size... and if some how you get over 60 gr of powder in a 25-06 i want to watch the gun blow up in your face the most I can safely put in my 25-06 is approx 52-54 gr and that is light compressed... think before u post

Magnumsrule · 04-12-2008, 01:53 AM

Do you even own a reloading manual? Guess what i rarely post without backing up my info so if you load your 25-06 with subsonic amounts of powder than thats your problem. THe last time i checked the 300 win mag holds nearly 80 grains. Check the facts before you post.

samuel · 04-12-2008, 05:46 AM

From the 47th edition of Lyman reloading handbook..25-06, 75gr bullet. H 4831, 59gr powder,compressed,3559fps. You two are arguing about apples and oranges.When you change types of powder,you also change volumn.That is why you cant meisure smokeless powder by volumn like black powder which is basically the same.There are well over 100 different smokeless powders in nitro celulose,nitro glycerine,and double base.The volumn changes rapidly depending on base and burn rate. sam.

Magnumsrule · 04-12-2008, 11:47 AM

I simply chose the powder which took up the greatest case capacity. I believe (without getting the book out) That the cartridge with 120 gr bullets could handle about 59 grains, and the case was only 98% full. THerefore i concluded that it could handle about 60gr. I do understand that grains afe a measurment of weight and do not really explain how full the case is, but maby before a beginner poster comes here and starts accusing me of being an idiot he/she should stop and look at what they are posting and check the facts.

GlennM · 04-12-2008, 02:30 PM

Quote:

60 gr of powder is 300 win mag range and the last time i checked

Lowest I've EVER loaded my .300WM was 62 grains of IMR4350... and 180, 190, 200 and 220 grain bullets. Standard load for the same powder is between 68 and 72 for the WM. She'll hold more. Don't know what reloading manual REM338ULTRAMAG is using, but I can't find -any- reference that would agree that 60 grains is max for the 300. I know we've jumped topics from the .25/06 vs .243, sorry... but the info on the .300WM deserved a heads-up.

338RemUltraMag · 04-12-2008, 04:33 PM

I never stated that 60 gr. load in a 300 win mag was max load and it is far from subsonic, magnumsrule stated that a 25-06 holds over 60 gr of powder when someone states something like that it tends to set me thinking in the neighborhood of 65gr or so. and i do reload and own 3 reloading books, from my personal experience 52-54gr load is a hot load in my .25. I also know that with the right powder a 300 win mag will hold approx 80 gr but i have yet to see a rifle that prefoms best at absolute max charge, one exception is the WSSM's, the 300 win mag i use preforms best with about 65 gr of 4350 no where near max but i don't reload for the fastest speed, which i think is the signal magnumsrule is trying to send send. i am not tying to cut on him/her but he is trying to potray a larger difference between the 2 rounds...

irish murphy · 04-12-2008, 04:48 PM

Build a bridge fellas,you are argueing over shit.

I am going to buy a new marlin XL7 in 25/06 once the bloody things make it over here.The price is right but they only thing im not super impressed with is the lack of a floor plate on the magazine.I have used a 25/06 a few times and cant wait to get one.Have also got a 303/25 sitting in my safe.Its very accurate but since its a SMLE i cant load it too hot.I can smash a coke can at 200m with the open sights no probs.

03-12-2008, 02:18 PM	#21
jimkim Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Near the Little Ocmulgee river in GA Posts: 2,040 Blog Entries: 11	has a deer ever said hmm that felt like it was 300 fps faster. Around here I get a lot of next year im gonna get a... whatever...magnum that way if I hit near him hell go down. I know its off topic. same guys always have to track their deer for miles...bottom line learn to shoot whatever you have. Last edited by jimkim; 03-12-2008 at 02:21 PM.

03-13-2008, 06:14 PM	#23
Magnumsrule Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Northern Alberta, Canada Posts: 591 Blog Entries: 2	Id say go with a 243. More selection on pretty much everything: guns, ammo, bullets. The 25-06 as said above fills a relatively small nich. From what i have heard it recoils a fair amount and has a large case capacity for such a small bullet. I would get a 243 for a varmit/deer gun, and then buy something along the lines of a 7mm mag or 3oo mag for biig game. __________________ Cartridge Group Like to discuss cartridges? Join HERE!

03-29-2008, 10:48 PM	#24
wildmountain Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: southwest Wyoming Posts: 29	I prefer the 25-06 i,ve kill pronghorn deer elk & a moose with weatherby vangaurd my mom &sister have done about the same with the 243 probaly get my oldest girl a 243 or a 7mm-08 Last edited by wildmountain; 03-29-2008 at 11:07 PM.

04-06-2008, 10:39 AM	#28
twyo Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 10	You won't go wrong with either one. People that tell you that a 243 won't drop a deer need to practice a little more. They will and they do, it's that simple. Plus you might also have enough meat left to actually eat when you are done instead of having a guarter of the animal blown apart. I also get a charge out of people that say that a so and so caliber is a good ladies or kids round. Hmmm, you mean it will kill animals as long as a guy isn't shooting it? It's either a good round or it's not. Let the tuff guys nurse their sore shoulders and develop recoil flinch while you enjoy shooting your rifle and make great shots. Both of the calibers you are talking about are great, and I tend to agree with the get em both trend, but you will be happy with either!

04-06-2008, 04:05 PM	#30
Magnumsrule Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Northern Alberta, Canada Posts: 591 Blog Entries: 2	A little more powder! The 243 has a capacity of about 45 grains while the 25-06 has a capacity of more than 60 grains. PLus i would never feel comfortable taking elk with such a small bullet. Sorry for cutting you down on ur first post but its true! __________________ Cartridge Group Like to discuss cartridges? Join HERE!

