Thanks for the speedy replies. Some good advice. Ya'll have given me some more things to think about. Okay, history: I did not grow up hunting so I have little experience. My wife's brother-in-law took me dove hunting last Sept. and that did it and got me hooked. Since then I bought a Remington 870 12 ga. shotgun and I've taken a couple of squirrels. I've been deer hunting once (enjoyed it). I hunt on Public lands here in Texas. Still learning how to walk quietly in the woods (told ya I'm pretty green) I have joined a shooting range, haven't been there enough. (I have owned a Marlin .22 rifle since I was 13-14..can probably count on 1 hand the number of times I've shot it.) About hunting game: Deer and hog will probably be the largest animals that I'll hunt with it. I would like to antelope hunt in the future (Texas has a lottery drawing for more exotics like this on their public lands). Eventually, I'd like to hunt for Mule deer and possibly Elk way down the road (I'll have lots of time to buy another rifle suitable for those) So let's say this rifle will probably be used for deer, hog and maybe, just maybe antelope and coyote. So, here are a couple of questions: Is a .243 enough knockdown for these animals? How much recoil difference is between the .243 and .270? What is this .25-06 that Retaks mentioned?

Thanks Again,