243 or 25-06

[midwesthunter]

For deer and antelope. I can't really see a advantage of one or the other? Is there any?

[Outlaw6.0]

Sure, If you go 243 you will get:

Short Action= less weight+faster bolt manipulation
WAY better bullet selection
WAY better Ballistic coefficient options
Lapua Brass
Less Recoil

With the 25-06 you will get:

Heavier bullets with a poor BC (115 VLD will net you all of .466)
A little more poop on the receiving end (moderate range).
A higher cross sectional area
Might net more velocity


If you are limiting the game size up to Deer & 'lopes only, I have got to vote 243, flat out, hands down winner IMHO. If you intend to throw heavier critters in to the mix (elk) I would probably vote 25-06 for more bullet weight (a whopping 5grains) & diameter.

The 6mm bore size is getting a LOT more attention than the quarterbore, which means better component selection.


t

[MachV]

6 of one 1/2 dozen of the other.
Have 4 243s and 2 25-06s and Outlaw preaty much nailed it.
If I was building a long action-long barreled gun the 25-06 might get the nod for deer/goats but the 243 has proven to be a favorite for varmints.
Have found the 243 easier to tune and all 4 243s will outgroup the 25-06 dispite more work being put into the 25-06s.

[midwesthunter]

Ya I have a couple of each, trying to narrow down the amount of guns I have or duplicates anyways. Getting bad when looking for a specific one, and find others you forgot you had. Guess thats a good problem though. I also tend to shoot yotes with them as well.

[jlamb]

Originally Posted by Outlaw6.0

Sure, If you go 243 you will get:

Short Action= less weight+faster bolt manipulation
WAY better bullet selection
WAY better Ballistic coefficient options
Lapua Brass
Less Recoil

With the 25-06 you will get:

Heavier bullets with a poor BC (115 VLD will net you all of .466)
A little more poop on the receiving end (moderate range).
A higher cross sectional area
Might net more velocity


If you are limiting the game size up to Deer & 'lopes only, I have got to vote 243, flat out, hands down winner IMHO. If you intend to throw heavier critters in to the mix (elk) I would probably vote 25-06 for more bullet weight (a whopping 5grains) & diameter.

The 6mm bore size is getting a LOT more attention than the quarterbore, which means better component selection.


t

I own both. I'd go for the 243 due to bullet and brass selection if you are sticking with deer and antelope. IMHO the 1 in 10" twist of most 25-06 rifles is on the hairy edge of stabalizing the 117 grain or 110 grain bullets that you'd use. I've made my 25-06 a varmit rifle only because of this.

[toddc]

Until berger gives us a real 25 cal slug id say 243. A 6mm 115 will kill better than a 25 115-120. I have both and my 6-284 with 115 bergers makes a 115 gr 25 look like a kiddys gun.
BC and SD of 25 cal is pathetic and makes it a waste of good brass. Same thing with the 270...just no real bullets. Now that berger has the 170gr 270 maybe they will give us a 130gr 25.

[Bkknupp]

I think a big question here is do you reload ?