The Accurate Reloading Forums
Looking for good caliber for varmits and 200+ yard whitetails..
06 April 2003, 17:13
DoublegunLooking for good caliber for varmits and 200+ yard whitetails..
I am looking to add to my collection a rifle to be used for varmits, coyotes and white tail deer. I would like a gun that will shoot long, fast and flat. Currently my only high-power rifle is a 30-06. I am considering a .243 and 6mm - any others? Which would be best?
Thanks.
06 April 2003, 17:23
browningguyA 25-06 would be my first choice given the game you are looking at. I don't have one myself but have a couple of friends who use them to good advantage.
06 April 2003, 17:50
waksupi6.5X55
06 April 2003, 17:54
OldFart257 Weatherby
07 April 2003, 02:21
TailgunnerThe -06 will do what you want, including whitetails out past 400yd. IF you do your part that is.
You might need to work up different loads for deer vs small critters (different bullets), and get in some (longer) range practice. The 6" "point blank" range of the 30-06 is 275-300 yards.
Of course if you just want another rifle.....
07 April 2003, 03:26
Rooster![[Wink]](images/icons/wink.gif)
.260 Rem., the 100gr.NBT for the varmits and 125gr.Par. for the deer.
![[Big Grin]](images/icons/grin.gif)
07 April 2003, 04:24
snowmanAre you going to carry this rifle around a lot or just carry it to a stand and sit? A 25-06 really starts to cook when you put a 26 in barrel on one.But that 26 in barrel isn't much fun when you start going through bush.For mostly open country shooting I would look real hard at a long barreled 25-06. If you plan to carry it lots in the bush a shorter barreled 260 rem would be good.While not as popular the 6.5x55 or a 257 Roberts would also be good.
07 April 2003, 04:31
Marsh Mule![[Smile]](images/icons/smile.gif)
Other than the .243 you mention the 25/06 is way to go.
![[Cool]](images/icons/cool.gif)
[ 04-06-2003, 19:32: Message edited by: Marsh Mule ]07 April 2003, 06:58
500grainsYou do not really need a 25-06 for such work. A 243 or 6mm rem will do quite nicely. An advantage of the lighter calibers is that you can see your bullet hit through the scope. On my 25-06 that is hard to do.
But whether you go with a 24 or 25 caliber, the game will never know.
07 April 2003, 08:26
<Ranger Dave>Go with the 243 and don't look back.
07 April 2003, 10:46
DoublegunGiven I have the 06, and also a .44 carbine for brush, I was leaning toward a Sako 75 in .243 or 6mm. Any limitations to doing either one? I don't want too much overlap in my calibers given I don't plan to have more than 2-3 high-power rifles.
Thanks,
07 April 2003, 11:21
Bear in FairbanksDoublegun: A .257 Roberts. Better yet, a .257 Imp. Either in a 24" barrel of course. Bear in Fairbanks
07 April 2003, 11:25
tom hollandquote:
Originally posted by Doublegun:
I am looking to add to my collection a rifle to be used for varmits, coyotes and white tail deer. I would like a gun that will shoot long, fast and flat. Currently my only high-power rifle is a 30-06. I am considering a .243 and 6mm - any others? Which would be best?
Thanks.
I think you have picked two good rounds. Myself I kind of like the 6mm Rem but I think you may find more rifles chambered for the 243. You may have a better bullet selection if you reload in the 6mm. Well good luck! Tom
07 April 2003, 17:57
WstrnhuntrThe 6mm rem and the 257 Roberts are really very similar. When deer comes into the mix, the option for slightly bigger bullets is a good one to have.
08 April 2003, 04:27
<eldeguello>A .257 AI or a .25/'06 would be outstanding. Another excellent choice, which is not often though of as a varmint rifle, is the .270 Winchester. With 90 to 110 grain bullets, it lterally blows varmints to pieces, and will do for deer out beyond 300 yards with either 130 or 150 grain bullets!!
08 April 2003, 08:38
MacD37IMHO, you have already found the rifle you need. Any of the sugestions made will work, but anything bigger than a 243 Win with a 100 gr bullet, over 46.0 grs of H-4831, standard lR primers, in Win, or Norma brass @ 3000 fps will take any deer that ever walked, but is hard on pelts of the coyotes. The 6mm will not do anything the 243 will not do as well, and ammo is much easier to find in the hilltop general store. SAKO rifles are fine for this type hunting, and are super accurate in 243 Win. I own several 243Win bolt rifles, and have taken big muledeer with one shot kills for years with shots averageing 200 yds. 200 yds is not it's limit, however, many of those deer were taken at over 300 yds, also one shot kills! I'm not a fan of any 1/4" chambering, but they work if that fits your hat size,and nothing larger than a 270 is needed. For what you state you need this rifle for, IMO, you will do fine with a 243Win, in that SAKO!
08 April 2003, 09:07
fredj338I find the .243 a good varmint rig, but would want a bit more bullet for general deer hunting (flame away guys). In a short action, I like the .260rem, good supply of light match bullets for varmints & 120-129gr bullets for deer.
In a long action, the .25-06 has alot going for it, maybe a bit much for extended shooting on varmints if you are recoil sensative, a good deer round w/ 120gr bullets.
260 or 25-06 depending on whether your planning on a carry gun or not.
09 April 2003, 02:27
wooferi am assuming you are not handloading so i vote for the 25-06. factory ammo selection is great. recoil is easy. etc etc.
good luck
woofer
09 April 2003, 10:45
TailgunnerOK, let's rethink this.
You have the perfect deer cartridge already (30-06).
