Doe Dumper

Is this a trick question?? Seriously I been using a 270 for quite a while and I bought a 7mm-08 to have as a backup...but I'm sure it will see just as much action as the 270.

Pygmy

Kraftworks...Judging from this thread and another thread of yours you seem quite interested in the 25-06... It is an excellent deer cartridge and is easy on the shoulder as well...It is certainly one of the best long range deer cartridges for deer of ANY size and game up to and including caribou.. If it has a disadvantage, it is this... It performs best with a barrel of at least 24"... It may not be the best, lightest, quickest handling rifle for hunting in the woods..If this is not a factor in your decision, I would say that the 25-06 is pretty tough to beat as a deer rifle at ranges up to 400 yards and beyond...

If rifle length and weight is a factor, one of the short action rounds might be a better choice... The .260, 6.5 x 55, and 7mm-08 are all very pleasant to shoot and are all capable of 300 -350 yard shots on deer sized game... They also perform well in short, light rifles with 20' or 22" barrels, making them a better choice for woods hunting.. If I had to choose one, I would probably take the 7mm-08 because of a better selection of bullets and the ability to handle heavier bullets in the case that you might someday want to use it for heavier game such as elk...

What are MY favorite deer rifles...??... For open country hunting where a long shot ( up to 400 yards) may be required, it is a .280 Remington in a Win M70 with laminate stock... My woods rifle is a Rem M700 Mountain Rifle in 7mm-08... I use 140 grain Nosler ballistic tips in both rifles...

James B

There are so many. The 25-06 is as good as any. Better than 243 by far. 260, 7mm-08, 6.5x55 and 308. Boddington says the 270 and 280 are the worlds best deer rifles. It would be darn hard to prove him wrong on that one. I have a 280. and 25-06. To name but a few.

jdreddish

25-06

jmfa1957

My favorite of the calibers that you listed is the 6.5x55 Swede. I love the stabiity, accuracy and penetration of the 6.5mm bullets, even at the modest velocities offered by most loadings. If you handload for a modern bolt action you can power 'em up a bit, but this is notreally necessary for this caliber t be effective. Use 120 or 129 grain bullets on deer, 140 grain bullets on hogs and larger deer and you'll have a great hunting outfit - - mild recoil, accurate, and plenty of power to get the job done.

(Of course, EVERYONE needs a .30-06.)

snipehunter

my vote is a .257 roberts

zrexpilot

you need to look at ballistics again. They are pretty close depending on what bullet you use.
------------------------------------------------400yds---------500yds
---------------------------velocity/FPS

25-06 115 gr. trophy Bonded bear claw-------2050/1075------1850/870
25-06,115 nosler partition--------------------2100/1120-------1900/915
.243 100gr Sierra Gameking.------------------2210/1080-------2040/925
.243 Hornady 100gr LM-----------------------2213/1087--------2018/904
Drop zeroed@200yds
25-06, Bear claw-------------------------------21.1-------------43.2
25-06,nosler-----------------------------------17.5-------------35.8
.243 gameking----------------------------------19.8-------------39.9
.243Hornady------------------------------------18.80------------38.20
Doesnt look any better, you or a deer wouldn't know the difference. its funny how you claim the 25-06 to be a great deer cartridge out to 400yds but then say the .243 is marginal, when they are both the same. ( shakes his head and walks away)

James B

All that stuff on paper does not always tell the story. I have used both calibers since the day they came out. I have shot a lot of deer with both. What has led me to my opinion is just plain old expierence using both on big Mule Deer for the last 35 years or so. Many calibers defy their ballistics on paper. One that really does is the 6.5x55. Its ballistics are not impressive, its killing power is. So shake your head and chase those paper trails. What kills is bullet performance in the field. You have to compare side by side performance.

zrexpilot

now balistics dont matter. your right James , your always right. NOT ! I guess balistics are ok when your doing the comparing, but when someone uses them to contradict you you they dont matter.
Theres nothing magical about the .25, It's not better by far, as you put it. Thats just your opinion, they're darn near identical, actually @ 500 yds the .243 starts to surpass the .25. I would hate to see handloaded comparo's the .243 might be better.
The truth is I like them both and you couldnt go wrong with either one, nor could you tell a difference. 6 mil , 25-06, or .243, awsome guns ! I recommend either one.

Carpmaster

the 30-06 and 308 win are great rounds!!! but the 6.5x55, 260 and 6.5-06 are all good too!