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Forum Index > Rifles general discussion > .25-06 Remington vs. .243 Winchester

.25-06 Remington vs. .243 Winchester

20 Sep 2018
@ 05:31 am (GMT)

Ryan Nafe

Fellas,

As a crossover deer/coyote round, with the stronger emphasis being put on deer, what would you guys say is the more effective option?

I’m thinking it’s probably the .25-06 because of the velocity gain with similar bullet weights. For instance, a 100 grain Partition can be launched at least a couple hundred FPS faster from the .25-06, and both cartridges/bore diameters are pretty much entirely reliant on impact velocity for killing speed.

Replies

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20 Sep 2018
@ 07:53 am (GMT)

Paul Leverman

Re: .25-06 Remington vs. .243 Winchester
Effective or efficient? Both rounds are effective, but efficiency is more of a subjective matter. Can you get the same quality and types of bullets for both calibres? The 25-06 uses approximately 1/3 more powder to gain 300fps for any given bullet. Is this a trade off you are willing to accept? Are you a cheap SOB like me and say that the extra speed at the added cost isn't worth it. Or are you the all speed at any cost type. Do you need the higher SD of the quarter-bore for angled shots, or do you need the higher BC to reach out further? The Books have a section on this, but I don't recall which one, and it would take forever for me to find it. Maybe someone else can help further.
20 Sep 2018
@ 02:06 pm (GMT)

Lane Salvato

Re: .25-06 Remington vs. .243 Winchester
Guys, you have stumbled upon a subject for which I am irrational. For there is no cartridge out there better than the 25-06. The 25-06 is the very best deer, sheep, goat, and predator cartridge on the planet. It's better than the 243, the 6.5x55, the 7 mm-08, all of them.

Yeah, I know it's really not. It's low BC and relies upon speed only, and it's not good for long range, and it doesn't deliver heavy for caliber bullets with any good BC. It's hard for manufacturers to make consistent bores or barrels for it, but can't a guy love something just because he loves it?
20 Sep 2018
@ 02:22 pm (GMT)

Joshua Mayfield

Re: .25-06 Remington vs. .243 Winchester
Lane, as a man who adores the .222 Remington, I say BRAVO! Hold on to that soft spot for the .25-06 free of shame. Yes, you can and should love a few things in life not because they’re better than everything else, but purely because you love them. Don’t get me wrong, we should be honest about the limitations and shortcomings. But love them anyway.

On a more serious (possibly even helpful) note, The 120 gr. Speer for the 25-06 is still available. I’ve got a friend who shoots a 25-06 and I’ve been encouraging him that direction. He’s got it in his head that it will create too much meat damage though. You know, same old debates.
22 Sep 2018
@ 09:11 am (GMT)

Ryan Nafe

Re: .25-06 Remington vs. .243 Winchester
Thanks for the input, guys.

The main reason I’m asking is because I recently (just yesterday) got the Rifle Accurizing and Maintenance book in the mail. This was quite eye-opening to say the least.

I’d like to start the learning process with a rifle I already have, and I’m somewhat unsure of what direction to go with the two Savage rifles I have, one in .25-06 and one in .243.

One will probably be kept in the original barrel/chambering, assuming there’s no big problems with the bore, and one will be set aside for a future project as an action donor. The short action would make a very nice platform for a new 20” .308 when the X-Bolt barrel gives out, and the long action would be pretty straightforward to be re-barreled to any of a myriad of options based on the .30-06 case.

I checked around the muzzle crowns of each rifle and nothing looked terrible, so both at least have a chance of being made into good shooters.
23 Sep 2018
@ 08:47 am (GMT)

Paul Leverman

Re: .25-06 Remington vs. .243 Winchester
Savage groups while load developing.

23 Sep 2018
@ 08:48 am (GMT)

Paul Leverman

Re: .25-06 Remington vs. .243 Winchester
This was with the .243.
23 Sep 2018
@ 12:09 pm (GMT)

Lane Salvato

Re: .25-06 Remington vs. .243 Winchester
Paul,

Nathan's great books if followed step by step work marvelously in helping with these things. I did a full length bedding job on a rifle using his compound which I don't think is available in the U.S. anymore and it worked great. The rifle itself had a problem that was too much to overcome but I was able to learn to relieve the action, do the bedding, trigger work, etc.

Between those two cartridges, the 25-06 offers a bit more power and the 243 offers a wider variety of ammunition. My preference is to keep the 25-06 but again I have an irrational love for that round.
24 Sep 2018
@ 01:58 am (GMT)

Paul Leverman

Re: .25-06 Remington vs. .243 Winchester
This .243 was a custom jobbie that I put together, the foundation was a long action Savage 110. The barrel had to go, so what better timing for a new one? Step by step, book by book, and it's shaping up pretty good. The pic was more to show Ryan what he could expect from a Savage build.

Ryan, if you do go the Savage route, try to find/use a pre-AccuTrigger action, and get an aftermarket trigger. There is nothing wrong with the A/Trigger, just harder to work with.
24 Sep 2018
@ 02:35 am (GMT)

Ryan Nafe

Re: .25-06 Remington vs. .243 Winchester
I think I’m gonna keep the .25-06 and use the .243 to be the new 20” .308 build in a few years. The .308 should be pretty simple:

- B&C stock

- Lapp the lugs

- New stainless medium weight barrel

- Better scope mounts
24 Sep 2018
@ 04:58 am (GMT)

Ryan Nafe

Re: .25-06 Remington vs. .243 Winchester
The issue I ran into with the .243 was basically one of inconsistency in results. I believe the only ammo I ever used was Winchester Power Points.

The animals would generally either drop on the spot, or they would run off and then die anywhere from 40 to 100 yards away. There would always be little to no blood trail either, so if I happened to lose sight of the animal it could be a big problem.

Switching to the .308 actually did cure the problem to some degree, especially when I switched to bullets like the Power Max Bonded that would basically guarantee an exit wound. The runs now top out at 40 yards instead of 100, with generally big/obvious blood trails. But instant collapse is now very rare beyond 50 yards.

The .25-06 might be a nice bridge between the two, though actual distinctions in field results might be pretty difficult to find.
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