Trying to fill the gap between my .223 and my 7mm rem mag hvy barrel. Looking for a sporter weight rifle to be used for whitetail a only.
Will be a wby vanguard s2 or Winchester 70 ultimate shadow. Shots to be out to 400 yds max.

Down to
6.5 creedmoor
.308
25-06

Any one stand out over others?

.25/06

.270 win!!

25-06

If I could only have one deer rifle, it would be a .25-06. Thankfully I don't have to settle for just one.

Any of those mentioned would work, but depends on the situation. Deep woods rifles are different from one that the shot might be 400 yards. For distance, I'm settling on a 6.5 Creed. Deep woods I still have my original '44 98K 8mm with peeps.

From your choices .308, But I'd go 7-08/7-08AI.

Used a 270 M700 exclusively for 38 years then used a 308 Montana for the last 2 years.

What he said.

Out of those I’d 25/06

When I made that decision of handful of years ago I went with the 243AI and have never regretted it for a second. Today I would go 6 Creedmoor.

Last year I took a full grown mulie with it at 381 yards. A 90 gr Scirocco at 3300 FPS. It pounded the onside shoulder and exited far back on the offside. What more does a guy need?

From your choices I would go 25-06 or 6.5 CM. Same same out to 400 yards.

7x57

I currently have a T3X SL 308 and a T3X 6.5 creed. I also hunted whitetails for a few years with a 25-06 as well. I swore I would never own a creed but then grew a man bun and drove my buddies prius to pick it up.

I honestly can say that the creed is growing on me more and more. That rifle is just as accurate as some customs I have had and better than some as well. The lack of recoil also helps as well.

If I only could choose one for whitetails out of what you listed it would still be the 308, but ask me again in a year and that creed might take the cake.

Ditto

I am a .30 cal guy so id pick the .308 Win but any of your three choices are excellent deer cartridges along with another half dozen or so cartridges there's really not a bad choice for deer.....Good luck ...Hb

Tikka 6.5CM. No need to handload to achieve .5 MOA from a variety of factory ammo.

25-06

The 6.5 Creedmoor makes a lot of sense here.

.223 + .284 = .507 divide by 2 = .2535 looks like .25-06


Mike

Since I've become a light rifle fan, one of the short action cartridges. If going .25/06, I'd consider monos to minimize meat damage on closer shots, or careful shot placement. My neighbor has whacked a bunch near and pretty far with a .25/06 and 100gr TTSXs.

.308

Definitely a .257 of some sort

From the options listed I’d choose the 7mm-08.



P

If you are hunting woods areas then the 308 is hard to beat... Unless you hunt power lines where you get long shots, then a 6.5 is a better gamble.

Personally I like the 260 vs. Creedmoor - I have one chambered in my Sako 85, and I pile them up each year with it.

If you reload, I’d choose the 25-06. If not then I’d take the Creed.

You don't mention handloading. So ammo availability would be my choice. .308 can be found at just about any walmart, hardware store, feed store, etc....

of those I'd pick the 6.5 CM

I have been working on the idea of the perfect deer rifle for most of my adult life. I had just about figured it was a 7mm-08 shooting a 120gr bt or ttsx at 3175 fps from a 700 in a McMillan mtn Rifle stock. If I had to do it again I might go with the creedmoor just due to ammo availability.

In Va most of the shots are 100 yards or less, so I have found myself using a 300 BO more these days.

Go retro, 250-3000.

.257 Roberts

Of those listed- I would go with the .25-06.

Although the 6.5creed is likely the correct answer and the .308 gives you more versatility and ammo is everywhere.

Not a wrong answer in the bunch i suppose.

-Jake

Ditto!, I agree 100%

If TN will let you, use the 223.

6.5 creed or 7mm-08

Handload or no?

Scope choice for connecting beyond zero? (Duplex, BDC, or turrets)

The deer at 300-400yds, are they typically crossing shooting lanes or relaxing in pastures/clearcuts?

