25-06 v 243

More powder for not a lot of reason and harder to find . I like 243 but the versatile nature of it is aboutvto go along with lead. 270 would be my choice in a fast flatter 30-06 derived round .
Having my own 243 rebuilt with a 260 , its at proof now . Not sayingbits the best its just a good choice in my medium action . Keeping the 243 slot as if Scotland say yes to 80 grain copper I will buy another .243 but if the 243 cannot be truly all deer legal in the UK its not much use to me .
260 is the only 308 derivative I haven't personally used or owned thats reason enough for me . One should get whatbthey want if its legal and it is not hard to feed who cares the best is dead from any of them if you can shoot
 
Do yourself a favor, compare the ballistics of both the .243 & 25/06 to a 7/08. Pay particular attention to the BC.
Why?
Inside 300yds the BC is largely irrelevant
People are not missing or screwing up placement because a marginal difference in BC.

They are taking on shots beyond their practice range and not judging wind.

That said in don’t understand the appeal of the 25-06 in the UK
The cartridge runs out of steam at 117-120gr
Does nothing a .270 doesn’t do better
Is more difficult and arguably more expensive to feed

No small deer needs to be hit with a 100gr 3300fps bullet and many larger species could do with a bigger bullet to account for point number one above
 
Why?
Inside 300yds the BC is largely irrelevant
People are not missing or screwing up placement because a marginal difference in BC.

They are taking on shots beyond their practice range and not judging wind.

That said in don’t understand the appeal of the 25-06 in the UK
The cartridge runs out of steam at 117-120gr
Does nothing a .270 doesn’t do better
Is more difficult and arguably more expensive to feed

No small deer needs to be hit with a 100gr 3300fps bullet and many larger species could do with a bigger bullet to account for point number one above
Short answer, because it’s better than the other two. It is a delight to shoot, it’s not over bore, has a large bullet selection for the hand loader, and it is easy to reload for. Bullets from 100 gr. To 175, so flexible. Per the Nosler manual, it will
launch a 175 gr high BC bullet at 2600 FPS. That’s good enough for most African game. It will hit harder than the other two and if he goes with a 7/08, he has the advantage of heavier bullets with a longer range should he ever need it. Also, what you said in your last paragraph is all the more reason.
 
‘And with better bullets could do even more’ and there’s the rub
Perhaps... maybe.. but truthfully, I've shot many reds & sika using the 110gn AB bullet & have yet to find the bullet wanting.
It hits hard & is as accurate as any hunter could wish for. Doesn't make a mess of Roe or CWD with rarely any runners at all.
Reds, stags or hinds go down with ease whether short or long range when necessary.... so what's to wish for?
In my almost 20 years of using the cartridge - Nothing!
It's a fantastic under-rated cartridge. Smile if you have a 25-06 :)
 
Good points, also there's the availability or not of non-lead ammunition.
Regards
JCS

Only for the non reloader
Yes, but there are a growing number of situations where the reloader does not have a role to play. If here in the UK you are requested by a head keeper/landowner/letting agent/food business to produce a box of factory non-lead ammunition for your rifle, then you need to be able to do that.
Regards
JCS
 
Yes, but there are a growing number of situations where the reloader does not have a role to play. If here in the UK you are requested by a head keeper/landowner/letting agent/food business to produce a box of factory non-lead ammunition for your rifle, then you need to be able to do that.
Regards
JCS

Fair point. Although you could ask Ed to load some fox ammo or get HPS to load for you I guess

No such issue on my 4 permissions but I’m lucky!
 
Perhaps... maybe.. but truthfully, I've shot many reds & sika using the 110gn AB bullet & have yet to find the bullet wanting.
It hits hard & is as accurate as any hunter could wish for. Doesn't make a mess of Roe or CWD with rarely any runners at all.
Reds, stags or hinds go down with ease whether short or long range when necessary.... so what's to wish for?
In my almost 20 years of using the cartridge - Nothing!
It's a fantastic under-rated cartridge. Smile if you have a 25-06 :)

My point was more for the target side of things which I guess would be where the 6.5-06 would come in if you were having a rifle built.

For anything on 4 legs in the UK I’m sure it’s more than capable and flat shooting to boot.
 
I had one and loved it as it is brutal performer on all sizes of deer, however when the barrel was on the way out I couldn’t re barrel in 25-06. In reality this hinged on the non-toxic issue, options are limited, and almost non existent in factory (not necessarily an issue unless you wanted an FC lease). Sadly it’s a relatively unfashionable handloaders option, it’s a calibre that if it came out today with a marketing machine behind it, it’d probably be a hot prospect.

I went down the 6.5 route with a long barrel, I’m replicating it’s performance with a 100gn bullet circa 3400fps.
 
Is the 25-06 not the better option for none toxic than .243, shooting 100gr -120gr to help get the most out of the expansion and stabilisation issues in a .243? For a home loader .257 cal none toxic options in 100gr Sonic, Barns TTSX, Nosler E Tip and Hornady GMX 90gr. Not sure on factory loads, but if market and trends takes an interest manufacture will be happy to help make it trendy...
 
Is the 25-06 not the better option for none toxic than .243, shooting 100gr -120gr to help get the most out of the expansion and stabilisation issues in a .243? For a home loader .257 cal none toxic options in 100gr Sonic, Barns TTSX, Nosler E Tip and Hornady GMX 90gr. Not sure on factory loads, but if market and trends takes an interest manufacture will be happy to help make it trendy...
You can Pergrine to that list too in 87 and 99gr.... so if your in Scotland best kiss it first to mack up the grain... But the rain it collects on the way might make it legal by the time it hits home.
 
Is the 25-06 not the better option for none toxic than .243, shooting 100gr -120gr to help get the most out of the expansion and stabilisation issues in a .243? For a home loader .257 cal none toxic options in 100gr Sonic, Barns TTSX, Nosler E Tip and Hornady GMX 90gr. Not sure on factory loads, but if market and trends takes an interest manufacture will be happy to help make it trendy...
Yeah home loaders do have an option but it’s a slim option, factory is very limited, tbh it’s limited in regular lead core stuff too. Handloading wise if the 100gn bullets aren’t doing it for you, you’re snookered. The GMX was god awful in mine, dead walking deer left right and centre. Barnes was much much better. I think you are correct about 243, but then a lot of folks are suggesting it’ll be the death of the calibre (I certainly wouldn’t go that far). In 6.5 I just felt options were more abundant and with careful handloads I could replicate the ‘06 performance.
 
Perhaps... maybe.. but truthfully, I've shot many reds & sika using the 110gn AB bullet & have yet to find the bullet wanting.
It hits hard & is as accurate as any hunter could wish for. Doesn't make a mess of Roe or CWD with rarely any runners at all.
Reds, stags or hinds go down with ease whether short or long range when necessary.... so what's to wish for?
In my almost 20 years of using the cartridge - Nothing!
It's a fantastic under-rated cartridge. Smile if you have a 25-06 :)
🙂
 
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