Which rifle/caliber for fun gun: .243 or 25-06

[darkroomdan]

Hello all — am new to the GBO community, but I have been checking out the posts for a while.
I am planning to get my first Handi very soon and have narrowed it down to two choices and was looking for advice and guidance from you experienced Handi users.
Have been very interested in both the Bull Barrel.243 and the Ultra in 25-06. Don’t really plan on big game hunting although deer, small hogs wouldn’t be out of the question – and maybe some varmints, but the rifle would mostly just for fun – something to reload and go to the range and shoot at targets a long way out there. It would be great if it was easy to reload for and even better if it was easy on the shoulder.

In reading some of the manuals, it looks like the some 100 gr. max loads in the .243 is on par with some of the 100 gr. starting loads in the 25-06 – would the recoil level be similar? (.243 has the rep of being kind of gentle) How about the accuracy in the 25-06 with the lighter weight bullets an maybe not at max load velocities? If one used the heavy weight bullets in the 25-06 how heavy would the recoil be?

OR should I just scrap the whole idea and go with a Handi in .223 so I can shoot cheap surplus ammo??? — drd

[cascadedad]

Well Dan, welcome to GBO!  I'm new here too, but been around long enough to give you the standard answer to a question like this.

GET ONE OF EACH. 

Good luck,
CD

[PartsMan]

One big difference to consider is the barrel length.
243 is 22" or 24"(ultra)
25-06s are all 26"
I got the 25-06 because I like the idea of getting more fps from longer barrel.
But I also have a 22" 223 hb and like the short barrel in the feild.
I don't reaload but both guns seem to like light for caliber bullets
100g remington core lock in 25-06
45g hollow point umc in 223

[darkroomdan]

barr25-06,

How is the recoil of the 25-06 compared to a .243 - my shoulder now has arthritis - from and old football injury of course

[243tom]

I didn't reload when I got into buying these guns and thought nothing of it......just buy ammo and shoot !!  Well it sometimes doesn't go the way we plan.  Or maybe I just wanted too much.
Anyway my 243 shot most all boxed ammo into a large group, the exception was Hornady 75gr hp those shot well as long as I didn't clean the barrel after any range time. My experience with 6 different barrels I've had......leave them fouled!!
Now I reload and have a good thing going with Hornady 87 gr bullets,, any of the 3 styles will shoot point of aim at 100 yds.  And I don't clean the bore anymore.
But for what you're asking,, if I were you,, get the 223 and add barrels later.

[darat100]

Go for the 25-06.  Mine shoots tremendous with everything from 70 to 117 grain hornady shells.  With the lighter bullets I can't tell it from my 243 on the recoil scale.  Very fun to shoot.  Also, if you are concerned about recoil, get a choate varmint stock.  It cuts the felt recoil down considerably. 

Both are good shooters, but the 25-06 is better in my mind.

[jritter]

I have used the .243 bull barrel for a few years, and it is a shooter.  Just check the stickys for all of the accuracy tips.  They make all of the difference on this barrel.  I have mine down to just about 1" at 100 yards with 100 grain green boxes.  I think it may do much better with lighter bullets, I just like the knock down power of the 100gr. for deer. 
The bull barrel also helps with recoil, its very mild.  I also installed a limbsaver pad because I switch out barrels with a 45-70. 

[Swampman]

"OR should I just scrap the whole idea and go with a Handi in .223 so I can shoot cheap surplus ammo???"

I'd buy the .223, but I don't think surplus ammo functions very well in the Handi.

I like the .243 a lot but it doesn't seem to shoot well in the Handi.  I've never really understood the .25-06.

[Mac11700]

I say go for both ......the 243 Bull Barrel...for fun.. the 25-06 for long range hunting...varmint or big game...(but not too big )

Mac

[hoosierhunter]

I just bought an ultra in .25-06 last week( my first handi ) What recoil ?   OK , there might be some, but i'm used to an old savage .30-06 with a steel buttplate. I've only tried the 85 grain bt bullets so far, and it shoots straight , far and fast. And with very little felt recoil.

[darkroomdan]

Thanks for all the great replies!

I think I am leaning now toward the 25-06 - since I reload I could probably download a bit for when my shoulder is acting up and still have the option of putting the spurs to her if I wanted to get max fps - I think I saw loads of almost 3700 with a 75 gr. bullet

Now that sounds fun - note to self, need to get new earmuffs!

Will post again when I get my new toy!

Cheers,
drd

[bajabill]

My plan is for getting both

I currently have a 22" bull barrel 243 and am going to sell it.  Then send in for a 24" bull barrel 243 (fluted ? ), the 25-06 , and while its there, a 280.


I am a fan of the bull barrels, the extra weight helps with muzzle lift and percieved recoil.  I have a 24" 223 and I can see the target thru the scope during recoil.

[Dave Allen]

hello...for a fun gun i'm also not a fan of hard recoiling rifle's..."however" i don't find the recoil of the 25/06 bad at all...

[Alabama Outlaw]

best gun for you seems to be a .223 ultra varmit and  shoot winchester 45grain white box ammo   
Mine is a  one hole gun at  100 yards  moa or better
 does  real good  with remintion 55 grain  solids  from  wal-mart 3.99  a  box maybe a  shade over MOA   and just  a  tad  lower  poi  from  the  winchester  white boxs 14.95  a  box  of  40

just  my 2cents .... your mileage  may vary,  dealer  prep,  dock  fee, dealer destination charge,  fuel tax ,poll tax, cost adustment   .............. might  vary