Opinions wanted, looking for my first whitetail deer gun, 25-06 or 243, 270 Win

Rman said:
The .243 is the dirtiest trick a fellow can play, when strictly talking about a deer rifle.
Year in and year out it does, what almost everyone says can't be done, accurately and reliably at well more than double the distances posted.

Those that know, know. Those that don't, recommend something else. : )

R.
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..and those that do and have done for many years do recommend something else. The 25's and the 6's are fine within their limitations and loaded with the right ammo, but if 270 is the only other option, it would be my choice. And yes I have hunted with all three. If you want to add one more choice to the mix, it's hard to beat a .280 for a nbr of reasons.
 
In the world of shooting and shooters, bigger is better always wins out. Lets face it, its just not macho to be shooting a rifle when there is a bigger calibre available to do the same job!
A great amount of hype followed the introduction of the 243 in the early 1950s. It was highly touted as the ideal calibre for long range shooting of deer and antelope. Mountain hunters were taking it on sheep and goat hunts. I guided my own young son on a goat hunt and he killed a tough old billy goat with one shot from his 243. I also had friends who were killing moose with it.
But Remington was not about to lose out on the long time rivalry with Winchester, so they came out with the 25-06 in 1969. This over capacity for calibre cartridge is not very efficient and is hard on barrels, so it was rather slow on making a name for itself on the market. But the bigger is better guys clung to it, trying to make the 243 appear puny.
However, all the hype about larger calibres didn't deteriorate from the 243 one bit. In fact with superior bullets, it is a better game killer than it has ever been and for the original question, what is a good first time rifle for white tail deer, the light recoiling, easy shooting and very accurate 243 would be a great choice.
 
H4831 said:
In the world of shooting and shooters, bigger is better always wins out. Lets face it, its just not macho to be shooting a rifle when there is a bigger calibre available to do the same job!
A great amount of hype followed the introduction of the 243 in the early 1950s. It was highly touted as the ideal calibre for long range shooting of deer and antelope. Mountain hunters were taking it on sheep and goat hunts. I guided my own young son on a goat hunt and he killed a tough old billy goat with one shot from his 243. I also had friends who were killing moose with it.
But Remington was not about to lose out on the long time rivalry with Winchester, so they came out with the 25-06 in 1969. This over capacity for calibre cartridge is not very efficient and is hard on barrels, so it was rather slow on making a name for itself on the market. But the bigger is better guys clung to it, trying to make the 243 appear puny.
However, all the hype about larger calibres didn't deteriorate from the 243 one bit. In fact with superior bullets, it is a better game killer than it has ever been and for the original question, what is a good first time rifle for white tail deer, the light recoiling, easy shooting and very accurate 243 would be a great choice.
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This.

Not sure when a 270 became a mandatory minimum for deer sized game?
Fairly easy to tell the guys that hunt and shoot, lots, from the guys that don't.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, of course, but hopefully those opinions are backed up with at least some experience.

R.
 
The problem I have with the 243 is that IMO it needs premium bullets, I don't trust the plain Jane factory stuff on big deer as it seems unreliable on small deer.

Premium bullets, no problem.
 
Eventually you're going to wan t to shoot a moose or elk. While the 25-06 can do it, it's really outside it's wheelhouse. For that reason, of the three you suggested, get the 270.
 
I am going to be "that guy"...... If, and I mean IF, you are dead set on a one rifle solution, it's hard to go wrong with a .300 win mag if the recoil doesn't bother you and you can shoot it well......

Tons of bullet choice, you can learn basic reloading and charge it up or down and it will take anything in North America reliably......

*disclaimer*

I no longer own a 300 win mag because I like owning a selection of rifles, loading for them and experimenting...... But if I could only own one the 300 would be it.......... And it is not for everyone...... But I would suggest you ignore the "recoil stigma" and actually shoot up to what you can handle before making a judgement In regards to what you can handle.......
 
