Lone_Gunman
Member
I have never seen .257 Roberts, 6.5x55 Swede, .250 Savage, 25/3000, 6.8 spc, or even 7mm-08 in a Wal Mart around here.
Favorite sub-.30 caliber rifle cartridges for White Tail Deer
- Thread starter Lone_Gunman
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A realy nice sub-thirty with low recoil is the oft forgotten 250 Savage. I've been successfully hunting with it's offspring the 6.5-250. 140 grain bullets at 2600 fps with low recoil. Yes, I know you want off the shelf, just providing info for something resembling a 250 or 260. The 7mm-08 is in the same ballpark.
If you must have what friend calls utterly boring ordinary for off the shelf availability then you're probably going with the 243 or 270. At that point personally I'd pick the 270 as it's even more ordinary than the 243. As a range officer, I've helped a lot of people sight in and shoot, both cartridges offer enough recoil reduction from the 30-06 to make easier shoot and that's much more important than more speed.
If you must have what friend calls utterly boring ordinary for off the shelf availability then you're probably going with the 243 or 270. At that point personally I'd pick the 270 as it's even more ordinary than the 243. As a range officer, I've helped a lot of people sight in and shoot, both cartridges offer enough recoil reduction from the 30-06 to make easier shoot and that's much more important than more speed.
Shawnee
member
"I have never seen .257 Roberts, 6.5x55 Swede, .250 Savage, 25/3000, 6.8 spc, or even 7mm-08 in a Wal Mart around here."
Local conditions may vary but, in general, the .243 ammo will be easier to come up with than .25/06 ammo.
Whatever you can do to deer with a .25/06 you can also do with a .243. The .243 can be had in rifles of shorter OAL and lesser weight than the .25/06, and also in action types other than the bolt-action. There is a big difference in recoil between the .243 and the .25/06.
Local conditions may vary but, in general, the .243 ammo will be easier to come up with than .25/06 ammo.
Whatever you can do to deer with a .25/06 you can also do with a .243. The .243 can be had in rifles of shorter OAL and lesser weight than the .25/06, and also in action types other than the bolt-action. There is a big difference in recoil between the .243 and the .25/06.
woof
Member
Lone, You're joking right? You're going to pick a rifle based on ammo being sold everywhere in case you forget to take your ammo? What if you forget the rifle? your hunting license? your pants?
Lone_Gunman
Member
No not joking. If i forgot my rifle, license, or pants I guess I would have to buy more of those too.
Have you ever lost anything while travelling? Maybe you live in a big city, I am not sure. What I am telling you is that in the town I live in, I cannot buy uncommon caliber cartridges. I could probably find any caliber within an hours drive, but finding 257 Roberts, for example, would be kind of hard to do on the spur of the moment.
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rangerruck
Member
I really don't find much of a diff between the 243, and the 25.06 as far as recoil goes. not that there isn't a diff, but the 25's rifle is heavier, generally speaking, a heavier , longer bbl, and a longer action. the diff in round weight is about 20 grains max. The amount of powder burnt is similar as well.
Again, Wetherby rounds are not common, and expensive, and 257 roberts, is a necked down 7x57, which is more common and a great round as well, but still not near as common as a 243 or 25.
I think you could be quite happy with either, and both are pretty interchangeable for what they do.
As for the 270, I have a friend that just finished working at Carter's Country, in Houston for years. He said, for the last 10 years, the number 1 rifle cal sold through their stores was anything in 270, and that for the last 10 years, it was also sold as the number 1 rifle for specifically for hunting deer.
it is a darn good round, and just as fast as a 25.
Again, Wetherby rounds are not common, and expensive, and 257 roberts, is a necked down 7x57, which is more common and a great round as well, but still not near as common as a 243 or 25.
I think you could be quite happy with either, and both are pretty interchangeable for what they do.
