Tikka 243 to 25-06

[Patton243]

I can't believe how many people are talking down about the 25-06!

Will the 243 kill mule deer?…….Yes

Is it the equivalent of the the 25-06?…..Not in my world it isn't.

Is it worth the conversion effort and cost?…. That's for you to decide I guess.

If it was me I would convert to the 7mm-08 and call it good.

To each their own I guess.

If he's going to go mule deer hunting, he's better of re barreling to a 280 or 280 AI IMO then. (Even a 270) Both those cartridges are better for mule deer than a 25-06. Anything for varmints and smaller deer a 243 is better IMO overall. The 25-06 doesn't have the solid 6mm bullet choice which has meaning to me at least. I used a 25-06 when I was a kid which was my grandfather's... never was impressed with it. More recoil and barrel erosion than the 243 and less accuracy too due to recoil. A 25-06 is outdated IMO. Does it work? Yeah I guess. But again there's better out there and that 280 and 280 AI on a standard long action I'm a big fan of. On the other side of the coin, on a small action, I love the 243 for a multipurpose cartridge.

 

[HNDLDR]

If you want a 243 (w/less recoil) to hit like a 25-06 (w/more recoil), use Hammer/Barnes bullets.

I once Googled for the top calibers for elk. Leading the pack of the top 5 calibers for elk was the 243.

First of all I'm a guy that wouldn't hesitate to use a 243 on elk if that's what I had. Especially if it was loaded with the bullets mentioned above.
However….. That is a perfect example of why you can't believe everything you read on the internet. The huge majority of people who have taken elk will tell you there are better choices for elk then the 243 and the 25-06.

For what it's worth Hammer and Barnes make some really nice bullets for the 25-06 also. Not that the OP would need them for mule deer.
I apologize to the OP for getting off track.

 

[budlight]

Chronograph when out testing my new back then 25 cal. This was varmint load 87 gr. .257 at 25 feet it shot a string of these.

Hard to see in the middle of winter when the sun is going down. Maybe 20 degrees. 3587 FPS

 

[HNDLDR]

A 25-06 is outdated IMO.

Outdated?????

270 Winchester came out commercially in 1925.

280 Remington in 1957.

25-06 Remington in 1970.

 

[socalhunter88]

Thank you everyone for the thoughtful feedback, it's appreciated

 

[Lenny Foffa]

If you have a "LONG ACTION rifle , then consider making it a .270 Win instead of a 25-06 . 130 Grn Bullets at 3000 fps to 3100 fps are excellent on deer. You can still shoot 100 grn bullets at Varmints, and 140 and 150 grn bullets at other things

 

[Patton243]

Outdated?????

270 Winchester came out commercially in 1925.

280 Remington in 1957.

25-06 Remington in 1970.

Actually before the 25-06 was picked up by Remington commercially, it was a wildcat for a LONG time before that. (1920 by Niedner) The cartridge failed commercially to the 270 that's why it stayed a wildcat for such a long time. So yes, that's outdated if you ask me. Not to mention it almost sounds like a failed experiment to some extent compared to the 270 and 30-06's success.

 

[HNDLDR]

Not to mention it almost sounds like a failed experiment to some extent compared to the 270 and 30-06's success.

Seems the 280 Remington you love so much didn't have the best start either. If the 25-06 is a failed experiment, seems to me the 280 is too by your standards.

 

[Patton243]

Seems the 280 Remington you love so much didn't have the best start either. If the 25-06 is a failed experiment, seems to me the 280 is too by your standards.

Still more popular than the archaic 25-06. Has a better bullet selection (7mm) than an oddball .257. One of the reasons the 280 had commercial issues was due to the name of the cartridge specifically 7mm express. It was later changed to 280 Remington due to confusion with the 7mm Remington magnum. A 280 and a 280 AI make a better mule deer cartridge than a 25-06 by most people's standards. I don't see to many 25-06 AIs either. 280 AI on the other hand is the best AI on the market right now. Even Lenny above suggested a 270 over a 25-06. Have a nice day.

