Advantages of a smaller caliber

[denton]

You are right that the 25-06 is a 270 or 30-06 necked down to 25 caliber.

If you want a short action, then you might really enjoy the 260. It's a 6.5mm bullet on a 308 casing. The 257, the 6.5x55, and the 7x57 require at least an intermediate action.

The recoil is mild, there is no debate about its ability to kill deer, it is a great varmint round, and it is not too similar to what you already have.