243 vs 25/06
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CPTMurdoc30
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Anything a 243 can do a 25-06 can and just a bit better.
One of the most accurate rifles I have ever shot was a 25-06. We were using it to kill ground squirrels out to 400 yards.
I have never been a huge fan of the 243. I think the quaterbore is a much better choice. You can get heavier bullets for larger game. Plus if you keep distance short and shots perfect you can take an elk with a 25-06 Not so with the 243.
One of the most accurate rifles I have ever shot was a 25-06. We were using it to kill ground squirrels out to 400 yards.
I have never been a huge fan of the 243. I think the quaterbore is a much better choice. You can get heavier bullets for larger game. Plus if you keep distance short and shots perfect you can take an elk with a 25-06 Not so with the 243.
They're both great calibers, and the recoil isn't as much as you might think. They're both multi-purpose calibers, in that you can load light bullets for varmints and heavier bullets for medium game. They're both fairly accurate, with adherents for each caliber claiming exceptional accuracy. They're both easy to shoot well.
The .25-06 is a long action cartridge, the .243 is a short action cartridge. Some folks claim a benefit from one action length over the other. I'm not able to see a difference in performance between long action and short action. Short actions may be a little bit stiffer, but both are capable of fine accuracy.
Recoil sensitivity is an individual trait and what is painful for one is barely noticeable to another. That's an individual question, one that the rest of us can't answer for you. However, neither the .243 nor the .25-06 are known for heavy recoil.
I own both calibers and I shoot both calibers. However, the more I shoot the .25-06 the more I like it. It seems to have that blend of power, accuracy, light recoil and versatility that makes it easy to shoot well. I consider the .25-06 one of the premier deer cartridges in the US.
John Wilson
Inactive
I think if you are shooting at a deer, you won't notice the recoil anyway. Recoil is something to worry about at the range when you have a slow pulse & shooting a couple of boxes.
Basically, the 25/06 adds about 100 yards of deer killing range(energy) to what you get with the 243. On coyotes, it's higher velocity cuts wind drift by 1/3 and holdover by an amount dependant on bullet shape. I've used both and find the 25/06 just that "little bit better" to fit my needs vs. the 243.
Lloyd Smale
Moderator
Ill probably get flamed for this but ill say it anyway
if a grown man cant shoot a flipping 2506 he should maybe consider going to the gym instead of hunting. My two grandsons 12 and 13 shoot 3006 rilfes with full power loads and started with 243s at age 8 and 9 and ive yet to here them complain about recoil even once. a 2506 SURELY doesnt recoil enough to make it unconfortable for any healthy person unless hes maybe using it on varmits and shoot 200 rounds in a day
if a grown man cant shoot a flipping 2506 he should maybe consider going to the gym instead of hunting. My two grandsons 12 and 13 shoot 3006 rilfes with full power loads and started with 243s at age 8 and 9 and ive yet to here them complain about recoil even once. a 2506 SURELY doesnt recoil enough to make it unconfortable for any healthy person unless hes maybe using it on varmits and shoot 200 rounds in a dayRight to bear arms
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The 25-06 is a nonmagnum magnum. It has everything but the belt. A handloader can make this round absolutely smoke the .243. Probably the best 2nd tier caliber ever developed. a 120 grain partition will even be adequate for elk.
Jayhawkhuntclub
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Insignificant difference in real life, but sizable difference on internet forums.
Both are great rounds. Both will easily kill any whitetail on the planet if you use the right projectile and make an okay shot.
Both are great rounds. Both will easily kill any whitetail on the planet if you use the right projectile and make an okay shot.Lloyd Smale
Moderator
sorry Jay but ive got to kind of disagree with you. Ive shot many many deer with both and the 2506 definately has an edge in power. My experience shows that the 243s are great out to 250 and maybe 300 yards and the 2506 adds another 100 yards on to this. Im not talking just killing as either will kill something if its hit right at even longer ranges then 400 yards. Im more refering to how quick they kill. Ive probably killed 50 deer with the 2506 and a bit less with a 243 but well over 25 so i have seen some actual field results.
Where to begin?
If you define rifleman as "somebody with a rifle", then that is an overstatement....... the average deer hunter would be overgunned with a .25-06...... "It is a rare marksman that can shoot up to his rifle."
Nope, but if you have developed a flinch in practice, you'll notice that you MISSED the deer...... or worse, shot him in the butt.
Not true .... unless you download the .25-06, or compare light for calliber (70 gr) bullets out of the .243 to heavy for caliber (120gr) out of the .25-06 ..... even comparing the lightest bullet to lightest bullet, Speer #13 shows the .25-06 pushing an 87 gr bullet faster than a .243 will push a 70 grain pill .....
For a recoil sensitive new shooter, I think a .243 would be a better choice than a .25-06.
It does have less power and a more arched trajectory than the .25-06, but at ranges under 250 yards, deer and pigs won't be able to tell the difference.
