[saskhunter12]

Hello, Im shopping for a new rifle and am looking for advice and suggestions. I will mostly be hunting whitetail, mulies, and alot of yotes and targets. I want a rifle with good range and accuracy with minimal kick (since i shoot alot) and knock down power. So far iv heard the 243, 25-06, and the 257 to be good choices. The only one of these i have shot is the 243. Is there any other rifles i should consider? and please compare between the rifles i have listed. all advice and suggestions are deeply appreciated.

Thanks

 

[DCAMM94]

I would add the 7-08 if the smallest critter is a yote. I'd rather have the 140 gr bullet for deer, and the kick is less than the 25-06.

 

[Perry01]

The .243 has the least recoil of the 4 you listed but might not be enough power for large mule deer. The 25-06 has decent power and manegable recoil but the 7mm-08 has more power with a little less recoil. The 270 will have the most stopping power and flatest trajectory but also the most recoil of the bunch.

I have a .243, a .270 and a 7mm-08 and all are good rifles but my model 700 in 7mm-08 seems to be my go to gun.

 

[MontyF]

I'm a quarter bore fan. My current rifle for the use that you listed is a 25-06. Also had a .257 Roberts and a .257 AI, no moss on them for getting the job done either. Had a Ruger boat paddle in .243 which ended up with my second son. He's taken truck loads of deer with it even though I consider it light for mulies.

 

[broom_jm]

Welcome to Shooters Forum, Saskshooter12!

For the stuff you listed, you should have included an "all of the above" option. You can't really go wrong with any of these rounds. I own a couple 243's, a 270 and load for my uncle's 25-'06. None of them kick enough to worry about unless you're shooting over a hot dog-town or plan to shoot 50-100 a day at the range on a regular basis.

If you already have a hot 22 centerfire for yotes and fun shooting then get a 270. If this will be your one and only centerfire rifle, the 25-'06 is a very versatile cartridge. If you don't load your own yet, stick with the 243 or 270. Most of all, be sure to let us know which way ya jump!

 

[MikeG]

Same opinion as Monty, I love the 25s. Have shot a bunch of stuff with my .257 Roberts and really like using it in the field.

Good luck....

 

[Barry S]

I would say the 257 only because of it's lighter recoil compared to the 25-06. If range and power were the only considerations then it would be the 25-06 for me.

 

[Jakeway]

260 Remington is my current favorite. 85 grain for yotes and targets, 140 gr for deer, and 120 gr for all-around. I've gotten good accuracy with all of these bullets. The kick with the 85 is comparable with a typical 243 (which I own and use) and the kick with the 140 gr load is noticeably less than my 270 with 130 grain bullets.

Having said that, of the ones you listed in your poll, I voted for the 257 Roberts. Never shot one, but it's definately in my bucket list.

 

[Tnhunter]

I like the quarter bores for the things you're wanting to do. The 25/06 might be the best practical answer, but there's just something about a .257 Roberts My 25/06 has been unused since I got my .257

 

[shane256]

260 Remington is my current favorite. 85 grain for yotes and targets, 140 gr for deer, and 120 gr for all-around. I've gotten good accuracy with all of these bullets. The kick with the 85 is comparable with a typical 243 (which I own and use) and the kick with the 140 gr load is noticeably less than my 270 with 130 grain bullets.

Having said that, of the ones you listed in your poll, I voted for the 257 Roberts. Never shot one, but it's definately in my bucket list.

Pretty much what I was thinking. I have a .243 Win, .260 Rem, and .270 Win. The .260 kicks a bit less than the .270 and only a little more than the .243. For the past few years, my .260 is my first choice to take with me into the woods. Alternatively: 6.5x55SE

Or a 7mm-08
or from that actual list, I'd probably go with the .243 Win or the .257 Roberts. I've not shot a Bob before but I can't think of a single reason why it wouldn't work just fine.

 

[HarryS]

The .25 has a significant edge over the 243 for deer; it takes a 120 grain bullet.
The 25-06 and the 257 roberts are a toss up; with the 257 having slightly less recoil and muzzle noise.

Personally, I favor the 257 Roberts, as it is a more classic round.

