Guy's I could use a little help here. I've sold a 3rd of my gun collection to finance my next rifle. A Sako 75 Deluxe is what I've fallen in love with and I gotta have it! The rifle will be used shooting southern whitetails that seldom get over 200lbs (in my area) the occasional coyote hunt, punching holes in paper and an eventual heirloom to my 9yr old son. I've narrowed the possible candidates down to either the .243 and the .25-06 I've compared ballistics #'s so much they just spin in my head make no sence anymore. 100gr bullets would get the job done in either caliber, so it boils down to this: Velocity, The .25-06 is the winner. Sectional density, The .243 is the winner. Down range energy, The .25-06 is the the winner (but not by a whole lot). Inherent Accuracy ?????? Effective Range???????? If any would like throw any input in on this I would like to hear it. Thanks

OOP's 25-06

TC1,

Since you added deer to the list, I'd have to give a very slight edge to the 25-06, personally. IMO, the 243 is just too close to "marginal" on deer. My 243 is well into double digits on MO whitetails (total, I'm not the only one that has used it, heck I've only used it once since 1987 - my Dad carries it now), but I wasn't totally impressed with all of the results (might have been bullet selection, too).

Move up to 115-120 grains in the 25-06 for deer and it should be even better. I like that "beltless magnum".

While the 243 Win cartridge may have slightly more "inherent accuracy", due to the shorter/fatter powder column and less recoil, I think it would be hard to quantify the difference.

I also don't think a half an inch of action length is enough to influence the selection.

Regards, Bill

I'd go for the 25-06. Its dangerous to shoot 308 based cartridges as they can cause a person to fall asleep while firing them. Aside from that... the individual rifle will decide which of these two will be more accurate. My 25-06 is a win 70 with a 25'' pac-nor match and is nothing short of remarkable in terms as a open country varmint/deer rig.
step in ol sarge
take care sf

Another vote for the 25-06. I to had some marginal success with the .243 on deer. Most times it worked fine but a few times it was ify. Every 25-06 I have seen was a tack driver. Great rig for Deer, Pronghorn, coyote, ground hogs, etc.
The 100gr Nosler partion has a huge cult following, don't overlook it!

25 06 will over all well work better on deer the the 243 use the 115 and above bullets and it well work great.

The 25-06 wins big !!!!! I have killed several 125 lb Texas deer using 120g bullets, always getting complete penetration. For a light load, try 40g IMR4895 with 100g bullet. This would be a good deer load for a young shooter....LR

TC1 - In the right hands, either caliber is fine for deer. I always used a 25/06, with either
Hornady 100gr SP's or 75gr HP's -- all lung shots -- all meat on the table. My dad and
brother always used 22/250 55gr SP's with devestating results with lung shots. Several
people I know have 243's for their deer rifle, and most do not even use them for
varmint rifles.

Get the caliber you are most comfortable with.

Other criteria you might consider are muzzle blast, muzzle jump and recoil. Or put plainly how much of the bullet strike you see in the scope, how much your ears ring and how much your shoulder hurts (or not). The 75 has a barrel length of 23 inches in 25-06 (and 22" in243)which others more knowledgeable than me can say is sufficient or not.

Not much difference between the 2. If it will be the rifle your son starts on the 243 will have slightly less muzzle blast and recoil and it your son doesn't show interest in reloading, factory ammo is more available. Otherwise, the 25-06 does carry more energy.

The 25-06 has a real performance advantage, But, for whitetail on down, either will perform with excellent results.

I would opt for the 25-06. Even if you never use it for mulies or elk(standing by for flames...), your son might want to. The 25-06 just has a greater range of versatility.

MM

One thing I have noticed about the two cartridges is thay 25-06 boosters run their mouths more than 243 users. On game up to 200 pounds and good bullets you can't tell the difference. I sold my 25-06 and bought a 6mm 5 years ago and the only difference is the 6 is quieter, kicks a little less and uses less powder. Favorite bullets are the 85 grain Sierra BTHP, Noslers 100 grainer and Hornady's 100 grain interlock. These will do the trick for deer and a deer over 200 is not a common animal. Funny thing comparing 100 grain bullets the two cartridges are practically identical in energy out at 300-400 yards so what one will do the other will also do.

I used a .243 for years hunting deer in the piedmont of NC. I purchased it because I was on a student's budget and could only afford one gun, so I wanted something that would run the gamut from crows to deer. The .243 seemed the logical choice. Over the years it proved to be effective on the deer here, which seldom exceed 200 pounds, live body weight. All of the deer I shot never ran further than 75 yards and some even dropped where they stood.
But sooner or later the .243 will fail on deer, even with good shot placement and premium bullets. The last two I shot with a .243 were hit a little high in the lungs. There was complete penetration as I was using Nosler Partitions, but no blood trail. I knew I had hit the deer as I could find cut hair where they were standing. Conditions were dry and OK for tracking wounded game, but there was no blood trail to follow. I was luckily able to retrieve both deer because one ran to the roadbed that I used to walk to my stand, stood there and bled out internally. The other ran to a friend's stand and fell over in front of it.
When I dressed both deer they were essentially hamburger inside, but showed little external evidence of having been shot.
Yes I like the .243, and still think it a great caliber. But if you have a choice between it and a larger caliber for deer hunting, I would advise to opt for the heavier choice.