As for the 270, I have a friend that just finished working at Carter's Country, in Houston for years. He said, for the last 10 years, the number 1 rifle cal sold through their stores was anything in 270, and that for the last 10 years, it was also sold as the number 1 rifle for specifically for hunting deer.
it is a darn good round, and just as fast as a 25.
.25-06 to me is more of a Varmint/designated antelope round (well that's what I've used it for). Lots of .25-06 rifles are heavy barrel varminters. Thing the heaviest bullet I've fired from a 25-05 is 117gr. It's "enough" for game up to Elk (some people use it for that) but I'd MUCH rather have a 30.-06 and a heavier bullet.
My .243 is a single shot, also a varminter. I think most of what I've fired from it is 70 gr ballistic tips. Federal makes a 100gr partition bullet that would be well suited for whitetail.
Lots of .243 rifles out there in a variety of actions. In a bolt action the 243 is a short action, the 25-06 a long action. The .243 is 'faster' for a follow up shot.
My .243 is a single shot, also a varminter. I think most of what I've fired from it is 70 gr ballistic tips. Federal makes a 100gr partition bullet that would be well suited for whitetail.
Lots of .243 rifles out there in a variety of actions. In a bolt action the 243 is a short action, the 25-06 a long action. The .243 is 'faster' for a follow up shot.
one eye joe
Member
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- Mar 9, 2006
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- 64
I had a .243. Nothing wrong with it, just didn't care for it. Recoil is mild, and lots of people try to lessen it even more by using lighter bullets. BAD move! I have used a .25-06 since 1972, It kills deer with shots I would be afraid of with the .243. Recoil is quick, but not necessarily hard. 120 grain bullets recoil apprecaibly more than 100 grainers, and come fairly close to 130 grain bullets in .270 (which has an even quicker recoil cycle). My current favorite round is the 6.5x55. Recoil is more of a push than a quick jab, and is easy to take. Your fear of forgetting ammo may be justified in your mind, but most people will disagree. You can order ammo online, if it isn't available locally, and you can always carry the .30 caliber as a back up in case your scope fails, the stock breaks, you forget ammo, or any of the other gremlins that could possibly happen. Since you are leaning toward a .25, go with the .257 Roberts if you have a need for greatly reduced recoil, the .25-06 if you can take a reasonable amount. If it were me, I would look for a .260 or 6.5x55, buy a supply of ammunition, and double check everything before a trip, and then check again.
Lone_Gunman
Member
What happens when the airline loses the bag your ammo is packed in?
I guess just cancel the hunting trip and fly back home.
Float Pilot
Member
6.5x55 Swede Mauser
7 x57mm Mauser
257 Roberts (a necked down 7x57mm)
Or the two newer cartridges that do exactly the same thing in a slightly shorter case.
260 Rem (just a 6.5mm in a 308 case)
7mm-08 (same case with a 7mm bullet.
The only problem with the shorter cases is that they do not do well with heavier bullets in case you decide to hunt something larger.
7 x57mm Mauser
257 Roberts (a necked down 7x57mm)
Or the two newer cartridges that do exactly the same thing in a slightly shorter case.
260 Rem (just a 6.5mm in a 308 case)
7mm-08 (same case with a 7mm bullet.
The only problem with the shorter cases is that they do not do well with heavier bullets in case you decide to hunt something larger.
TheGrimReaper
Member
I'd like a .260 Rem and/or a .257 Roberts myself...
longdayjake
Member
Shawnee and I often battle it out about the .25-06 and the .243. He likes the .243 and I like the .25-06. I can't remember how many .25-06s he has owned but I sure know he favors .243 and .270 over the .25-06. I personally think that the .25-06 is a MUCH better bullet than the .243. I will agree that the other two calibers are more available and that they have more load options, but having used all three I can faithfully say that the .25-06 is the most fun of them all. That may be because I handload. If you handload I bet you will end up liking the .25-06 more. One more thing.
My experience has been that .25-06 is no where near as much recoil as the .270.
