Pick a cartridge.

[stanway]

.308win

 

[Slapshot]

7/08 (easy to shoot lots, very accurate) or 280(little more range/recoil)

Somthing I like about the 7mm

 

[david doyle]

followed by about 10 reccomendations of the 6.5 swede

and for good reason!

 

[Huntsman]

.308

 

[NAA]

Another vote for the 6.5x55mm Swede...

But in keeping to the parameters of your original post....

.308 Win or 7mm-08 Rem....

 

[todbartell]

 

[blargon]

.308

 

[barktwid]

6.5*55

 

[Gibbs505]

and for good reason!

Double good reason!!

 

[Airborn_69]

My top 4 picks are .223, 6.5x55, .308 & last .338LM

 

[MHUNT]

30-06, unless there is no chance at all of going after anything larger than a deer, in which case I might go with a 280, just 'cuz.

 

[Eagleye]

7x57!! Great performer, pleasant to shot. Eagleye.

 

[303carbine]

x 3 for the 7x57................

 

[true north]

30-06

 

[Slimbo]

7x57

Amen!!

6.5x55 comes in a close second for me, though!

 

[Gatehouse]

For deer and range? .260 or 7-08.

 

[BC Bigbore]

.243 or .308. Lot's of rifle choices: lever, pump, semi, single shot, bolt. There's a billion types of factory and handloading combo's to try and low recoil so you can shoot lot's and lot's. 'Course I is a gunnut and need lot's of guns to do the same job

 

[Scott_N]

I think the 30-06 is the most versatile as a hunting cartridge, especially if you might go after something bigger than deer. Depending on your definition of "lots of range time," recoil with the '06 might be a factor after a while.

All the cartridges that you listed are good ones. I'd pick the 30-06 if it was to be used more for hunting, or the 7-08 if you're going to use it at the range more often.

 

[Win/64]

7x57 Grampa of all rifles.

 

[beretta boy]

257 Roberts or 260 Rem.