Interesting post.
From what I can recall, a 308 does 'almost' everything that a 30-06 does...with less case length and powder.
But if you neck the two calibers down; the 30-06 offspring are able to leap large buildings in a single bound. Where-as the 308 necked down...for women and children...( sarcasm meter...9 of 10)
If all you are going to shoot is WT, 243 seems like a good bet.
But I'm amazed at how nice the 308 is to shoot. Personally, it seems like a good choice.
Stay Safe
 
Mumbles Marble Mouth said:
The .270win is the best cartridge in the entire world.
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When's the last time anyone saw a .270 in an F Class shoot? My guess would be never. For long range target work or sniping, it ain't on the radar. Very few match grade rifles in .270 have ever been made, Winchester being the only factory to offer a target model M70 in that chambering for a very brief time before dumping it. There is almost zilch match grade ammo along with precious little in the way of match grade bullets made for the .270. Sierra makes a 135 gr. MatchKing .277", but it is seldom ordered.

Berger makes a few VLD hunting bullets in .277" but no match bullets.

That said, the .270 Winchester has done the job for a lot of hunters since 1925, but it is far away from being the best in either big game hunting or target shooting. Simple as that.
 
tokguy said:
Interesting post.
From what I can recall, a 308 does 'almost' everything that a 30-06 does...with less case length and powder.
But if you neck the two calibers down; the 30-06 offspring are able to leap large buildings in a single bound. Where-as the 308 necked down...for women and children...( sarcasm meter...9 of 10)
If all you are going to shoot is WT, 243 seems like a good bet.
But I'm amazed at how nice the 308 is to shoot. Personally, it seems like a good choice.
Stay Safe
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I agree..... Including the sarcasm....... Lol...... He .308 variants are capable of hunting anything in NA......... So are the .30-06 variants.......

One could easily argue the 35 Whelen or the .358 as a do all, but in today's world, range restriction comes into effect for the mountain hunters........

Personally speaking, it's nice to have an excuse to have more than one rifle....... But, if I could only on one for NA it would be the .300 wm
 
I'm on the 270 boat shot everything for years deer, elk, moose no complaints from any of them.
The 280 Rem seems to be getting overshadowed by the 280 AI, there has been no brass available for the 280 Rem anywhere for a long time however 280 AI is available, I haven't looked for factory loaded ammunition 280 Rem. for a while I know you can buy 270 win at the gas station in Nowhere Ab.
 
For whitetail deer it just might be the best in the world.

Had a ##### of a time knocking over that damn F-Class target after I rattled it in last fall, don't get be started on tracking the thing, it is like it didn't even bleed.

Now gutting the bastard and getting any decent cuts or even trim for sausage was a bloody nightmare.

SHELL SHUCKER said:
When's the last time anyone saw a .270 in an F Class shoot? My guess would be never. For long range target work or sniping, it ain't on the radar. Very few match grade rifles in .270 have ever been made, Winchester being the only factory to offer a target model M70 in that chambering for a very brief time before dumping it. There is almost zilch match grade ammo along with precious little in the way of match grade bullets made for the .270. Sierra makes a 135 gr. MatchKing .277", but it is seldom ordered.

Berger makes a few VLD hunting bullets in .277" but no match bullets.

That said, the .270 Winchester has done the job for a lot of hunters since 1925, but it is far away from being the best in either big game hunting or target shooting. Simple as that.
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Of the three the OP said to choose from all three are more than capable to do the job, as are others mentioned.
I would consider the gun your putting it in. T3's are all long action so I don't think I'd take the 243 cartridge in that gun, a different gun might give a different answer, but...
A 270 in a T3 with a Nikon scope is a pretty solid setup that is very popular.
Note: I've selected none of these cartridges, ever, but I have nothing against them it's just that I went down other paths.
 
SHELL SHUCKER said:
When's the last time anyone saw a .270 in an F Class shoot? My guess would be never. For long range target work or sniping, it ain't on the radar. Very few match grade rifles in .270 have ever been made, Winchester being the only factory to offer a target model M70 in that chambering for a very brief time before dumping it. There is almost zilch match grade ammo along with precious little in the way of match grade bullets made for the .270. Sierra makes a 135 gr. MatchKing .277", but it is seldom ordered.

Berger makes a few VLD hunting bullets in .277" but no match bullets.

That said, the .270 Winchester has done the job for a lot of hunters since 1925, but it is far away from being the best in either big game hunting or target shooting. Simple as that.
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You know they say .308 shooters invented ### and .270 shooters invented ### with women.
 
For deer, you can pick just about any centerfire cartridge and it will kill it. Most practical for a non handloader is the common stuff like .308, .270, 30-06, and even the lowly .243 with good bullets is a good deer killer.
 
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