243 or 25-06

[Val]

Looking at getting a 243 or a 25-06. Any recommendations on the two calibers. It will probably be a Savage with the new Accu trigger.

[toxic111]

It depends on what you are hunting... either caliber is good for deer, but nothing bigger... I personally use a 6mm Rem for my deer hunting, but I do load premium bullets though.. but factory loads work well as well.. My brother uses the .25-06 and has had good success...

[Jack]

Both are excellent calibers. Factory ammo should be available in any gunshop. 243 might be a bit more common at the 'Marts'....
Which one? Depends what you want it for.
I'd get a 243 if I was going to shoot mostly varmints, and the occasional deer or antelope.
If I was going to hunt deer and antelope, with an occasional varmint thrown in, 25-06.

[tbmaker]

The 25-06 will give you the edge in trajectory and is just perfect for deer. Harvested two last year at 340 steps with a dead on hold. I really like that 120 gr. pill for deer. I have a 257 Roberts as well and plan on getting a 243 for my boys future first rifle.
So it goes back to being a toss up between them.

[Andy L]

Got both. Love both. Usually pick up the 25-06 for some reason though. :D
Andy

[L. Cooper]

I agree with Jack. The .25-06 is the better deer round; the .243 is the better varmint round. The one you pick should depend on which one will be the primary target.

[RHawk]

I own both of them and there isn't that much difference in them in my opinion . I reload a 85 gr Barnes X bullet in the 243 win and a 100 gr Barnes X in the 25-06 . The only animal I ever had to shoot twice was a antelope at 250 yards with a 243win . I made a bad hit and not the fault of the rifle .

[Andy L]

They are both good varminters. Depends on the bullet. If you are red misting prarie dogs or groundhogs, the 25-06 with a 75gr ballistic tip is the most awesome thing I have ever shot. If you are hide hunting, either one is great with a controlled expansion bullet or a hardnose. The 25-06 with a 100 gr Nosler Partition is hard to beat on whitetails. I love both of them but seem to pick up the 25-06 a little more often than the 243. JMHO.

Andy