25-06 or 243 for varmints question

KDX

KDX

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Which would make for the better varmint caliber for long distance shooting and still be able to adequately load for deer hunting?
 
I would go with the 25-06 for a lttle better performance on deer at long range,slightlybetter bucking wind with the heavier bullets.I think you will see some arguments for the 243 with less recoil and cheaper to shoot. They will both do the job well thats my two cents worth.
 
The OP mentioned that he wanted a VARMINT gun, that would occasionally be used for deer. That makes the 243 a great choice. It is low recoiling, less expensive to shoot than the 25-06 and very adequate for deer. With bullets available from 55 gr for varmints to 100 gr for deer it fits the bill perfectly. The 25-06 will work for sure, but it is more of a deer rifle that is adequate for varmints.
when the OP says that the gun will be MAINLY varmint and ADEQUATE for deer, all the sudden everyone pops up and says that you NEED the 25-06 because it'll take down moose and bear too! What does that have to do with varmints and deer? If the OP wanted a gun that could shoot everything from varmints to elephants they would have asked.
KDX, you should also specify what you mean by varmint. If varmint just means coyote, then a 25-06 wouldn't be too much overkill. If you mean shooting prairie dogs and groundhogs then you would not want a 25-06 for that quantity of shooting.
If I were in your position I would get a 6mm Rem if you can find a gun that is chambered in one. after that my second choice would be the 243. If your just after coyote and want to possibly take something larger than deer, then I would get a 25-06. But why deal with more cost and recoil if you don't have to?
 
Either/Both would be a great choice.

The .25-06 with 100gr MK is a great varmint round, and the 100gr TTSX is a darn fine big-game bullet. The two are usually interchangeable as far as POI goes, IME.

The .243 with 105gr AMAX is a great LR varmint/deer bullet, and the 85gr TSX and 80gr TTSX are excellent on deer.

If you plan on shooting a lot of small varmints then the .243 is awesome. If you want to shoot some coyotes and deer, then I'd probably get the .25-06, but you really can't go wrong! Just remember that it's ALL about the bullet, and minimally about the cartridge that the bullet is launched from. You have the 105gr AMAX and VLD, and the 85gr TSX in .243, and the 115gr VLD and 100gr MK and TTSX in .257.
 
Thanks for all the replys. I was thinking of a rifle for those 500+ yard coyotes and I don't care about the hide. I was just poking around on the Savage site and there are a few rifles chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor which is supposed to be a good long range caliber. I will have to do some more research.
 
500+ yds is really stretching the limits of the 243. The creedmore is lacking in velocity compared to the 6.5 swede, 260 and 6.5x284. I would not classify it as a long range cartridge IMO. If 500+ yd shots are what the rifle is intended for then I would be inclined to go for a laser beam like the 257 wby. It'll push a 100 gr bullet at 3600 fps and a 120 gr at 3300 fps
 
X 3 on the Weatherby. The Vanguard is a excellent gun for the price and if you can afford a Mark V so much the better. 257 brass can be easily and relatively cheaply formed from Rem 7mm brass. Having said that, only consider the Weatherby if you reload otherwise it will bankrupt you.
 
I have a 6mm remington, its really accurate, but the drawback is that its hard to find both guns and factory ammo in it now. If you reload you might want to consider it. Recoil is extremely soft and I find mine groups well at about 300 yards.
 
My Weatherby Vanguard in 257 WBY shoots well under an inch at 100 yds, 3 1/2" @ 440yds (3 shots). I fireform 7mm Rem Mag brass. Shot a whitetail at 450yds with a 120 Nosler Partition(3250fps). If you want flatter shoot 100's @3500-3600fps. Its a laser !
 
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