Fill the void: .223 Rem - 7mm Mag

[absolute0]

I seem to have a gap in my rifle battery between these 2 calibers (mil surp & pistol cal lever guns excluded).

What would some suggestions be for a deer/varmit capible utility rifle in a light-to-middlin' round? I'm thinking something along the lines of a .243, .257 roberts, 25-06 etc. but I don't have experience with them and would appreciate insight from my more knowledgable bretheren.

What are some of you favourites & why?

 

[rbernie]

The 223 is a good varmint round, so I'd probably not try to duplicate its capabilities in a larger chambering. The 7mmMag is good on the bigger/further away stuff but a bit much for most smaller/closer deer. That being said, I'd probably not go with any of the mid-caliber choices. Both the 25-06 and 260 are excellent long-range rounds in their own right, but you've already got that in the form of the 7mmMag. In other words, don't think in terms of a gap filler as a caliber thing - look at it as a capability thing.

Were I you, I'd be looking for an intermediate round that would be suitable for hunting without being too much of a good thing. For example, you could get into a 30-30 levergun or boltie; good in the brush, not too explosive on deer, and relatively inexpensive to shoot. Another alternative would be a CZ or the like chambered in 7.62x39.

 

[kentucky_smith]

The only high-powered rifle my dad owns is a .243, used for coyotes and deer. Taken plenty of both. 'nuff said.


Me, I can't own just one.

 

[CB900F]

Absolute0;

There are several cartridges that would fill the bill for you. Depending upon your criteria; varmint/paper/game, cost, availability, etc., would bias the choice one way or the other.

The four that come to mind to me are: 6mm Remington, .257 Roberts, 6.5X55 Swede, and the .270.

I prefer the 6mm over the .243 because of it's ability to handle the heavier bullets better. And that's usually a handloading issue; if you don't roll yer own, it's a moot point. The .257 is a classic. Now that +P loadings are available, it gives up very little in energy to the rest of the field. Very few bad words ever written about the 'Bob'. The 6.5 Swede kills all out of proportion to either it's diameter or velocity. It's only .007 larger in diameter than the quarter-bores, & usually slower. But it's one of the most effective statements ever produced as to the positive aspects of B/C and sectional density. The 140 grain bullet will go through brick walls, and the round has won 1000 yard competitions. This is what I gave my son for his first centerfire hunting rifle, the 6.5 Swede. The .270 is also in between, but since you already have the 7-mag, I'd go with one of the other three. It essentially duplicates the Remington round for game animals & is not as versitile IMHO.

900F

 

[triple4]

You would be hard pressed to do better then the 25-06, its a great cartridge for up to Muledeer size critters, very flat shooting and works well with many powders, brass is very easy to get or make from the other family members of the 06 clan and it darn near comes in about every config of rifles and almost all manufactures build them. As a bonus the recoil is very mild.