 

[Bill Mannatt]

Get a Roberts,have it rechambered for the Improved Ackley version.As good as any .25 out there,with half the muzzle blast.I've killed a number of elk with mine over the years,it's more than adequate for everything but moose.

 

[Sus Scrofa]

I'm with all of you 257 Roberts fans. I have shot a whole load of deer with it(red, fallow, roe, muntjac, sika), one or two mouflon, countless coyotes and a spanish goat or two in Texas and red fox(UK version). I sold it to a close friend who is now also a 257Rbts fan, because I wanted to have a 257 wildcat which for those of you regulars will know, I keep harping on about. Monty for your info this wildcat is very close to Akleys ideas and I would plump for the Akley version if I where you. Mine is probably as hot if not more so and the recoil is still minimal in my T/C Encore and that is with a 16 inch barrel. Why everyone went for the 243Win against the 257Rbts I will never work out( particularly for a deer rifle).

 

[kludge]

Of the ones you list, I'd say .25-06. It's hard to argue against something that just works, and has the best ammo availability. If you handload, then for me the .25-06 brings nothing to the table.

For whitetail to mule deer I'd take a .260 Rem, 6.5 Creedmoor, or the 7mm-08. And I'd take the .25 WSSM over the .25-06, just to burn less powder. With coyotes on the menu, I would see the advantage of the .243 Win... but if all you want is dead coyotes, it doesn't matter much... and the advantage I get from a .264" or .284" bullet over a .243" bullet for mule deer (weight and diameter) would sway me in that direction.

For a handloader, I think the .257 +P is fine in any modern action, or the .257 Ackley, they give you roughly the same performance as the .25-06, and could still be done in a short action. But I think I'd still want a 6.5mm or 7mm and have the choice of 140gr bullets for mule deer, though.

 

[saskhunter12]

tough decision

Thanks guys, all great advice. Just to verify, i am not a hand loader. And i do shoot on average a couple times a week in the summer. whats the recoil comparison between the 25-06 and the 257? Those seem to be the consensus choices.

Thanks again

 

[broom_jm]

Thanks guys, all great advice. Just to verify, i am not a hand loader. And i do shoot on average a couple times a week in the summer. whats the recoil comparison between the 25-06 and the 257? Those seem to be the consensus choices.

Thanks again

One kicks very little (the 257) and the other kicks a little bit more. Likewise with the effective range for both.

 

[jkbt1]

I prefer the 25-06. Wider selection of bullets for what you want to do with it. 75gr v-max's and 90gr sierra hp's are unreal on coyotes and I have stuck with 100gr partitions for deer. And as stated , 120's are available and considered enough for elk in some peoples book. The one comment I disagree with so far is that the 270 is flatter shooting than the 25-06.

 

[zoar]

Yeah 243!!! Go dog go!

243 closing in on the poll...

great fast laser like shooting round and you cannot go wrong with it for varmints and in so many cases for deer. Like anything it is ALL about shot placement, you do your part the deer is down with a 243

 

[OTTER]

It was a toss up for me between the .243 and the .257. The deciding factor being ammo availability for a non-handloader. So the .243 it is. I have at least one rifle chambered in each of the choices presented and can say for deer/coyotes that any of these would be excellent. Elk were not mentioned in the O.P. so I tossed the two biggies due to the recoil factor (while not signifigant to some, there is a difference and could be a consideration). As far as the .243 possibly being inadequate, I say hogwash! The largest Mule deer buck I have killed (over 300#'s field dressed) and the three largest I've ever seen killed were all killed with a .243. Undoubtedly the best gun for the job is the one you "use" and I find myself taking the .243, .250, .257's more than the big boys.
My $.02 Hope it helps, Ron.

 

[old roper]

Thanks guys, all great advice. Just to verify, i am not a hand loader. And i do shoot on average a couple times a week in the summer. whats the recoil comparison between the 25-06 and the 257? Those seem to be the consensus choices.

Thanks again

Got a question are you shooting rifle or pistol couple times a week? Since your going to buy factory ammo I would check where your buy ammo see the selection on the calibers you may not find much for the 257 vs 25-06.