I currently own an Encore with a 25-06 barrel. I also own another 257 Roberts rifle so I have lots of bullets for reloading. Been thinking of trading for a 243 barrel and trying to decide if it is a good idea or not. I also have a 7mm08 barrel so I have the upper end weight bullets covered there for hunting deer.

The 243 I think would have lower noise and less recoil. It would mean keeping a different supply of bullets but I have the dies and lots of brass already. The only other 243 I have is a 15" Encore barrel that I have not had time to shoot yet.

I could also reload lighter bullets at reduced capacity in the 25-06. I already have bullets down to 75 grains in 25 caliber.

So I guess my main question is wheather the 25-06 does well loaded down and is a good mate to the 7mm08. Or if I would be better off with the 243 7mm08 combination.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Bill R.

If you have a .257 Roberts, why do you need a .243? The .257 Bob will do anything the .243 and then a bit more.
Still, I just happen to have both, so whatever floats your boat.
Like any of us need an excuse to buy another gun, right?
Paul B.

The Bob and the 25'06 will do everything the 243 will do (and then some) unless you want to play with the 55 grainers, use a little less powder, or buy less expensive bulk components. But then all that is even "truer" of a 22/250 or Swift barrel...

I'm kind of with these guys on the .243W, in that if you have a Bob already there's no point in a .243W.

If you are wanting to go more to the varmint side there are better choices that are money savers, the Bob with 75gr bullets is excellent and there are 85's available. The .243 won't out perform it. If you get a custom barre it may out shoot it, but then caliber isn't the point. The Bob is more versitile, and the .25-06 falls right there with it but produces high velocity while burning more powder.

One round that fits nicely here is a .250 Sav Imp! It is a Bob in a short package, and miserly on the powder for it's perfomance.

Either way, you've got an itch to scratch and you've got to be the one to figure out what exactly that itch is.

I'd like to do a custom in .257 DGR or a Durham Jet. But that's down the road right now. Nate

I'm amused that you are mentioning "recoil" and "25-06"
in the same discussion.

You've already got the 25-06 and the bob, I don't see any purpose that a 243 will serve that the 257Bob and the 25-06 don't already accomplish...

AllanD

you have this class of ctg all sewed up.
243 blowes anyway

Go with the 25-06 and forget the others. Use the money to enhance the 25-06.

With a Bob and a pair of 250s, my 243 doesn't get used much. Have been thinking lately of putting a 7-08 barrel on that M70 Featherweight.

shoot um all !
I have 2 bob's and a 25,06 already. I have a .243 on layaway and I found another roberts I migyt trade for and have it AI ed.(its an FN action) and I bet I could really get it to preform.
No need to make cents out of it or justify it. BUT if you have a bob a 25,06 and a 7mm08, why not go for a real power jump ? 1st then get a .243 later. A 30,06 or a 7 mag mabye even a .338. One of my most fun guns to hunt with or just shoot is my 45/70 marlin. That would be vastly different than what you have now ! But if you prefer the little stuff, get a .243, its a great round.
I have been thinking of working up a load with the 85 grain barnes tripple shock, for antilope. I bet I can get between 33 and 3400 FPS from it aught to be good for a lope at 400 yds....tj3006

Go with the 243.

The 243 and 7mm-08 make a great combination, the 7-08 picks up where the 243 leaves off(around 100 grains). So get the 243.

However, the 25-06 and 257 roberts cover alot of ground, they cover the middle and upper end of the 243 as well as the bottom of the 7-08 making it a hard choice.

The 243, 7mm-08 combination sure would be great though.

I would second the 250 savage. The improved version is very nice, but in an encore you would not "need" it to help with backthrust. The standard 250 will do all and more that the 243 will, and use the same sized bullets that you already have on hand. I have a standard 250 on a contender and love it for all things deer sized and smaller. I also have am improved 250 rifle and got rid of my 243. For some reason, the 243 seems to just RING my ears when used hunting and not so good hearing protection. The 250 does not wack me in the ears like the 243, and atleast for me, and the hearing dammage that I have, the 250 is a winner. Oh, and the improved 250 will come so close to the 257 roberts that it is scary.

Geeze reload 1, hope your not getting confussed. So many choices and none of them wrong!!!!!!!! I hate the 243, that's why I've kept ownership of them down to two.