Guys, I know this is the right forum for this but I know people hear generally know there stuff and I won't get as much media-tainted jargon.
I'm looking at getting a deer-dual/purpose rifle this summer. I cannot decide on a caliber. Coyotes, and deer are the game and shots may go as long as 300. I've looked at 30-06, 243, 308, 7mm-08, 25-06 and maybe a few others. I can't decide. I will handload. I'm beginning to be a fan of the small-fast crowd but come from the big-slow camp. This year I'm at school and all I have is a 22-250 since I come from a shotgun-only state. Took a doe yesterday at 40yards with it and some 64gr powerpoint. Dropped her in her tracks on a front chest shot. Needless to say I was pleased, and honestly, surprised. What calibers do you guys have experience with, in a commercially available gun, that finds that sweet spot between flat-recoil-and humane, quick kills?
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Anything I say is my opinion, just that...and only that.
"...and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God?
I like the 25-06. Should fit your bill nicely for varmits upto deer, 300 yards is no problem with this sucker and being you'll handload you have options to find the right bullet for various game.
If the 700 BDL I had chambered in a 2506 was left handedno doubt it would still be in my cabinet. A good buddy of mine has used his to anchor even moose, though a bit light. It is one of the most underrated deer cartridges IMHO and works JFL on yotes but the 22-250 you have is also a good one for this purpose as well.
Hey Skeeter, forgot to mention I'm left handed too so it narrows things down. Winchester makes a few, and Browning too...but they have gone heavily on the new WSM and WSSm lines. BLRs are also an option. But I'm pretty much looking at the standards from Savage, Ruger (which does make a LH 25-06) and the standards from Remington.
I'm starting to feel like saying "heck with it, they've all killed thousands of deer" and just finding the best deal I can...take the money I save and get better glass and more reloading "stuff".
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Anything I say is my opinion, just that...and only that.
"...and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God?
Also, using that 22-250 wasn't a very wise decision, do you know what couldv'e happened if you had taken a longer shot? Please for the sake of hunters don't do it again. I know it dropped her in her tracks, but I doubt it would past 50 yards. Anyway. good luck. And before I get a bunch of .22 cal. fanatics telling me how you dropped such and such at xx yards, i don't care.
I like the 25-06. Should fit your bill nicely for varmits upto deer, 300 yards is no problem with this sucker and being you'll handload you have options to find the right bullet for various game.
Excellent choice andi couldn't agree more! For the game your going after the 25.06 will fit the bill nicely.If you handload there's lots of good choices in bullets and in my experience withthe 25.06 it will shoot just about anything you feed it. I've settled in on the 110gr accubond for deer,itsvery accurate in my rem 700 classic and it's performance on game has been excellent for me.For coyotes i would probably go with a different bullet and lighten up in grains a little. Good luck in your choice.
Being a southpaw complicates it some. If you like in features and feeleither the ruger or savage thenthe 2506 will work great. If not then buy a standard offered in the others. With the 22-250 available for yotes you really can buy whatever you wish for deer and anything else down the road.
Can't fault your logic about spending more on glass and other stuff but don't settle on fit and feel either. One reason I don't own a 2506 is I can't find an off the shelf in LH and at this point don't want to pay to build one. My 7mm rem mag works fine for all the big game I hunt, fits me to a T and is extremely accurate. My confidence is very high with this rifle in my hands even though I have others I could use, it is the one I reach for.
be tough to beat a 243 or a 25/06 for what your asking. and don't let the jargon stop you from using your 22-250 again, it loaded as you have it, with a bullet designed for deer hunting, such as the 64 gr pp, is adequate for the task. I've taken alot of whitetails out to 200 yds with a 223 remington and a good bullet. just use dicapline and good marksmanship and it'll work fine. RR
Anchoring caliber