03-30-2008, 06:09 PM	#26
Ron AKA Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 704	I would be tempted to pick the gun I wanted first and then decide on the caliber, as the caliber decision may already have been made for you based on what the manufacturer offers. Ron

04-01-2008, 09:43 AM	#27
kansas22shooter Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: garnett kansas Posts: 1	have both , both good round ,but 25-06 better for bigger game ,and longer range

04-06-2008, 03:55 PM	#29
Bigbuck 215 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 7	The 25-06, of course, uses a little more powder but gives you a lot more bang for your hard earned buck plus the fact that bullets range from 75gr to 120gr. Quite a range. The 75s can easily be loaded to over 3700 fps which gives toy an awsome coyote gun. A good friend has killed quite a number of elk with his using the 115 and 120 gr bullets. IMO, .243s are pretty well limited to deer and antalope but they are very good coyote guns, also. For all around, the 25-06 comes out way ahead.

04-06-2008, 05:21 PM	#31
Blackrock Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SE Arizona's Gila Valley Posts: 260	[ If you compare ballistics the 6mm beats the 243 by a margin worth looking at, the 6mm isnt as popular so it is generally overlooked. JMHO[/quote] I own a 6mm and like it for Coyotes, I also have a .222 and have shot Yotes and P dogs with it. Powder goes farther when reloading for the .222. As for the 25-06; years ago I owned one and found it fickle to reload for. My new to me .257 Bob seems a little more forgiving. Bullet placement is maybe more critical than knockdown power in many cases. You can gut shoot a Whitetail with a 300 Mag and still chase it for miles. But all BS aside a 25-06 will throw a heavier bullet faster and just as flat as a .243. __________________ "I only use my gun whenever kindness fails" Forbidden fruits create many jams

04-07-2008, 05:22 PM	#33
Magnumsrule Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Northern Alberta, Canada Posts: 591 Blog Entries: 2	Who dosn't have somethin on that list lol __________________ Cartridge Group Like to discuss cartridges? Join HERE!

04-12-2008, 01:23 AM	#34
338RemUltraMag Banned Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cumberland, MD USA Posts: 199	WHAT??? MagnumsRule the only way a 25-06 will hold over 60 gr of powder is if it is lead powder. 60 gr of powder is 300 win mag range and the last time i checked the two cartridges are very different in size... and if some how you get over 60 gr of powder in a 25-06 i want to watch the gun blow up in your face the most I can safely put in my 25-06 is approx 52-54 gr and that is light compressed... think before u post

04-12-2008, 01:53 AM	#35
Magnumsrule Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Northern Alberta, Canada Posts: 591 Blog Entries: 2	Do you even own a reloading manual? Guess what i rarely post without backing up my info so if you load your 25-06 with subsonic amounts of powder than thats your problem. THe last time i checked the 300 win mag holds nearly 80 grains. Check the facts before you post. __________________ Cartridge Group Like to discuss cartridges? Join HERE!

04-12-2008, 05:46 AM	#36
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,087	From the 47th edition of Lyman reloading handbook..25-06, 75gr bullet. H 4831, 59gr powder,compressed,3559fps. You two are arguing about apples and oranges.When you change types of powder,you also change volumn.That is why you cant meisure smokeless powder by volumn like black powder which is basically the same.There are well over 100 different smokeless powders in nitro celulose,nitro glycerine,and double base.The volumn changes rapidly depending on base and burn rate. sam.

04-12-2008, 11:47 AM	#37
Magnumsrule Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Northern Alberta, Canada Posts: 591 Blog Entries: 2	I simply chose the powder which took up the greatest case capacity. I believe (without getting the book out) That the cartridge with 120 gr bullets could handle about 59 grains, and the case was only 98% full. THerefore i concluded that it could handle about 60gr. I do understand that grains afe a measurment of weight and do not really explain how full the case is, but maby before a beginner poster comes here and starts accusing me of being an idiot he/she should stop and look at what they are posting and check the facts. __________________ Cartridge Group Like to discuss cartridges? Join HERE!

04-12-2008, 04:33 PM	#39
338RemUltraMag Banned Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cumberland, MD USA Posts: 199	I never stated that 60 gr. load in a 300 win mag was max load and it is far from subsonic, magnumsrule stated that a 25-06 holds over 60 gr of powder when someone states something like that it tends to set me thinking in the neighborhood of 65gr or so. and i do reload and own 3 reloading books, from my personal experience 52-54gr load is a hot load in my .25. I also know that with the right powder a 300 win mag will hold approx 80 gr but i have yet to see a rifle that prefoms best at absolute max charge, one exception is the WSSM's, the 300 win mag i use preforms best with about 65 gr of 4350 no where near max but i don't reload for the fastest speed, which i think is the signal magnumsrule is trying to send send. i am not tying to cut on him/her but he is trying to potray a larger difference between the 2 rounds...

04-12-2008, 04:48 PM	#40
irish murphy Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Canberra,Australia Posts: 1,028 Blog Entries: 5	Build a bridge fellas,you are argueing over shit. I am going to buy a new marlin XL7 in 25/06 once the bloody things make it over here.The price is right but they only thing im not super impressed with is the lack of a floor plate on the magazine.I have used a 25/06 a few times and cant wait to get one.Have also got a 303/25 sitting in my safe.Its very accurate but since its a SMLE i cant load it too hot.I can smash a coke can at 200m with the open sights no probs.