243/6mm/or 2506?

B

blacktail

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Location
Canadian Badlands
243 win / 6mm Rem / or 25-06


Was thinking of a new gun
The question is which one these calibers would be a better fit for me

I need a lighter caliber gun for varmints, longer range mule deer on the prairies,and a gun that will take a blacktail without blowin it apart

I have been using a 308 with 165 grain hornady bullets and at 100 to 150 yards are tack driving a nice heart shot but are comin out about a 3 inch hole on the other side.
My son is living in Alberta now and I will be hunting for mulies and whites and hopefully if luck has it for a pronghorn if the LEH gods are looking my way.

Opinions would be greatly appreciated
 
The .308 you have can do all that. Use 110g V-max or 125g TNT's for the varmints, get some <150g Barnes-x bullets for the long range mulies, will have lots of penetration and expansion and shoot flat enough for you, and you can use the same on blacktails.
 
the 243 is a good cal for deer and varmints and its good for long ranges.
they also have very little kick. but the .308 is a fine cal too it makes mince meat of varmints hehehe and its good on anything up to moose.
talk to ya all later
Riley
 
25-06, it is the most versatile. With the 100gr TSX BT it will shoot very flat with little recoil.

Sent you a pm too.
 
I'd say keep the 308 it might be a bit big for costal blacktails but it will serve well for the bigger Alberta deer. And add to you collection a true varmint rifle a 204, 223, 22-250 or what ever floats your boat.

The 25-06 is a fine prarie deer gun but it is big for a varmint gun, I would not want to put 500 rounds though one shooting gophers. The various 6mm are do-able, but light for deer. And a touch too big (meaning expensive to run) for varmints, rigged right it be good for 300+ in a wind. But you would not want that rig in the mountains at all, seeing it be 12lbs or more with 24x worth of scope

Heck if you come out to shoot gophers I would also say you need a 17 HMR in addition to a centerfire varmint gun and a 22lr
 
I would also say the 25-06 of the three you mentioned... the qualifier being the heavier bullets needed for long range mule deer!
Although a .260 or a .270 would be a better choice in my mind. Either of these calibers with a 130 or 140 grain pill will do what you require handily.
 
One more thing, try a partition or an Accubond on the Blacktails, they probably won't make quite so large a hole. I used a 160gr Accubond out of my 7mm RM on a Texada Isl. Blacktail and the performace was excellent. I made a high lung shot at close to 100 yards.
 
I have owned all three, the difference between the 243 and 6 mm are moot, if you do get a 6mm, ensure it is not the 244 predecessor to the 6mm as it might have a slower rate of twist in the barrel and not throw the heavier lead as well, if that is what you will be using. They both make very large holes in my experience with the five or six deer I shot with them. 6mm is a bit faster but I doubt it is enough to notice a difference. But still, I prefer the 6mm.
My wife used the 6mm last year on her Antelope, right through the heart, broadside at 150ish yards and a 105gr speer sp, 3000fps. It didn't hit alot of bone and yet it was at least a 3" exit wound. They bleed out nicely that way too.

The 25-06 is "from your list" the best one to go with if you can only pick from your list of three, much more versitile. This one can make for big holes too but it is more waiting for a broadside for deer and nail them through the ribs, you aren't going to waste too much meat. As for coyotes, the 85gr ballistic tip can go over 3700 fps and slow a coyote down quite quickly.

Like the other folks have mentioned too, your 308 will do what you need already. If you just want to expand your battery then go nuts. The 6mm's are not quite as popular or prevelant. Just a guess that the 243 or the 25 would be easier to resell. You could put that money towards trying some different bullets in that 308. Or you could sell the 308, build a 280 Ackley and do everything with one gun, or.......... I will just shut up now. :)
 
death-junky said:
the 243 is a good cal for deer and varmints and its good for long ranges.
they also have very little kick. but the .308 is a fine cal too it makes mince meat of varmints hehehe and its good on anything up to moose.
talk to ya all later
Riley
Click to expand...

Did I read this wrong?

Are you saying that the .308 is not a moose round?
 
That would be an easy choice for me. I have had them all, and for what you are describing you won't go wrong with the 25-06.

It will definitely have the edge on those big whitetails, and will still work for varmints.

Ted
 
Mumptia said:
Did I read this wrong?

Are you saying that the .308 is not a moose round?
Click to expand...

Im pretty sure he meant that the 308 is good on anything up to and including moose...in his own unique grammar and punctuation...:)
 
My 2 cents.
I have used them all here in ON. Can't beat the 308 for deer and it's little brother ( aka 243 ) is a treat to. I feel you need to reload to get the most from a 6mm and the 25-06 and if you do why not try one of the best little rounds ever. Just see my CGN handle. ( 257 Roberts )
 
My only concern with the 243 for what you mentioned above is the long range mulie hunting. Though I have never mulie hunted, I've carried both the 243 and 25-06 for whitetails, and if I thought things could stretch outside of 200-250 yards, 'd go with the added down range energy of the 25-06.
The 25-06 will blister 75 gr Vmax's out at over 3700 fps for vermin, and shoot 115's 117's and 120's a way out for deer sized game. My cousin took a whitetail 2 years ago at just over 450 with the 25-06 in a savage 112.
It folded up like a 2 dollar suitcase from what I was told.
I've shot a few deer with the 243' but havent had a chance to shoot at a deer withthe 25-06 yet.
BTW, I have 2 25-06's and a 243, and one of the 25-06's is for sale
 
I personally favor the 6mm for a dual purpose rifle, but if you are shooting beyond 350 yards on bigger deer, the 257 Bob or the 25-06 are better choices, due to ability to sling heavier bullets at respectable velocities. In lightweight rifles, shooting prone,the 25-06 doles out enough recoil to wear at you in a days varminting though. I have always used the 95/100 Partition for deer in the 6mm with outstanding results. For varmints, the 70 or 55 graint Ballistic Tips are great. Regards, Eagleye.
 
I've been using a 7mm RM for everything, bit much for deer, If I'm deer hungting only I have a 25-06 that I use. It's great, lots of oomph with the 115,117,120grn bullets and a good selection of lighter bullets for varmits. Balistics are fairly similar to my 7mm RM too.
 
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