Hi Guy's

I'am thinking about getting one bolt action just for deer.

But I can't decide on whether to get a 25-06, 270 or 308
ranges would be right out front to 250 yrds. We have a mix
of hardwoods and fields and a big deer would be about 160 lbs.

Maybe some of you guy's could give me your opinions.

Thanks,
jr1968

Kimber Montana 308 or Model 70 Featherweight.

Since you may want in the future to hunt Elk, Caribou, Moose, Pronghorn, etc... I'd suggest going with the 270 Winchester. In whichever rifle that fits your tastes and budget.

Okay, I will say it. Sounds gay and I can not imagine saying this but here it goes...

270 Winchester, it will work every time without fail.

I think I am going to be sick...

I think 'idahoguy' is right,,,, go with the 270 Jack, in what ever rifle fits your paycheck and shoulder.
Ammo is easy to get and also easy to reload (if you do that).

Simple....270

WHERE DID IT SAY HE WAS LOOKING AT ELK ?? THE GUY ASKED ABOUT DEER !! If you can't kill the deer at 250 with the 308 then I guess the 270 won't kill it either !!

Of the three calibers you mentioned, I would say the .308 is the best choice. Having said that, I would consider a 7mm-08 if I just wanted a deer rifle only. Overall, I think you would be better off with a .30-06 as it is more versatile and you can hunt most anything short of a brown bear with it depending on what load you use. JMHO, YMMV

All 3 works well...maybe 250-06 is more roedeer rifle then whitetail and 308 is to ordinary ... LOL...therefore my choise will be .270...faster bullet will make bullet flight more flat for longer distance

Who said anything about elk?

Who said the 308 won't kill at 250 yards?

The OP said "pick one".This is not tough stuff.


Oh I see: You're looking at Idahoguys post above on the elk,etc.

Any of them will work as others have stated. For me in a similar situation I choose a Winchester 70 featherweight ss 270 and couldn't be happier.

WW Model 70 Featherweight in .308

250 yards and less on little deer?

Rem M7 in 243.

Done...

It sure is a good thing the military turned back DADT...

With a NY location are you hunting Southern or Northern Tier?
Either way, absolutely no reason to haul around a long action rifle unless you are really in love with the 25-06 or 270. Save yourself a quarter pound (maybe more) and a little length and look real hard at the .308. Lots of rifle choices, ammo sold everywhere, versatile, more than enough gun to well past 250 yds.
I hunt in Northern Tier (Lewis & St Lawrence Counties), and have taken deer from 125 to 215 pounds (field dressed). A nice light short action .308 is what I ended up with - I like 30 calibers and heavier bullets (Kimber Montana .308, Leupold VXII 2X7). But I would have gone with a nice .300 Savage model 99 Savage if I could have found one at the time I was looking for a new rifle!

Go with a short action caliber. Anyone of the 308 based hulls will do. You save some weight, possibly balances better for ya, shorter throw, and you'll miss out on nothing the 30-06 hulls have to offer. Hell get a 243.

In 1952 I purchased a Winchester Mdl 70 270. Over the years I have shot pronghorn, mule deer, elk, varmints and other unwonted critters with that rifles. In 1953 started reloading 270 ammo and have not used any factory ammo in it since then. I like trying out various rifles and cartridges and have also killed deer with a 22-250 Rem, 243 Win, 257 Roberts, 25-06 Rem, 264 Win Mag,and 308 Norma Mag rifles. I have a 30-30, 308 Win, and 30-06 rifles but never got around using them for deer hunting but have seen game killed with them.---Get a Mdl 70 270 with a top quality 3-9 X or 4-12 X scope , learn how to reload . Set up targets at 100, 200, 300,and 400 yards. Site in 2 1/2 high at 100 yards then see where it hitting at the longer ranges. Since I was a kid most all of my big game have one shot kills with the 270 Win.

Jr1968 - at 250 yds all standard caliber from 243 to 30-06 are proven and acceptable. The three you mention are in the middle of that with no real world difference on deer at, or under, that range. It is when shots get past 250 your cartridge choice starts to matter as it is the point where bullets start to drop fast.

My $.02 - If you don't reload- skip the 25-06. Just NO reason to get it(compared to 308 or 270) if it means ANY extra effort at getting ammo.

270 was made for deer...literally and the bolt action standard by which other cartridges are measured. If you ever may want to shoot deer or targets at longer distances it could feasibly be suggested over the 308 for its slightly flatter trajectory.