All 3 chamberings are good picks, but deciding on the best for your needs requires a bit more info.

Factory ammo only.
75% open field hunting
25% woods hunting

Of your choices, I would take the creedmoor, but if it were me, I would get a 7mm-08.

My heart says .25-06, as I dearly love that cartridge.

My head says 6.5 Creedmoor, as it will be easier on bullets at <100 yards, gives up nothing at long range and will have far more factory ammo options.

308

not on your list but you obviously like the 7mm cal. so, why not stay with a good thing and go 7mm-08 rem???? it just makes too much sense and it really makes sense if'n you load your own ammo.
Big Ed

∆∆∆This∆∆∆
What are your normal hunting conditions?

Any of your choices would be fine. Like a lot of things it's just personal preference.

Though not on his list.....I like the suggestion!

From your choices I'd also say .308


Thinking outside the box, it would be a 7-08 which is available in the rifles you mentioned.

In that case, I would go 6.5CM, given the 3 options.

I like it!


I like it a lot!

But, my personal choice would be 7-08 in a Kimber Montana.

Out of your choices, 308.

I’d pick whichever one shoots TTSX’s and go from there.

Limited to those choices --- > 25-06 and don't look back.


Jerry

The 25-06. It's the Hammer of Thor!

6.5 Creedmoor in a Tikka T3x with SWFA SS 3-9x42 on top. The 127 LRX for woods and 147 ELD for open country would be my bullet choices.

Since the 270 Win isn't listed in the opening post, I'd go with the 25-06. I love mine and even use it on elk.

Never understood what a 25-06 does that a 270 doesn't do better?

110’s in a 270 takes care of that.

308

These days, the only rifle in the gun safe dedicated to deer hunting is a custom Mexican Mauser chambered in .257 AI.

I would go with the .308. You already have distance covered with your 7mm mag. If you did not own the 7mm mag I'd suggest .270 or 7mm-08, which ever action length you prefer.

Tom

.308 of your choices listed. I would lean to 7-08 but ammo may be a bit more expensive. And the .308 handles heavier bullets better.

MM: I've see this comment before and never understood. Not trying to start a pissing contest, just looking for clarification. In this context, what does "better" mean?

Better could mean a far larger variety of factory ammo.

.270 Winchester for me

"Advantages". I never could see where the 25-06 had any?

Of the choices you are looking at (some here are missing that point) go 25-06. You won’t be disappointed.
GreggH

Ok, fair enough. I've used them both quite extensively on deer and like them both. The 270 certainly has an advantage in availability of a variety of factory ammo, for those who do not reload. And for elk, I'd take the 270

As far as effectiveness on killing deer, I think one could hunt several lifetimes and not be able to tell the difference. . A 120gr and a130gr at about the same velocity have pretty much the same effect on bambi. I have a slight prefer for the 25/06 because the recoil is just light enough that I can generally watch the result of the bullet's impact.

Bottom line, you're happy with yours and I'm happy with mine and they both work.

In a Vanguard you have the choice of 243 Win, 25-06 Rem (Howa already dropped from their lineup, would imagine Wby will not be offering in the future), 257 Wby, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7-08 Rem and 308 Win. Of those choices it’s a matter of how you hunt. Tennessee whitetail hunting is quite a bit different than western Nebraska or eastern Colorado or Wyoming. If open plains were the place your 7mm Rem Mag, a 25-06 Rem or the 257 Wby would offer some betterment, The 243 Win, 6.5 Creed or 308 Win seems a better fit for your environment. Can’t go wrong with any of them for whitetail.

You really need one of each, better to have three or four of each!

Ross.

In a Vanguard, which I've had several, you have NO choice other than HEAVY.


Jerry

Exactly why I sent my Vanguards down the road.

Hand's down what I'd do...

Killed a few with my 6.5CM but I keep going back to my Tikka 7-08 with 150 eld x.......it's a killer.
Just bought a Tikka superlite in 7-08 cause it just works . If I didn't reload 6.5 CM would be my choice.

