Do you think a .243win is redundant if you already have a 25-06 ? Would 22-250 and 25-06 be a better pair ? I sold my 223 because it had too much wind drift beyond 180 metres (200 yards).

Pretty much.

A 22/250 and a 25 or 6.5 cal will cover a lot of ground. I just don't rate the 243 as a deer cal for anything bigger than Roe. Add in something heavy for the top end and you are well covered.

My own battery is a 22/250, a 260rem and a 30/06. Not much that can't be done in Europe with this lot.

I'm of the mentality that no rifle is redundant, mainly because in the UK if you give something up, they will not let you have it back...I have .17HMR, .22LR, .204Ruger, 6mmBR, 6.5x55, and 7x57. It can be argued that I could shoot everything with the 6mmBR (from rabbit to red deer) or equally so, with the 7x57 (although the police here don't allow us to go after rabbits, crows and the like with anything larger than 6mm).

if you were asking: should I get a .243 or a .25-06?, then the answer would have been '.25-06, anything is better than the .243'!! But, if you have a .243 and a .25-06, keep them both, you never know when you'll need them. Let alone that you can rebarrel the .243 to a .260Rem or a 7mm08 and have a better rifle anyway!

my 2p

Finman

I already have a nice 25-06 that I will never sell, I‘m thinking of adding a 243 or 22-250 !

I used a 25-06 as my long range groundhog rifle for a lot of years. Because of the heavy barrel and relatively short ranges here in Virginia it was more trouble then it was worth for deer and bear. The 243 worked well on groundhogs during the summer months and with a 105 grain round nosed Speer bullet pure death on deer during the fall.
The 25-06 got converted to a 375 Whelen for tinkering with cast bullets and gave my 243 to my son-in-law.

Jim

I have two rifles in .308 Win.....and don't consider them redundant.

One is a lever action and the other is a bolt action. They serve two different purposes.

30-06, 308, 30-40 (x3), 30 Gibbs, 300 RUM, 7x65R (x2), 8x57S, 8x57r (x3)/ 243, 25-06, 284, 65.x54/ 348, 45-70, 9.3x72R/ 405, 9.3x74R (x2), 338, 375 H&H .....
Pathological redundancy!!

i'd definitely go to the 22/250 & 25/06 that way i'd have a good excuse to buy another rifle in 243

quote:

Originally posted by Ingvar J. Kristjansson:
I already have a nice 25-06 that I will never sell, I‘m thinking of adding a 243 or 22-250 !

Depends on what you intend to do the most with the rifle.

If it is target shooting I'd say the .243 would be the better choice. With a fast twist barrel and run heavy bullets the .243 is actually a better choice than the .25-06.

If you are fur hunting I'd say both are not the most friendly cartridges out there. But I'd go with the .22-250 and light bullets first.

My first rifle was the .243, and my second was the .223 Rem so I've never invested in the .22-250. I did however add a .25-06 to my inventory a couple of years ago. I own at least one rifle chambered in a caliber from .204-.375 except 7 and 9.3mm and don't find any of them redundant.

quote:

Originally posted by conifer:
30-06, 308, 30-40 (x3), 30 Gibbs, 300 RUM, 7x65R (x2), 8x57S, 8x57r (x3)/ 243, 25-06, 284, 65.x54/ 348, 45-70, 9.3x72R/ 405, 9.3x74R (x2), 338, 375 H&H .....
Pathological redundancy!!

Pathological redundancy, I don't think so! Maybe a little cartridge overlap going on like I have. But what is a rifle loony to do there are so many to try!

.204 Ruger, .223 Rem (x2), .6x47 Rem, .243 Win (x2), .25-06 Rem, 6.5X55, .270 Win, .30-30 (x2), .30-40, .300 Savage, .30-06, .300 H&H, .303 Brit, 8x57, 8mm-06, .338-06, .358 Win, .35 Whelen, .375 JDJ, .375 Ruger

I've tried the 7mm-08, .280 Rem, and 7mm RM but people wanted them worse than I did. Thinking of re-boring my 8X57 (small ring 98) to a 9.3X57 since the bore has had a hard life shooting corrosive ammunition before I bought it.

