When I am not using a my bow, I take out a .270. Is the only thing you are going to use this gun for is deer hunting? If you are going to be using it for multiple types / sizes of game, you may want to look into a 3006. You can such a wide range of grain bullets. I don't remember the exact ranges, but you can get like a 90 grain to a 190 grain bullet.

With you looking at a max range of 200 yards, you really have a bunch of good choices. Some that jump out at me are 308, 7-08, and the 358. If you like the 25-06 go for it, as it's great. You have so many choices with this one it really comes down to what you like best. Here's an idea, with you wanting an Encore just buy 2-3 barrels of you top choices and see which one you like best. You could alway sell the ones you don't like or better yet just keep'em all!

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Yeah I would probably use a 25-06 too, butat 200 yards it wont kill a deer any better than a 243.I'd rather have a243 forvarmints.But he did mention anything about varmints Iguess.

For under 200 yards, the .308 is king, low-recoil, and very similar tothe short-range power of the 30-06.
Great accuracy, too.

Josiah

thanks guys. for the most part it will be a deer rifle, but would be willing to do some varmint hunting too but if i get into that very seriously i'd maybe invest in a different gun. I'm kind of leaning toward a 30-06, because of the variable type of bullets to be used, and someday i may go out west. Thanks again!

Great choice, especially if you're going out West sometime.

If you were more serious about varmit hunting, I would suggest getting a 7mm Remington Magnum, the power is the same at close range in comparison to the '06, and the smaller bullet diameter makes it better for varmits.
And, at longer range, the 7mm has much better trajectory.

But for deer, I would get the 30-06, it's cheap, and is one ofthe best "Put 'em down fast", but in a standard cartridge.

Huh ? Do what ? A 7 mag for varmints ?

(Shakes his head and slowly walks away)

.243win all the way my only segjestion is say no to the encore single shot is all u get if i was u id get a savage with the accutrigger or a remington 700sps

I've got 7 buddies here in NC that bought '06s because they might "Go out west...Someday..."

One bought his in 1952...None have been yet...5 of the 7 have bought a .243 in the past 4-5 years...
Buy a .243...25-06...7mm-08 or even a .270....IF you can afford to ever go out west, you can afford
to buy a proper rifle...

Buying too much gun is a sure way to start flinching...I'll tell you at least 60% of the hunters out there flinch
most of the time...There are more deer lost due to flinching than any other way...

We had a saying back when I played football...Hit them harder in the 4th than in the 1st and they will start laying down....That's true...That '06 sure sounds bad...It can be, I expect the '06 has caused more hunters to flinch than any cartridge in history...There are better rounds for deer than a '06, rounds that recoil less so you will shoot them more, there is no way you can be a great shot shooting a box of shells a year, and I bet most on here shoot less than that...

Holy crap, I couldn't even imagine.