Advantages of a smaller caliber

[model 70]

Ok, so I have an itch for a new hunting rifle. Are there any advantages to using something like a .243, .257 or 7mm08?

we're talking mainly deer here.

[jmarriott]

Less recoil makes alot of people shoot without the flinch of bigger rounds

Less weight in the overall package means the arms don't drag the ground at the end of a days hunt.

Less barrel lenght in tight wooded areas are easy to swing to the left or right without hitting the trees.

When i get to hunt deer in rifle country I have two mainstay's I alway seem to take with me. I built a T/C contender carbine in 7-30 waters and I take dad's bolt in 257 roberts. I have shot many deer with the 7-30 waters setup and in the areas i hunt i never felt undergunned. I use the 257 roberts when treeestanding and the TC on walks and heavier cover.

The 7-30 works well in contender pistols also.

Next gun i will by will be a 7-08 most likely in something like a model 7, browning BLR or T/C encore.

[Rocky Raab]

I personally think that a 243 (or 6mm) is an expert's deer rifle: fine for the calm, cool and GOOD shot but not for the inexperienced.

Almost any .25 is almost perfect for deer. Some wouldn't believe that such a small difference in bore diameter would matter much, but the quarter bores are proven reliable deer killers.

Moderate cartridges in 270, 7mm and 30 are also perfect. I'm talking 7-30, 30-30, 300 Savage and the like here - up to about the 30-06. Larger than that is okay, but maybe a bit more than needed.

Some of the old-time rounds are also wonderful: 32-40, 38-55, 45-70 for example.

I think if I were shopping for a new, mild-recoiling but deadly deer rifle in a traditional caliber today, I'd be looking at a 250 Savage, a 257 Roberts or a 7-08/7mm Mauser. If I wanted some new creation, a 25 WSSM or that short 6.8 Rem SPC.

[Classicvette63]

If you'd like a lighter recoiling round that isn't "smaller' in diameter, the .35 Remington is a fine old round. If you reload you can make plinker loads with .357 pistol bullets for cheap.

[gd357]

I'm with Rocky on the .243/6mm. I saw a first-time hunter (I almost hesitate to use the word) in deer camp about 5 years ago shoot 3 or 4 deer with a .243. Out of those, he MIGHT have made one clean kill. The rest were long trails, and required a second shot. By comparison, I started out rifle hunting with a 30-06. Made one bad shot, but the deer dropped within 100 yards. If you've shot a few deer over the years, I'm sure you'd do fine with a .243.

Now, that being said, if you're looking for a smaller deer round, any of the 25s would work fine. Just my $.02

gd

[Dom]

Model 70, in my opinion -- No, there's no advantages. Since you must be an O'connor fan, stick with your .270. That's the closest thing to the perfect deer caliber that I know of.

One that might fix the itch would be a Remington Mod Seven in 7-08 (I believe a 7x57, which would put it in line with one of Europe's greatest calibers) would be a great quick handling rifle -- another one to put on my itch list also.

Or get one or another '06, preferably the 30, tho the 25 would be ok.

It's always nice to get the itch, just harder to decide what to use to scratch it with, Waidmannsheil, Dom.

[Cossack]

Mostly weight and recoil. For use out to say 250 yards the smaller calibers like 275 Robers, 25/06, 260 and 7/08 are just the ticket for deer. The 243 is on the light side for our large northern deer. It works but there is less margin of error. Especially important in crowded hunting conditions where the deer could travel after being hit.
My Kimber Montana weighs just 6.5 lbs trailside. Loaded to 2900 fps with a Barnes TSX 140 grain it's about as near perfect as my use - stand and still hunting - calls for.

[Cossack]

That Kimber is in 7/08..

[Cal Sibley]

Topics like this one go a long way in explaining why I've become such a fan of the 6.5x55 in recent years. Most commercial rifles in this caliber are very accurate and kick little more than most .243s.
100 and 120gr bullets are available for those smallish deer in the southeast while there are 140 grainers for the larger midwestern deer. In the heavily forested areas of the mid-Atlantic states the 160gr. SPSP (round nose to me) is ideal for brush busting. The caliber handles everything from 85 to 160grs. That's one heck of a range. Just one mans opinion, but I'm sold on it. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

[Rocky Raab]

Thanks, Cal. I forgot that one. It's a winner and does all that you say it does.

[Evan03]

i think the 6.8remmy would be cool, but so far im not sure ammo or rifles have been available. though remington lists it i think its still a wildcat and may always be??? unless things have changed in the last few months that ive been idle in the gunworld.

[denton]

Yet another vote for the 6.5x55. The 25-06 and the 6.5x55 are different critters, but with 100 grain bullets, and modern loads, they are ballistic twins.

The 7-08 or 7x57 are both lovely rounds, but quite close to a 270 in performance. With modern loads, the 7x57 is practically a 270. To me, that says that those calibers would be redundant.

The 260 would be a great crossover varmint/deer round. I think that it is what the 243 was touted to be--authoritatively dispatches deer, but, with lighter bullets, pretty tough on small critters.

Through a bizarre twist of fate, my 308 became a 243, and I spent quite a while researching whether it was an adequate round for pronghorn. A big pronghorn is 125 pounds. My conclusion was that it is, especially with a premium bullet. In all my reading, there were many that swore by the 243 for deer, and many who thought it was not adequate. When you get to the 257 Roberts, all such discussions cease--nobody challenges the 257's adequacy. So, long story short, the 257 would be another excellent choice.

[Evan03]

the way i see it and have seen it and seen others see if for years as that the deer aduqiat discusion stops at the 243.

243 to 3006 are perfect deer getters.

model70
id look into a 2506. fast fun varmit and bigger critter getter. you know how i feel about the 257s

[model 70]

25/06 is nothing but a .270 or 30/06 case necked down to a .25? caliber bullet, right?

when i said "smaller caliber" i was leaning toward a short action round. the purpose of this would be for less recoil and a shorter barreled rifles(like a model 7 or model 70 compact).

[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.