All around varmint/deer caliber?

[IdahoLT1]

I'd say .308. Hornady makes a 110gr VMAX(varmint) load for it.125gr Noslers would work well on yotes, badgers and antelope.150gr to 165gr would work well on mule deer and white tails.165gr to 180gr is perfect for elk and moose.180gr to 200gr would do the trick on black and brown bears (within range)

 

[Afy]

6 BR, .260 Rem, 6.5x47 Lapua all work, as might a .30 BR.

 

[gdcpony]

Not having read the whole thread, I may seem out of line, but of the ones listed first I would start with a 243. New gun owners are known for developing a flinch and the cause is overgunning their first gun. If you decide to handload later you can spit out small pills faster than 4000fps. My personal favorite is a 70gr at 3500fps for varminting. For deer a 100gr bullet would work just fine with good shooting.

Now if you find one I feel the best all around caliber for you would be the 257Roberts. But you would have to find one and probably handload it for best performance. A 90gr Sierra GK out of it would be great for both purposes. However, lighter bullets are there for Varmints and heavier for bigger deer if you feel the need. It is an old round loaded down in factory fodder, but a good rifle and good loads make it a real threat to almost anything you are likely to come across. I won't own another 243 after having it.

 

[Tentwing]

Wow.....hadn't seen this thread in a couple days ...it has gone crazy

Of the OP's original 3 options the .243, 25-06, and the .270 were metioned ; and he intended trying the cover several bases. (varmit all the way up to bigger game)

Since I believe that no one rifle is perfect for all those conditions....... a little compromise can go a long way.
Some time back I found my self looking for such a rifle and a 25-06 was what I bought. It covers a good many bases very well.

Is it a Moose gun ?....... Probably not ?
Is it a Squirrel gun ?...... Only if you want it to rain squirrel parts

It is however deadly on Whitetails. A well placed 117gr Nosler or Sierra GameKing will drop them where they were shot.
An 85 gr Winchester Silvertip leaving the barrel at 3470 fps ( Winchester's specs I dont have my own chrono) will splash Groundhogs and Yotes

These loads are not hard to find either. Mine likes Hornady custom with 117 Noslers and Federal Vital Shock with 117 gr GameKings.
You can even pick up 25-06 in Remington and Winchester at both of my local Wallyworlds.

Federal also offers their Vital Shock in a Barnes 100gr TSX. I've never shot it, but I have heard from friends that that is one wicked little bullet.

If you can try to shoot all three .243 , 25-06, and .270 . You will find them all to be very good and versatile cartridges. Hopefully shooting each of them will help you decide which is best suited to you.

I like all three, but I think the 25-06 covers "one gun to cover multiple situations" label very well. I went 40 years without one . I wont do that again.

I hope you enjoy whatever rifle you choose,......Tentwing

 

[45Autoloader]

A possible "all around" solution...

T/C Encore and get one barrel of each cal .243 and .308.

That should pretty much cover it.

 

[Judo]

257 Roberts.

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

 

[murf]

i vote 243. flat tragectory for varmints, good ammo availability and the 100gn bullet will take out the whitetail deer.

murf

 

[Skyshot]

They are all good rounds, I'll vote for the .243 because of ammo availibility, and it comes in a short action, they are easy to shoot and very accurate. It will be a better varmit gun than deer as opposed to the other calibers, but I have killed some big deer with mine( in the 250 lbs. range), Ive killed wild hogs and 3 black bears, all one shot kills with the exception of one of the bears that took a finishing shot. If you keep your distance under 200 yards for big game with 100 grn Nosler partions or 100 grn Sierra Gamekings It will be fine. In short they all will work but the .243 will be the most pleasurable to shoot for a new shooter.

 

[mshootnit]

if you can find a 6mm rem. Handload 87 grain spire points for it. 6mm is capable of more than most folks think.

 

[pikid89]

243, 22-250 25-06 270 all usable on deer and varmints

 

[GCBurner]

If you reload, pretty much any rifle cartridge in .24, .25, .26, or .27 calibres can be loaded for all-around use. If you're relying only on the factory ammo you're likely to find at a local sporting goods store, you'll be more limited in your selection, since stuff like .257 Roberts and .270 WSM aren't widely available in more than a couple of bullet weights, if they're on the shelves at all. That pretty much cuts it down to 4 choices: .243 Winchester, 6mm Remington, .25-06, or .270 Winchester. If you find a rifle you like in any one of those, you'll be pretty much set to hunt anything in North America, short of the big bears or bison.

 

[True Grit]

.243 works great. You can harvest varmits with no problem and I've never worried once before pulling on any of the many deer I have taken with my .243 Savage. I've acually drop quite a few white tails in there tracks and what more could you ask for? Remember shot placement puts food on the table = ]