BigBulls has a good point, but since you' ve added that you " wanted a new toy versus " needed" a new rifle, it' s a moot point. It sure is hard to resist the urge to get a new rifle once the itch has set in!

If you' re thinking more for the bench and less for hunting you might want to look at a 22-250. Gives you a varmint round, fun to shoot, easier at the bench. But if you want something bigger (and who am I to say no!) I' d opt for the 7mm-08. It' s a nice round, good for a fair amount of game, nice bullet selection.

The 7mm-08 seems to be hard to find in a Tikka, at least in California. I had a similar thought a while back, couldn' t find one, ended up with a Sako 30-06.

i think you are in need of a 35whelen!

if you already own a 308win and a 270win. i would have to pick the 25-06rem due to that you already own a 308win.

All of those cartridges offer similar performance on game, and there just isn' t much difference between the four. If you want to play around a bit, the .25-06 will certainly allow you to be a show-off better than the 7mm-08, but those 7-08s can be mighty accurate, too.

I' ve heard mention here about the .260 Rem, but it is more of the same.

If you are looking to justify this purchase by saying it may end up as your wife' s rifle, the aforementioned .257 Roberts, .260 Rem or 6.5x55 Swedish are all hard to beat in this role (or any deer hunting role, for that matter).

Sounds like fun trying to pick out your next toy!

The 7mm-08 has the better bullet selection, you can use heavier bullets,its a short action & performs well from a 22 inch barrel.

The 25-06 is slightly better varmint cartridge,performs best in a longer barrel(at least 24 inches).

I think the 7mm-08 has a slight advantage but with either of then you will not get anything that you already have covered by your 308 or 270.

I own a tikka continental (heavy barrel) in 7mm-08 & just love it but considering the cals you already have I' de look at a tikka in a 223 or 9.3x62 just for somethind different & to cover different ground.

As far as recoil goes, doesn' t the 25-06 have 25% less " kick" than the .270?

If I was buying with my wife in mind, I' d think there would be a big difference with recoil between the two. For example, there is a smaller difference between a 30-06 and a .300 Win Mag, but the .300 is too much for me and I wouldn' t want to shoot one very often.

Jeff...U.P. of Michigan

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Good point DG. I was thinking about that earlier today. She could probably shoot both with light loads with no problem. I' d be surprised if she went once a year with me anyway. [8D] Don' t really need a big gun right now but I' ve wanted a 7mm Rem Mag for years...maybe it' s time!

Get a magnum. 375 H&H.

I' m delighted to see it mentioned so many times.....the .257 Roberts........a fine cartridge for deer......Extremely light recoil.....and still works good as ever.....only a smidgen less than a .25-06, hell.....no deer will ever notice.