Now you need a varment gun (223, 22-250, 243,6mm etc)
And than somthing for the "bigger than deer stuff"
And than somthing for the bigger than "bigger than deer stuff"
And somthing for paper punching
And somthing for long distance paper punching
And....
And...
It never ends, I hope your wife is understanding
09 April 2003, 11:02
HunterJimDoublegun,
I have owned .243 Win and 6mm Rem rifles, both will do what you want done. With that said, I decided I would stick with the 6mm Rem as the better cartridge of the two.
The 6mm Rem is based on the 7X57 Mauser case necked down, as is the .257 Roberts. I like to make my 6 mm R brass from WW .257 Roberts brass because the brass holds more powder than the Remington. My 100 grain deer load clocks 3,231 fps from a 26" barrel. The rifle is a Ruger #1.
jim dodd
09 April 2003, 16:11
CZ 550257 Roberts, 250 Savage, or 6.5x55
09 April 2003, 16:47
JerryMOne of the 6 MMs. I prefer the .243 because most of the 6 MM that I have seen have been on a short action. In a short action it is my opinion that the .243 permits longer bullet seating and gives a better performance. My .243 is a pre 64 M70 and has a 30-06 length action.
As for needing something heavier for deer I have a couple of friends who use nothing except a .243 and a 6 MM Rem. I think that between the two of them and myself we have killed at least 75 mule deer. I use other cartridges, but my friends do not. They have no desire for more gun. If you use good bullets and reload to get the performance of which the 6MMs are capable, then if you have trouble killing deer you can't shoot.
Jerry
[ 04-09-2003, 07:48: Message edited by: JerryM ]I would have thought a 243 and a 30-06 were a perfect couple.
12 April 2003, 06:36
Pumpkinheaver25-06 Rem and shoot 100gr balistic tip bullets. I was my all around bullet in this caliber.
12 April 2003, 06:49
<Okie Newton>Awful hard to beat a 6mm Remington with a 100 grain Nosler Partition for what you are talking about. You can go light bullets for varmint of course.
Use the '06 for all deer hunting. Don't try to overlap with this new rifle because you've already got the perfect deer rifle. The new rifle should therefore be a dedicated varmint rig. The .243 is excellent. You might also want to consider a more "pure" varmint caliber like .22-250 or .223. Either of those would do for varmint and coyote shooting at long range and would be far enough removed from your '06 to make owning them worthwhile.
Just remember: your .30-06 is just about ideal for everything except high-volume shooting of small animals at extended ranges. So get a rifle to fill that void.
15 April 2003, 12:24
TERRY8mmWhat? Nobody screaming the .223 is too small for yotes beyond 200???!!
![[Eek!]](images/icons/shocked.gif)
![[Roll Eyes]](images/icons/rolleyes.gif)
MY.02;
.270
7x57
8x57
.308
6.5x55
.25-06
15 April 2003, 16:00
draebiDoublegun,
I have a Sako 75 in 243 Win that I would sell for good price. Let me know if you are interested.
15 April 2003, 16:43
groundhog devastationTime for church!!!! 25-06 is the single most useful caliber out there! Varmints to deer! Nothing else fits that bill like the 25-06!!!! If I could only have one rifle(God forbid) it would be a 25-06!!!! See ya'll in church...the church of GHD!!! Some of ya'll know where that little saying got started if you've bben to GB forums!! GHD
16 April 2003, 10:23
<Ol' Sarge>I LOVE my .25-06s.
Get one. You'll love it too!
16 April 2003, 14:55
Bob MehaffeyI go with Bear, 257AI Bob.
17 April 2003, 13:38
DoublegunThank you for your thoughts and advice. I am still not sure what I am going to do, I am leaning toward the Sako 75 Stainless/Syn in .243.
Thanks again for the lively discussion.
17 April 2003, 15:39
Tim50Double,
Take your pick. Every cartridge mentioned will do the trick! So to further confuse your selection process I will suggest the .240 Weatherby. Just find a rifle that feels good (in any caliber mentioned) & shoot it!! Good Luck..
I like your .243 idea. If mine shot a little straighter I'd be in love with round. I've seen enough tack driving .243's to know it's my rifle and not the cartridge.
quote:
Originally posted by Doublegun:
Thank you for your thoughts and advice. I am still not sure what I am going to do, I am leaning toward the Sako 75 Stainless/Syn in .243.
Thanks again for the lively discussion.
Remember that a 243 AI is OK with factory ammunition and has added poop if you reload...
Tom
quote:
Originally posted by Doublegun:
Thank you for your thoughts and advice. I am still not sure what I am going to do, I am leaning toward the Sako 75 Stainless/Syn in .243.
Thanks again for the lively discussion.
Very good choice - you'll probably like it so much you'll make the 06 the same!
18 April 2003, 11:41
JacobiteWell I would agree with the guys who say get a gun just for varmits. Your 30-06 is already as good of a deer gun as you can get. I am kind of a one gun guy. I used my .300 Win. mag for every thing for years. Two years ago I decided it was time for a second deer rifle for when I was in the woods or putting on drives. My .300 is set up for hunting fields and open hill sides. I chose a .308 and it is becoming my varmit rifle also as it likes 110 and 125 grain bullets pretty well. If I did much hog and yote hunting I would have to have either a 22-250 or the new .223 WSSM
So I would recomend a varmit cal. not a combo varmit, deer.
19 April 2003, 05:59
Doublegunquote:
Originally posted by 1894:
quote:
Originally posted by Doublegun:
Thank you for your thoughts and advice. I am still not sure what I am going to do, I am leaning toward the Sako 75 Stainless/Syn in .243.
Thanks again for the lively discussion.
Very good choice - you'll probably like it so much you'll make the 06 the same!
That is what I am afraid of.