Dilemma

[warboar_21]

Gents I have a canundrum. I am a lefty and have shot right handed rifles forever. Almost a year ago that changed when I bought my first left handed rifle. Even though it's a big bore (375 ruger) I find that I am hooked shooting the lefty.

I just found a few more lefties in calibers I already own and love in right handed rifles. I'm thinking I want one or the other in a lefty but can't decide which one. Both a Ruger Hawkeyes so the brand isn't going to matter. One is 25-06 and the other is 243. Both calibers are versatile and would pull double duty as varmint and large game rifles. I have bigger and smaller and use them if needed.

So what would be your choice?
I'm a westerner so when the opportunity presents itself I take the longer shots.

[Vann]

Definitely 25/06 as my first choice.

[gordie]

if over 60 yrs. old...

.243

[kenyerian]

25-06

[Hawks Feather]

To me it would depend on what you are calling 'large game'. If is it thin skinned like deer then I would go with the .243 (personally love that round), but if you are thinking of elk, I would probably go with the 25-06 for the extra knock-down power.

[725]

I just got a .25-06 and love the caliber. It really depends on you. Me -?- .25-06 (first):)

[M-Tecs]

This isn't on caliber but on the right hand left hand issue. What is your dominate eye. That is what should determine which side you shoot from. For caliber more deer and yotes either will do very well. For prairie dogs .243 all the away. Larger than deer 25-06

[warboar_21]

My father bought me a Remington 700 ADL back in the 80s for my first center fire rifle. I took my first Mule Deer and First Bull elk with that rifle. Both were one shot kills with the Remington factory 100gr core-lokt ammo. Sadly I sold that rifle when I moved back to Indiana where Deer hunting was done with Shotgun or muzzle loader. When I joined the Army I was stationed out west again and quickly bought a 25-06. My friends growing up either had 30-06 or 25-06 rifles. I was so impressed with that round that I said I would own one. Well I bought one. It's a heavy barreled Rem 700 Sendero. That rifle was my Large game and varmint rifle for many years. It accounted for a few deer and a Bull Elk and plenty of Coyote.

The one thing that has me leaning towards the .243 is the fact it has better bullet selection for target and long range. However the 25-06 is such a great round.

I'm looking at the Ruger hawkeye and they no longer make the 25-06 so i'm kind of leaning towards that one. I'm thinking I can always pick up another lefty in 243.

[warboar_21]

This isn't on caliber but on the right hand left hand issue. What is your dominate eye. That is what should determine which side you shoot from. For caliber more deer and yotes either will do very well. For prairie dogs .243 all the away. Larger than deer 25-06

I am left eye dominant. I have been shooting right handed rifles left handed and worked around it. Now that I own a lefty I find that it's faster for me to manipulate the bolt and getting back on target faster than when having to pull my right hand from the forearm and work the bolt and then back to the firearm.

[OnHoPr]

Well, one is smaller cal with the capabilities of better BC with varmint bullets with close to the same speed in the slightly lighter bullet category. And the other is a larger cal with heavier bullets which has a larger case capacity. I suppose the choice would be if you were going to use it to shoot prairie critters or something with horns more. The heavier barrel and smaller case capacities barrel might not heat up as much when repetitive shots are being taken. They can both be accurate long range varminters, the 25-06 should shine better as a longer range antelope weapon to the mulies size game. Just think if you were ever to get a sheep or goat tag for out west. (not antelope goat)

[dh2]

I have been a 25-06 fan for over 25 years two years ago I changed I built a 25-06 AI

[Dan Cash]

From pasture poodles to bears and all inbetween, .25-06 does it all. Fooey on supposed better bullet selections and BCs. 80 or 90 grain bullets for varmints up through coyote, 120 grain Noslers for the rest. Shoot once, it falls down.

[Mk42gunner]

My choice would be the .25-06.

Robert

[murf6656]

Don't know if its true, but I have heard that Hawkeye left hands and all weathers are discontinued. I know CDNN investments has several at a good price, and no right hand walnut stocked Hawkeyes.

[warboar_21]

I believe it's true since they are not listed on their website any more.

[Herb in Pa]

260 Remington..............

[crowbuster]

I love my 25's

[Motor]

The very last sentence in your post swayed me to choose the 25-06. It just simply will be the better choice when ranges get long.

Motor