My experience has been that .25-06 is no where near as much recoil as the .270.
woof
Member
I would think the .25-06 and the .270 would have identical recoil with the same weight bullet.
oneounceload
member
another fan of the 7-08 and the 7mag. 7's are very good ballistically speaking...
Deer Hunter
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- Dec 26, 2005
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- 4,097
.223
interlock
Member
25 cal ish deer rifle
the equation that we need to look at is not "what do i like best" it is "what do i want to achieve" the answer might be "to buy a rifle to efficiently kill a deer at reasonable ranges(200yds-) within the parameters of the recoil "comfortz0one"" so you need to look at how that is to be achieved. "i need to deliver a bullet to the animal that is capable of killing the animal at a speed that will allow it to work so we might look at a hunting bullet between 100-150 gr. "i want to deliver 130 gr bullet at 2800+ fps (muzzle vel) (for example)
then choose a round that gives that performance midway through it's possible bullet wieghts, that way you are more likely to get the twist rate right, or at least, close enough.
if you choose a rifle and want to shoot the heaviest bullets from it ie a .243 win and you wish to shoot 100-105 gr bullets that removes a degree of flexibility and gives a margin of error with bullet wieghts. I have a ruger that does not stabalise 105's very well at all and is just passable with 100s but excellant with 80s.
Where as my 7mm08 shoots rounds fromm 100 gr to 175 gr so 120-130-145 are well within that range and it shoots them well. I currently shoot 120 gr bullets through it. it has a really short barrell and lighter bullets mean faster powder which means better efficiency in this rifle.
Finally choose your rifle based on the bullet you want to shoot, the rifles twist rate barrel length and what you like.
If i was buying my model 7 again, i would n't. I would buy a 700 with a 24 inch barrel. this would allow me to make better use of heavier bullets and slower powders.
In my opinion the rifle is a "delivery platform" to allow you to deliver the bullet you want, where you want to and fast enough.
7mm08, 260 rem are both great rounds. 6.5 x 55 is a classic round as well. 7 x 57 mauser is another great.
i hope this explanation of my logic in round selection helps (but i doubt it)
interlock
the equation that we need to look at is not "what do i like best" it is "what do i want to achieve" the answer might be "to buy a rifle to efficiently kill a deer at reasonable ranges(200yds-) within the parameters of the recoil "comfortz0one"" so you need to look at how that is to be achieved. "i need to deliver a bullet to the animal that is capable of killing the animal at a speed that will allow it to work so we might look at a hunting bullet between 100-150 gr. "i want to deliver 130 gr bullet at 2800+ fps (muzzle vel) (for example)
then choose a round that gives that performance midway through it's possible bullet wieghts, that way you are more likely to get the twist rate right, or at least, close enough.
if you choose a rifle and want to shoot the heaviest bullets from it ie a .243 win and you wish to shoot 100-105 gr bullets that removes a degree of flexibility and gives a margin of error with bullet wieghts. I have a ruger that does not stabalise 105's very well at all and is just passable with 100s but excellant with 80s.
Where as my 7mm08 shoots rounds fromm 100 gr to 175 gr so 120-130-145 are well within that range and it shoots them well. I currently shoot 120 gr bullets through it. it has a really short barrell and lighter bullets mean faster powder which means better efficiency in this rifle.
Finally choose your rifle based on the bullet you want to shoot, the rifles twist rate barrel length and what you like.
If i was buying my model 7 again, i would n't. I would buy a 700 with a 24 inch barrel. this would allow me to make better use of heavier bullets and slower powders.
In my opinion the rifle is a "delivery platform" to allow you to deliver the bullet you want, where you want to and fast enough.
7mm08, 260 rem are both great rounds. 6.5 x 55 is a classic round as well. 7 x 57 mauser is another great.
i hope this explanation of my logic in round selection helps (but i doubt it)
interlock
Bear70
Member
I love my .270 and it gets my vote. That said, my next caliber will be a 7mm-08.
EHCRain10
Member
243 or 260
xx7grant7x
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- Dec 10, 2007
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- 382
.270 WBY mag
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