Best Fox/Deer Round?

[charlieg43]

When I apply for my FAC, my choice of quarry for my rifle will be foxes and deer. I am rather curious as to what people think the best calibre would be for both of these as an all in one?

The 243 is the most obvious choice to my mind, but are there more avalible? And if so what are the relevent advantages with that chosen calibre? All info welcome, just looking to learn

 

[ian 243]

hi 243 will do the job and then sum.i got one works for me

 

[Sierra]

I have a 243 and use it for both deer and fox. If i were after a round for both again I would consider the 260 rem. I feel that it offers just that little bit more. The only reason I did not buy one when I got the 243 was limited rifle and ammo choice but I roll my own now so the latter is less of a problem

 

[charlieg43]

What about the 25-06? It hasnt got the following round my way the 243 has but is it suitable for foxes as well as deer? With regards to bullet size it isnt too much bigger, but its just that super long case with more powder. Any thoughts on that?

 

[nuttyspaniel]

I would say 25-06 if you only want 1 rifle. It has the edge over the 243 with a wider bullet weight choice if you want to use 100grn bullets which are getting close to the top end for a 243, it also has a bit more stopping power IMO. Ive owned both and if I was looking at shooting Reds along with smaller deer, thats the way I would go. If your happy with Roe and foxes then the 243 is more than enough.


Nutty

 

[jamross65]

What about the 25-06? It hasnt got the following round my way the 243 has but is it suitable for foxes as well as deer? With regards to bullet size it isnt too much bigger, but its just that super long case with more powder. Any thoughts on that?

I would also look at the 25-06 as the better choice as a true 'do it all calibre'. I have used one a lot for deer and shot a few foxes with it as well, but I ended up doing it all with the same load, a 100grn Hornady soft point. However, if you are looking for the best performance with regards to a better bullet range for foxes and up to the bigger deer in the UK, then I think it is a better option than the 243.

You can push 75grn HP bullets at around 3700fps easily from the 25-06, and go up to 120grn bullets for the biggest red stags in the country given the chance. I also know that Nosler are now doing an 85grn Varmint BT in 25cal which I would imagine would be perfect for foxes, while still having the option of going up to a 120grn at between 3000 and 3100fps.

The extra powder needed is not that significant in costs over the 243 either if you are home loading.

I am not suggesting the 243 won't do the job, just that in my experience with the 243 and the 25-06 the latter would provide the better range of options at the top end of bullet weights for bigger deer without compromising really anything at all in the lower bullet weights, while the 243 may be offering marginally better options in the varmint weight bullets but lacks speed and energy at its top end compared to the 25-06 in the bullet weights I would be wanting to use on rutting Sika stags or red or fallow for that matter.

 

[finnbear270]

25 ought 6, has to be the choice to make if it were me.

 

[User00003]

I'd go 257 Roberts for a classic, 75g through 115g or more. pushes 3400 for fox and a more appropriate 2750 for reds/roe/sika.

you can even AI it if you have nothing better to do and too much money to spend

 

[BunnyDoom]

I can highly recommend the .243, though I hear good things about the 25-06.

Do you know what your land is cleared to? - If it's just a single centrefire you're after then why not look at a .270, 308, etc?

I love my .243, but being where I am it's so flat a lot of places are only cleared up to this calibre. If I could get a larger calibre signed off on my shoots I'd just have one larger calibre like a .270 or 25-06.

 

[neil_r]

I can highly recommend the .243, though I hear good things about the 25-06.

Do you know what your land is cleared to? - If it's just a single centrefire you're after then why not look at a .270, 308, etc?

I love my .243, but being where I am it's so flat a lot of places are only cleared up to this calibre. If I could get a larger calibre signed off on my shoots I'd just have one larger calibre like a .270 or 25-06.

If your ticket is open it is up to you to determine what is "safe" for the ground / shot.

 

[www.yorkshireroestalking.]

.257 roberts should be great but never had 1.
I had x2 .243's and a 2506, the 2506 was superb with 75gr and very flat, when the wind wasblowing the 87gr ballistic tips shot to the same zero and cut the wind better.
Far better then the .243 on bigger deer with a 120gr bullet and bigger case.

 

[Double four]

87gn V max deadly on deer and foxes. DF

 

[devonfoxer]

i shot 2 cubs yesterday with my 2506 100 grain nosler bt smallish hole in the straight on one the other was side on put it through its power house omg nearly ripped it in half 100 grain over the top i know but its all i load as i trust this round on every thing cheers

 

[charlieg43]

What about 6mm? Iv heard good things about this little round, necked down from a 257 originally. Little bigger than a 243. (about 244.) but what is the avaliblity like? I know remington do one, but other than that I cant think of many that do

 

[Simjim33]

How about a 30-06 it will kill anything you point it at in this country. If you ever go abroad will it handle a lot of that as well. But I do like, and have a .243. Plus I can now swage my own bullets for the .243 so I can max out my ammo limit for that at next to nothing. It doesn't matter which one comes out of the cabinet both can do the job. Brass and dies is easy to get for both. 30-06 is available world wide.

 

[libensvolenspotens]

The .243 will cover your needs for both fox & deer. It is a versatile round with easily accessible factory ammunition in suitable weights for both fox & deer.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

Charlie. Have a read of this. http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledge+Base/.243+Winchester.html I personally wouldn't take a 6mm round out to shoot sika. I have shot two sika stags with the 243 which I came upon while stalking roe. In both instances the bullet didn't exit. One dropped on the spot, the other ran 100yds. If sika or red are the quarry, I take my 260 Rem. I sometimes bump into a fox and the 260 Rem has accounted for one or two - see below. Regards JCS

 

[jamross65]

At the risk of this thread going belly up, I cannot see any argument that would put the 243 on top of the 25-06 as a general one calibre does all.

The 243 may offer the chance to go down to 55grn varmint bullets doing around 4000fps for foxes. But the 25-06 allows for the use of 75grn at around 3800fps. You think you or the fox will notice the difference?

The big advantage though is at the top end of bullet weights for deer, and the use of 120grn bullets out of the 25-06 for the bigger species. The 243 simply cannot match that with its 100grn bullets.


A quick glance at ballistic tables will show that. The original question is not , 'what calibres will do for deer and foxes...?', it is 'best fox/deer round...'

 

[User00003]

why not then pick between 257, .243 and 25-06 depending on what you have available in your local shop to try, then buy whichever you fall in love with, siiiimples.

 

[libensvolenspotens]

The OP was asking about calibres for Foxes and Deer.
I would therefore take it to mean fox as the primary quarry & deer secondary.
The .243 is an excellent fox round and more than adequate to despatch any deer in the UK.
Thanks to its popularity in the US, there are a large variety of both rifles and ammunition available in this calibre to choose from, all of which is to it's advantage.
I agree that other calibres demonstrate better ballistics but do not consider ballistics to be the only factor in considering what is "Best".