I was a .243 fan forever and was comfortable with it on Texas Hill Country deer ........until I moved to Mississippi and on to Georgia. Dang, there/s does that will dress out 150 lbs in GA! Now you add the souped up energy and natural resistance to lead that a buck in rut has...well I went to the 25-06 and didn't look back. Incidentally, I'm the one that put the tie vote in.

i went with the 257 abd the 257roberts is a great round but my fav 25 is my 250sav.

Does anyone have any complaints about the model 700sps or the tikka light?

I sure like my SPS. It's not pretty, but for what I bought it for - varmints out in lava rocks, not worrying about scratching up nice wood - it is perfect. The Tikka's that I've handled sure seem nice.

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I used to have bullet selection problems with my 6mm. They were either to explosive or they didn't expand. Now the bullet selection is much better which makes the 243 more viable. But I consider the 6 mm a great varmint round and would use it only with premium bullets on deer. I have had a 25-06 only for a few years. One of my brothers tells me that 30 years ago he had problems with bullet selection and his 25-06 -- same story as my 6mm. Again there are much better bullets on the market today. I'd use a 25-06 on deer and if pushed would use a 6mm or even a 243. The 6mm calibers still do not give me enough confidence that they would be the ones I grab when heading out the door for the yearly deer hunt. I like bigger calibers and heavier bullets. I voted for the 25-06, but think the 270 would be as good, perhaps better. As far as the 270 being flatter shooting than the 25-06 and that being why I'd pick it???
I used a 280 last year. This year I'll use a 358. The difference between the 'flatter shooting 270/243/25-06' and the 358 out to 300 yards doesn't amount to a hill of beans in my opinion. I go to the range at least once a week even in poor weather. To me, practice with what you're shooting, use the right bullet, hit the heart if possible.

I don't shoot much over 300 yards anymore and find that most of my deer have been shot closer to 100 yards. Using a 300 Weatherby with a 16x scope wouldn't make a better hit for me at longer ranges when I'm stalking than a gun I've practiced with a 2x - 7x scope.

I have owned and hunted with all 3 calibers you are looking at.My choice would be the 25-06.You can shoot the 87 gr for varmints,a 100 gr for regular deer and the 115 Nosler part for big deer.It is a little light for Elk but if you have time to pick your shots it will work.

I'll nit-pic a little jim; you have two calibers, two that are .257 caliber, and one that is .243 caliber, and three different cartridges. But your 25-06 choice isn't bad at all.

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I have all but the .257 Roberts in my collection of rifle calibers, so I know a little of what is what and how things go down at various yardage, recoil and longer range shooting also. l like the .243, does a good job, just a little light on the deer size animals

I carried the 25/06 for many a year, until I built another wildcat (just got an itch for another caliber rifle) in the caliber .264/06 ( I just hate metrics) or what some people call the 6.5/06. I like having this caliber because it does it all for me around our place and one can still go after antelope, mule deer and be assured you have enough gun. Now place a 160 grn bullet in this rifle and the hardwoods become a great place with deep penetration capabilities with that heavier bullet.

I voted .243. I have had one for years, along with one or more rifles in each of the cartridges in your poll. I have killed pronghorn, whitetail deer and mule with it without a problem, not to mention varmints galore. It kicks less and has more loads available than any of the other cartridges you named, at last count. You won't go wrong with it.

Each cartridge you named has merits and will do the job, but you mentioned recoil and the fact that you aren't a handloader, which makes the choice clear to me.

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IDShooter

"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect." - Mark Twain

I'm a bit partial to the .257 weatherby mag. Ammo wasnt a problem since I'm a handloader so when looking to buy a quarter bore, the wby was a good choice. Bullet selection gives very interesting ballistic results. Here in Michigan during firearm whitetail season I sit on cornfields and rule the whole field.

If one doesnt handload, the 25-06 is an excellent choice and will bring that trademark flat-shooting quarter bore characteristic to the forefront of any hunt.

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Isn't the .257 Weatherby Magnum a little much for varmits?

I had to make the same choices as you and I choose a .243 for a deer, antelope and varmint rifle and it is capable of long prairie shots. I limit my shots to 650yds on deer and lopes. Deer no problem as they are usually under 200 yds. Varmints I'm forced to keep it under 750 as that's all the adjustment my scope has.

If you want one just for coyotes/targets it's hard to beat a .223 depending on what you think a long prairie shot is.

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Get close and stab it with a knife or shoot it from a mile away. It's all hunting

Can't compare to .25 cal.

The .223 may not compare in the bullet weight dept but in the price, being able to see hits. and the time between shot you don't have to wait for barrel to cool I think it can hold it's own.

If it's bullet weight you worry about than the .25 can't compare to the 7mm. So what?

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Get close and stab it with a knife or shoot it from a mile away. It's all hunting

Because the OP mentioned use on deer and varmints, I'd have to opt for the 25-06. Good all-around for both and with bullet weights that'll carry a little more energy as the yardage increases.

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Stretch ®

"If you are a reloader and you don't know Lee, you don't know Jack" - Floydster

DON'T BE SCARED©

I agree. For the stated uses the 25-06 is the very best of the offered choices. I had one when I was in high school in the early 60's when it was still a wildcat. It was an awesome long range woodchuck gun.

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Well Chuck, everyone has an opinion. That is mine. I have had both and now only use the .25-06 No comparison in any use. I can kill with anything, but the 25-06 has a perfect balance for one who can use precision, power , and anatomy far beyond the .243. I like firearms in general.

Ruger 77 in 257 bob. looks good shoots better and amo in any deciant shop can be found from 87-120 2.5-10x scope and dont look back, cyotes 365+ rock chucks 400+ deer antilope 250+. Recoil what recoil the gun weighs 8.5lbs want to juice it up when you start hand loading and you will go improved. Want somthing bigger later 35 Whelen Imp you might have to own 2 guns but who said that was a bad thing.
J.

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Beware the man that has but one gun he likely knows how to use it.

I agree with Perry's assessment. While I haven't owned a 25-06, I have owned 5 different .243 Win. rifles over the years. All of them have been accurate, reliable and pleasant to shoot. But since Sask isn't a handloader (yet), the .243 Win is the best option based on economy and selection of factory ammo alone. I have had 2 Model 70's, a Savage, a Stevens, and my current Sako A7. If I were looking for a new one, I would look hard at the Tikka, the new Savage Trophy with Nikon BDC scope package, the T/C Venture and the Weatherby Vanguard S2. Pick whichever one feels the best in your hands. If your budget allows, the Winchester Model 70 is very nice, along with the Ruger Model 77 Hawkeye. (My son and his girlfriend both have new Rugers in .338 Federal and .280 Rem. and both shoot very well indeed.) I would stay away from the heavy barrel models for my first rifle, especially if there is a chance you will be lugging it around chasing deer. Consider getting that heavy barrel varmint master when you add your .223 rem. or .204 Ruger for varmints and targets only. One other note, be sure to get at least a 22 inch barrel for your .243. My son's girlfriend has a 16 inch barrel Ruger 77 in .243 and its muzzle blast is much worse than my .270WSM with 24" barrel!

Out of all the choices offered, I've only shot (and own) a .243. But I also have a .30-06 and while it has more recoil, its not unbearable. And being that its the same case as the .270 and .25-06, with the bigger bullet, it has more recoil than those two.

Now to answer the question, I'd opt for a 7mm-08 or .308 myself to meet the requirements. And I'd probably give the edge to the 7mm-08. To make a comparison for anyone who might not know, a .243, 7mm-08, and .308 all have basically the same case, just different bullets. And the 7mm is essentially a .270 bullet on the shorter case.