TerryM

I'm debatiing which to buy next. I want the option to hunt the occasional coyote or ground hog and also backup as a deer rifle. My goto deer setup now is a custom shop model 7 in .350 rem mag and I hunt heavy cover mostly for good sized Ontario/Canada deer. My buck weighed 0ver 270 this past season. I also would use it on out of province hunts for antelope, caribou and mule deer but I also already use my 7mm rem mag Finnlite mostly for that. Opinions anyone?

younggun308

I would go with a .25-06 because the ammo is more available than the 6.5x55 is, at least in my area, but 6.5x55 ammo might be more common in Canada if there is more European influence in what's apopular firearm.

I think you should also consider the .303 British cal., it's pretty good from what I hear, and the ammo should be pretty common where you are, but in my area it's not uncommon, it seems people down here like sporterized Lee Enfield rifles.

halcon

I have the 25-06 with a 26" barrel and Have used it on deer and elk both ,no problems at all . I also have the 6.5X55 swede in a model 70 classic featherweight . Great gun but doesn't have the range of the 25-06 .

TerryM

I handload for everything so ammo availability doesn't matter. As for the .303 its not really a varmint round and the rifles are war time relics. We all pretty much have owned a .303 at one point up here but you have a hard time finding one in the field now.

KonaBoy

I'd go with the 6.5x55.

younggun308

Well, if you're looking for a mostlyvarmit and good for deerround, you should just get a .243.

8mm/06

I don't have any experience with the 25-06, but it certainly has a faithful following.

I do have experience with the 6.5 X 55, and I find it to be have a truly WIDE range of applications. I'm not sure how much it trails the 25-06 in terms of flat shooting, but it isn't bad all by itself.
I do know that it has won more than a few long range competitions.

Halcon, that Model 70 fw in 6.5 X 55 must be a dandy. I'd love to have that set-up or maybe even a 7 X 57.

TerryM

Kona, you hang here too? I thought you were a dedicated OTB man !!!!!! Yes I am leaning to the 6.5 as I'm also thinking its a nice round for calf moose and bears also and with 120 gr bullets its virtually identical to the 25-06 in energy and trajectory all the way out to 500 yds. I want something that is varmint legal in Southern Ontario ( so sub .277 ) but that I will also use as a deer rifle backup.

KonaBoy

I am everywhere on the World Wide Web The southern Ontario restrictian is actually the reason I have a 6.5x55. My uncle bought it for who knows what, and he always said "best gun you can buy that's legal here". When I was 14, he decided I was old enough for a rifle and he gave it to me.

North Texan

For coyotes and varmints, the .25-06 is a great round, especially if you handload. I load mine with 75 gr. V-Max's, and they make some dandy coyote medicine. Not real easy on hides,though. Shoot very flat and fast, and buck wind pretty good. For larger game, it will handle bullets up to 120 grains.