You can have that experience with any cartridge. There is no round that is perfect. My 25-06 seemed to do that regularly when I used the 120 grain coreloct and it left a good exit hole. A high lung hit though will have the deer blow blood out his nose but most of it will pool in the chest. I like to place my shots no higher than half way up the chest. If there was a lot of tissue damage the what else is a cartridge supposed to do?

I've used a 243 since 1966 for hunting deer and coyotes. I use the 85gr BTHP for deer and the 60gr flat-base HP for varmints, both made made by Sierra. It works very well, and both my son and daughter used it for deer when they were young.
The 25-06 is a good round, but you won't be under-gunned with the 243.

Another vote for "whatever you like"

I shoot a 22" bbl. 25-06 now, and with 100 gr. bullets, it's been a deadly dual purpose gun. I have used the 100's and 120's in the 257 Roberts and found that the 100's maybe killed a bit quicker. The 243 would be very similar to the roberts w/100 gr, bullets so I'd say it would be fine also.

After all, last time I checked, "dead is dead"

Bottom line, go to a shop and handle the 25-06 and the 243 in the model that you like. One will likely "feel" better, than the other. Buy the one that "feels good" and ignore the caliber.

JimF

Well guys I didn't mean to infer this will be the only rifle in the stable. I've got a .308, .30-06 and .300 ultra mag. As far as my son goes, the rifle will be handed down to him ONE DAY. For right now this is dady's toy! (I bought him a .243 N.E.F youth handi rifle) But the problem has basicly solved it's self though. I wanted a Sako basicly because it's a beautiful "Traditional" rifle with deep blue metal a real nice piece walnut and reputation for being very accurate. When I get to old or just don't care about hunting anymore I wanted something that wasn't plastic stocked to pass down to my son. Something he could be proud of and maybe give to his son one day. I do like synthetic stocked rifles but just don't consider them to be anything more than tools (not pretty). After last week, after this was posted I found a Remington semi custom BDL with the most beautiful AAA graded french walnut stock I've ever seen, in 6MM REM. So I got the heirloom rifle covered, I still had funds left over and wouldn't want to take this rifle out except on sunny days so I also bought (ordered) a Tikka stainless deluxe in .25-06. It's also a very nice rifle and is very unique with the stainless steel and wood stock. I didn't end up with rifle I had planned on getting but I think I'm going to be happy with my decision. It's funny how well laid out plans can go astray. Thanks for all the replies, TC P.S. here's a picture of the Remington if the link works

Very Nice!

MM

Very nice rifle.

I would still take it out on a hunt with your son. Maybe I am sentimental, but in the back of my head I am hearing your son one day saying, "yea, Dad gave me this beautiful rifle, But this one was his favorite because he always used it when he went hunting."

If you are satisfied with a 6-cyl engine in your SUV get the .243. If you prefer an 8-cyl. get the 25.06.

I have a 25.06 Remington 700 ADL and love it. It is a serious pronghorn and mule deer tool with the Sierra 120 gr. HPBT. For Texas whitetail I back down to 90-100 gr. lead.

An exit wound means wasted energy to me.

A .243 is what your sister shoots.

Having used both cartridges and we are talking deer here I have seen no difference in the quickness of demise on whitetails shown between the two cartridges. The 25-06 burns barrels faster and is louder and this is the difference between the two on deer. How you can consider one cartridge So so and the other splendid is beyond me they do their respectives jobs well. Both are quick killers on whitetails, good varmint guns and accurate to boot.

Well, if you don't think 400 fps and a bigger bullet diameter makes a difference, you just keep shooting that 'ol 243.

Well put me in for the 25-06. I have wanted one for years. Only thing keeping me from getting one now is the hopes of a .257 WSM.

don, pac-nor is only a phone call away, just kidding i am waiting to see how bigstick's .257 wsm turns out first it ought to be the cats meow

As others have said on different threads, the .243 is a great varmint round. The .25-06 IS a big game round that can be used for varminting. It is very close to a .270 w/ 130gr bullets. For all those .270 fans, what else can be said.

I forgot to list the extra velocity causes more meat damage, poorer bullet performance and all that .014 thousandth advantage in bullet diameter is outweighed by the better ballistic coeficient and sectional density of the .243. I agree that the 120 grain projectile is superior on game larger than whitetails, that it does"not" make it the equal of the .270 on larger game and that 25-06 users are louder than .243 users.