.243 or 25-06 for wife ???

[SPUD]

considering buying wife a rifle and I'm stuck on which caliber. She has shot my .270 before but only a few shots. I've shot plenty of 243 and know she can indeed handle that and was leaning that way. But after looking at the ballistics of the 25-06...kinda wondering if it is that much pop.

any thoughts??

[Tubby]

How about a .257 Roberts? I've shot one for 25+ years and love it.

[SPUD]

How about a .257 Roberts? I've shot one for 25+ years and love it.

another factor I need to know about is cost of ammo.

never looked at 25-06 or .257 R. What are they like?


EDIT
quick search on Able Ammo and 243/25-06/257 was within 5 bucks of each other....

[Tubby]

Cost and availability of ammo is a concern with any rifle. I stay stocked up

25-06 does have more recoil that a .257 R. My brother has a 25-06, I've shot it a few times, about the same as a 270 but still more than a .257 R.

Another option is a 7mm-08. Great round.

Obviously, it's all about shot placement, seen deer drop with a .223 and seen 'em run for miles with a 7mag.

Here's a good ballistics chart:

http://www.hornady.com/assets/files/ballistics/english-ballistics-chart-2010.pdf

[Cam-Mac]

I think the .243 might be a good idea. Ammo is readily available and recoil isnt serious. Just my .02.

[BrandonH]

I started my wife out on a .243 and after a couple years bought her a brand new 25-06 and she loves it.

Brandon

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

[SneakyPhil]

25-06! That way you can borrow it.

[TyWebb]

I think 25-06, that is what I have shot for years, and with 113 grain Federals, it's nothing she couldn't handle. I recently graduated to a 270WSM, and that's quiet a step up from a standard 270.

[glen]

Get her a gun with a brake on it and don't worry about it. I like 308 for versatility

[shakenbake]

Man i shoot a Browning A-bolt with the boss system in .270. the boss system lets you tune your gun and takes out most of the recoil. My .270 has less kick then my mini 14 and my AR in .223 if you go this route the you both can shoot the same ammo. I made the mistake of buying a youth .243 with it's shorter barrel it kicks like a dang mule. I have had it for two years now and I have only put one box down the tube. So its not the round you should be thinking about its how well a gun handles the round of ammo. My only complaint is that Browning is not made in the USA!! Ill post a link of a gun that looks just like mine in the pic hers is .223 mine is .270 she has a Leupold scope and i have a Zeiss scope. So i have a 1300$ scope on a 850$ gun. if you guys can make it down to Austin you are more then welcome to try mine out bring yours too and we will shoot he same ammo out of both guns.

http://swfa.com/ContestViewCustomer.aspx?entry=299

heck ill meet you half way in Bryan

[Cuz]

Of the two choices I'd go with the .243. Easier to get and cheaper ammo. My wife and mom both shoot 30-06's though and it's not a problem.

[Kuller]

Got my lady a 7mm 08 last year and she loved it. Layed the 2 deer she shot at down with it. Might check that caliber.

[Country]

25-06 is really as easy as a 243 as far as recoil goes, but it has tons more energy. You can find ammo for it just about anywhere you can get 243 ammo. 257 Roberts would be a little harder to find. 25-06 is really a great round for deer size animals and will easily make hogs take dirt naps as well.

[postman]

Another factor would be the game she is going to hunt. for local whitetails I would
say .243 is all you need, probably has killed more deer in Texas than any other caliber.

[Texpppr]

I think the .243 is a great cartridge for here in Texas. I have 3 .30 caliber rifles, but find myself finding more and more uses for my .243. Whitetail and hogs aren't all that hard to kill.