If you define rifleman as "somebody with a rifle", then that is an overstatement....... the average deer hunter would be overgunned with a .25-06...... "It is a rare marksman that can shoot up to his rifle."
Nope, but if you have developed a flinch in practice, you'll notice that you MISSED the deer...... or worse, shot him in the butt.
Except fit in a short action..... or be as efficient with regard to powder burned ... or work well with shorter barrels and quicker powders... or make a barrel last .....maybe not on that last, as recoil for the newb would preclude him shooting the .25-06 as much as the .243 WIN ........
Not true .... unless you download the .25-06, or compare light for calliber (70 gr) bullets out of the .243 to heavy for caliber (120gr) out of the .25-06 ..... even comparing the lightest bullet to lightest bullet, Speer #13 shows the .25-06 pushing an 87 gr bullet faster than a .243 will push a 70 grain pill .....
For a recoil sensitive new shooter, I think a .243 would be a better choice than a .25-06.
It does have less power and a more arched trajectory than the .25-06, but at ranges under 250 yards, deer and pigs won't be able to tell the difference.
I concur.... the .243 drops below 1,000 ft/lbs thereabouts ..... and max Point Blank Range (trajectory within 5" of line of sight) is under 250 for the .243 and over 300 for the .25-06 ......
Sighted in for 400, the .25-06 with a 117gr SGK will let you "hold in the hair" to 500 yards....... "non-magnum Magnum" indeed.
When I first read the question, I thought "apples and oranges".
The .243 was designed to be a heavy varmint round, that was capable of taking deer sized game if a heavier than normal bullet was used.
The 25-06 was pretty much designed to be a flatter shooting round for deer sized game, that would be comparable to the .270 in power.
An interesting comparison (I can't do it at work) would be to compare velocities of bullets of equal sectional density, since SD is probably the largest factor in bullet penetration. Bullet penetration is PARAMOUNT when hunting game that is larger than the intended target for any caliber.
My own personal opinion is that the 100gr bullet is the lightest bullet that should be used in the .243 for deer sized game. Find the SD of that bullet, then find a comparable one in the .25-06... I'm guessing it will be in the 120-130gr range. Now compare velocities attainable with both cartridges with those bullets.
I would feel sort of comfortable with the .25-06 on elk, with a heavy for caliber premium bullet... at ranges less than 200 yds or so.
I don't think I'd ever use a .243 for elk.. maybe 100yds or less, with a behind the shoulder shot.
The .243 was designed to be a heavy varmint round, that was capable of taking deer sized game if a heavier than normal bullet was used.
The 25-06 was pretty much designed to be a flatter shooting round for deer sized game, that would be comparable to the .270 in power.
An interesting comparison (I can't do it at work) would be to compare velocities of bullets of equal sectional density, since SD is probably the largest factor in bullet penetration. Bullet penetration is PARAMOUNT when hunting game that is larger than the intended target for any caliber.
My own personal opinion is that the 100gr bullet is the lightest bullet that should be used in the .243 for deer sized game. Find the SD of that bullet, then find a comparable one in the .25-06... I'm guessing it will be in the 120-130gr range. Now compare velocities attainable with both cartridges with those bullets.
I would feel sort of comfortable with the .25-06 on elk, with a heavy for caliber premium bullet... at ranges less than 200 yds or so.
I don't think I'd ever use a .243 for elk.. maybe 100yds or less, with a behind the shoulder shot.
603Country
New member
Jimbob86, I'm in agreement with pretty much all you've said, except for the part about "the average hunter would be overgunned with the 25-06". I really don't think that's quite correct. And...to me it's always better to be overgunned than undergunned. The 25-06 will take a fellow a lot further than the 243 will before he becomes undergunned.
105 gr .243 sectional density ..... .254
117gr .257 sectional density ...... .253
.... and you can't safely push a 105 gr bullet out of a .243 WIN at 3000+ f/sec ..... unless maybe you used a 26" barrel ...... really slow powder.....
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603- Your "average hunter" can't reliably hit a pie plate past 200 yards from field positions ..... it would not matter if they had a .257 Weatherby or a even a laser pointer..... only hits count. To that end, a milder recoiling rifle would serve the "average hunter" better than a heavier recoiling rifle, in that they would be more inclined to practice.
117gr .257 sectional density ...... .253
.... and you can't safely push a 105 gr bullet out of a .243 WIN at 3000+ f/sec ..... unless maybe you used a 26" barrel ...... really slow powder.....
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603- Your "average hunter" can't reliably hit a pie plate past 200 yards from field positions ..... it would not matter if they had a .257 Weatherby or a even a laser pointer..... only hits count. To that end, a milder recoiling rifle would serve the "average hunter" better than a heavier recoiling rifle, in that they would be more inclined to practice.
Art Eatman
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The OP likely went away happy, almost four years ago.
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