Need Info on .243 vs 25-06 vs 270

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panchito

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Hope this is the right Forum for this!!!!!:confused:

I am looking for input on what gun to buy.
Here is my question. I live in SWern Ontario and I am not allowed to use a 300 series or bigger for hunting in my area.

I want a rifle that will do most of what I need and possible
a little more.

3 guns I am looking at are the .243, 25-06, and .270
I don't like the .270 to much because it is a little to big for 99% of what I hunt. But I need something that will kill a moose if I ever go hunting for one.

Ethically a .243 should not be used for moose (this is where things could get ugly) even though I know of hunters who will shoot one with it. I like the .243 for its quick and flat shooting, but topping out at 100gr bullet I am told is not big enough to kill a moose "ethically"

So I friend introduced me to the 25-06 which goes up to 120 grain bullet and on ballistics charts keeps up with the .270 for similar size bullet (130gr) Can anyone here please give me some info on how this caliber holds up or do I not have a choice but to buy .270 or two guns?

any input would be great

thanks

Panchito
 
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Looks like you have a great excuse to buy 2 guns! :D I have a 25-06, but none of the others. I just got mine this past year and got my first white tail with it this fall. Sixty yards bang flop. I was surprised at the damage done by the bullet. I shot it in the neck and it hit the spine and basically blew up most of the neck! I was please with the performance and it has little or no kick!
 
what's wrong with a 270? they will defintly take down a moose, as a buddy's dad shot a rather large bull a few years ago with one, and the bullet went right thruogh, dropping the moose on the spot. as far as being to much for most of what you hunt, choose a bullet that is suited to what you hunt, the 110 gr. is supposed to be awesome!
 
My vote is for a 270 or 270 short mag will take down a moose in a pinch definitely not overkill for whitetail .I've shot deer with my 243 and it just don't knock em down hard enough for my liking and definitely under gunned for moose and yes you could kill a moose with a 243 but there are better choices.
 
I didn't look up the county where you live but some have a .275 max. in Ontario. The 270 is probably ok but its actual diameter is .277. The 25 06 is an awsome caliber but you need to use good bullets for heavier game. It and the .243 are duel purpose guns but the 270 can also be used for varmints. The .243 makes a lot less noise than the other two. Duel purpose guns have seen sales drop in recent years because people are buying more guns. Isn't that great?
 
Well I know the .270 will do all that I need, but I have 2 problems, I don't like the recoil (I know suck it up) and the other is the places where I can go hunt they frown on the "big gun" The 6.5x55 I don't know much about, I looked at ammo and I can only find 140gr bullet so far, and where can I find amo if I go up north of ontario where metric is not so available so I am told?
 
go with the 270, providing it is legal. the recoil is quite acceptable, and to hell with the people who don't like the "big" gun. that's funny
 
K98 said:
6.5 x 55mm ;)
Click to expand...

I'd stick with a short action cartridge for the all around rifle. 260Remington, 7mm'08 come to mind as good, middle of the road cartridges. You can get varmint bullets for both, and heavier bullets for bigger game.
 
I have owned the 243, 25-06, 6.5x55 and the 270. All will do the job on moose provided you are choosy with your shots. The 6.5 and the 7x57 although metric are available in every backwoods place I have ever seen. Granted I don't hunt in Ontario but ammo availablity shouldn't be a issue for these fine old rounds. I also would like to suggest you consider the 7-08. I have hunted moose and deer with the same 140 gr load and personally consider the recoil far less than the 270.
 
Get a 7mm-08 great cartridge for Deer,bear,moose ,elk,with the proper bullets.Comes in a short action,very mild recoil,flat shooting and you can get a Brand new Stevens 7mm-08 for around $300.00.
 
A .260 remington is another superbe caliber very similar to the equally superbe6.5 x 55 mentionned by K98. Bullet choice is ok if you are a reloader. Otherwise you will be restricted.

From varmints to moose the .270 shines and does the whole gambit quite well and from what I gather you are not a reloader so I'd stick with a .270 here too because it's one of the most popular calibers with ammo of all sorts available everywhere.
 
Panchito, not to rehash this too much but are you aware that for virtually everywhere in Ontario that has it, the calibre restriction applies to small game only? Also, in most of those places (it goes by township) you cannot use any kind of rifle for big game? (shotgun only)
This is a confusing issue to some Ontario hunters.
 
Actually it goes by county/region not township and you are correct that it is for small game only.

And .270 is legal because while the bullet is .277 the regulation specifically states a rifle of no greater caliber than .275.

I live in the affected region. If I had to choose one rifle it would be a .270 because I'd rather have too much for ground hogs and coyotes than not enough for moose and bear.

So I have a .270 and a .223.
 
270

If u need some reading material to decide, pick up any mag, read what Jack O'Conner wrote on the 270.
I have seen what this 277 Dia bullet will do, moose, Elk, and can be loaded light for deer or varmits.

Gb
 
.270 Winchester. I had the same dilemma recently, and that seemed to fit the bill nicely for me.
 
I have at least one of all the calibers mentioned in this discusion, and live in Southern ontario, so understand your situation.

A 243 is a 308 necked down to 6mm. A 260 Rem is a 308 necked down to 6.5 mm. The biggest bullet in 243 is 100 gr. A 260 Rem can shoot 140 and 160 gr bullets.

The 260 Rem is a modern version of a 6.5 x 55 Swede using a slightly smaller case loaded to higher pressure. It will blow up ground hogs and slay the biggest moose. A friend of mine has a Tikka 260 Rem and it shoots very, very well. Mine are all custom rifles with 30" barrels, so my results are not the same as a factory rifle.

I have shot ground hogs, deer and moose with 6.5 x 55, and was pleased with termianl results. A 260 Rem woudl be about the same.
 
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