Think I have decided:
Vanguard S2 synthetic in 6.5 CM with barrel chopped to 21”

write them down on separate pieces of paper. Throw in a hat. Close eyes and pick one out of hat. open eyes and look. Go to LGS and buy.

Deer size, proximity to cover, hunting style and how critical taking a shot is all influence my choice.

Over the years I concentrate less on calibre and more on stock style, trigger, balance and optics.

Locally where I pick shots, pass up anything less than ideal I use my 243 and notice how pleasant it is.

Travelling for trophies from big deer I use my 7-08 and am glad of a little extra thump.

I don't like splitting the difference so don't try and just use a 6.5cm etc

Random question.....

Say all 3 are sitting in the LGS (same exact rifle) but one is $100 cheaper.

Now which one do you want?

pick the cartridge you want but i would spend the money and buy a Ruger #1. myself i prefer a heavier rifle they always shoot better and swing clean, i like this cartridge 257 Weatherby Mag. but i am a handloader and never be cheap on a scope buy the best you can afford.this Ruger #1 257 Weatherby Mag. i use has a Nightforce scope mounted on this rifle,i have shot bucks at 30 ft to 700 yards in my state and out west with a bi-pod on the longer shots. if your not a handloader you might want to just buy old reliable a 30-06 that you can find ammo most places ?good luck ,Pete53

While I love a 25-06, and have used the others mentioned, none killed any faster or left a better exit than a creedmoor and ELDMs. ....but that’s more about bullet than caliber.

I'd be looking for a lightweight rifle in either the 6.5 or 308. Something lighter than the two you mentioned. Maybe a T3.

I had Terry at Black Art Rifles build me one on a 24" sporter on 700 SA. Got it just before the holidays. Very pleased so far.

Cool rifle Super Cub..

270 win or 6.5CM
Both cheap, available anywhere, especially 270, and both accurate.
270 was most accurate rifle...now it’s the 6.5.

To the OP, past 300 to 400 yards (your listed max range) you will have to hold over or twist a turret. In my experience most 25-06 factory ammo is anemic. So I would scratch it.

6.5 has better b.c than 308, but again you’ll still have to compensate past 300 yards.

For me .308, bigger hole in and bigger hole out than the other two. If you hunt thick cover, I’d prefer a bigger hole, it leaves more blood on the ground.

Btw I’ve owned 5 25-06’s, a 6.5 and a couple .308’s.

6mm creedmoor. If only Tikka would get in the game...

Fast twist .243 would work well too.

That 6CM might be tough to pass up....

Tikka, of course.

Factory ammo would be a huge qualifier for me. My Roberts with +P handloads, although my favorite rifle, need not apply. Same for a .25-06 and .257WBY.

I've often thought a .270 Win is about as good as it gets for a dedicated deer rifle and, while it is still an excellent choice, a 6.5CM would easily be my factory ammo choice these days. Followed by .308 Win and .30-06 (not necessarily in that order) if using factory loads.

Any of those would work fine either in any of your situations. Which ever you like the best. All have ammo available. My least favorite with the least bullet choices is probably 25-06. Up to you man. Everyone will tell you something different.

I debated considerably between a 7mm-08 and 6.5 Creedmoor. In my opinion the 7mm-08 is a great all around caliber and is very flat - pretty comparable to the Creedmoor - out to roughly 400ish yards.
I wound up going with the 6.5 not because it’s better but here in California are required to use non-lead (copper/monolithic) projectiles and the 6.5 is more readily available with a broader selection (since I don’t hand load).
All things equal....I really lean towards the 7mm-08.

From your list of choices, I would go .308. Having said that, my choice would be a 7mm-08 for what you want to do.

243 or 6CM. I don't get to practice as much as I'd like, and the 243 is the one rifle that I can pick up and, without much thought, shoot a good group after not using it for a while.
Splits the difference between 223 and a 7 mag nicely.

If I had to pick from the list, then the 6.5 Creedmoor. But I think that's leaning more towards the big side.