308 means the rifle will have short action as opposed to a long action for the other two. I kind of like short actions but only because I have both to compare otherwise I would never even notice the half inch difference. I enjoy reloading for short actions a little more.

Find the best fitting rifle in any of those - or anything else between the 243 and 30-06 and send us pics and a story.

I have not hunted with the 308.

My dad has hunted with a 25-06 since I was a kid and when it was time for me to buy my own gun I did my home work and went with the 270. The 25-06 is an awesome gun but I wanted a little more knock down without loosing the flat line shooting. 270 will have more trajectory than the 25-06 but still is a flat shooting gun. I have seen many deer killed with both and I will always own a 270. The 25-06, 270, and 30-06 share the same casing.

For me it would be either the 270 or 308 in the platform of your liking. Nothing wrong with a 25/06 it's just the others give you a more options for larger or tougher game.

Find a rifle brand and model that appeals to you. Buy whatever caliber they have in stock, but lean towards the smaller calibers. Any commercial caliber between .243 Winchester and .338 WM will kill any deer any of us will ever see with proper bullet placement.

I'm a Winchester Featherweight whore myself. My latest is a 7mm-08 stainless with wood stock.

The Model 70 Extreme Weather in .270 or .30-06.

Swampy,

When I find myself agreeing with you, I start looking over my shoulder...

DF

IMO for less than a grand on Gunbroker, it's the bomb....

Any of them, just go with a rifle you like and fits you.

I'd find a rifle I liked in any of those calibers, and any of about a dozen more. Find the rifle that calls your name, and don't worry about the chambering.

308

For a 160 lb animal? You left out .243.

Not a bad choice. Maybe not the best, but not bad.

After all, what is "best"?

I have a .308 Kimber Classic with 23" Broughton 5C that shoots lights out. I had to swap out the original barrel for lack of performance, but that's another story. I've killed a number of deer with this rifle and it's a keeper. With a safe full of fine rifles, this one gets chosen a lot. It's light, accurate and always performs to my expectations.

DF

Do this.

Handle as many rifles as you can, an find the one that fits you the best. Be sure to check what cartridge it is chambered in so you can buy ammo before you leave the store.

My choice of the options you presented would be a .308Win.

But

Given the opportunity I would get a 30-06.

If a short action was required I would get a 300WSM

Snake

I'd pick 270 from the choices you gave me.

Any of the 3 cartridges that you've listed will work fine, the deciding factor is how much you want to spend.

If you're planning to buy a new rifle:

At the low end, price wise, the Marlin X guns are very accurate and can often be purchased "on sale" for less than $300. A lot of value for the $$ IMO.

In the middle, you have the Rem/Rug/Win bolt guns.

At the upper end you've got the Forbes, McMillans, NULAs, etc.

If you're planning to buy a used rifle, you never know what kind of deal you might run across.

Lots more options than there are limitations.

Jeff

................For deer "only" and in reality given these three cartridges, imo it won`t make a difference with the same shot placement.

A lighter, shorter action rifle with less overall length chambered in the 7mm/08 would be my 1st pick.

270 or 308.

Anyone who got sore because I mentioned Elk. Well sorry. A 270 is not less of a Deer cartridge than a 308.

Owning (and having owned) several of both I don't see why the .308 is even in the mix.


Carefully places helment on head and fastens chin strap......dives for foxhole.

Swampman700,

I have no beef against the 308 or the 25/06. A person could harvest a Deer, Elk, etc.. With any of the three.

25.06 for light recoil great accuracy deer rifle.

If you don't reload then a 308 win will be slightly easier to find and very accurate as well.

What do you have now for rifles? Are there any woodchucks there in NY?

For a first 'deer' rifle where you have and can use a chuck gun I would suggest a Kimber Montana in 243. Sure it's on the light side for deer however if you don't have chucks and no chuck rifle it will work all year long and be SS too!

I am a senior and I have many rifles now. I use my 243 the most year round.

25-06 for longer range and 358 Winchester for woods to medium range shots.

That last sentence is golden.

My first thought, too.

Agreed.

I'd not think twice about a .270WCF as a primary deer rifle for any and all ranges.

.270 would be my choice.

Lou

Dunno why such a great cartridge gets so little notoriety or favor. 6mm Remington

270 Win!!!

Go short action ... like a Model Seven. I like the .308 ... or a 7mm08.