If you already have a 25-06 and the question is "should I get a 22-250 OR a .243", I'd get the 22-250. Then there wouldn't really be a niche between the two nor an overlap.

Just as a woman can never have enough diamonds, you cannot own enough rifles. I only have 2 .243's and certainly don't see any redundancy.

Had the 25-06 not been so popular as a wildcat, Remington would not have adopted it. It is very popular so obviously many disagree with my thoughts on it. I fail to see what it does that the .270 doesn't do better. I like my .243 and it has been my go to gun for deer hunting for many years. When the .243 and the Rem .244 came out in 1955, had the .244 been barreled in a twist to stabilize the heavier bullets as was finally done in 1963,( renamed 6mm Rem) I doubt the .243 would have the popularity it does today. .243 not a deer gun? Must be someone that has not been there and done that. Back to the original question, what will the guns be used for?

carpetman1 ! It will primarily be used as a light-weight varmint rifle, most likely Tikka T3 light

If you already have a .25-06 and then have to choose between a .243 and .22-250, the choice would be easy for me--I'd choose the .22-250.

quote:

Originally posted by Red C.:
If you already have a .25-06 and then have to choose between a .243 and .22-250, the choice would be easy for me--I'd choose the .22-250.

X 2 roger

I do not believe the words rifle and redundant should ever be used in the same paragraph, much less sentence. Hell, the words excessive and rifle do not go together either. I have a healthy addiction called rifles and it makes me smile. Is there something wrong with a rifle or rifles in the same caliber and EACH caliber on top of that ? Not in my world. (5) .224, (1) .240 (2) .257 (2) .260 (1) .270 (3) .284 (4) .308 (2) .338 (1) .416 (1) .423 (1) .430--not including "black" rifles. They are a hell of a lot cheaper than women, cars, drugs or gambling.

Everytime my wife and I try a new Thai restaurant, I find myself ordering the same thing: pad Thai w/pork - extra spicy. I know I like it, a safe bet for me, and it's become kinda like a benchmark to evaluate the place against. If we decide we like the restaurant, I'll try their jungle curry or something else next.

I find myself treating rifles and chamberings a lot like this too. I have a handful of chamberings that I truly enjoy and have purchased reamers for. I have no problem adding a unique rifle to my collection only to have it in a cartridge that I already have and enjoy. More rare is when I find a rifle that I enjoy enough to own a second in a different chambering.

Contrasting with this is the fact that I only own and use a single 30 foot extension ladder. That's because I see the ladder as a tool. I see the rifles the same as I see a dinner out at a new Thai restaurant w/my wife: a luxury that I'm lucky enough to afford for the time being.

A long way of saying that the word "redundant" looses relevance when you're talking about things that are for your enjoyment.

When speaking of deer rifles we must keep in mind that in many northern areas the deer are more than twice as big as Texas deer. A 350 pound northern buck is a totally different animal than a little 135 pound central Texas buck. Not many experienced northern hunters brag about small bore rifles.

Never have owned a redundant rifle even though I have had several in the same caliber. For a varmit rilfle, I would personally prefer the 22-250 over the .243.

There are NO reduntant rifles!! I dont own a 243 or 25-06. But I do have a 222 and 223 and 223 imp, 7mm mauser and 257 roberts and 257 roberts improved, 300 savage 6.5 mauser,30-06
Even if they overlap each other they each have there own special purpose (to us). So if 2 calibers do pretty the same thing (so what),We as reloaders and gun Nuts,(speaking for myself) Each has a place and none are redundant

I have all three (22-250, 243, & 25-06) plus many more, but to your question I would pick 22-250 and 25-06....HOWEVER....if you go with the 22-250 try and get one with a faster twist than the standard 1:14. Mine is standard and will not stabalize bullets over 55gr. A faster twist will open up a wider selection of bullet choices if you reload.

