It's like golf clubs, you have to have the right tool for the job. That being said preference is probably the biggest factor here. Where you hunt plays a role as well. Sure a 243, 25-06, 257, 260, 7mm 08 are all great deer rounds, but what if your in an area where you may encounter a big bear, I bet you'd be praying to have that 30 cal then.

If we are throwing bears into the equation then give me a 12ga. w/ slugs. Great deer round and a defensive round as well.

25, 28, and 30 cal bullets are my favorites. What you load 'em in is your choice.

As good as the 308 Win is, the above statement just isn't true. A .308 Win shooting a 150 grain bullet with 45 grains of powder to 2900 fps out of a 7.5lb rifle will create 17.7 ft-lbs free recoil. If the rifle weighed 8lbs, the recoil would still be 16.6 ft-lbs.

A 25-06 shooting a 110 grain bullet at 3200 fps with 50 grains powder weighing 8 lbs (the extra 1/2 lb being from it being a long action with a 24" tube, which is typical of a 25-06, versus the short action and 22" bbl typical of 308 Win's) will generate 13.7 ft-lbs (about 22% less recoil).

A 270 Win shooting a 130 grain bullet at 3000 fps with 50 grains of powder from an 8lb rifle creates 15.5 ft-lbs recoil (12% less than a 308).

Just so we have the facts straight.

As to the OP's question. My choice would be the .25-06 of the two. Decent priced ammo, good availability and selection, flat trajectory and more than enough to kill deer just about as far as most folks can hit them. The 270 would be a good choice, too. As would the .243 Win or 308 Winchester. I like the quarter bores, but my personal choice was the 257 Weatherby Mag, but I wouldn't recommend the 257 Wby unless you handload. Factory ammo is shockingly expensive.

Mike

Driftrider, that may be true, but imho a 270 has always had more felt recoil to me than my 308's have. And this has been with several different guns and loads over the years. But like I said, that is me. But then again I have shot a 7mm mag that didn't have anymore felt recoil than a 270 either. But to be back on topic, probably one of the best all around selections for deer would have to be a 308 just because of the many different rifles and ammo available.

+1

best of both worlds.. Necked down .308 with the kick of a .243

It would be my first choice..

brian

tell us more...just whitetails? woods? open fields?
what do you have for whitetails already?

.243win
.240wby
6mm-284
6.5mm-284
.270win.
.270wsm
7mm-08
.300wsm
.257wby
.338win.mag.

.270 was built for that work


North to south & east to west


It's the deer rifle that can go anywhere.

And limited to an effective range of about 50- 75 yds.

12 ga slug is effective out to 100yds with the right combo of gun and bullet. But its definately not even in the same league for a deer cartridge as the 7mm-08, 270 win, 243 win, 30-06, etc. (I mention those 4 because those are the ones that I've had). I currently have a 44mag Marlin 1894, Ruger M77 in 270 win, and Rem 700 in 243 win. If you want a cartridge that will give you everything for a deer go with the 270, short, long, the 270 is a time prooven shot maker. And if you are concerned about recoil, remington makes a recoil manager shell that is comparable trajectory wise to a 130gr or 150gr standard load.