 

[Idaho Lefty]

Haha that's the kind of truth I need, do you feel like a 243 is enough for Rocky Mountain mule deer. I usually use my 300 WinMag but i really enjoy packing around the 243 and want to tweak into a more lightweight gun but would hate to lose an animal for poor blood trail even with a well placed shot etc.

Choosing, the "Right" Bullet,.. IS,. "near paramount" with, the .243 Win and it's, a "Killer" with, the Bullets I listed to,.. 400 -450ish Yards.
And,. GOOD shot, "placement" is always,.. #1 !
Past that, on Big Deer, I'd go with, a 130 -150 grain Bullets in,.. .270, .280, 7mm-08, etc. for really Big,.. TOUGH, Muley Bucks ( just in case ! ).
YES,. Deer have been Killed with, the .243 Win., "Way out there",.. "but" Personally, I'd NOT, chance it.
Bullet & cartridge, "choices" for me are, Terrain, Game Size and Distance,.. "dependent" !
I have both, a 6 XC and a .243 Win. but, I would NOT use them, Past 450- 500 yards on Big, Trophy sized, Mulies !
MY "Motto" is to,.. ALWAYS use, "enough Gun" ! I had to, let, a huge Shiras Moose, "walk" due to, NOT having enough Gun ONE time and swore,.. NEVER again !

 

[HNDLDR]

Still more popular than the archaic 25-06. Has a better bullet selection (7mm) than an oddball .257. One of the reasons the 280 had commercial issues was due to the name of the cartridge specifically 7mm express. It was later changed to 280 Remington due to confusion with the 7mm Remington magnum. A 280 and a 280 AI make a better mule deer cartridge than a 25-06 by most people's standards. I don't see to many 25-06 AIs either. 280 AI on the other hand is the best AI on the market right now. Even Lenny above suggested a 270 over a 25-06. Have a nice day.

Feel free to show me your reference material showing the 280 is more popular.
Every list based on sales that I've found says the 25-06 is more popular.

 

[Ol' Red]

I would keep the .243 and purchase a 25-06 also. Actually I did it the other way around. My .243 has killed pronghorn, mule deer and whitetail deer. So has the 25-06. Always one shot kills, so far. You can't go wrong with another rifle in the safe.

 

[Idaho Lefty]

I have NOTHING against, the .25-06 but, the 3-4 different, .270's have, "ruled the Roost" for long range, Big Deer for, a Reason,..
they "Launch", 130-140's at 3,000 FPS to,.. 3,300 FPS and usually, Kill like,.. a Lightning Strike !
I Hunted with, a .270 Wby for 2 Decades on, Deer / Antelope / LR Coyotes and, I wore the Barrel out on it ( lots of Playing / experimenting ! )
NOTHING ever, "got away" and the Bullets in those Days were Krap compared to, our choices today.
I Hunted / shot,.. Mulies in,.. Co, Id, Utah, Wy and they, ALL,. dropped with, minimal to, NO Tracking !
I shot 150 Hornady Flat Base, Spire Points at 3,067 FPS, and YES, a little faster than a .270 Win but, NOT by that, much.

 

[GrayCreed]

Just another thought. Converting to a 6.5 Creed , 260 Rem or 7mm-08 would require nothing more than taking off the old barrel and spinning on another.

Also bullet choice is better for all three of these, finding a fast twist 6.5creed would be easier than anything else and 6.5mm bullets out of the creed, 260 are going to hit harder than the 25-06 at longer range. Of course you could also have a 25creed barrel made or a fast twist 25-06 and knock all the above cartridges out of the water.
Bottom line is the 25-06 will outperform the creeds, 243, 7mm08 and 260rem but ONLY if you use a fast twist barrel and blackjack bullets. If you want more flexibility stay with 6.5creed or 7mm08. I know alot of people hate the 65creed but it is what it is. 8tw is standard for the 65creed and that makes 130-143g bullets pretty standard. Also you have the same case capacity as the 260 without sticking the bullet way back in the powder column.

The following chart is reasonable velocity out of my 6.5creed (26"pipe) with 42g of 4451 under a 143eldx
(Hornady loads the ELDX hotter than this)

Haters will be haters but look at what yardage the 1500 ftlb mark is at.