Barstooler

DANG!, I thought redundant meant you had more than three rifles chambered for the same cartridge. I had seven 45-70's for a couple years.

American Solution: buy one of each that strikes your fancy...

Rich

It is certainly going to have to fight for use because it is right in the middle.

In the situation I would go 22-250.

As for redundant I have a .308, 30-06 and .300 Win Mag. I even have my eye on a Rem 7600 in .300 Savage. The .300 Win was my only rifle for years and it did everything I have a safe full of rifles to do now. Granted I do not hunt PD's that would have been the only reason I needed a small bore even though I have a couple now for groundhogs.

Redudant? Redundant? Certainly not to be used in the same sentence with rifle.

I have 22-250, 220 Swift and 243 Winny amongst at least 40 other rifles across the full spectrum. I have to say that a 243 with a 55gr ballistic tip @ 4000fps or a 70gr @ 3700+fps if it's windy makes for a pretty useful rifle in my book. It competes very well with the 22-250. A bit more universal so to speak if you are limited in your area.

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
I have two rifles in .308 Win.....and don't consider them redundant.

One is a lever action and the other is a bolt action. They serve two different purposes.

Only 2, please that is an inadequate number for such a fine cartridge.

Now as to the OP original question. If wind drift is your concern, and you have a particular model rifle in mind, let the ballistic charts make your decision. I used to think the 243 was a neither nor cartridge, but newer powders and superior bullets have shown me it is far superior to .224 bores.

quote:

Redundant rifles ?

That's an incomprehesible concept.

So if I have three .222's and three .223's and two each of the .17 furball and 20's, are they redundant, cause I have a .22-250?

quote:

Originally posted by Moorepower:
So if I have three .222's and three .223's and two each of the .17 furball and 20's, are they redundant, cause I have a .22-250?

No. And if that's all you have you still need at leasr one each of: 218 Bee, 219 Zipper, 220 Swift, 221 Fireball, 22 K-Hornet, .224 Wea'by,.225 Win. If you get those you could ignore the .22 Hi-Power.

25-06 & 338 win mag would be a better combo.

I have a 25-06 and 338 win mag....and a 30-06, 300 win mag and 9.3x62

You have whats called a combo of combos and a spare.

Redundancy is good.

22-250

quote:

Originally posted by Ingvar J. Kristjansson:
Do you think a .243win is redundant if you already have a 25-06 ? Would 22-250 and 25-06 be a better pair ? I sold my 223 because it had too much wind drift beyond 180 metres (200 yards).

I shoot Prarie dogs in WY around Chugwater where there are dangerous wind signs up on the Highway. I use my .17 HMR and .223 primarily. Once you have them dialed in its easy enough.

That said, I personally dislike the .243 and would favor either the .22-250 or 6mm Rem.

Of course, choice depends entirely on what you plan to shoot. Since you mention a light weight varmint rifle, I'd probably opt for the .22-250.

I can't see myself getting rid of my .223 ever even though I shoot the .17 HMR more often.

I bought a 223 but really wanted the 22-250.

I figured brass was everywhere and less powder to laod the 223.

I liked it enough but still yearned for the 22-250.

Bought an inexpensive Stevens 22-250 and will never look back.

I do have a 243, I only use it with 10gn bullets in extremely windy (35 - 40 mph) conditions.

The el cheapo Stevens is a tack driver by the way, but so is the 243 I cannot say the same for the 223. The 243 best groups from the bench are .75 MOA, the 22-250 is .30 MOA and the 223 is 1.25 MOA.

There is no redundancy in rifles, I have 3 30-06's and 3 30-30's, but maybe I'm a packrat.

sorry 100g bullets in previous post.