Looking to get a smaller rifle, something I can put plenty of rounds down range with and something I can use to start teaching my eldest (13) to move beyond a 22.

 

Don't want to go below 243, and don't want to go too big (I already have a 308 & 30-06, among a few others).  I will be reloading, so ammo shouldn't be an issue as long as I can get brass for it.

 

I know .243 is probably more popular, but I am still on the fence.  May use it for hunting, up to small deer (maybe) but mostly to teach the kids to shoot beyond 100 yards, and to have a smaller bore that I can have some fun with.

You'd have no issue killing any whitetail at 200 yards with a .243.

Plus, you can use .308 brass in a pinch....

The .25-06 is a great round. The same can be said for the .257 Roberts, which is no slouch either. The .25 caliber's are not as wildly popular as they should be, but the 6mm's (.24 cal.) are more popular and offer more bullet choices. The .243 Win. is very popular today, and is chambered in a plethora of models and actions too. You can kill any whitetail deer in North America with a .243 Win./6mm Rem. and the right bullet.

Just to confuse the issue, the .260 Remington is also a good bet and should be more popular than it is in hunting circles. In contrast, it's earning quite a reputation in the long-range target circles as an accurate round and the .264 bullet's has a great B.C. for flat flight and its sectional density makes it an excellent bullet for deep penetration. If I didn't have a pair of .25's I would seriously look at the .260 Remington as my next rifle.

I went through this a year ago, i dont reload so ammo availability was an issue so i went with a weatherby 243. I love this gun wide range of ammo for it, also went with the 243 because of the proposal of being able to use it with an 80 grain bullet or less here in nj for coyotes.

You'd have no issue killing any whitetail at 200 yards with a .243.

 

Plus, you can use .308 brass in a pinch....

 

Though this is done it is a PIA.  You have to ream the inside of the case necks or yoiu have big problems.

Though this is done it is a PIA.  You have to ream the inside of the case necks or yoiu have big problems.

 

 

We haven't done it a lot, but we never had to ream the neck. It will buckle the shoulder most of the time though. Like I said, not an ideal situation, but it can be done if needed.

 

 

I do have a nice pile of 308 as "extra" brass for my 7mm-08 in the event it's needed.

The .25-06 is a great round. The same can be said for the .257 Roberts, which is no slouch either. The .25 caliber's are not as wildly popular as they should be, but the 6mm's (.24 cal.) are more popular and offer more bullet choices. The .243 Win. is very popular today, and is chambered in a plethora of models and actions too. You can kill any whitetail deer in North America with a .243 Win./6mm Rem. and the right bullet.

 

Just to confuse the issue, the .260 Remington is also a good bet and should be more popular than it is in hunting circles. In contrast, it's earning quite a reputation in the long-range target circles as an accurate round and the .264 bullet's has a great B.C. for flat flight and its sectional density makes it an excellent bullet for deep penetration. If I didn't have a pair of .25's I would seriously look at the .260 Remington as my next rifle.

 

I actually thought about the .257 and also strongly considered the .26 Remington as well.  I keep teetering between most of these calibers.  I like the flexibility and number of options in the .243, but also like the ability to shoot slightly heavier projectiles in the .25 or .26 calibers.

 

Just got back from Cheyenne Outfitters and Sportsman's center and all they had was a used Winchester 70 in 25-06.  I will keep looking.

I actually thought about the .257 and also strongly considered the .26 Remington as well.  I keep teetering between most of these calibers.  I like the flexibility and number of options in the .243, but also like the ability to shoot slightly heavier projectiles in the .25 or .26 calibers.

 

Just got back from Cheyenne Outfitters and Sportsman's center and all they had was a used Winchester 70 in 25-06.  I will keep looking.

 

I've been shooting a 6mm Rem. for years, and like that cartridge a lot for its dual-versatility. But I like the .257 Roberts a lot as well. It gives up only 100-150fps in the heavier bullet weights to the .25-06 when handloaded properly. But, there's not a lot of factory ammo out there for the Roberts compared to the .25-06, and .25-06 brass is more plentiful for reloading. (BTW- Compare Hornady's Superformance factory loads of the .257 Roberts and the .25-06 Remington. They are awfully close in published numbers in certain bullet weights.)

 

PS - A Model 70 is a nice rifle.

I've been shooting a 6mm Rem. for years, and like that cartridge a lot for its dual-versatility. But I like the .257 Roberts a lot as well. It gives up only 100-150fps in the heavier bullet weights to the .25-06 when handloaded properly. But, there's not a lot of factory ammo out there for the Roberts compared to the .25-06, and .25-06 brass is more plentiful for reloading. (BTW- Compare Hornady's Superformance factory loads of the .257 Roberts and the .25-06 Remington. They are awfully close in published numbers in certain bullet weights.)

 

PS - A Model 70 is a nice rifle.

Yea- I like the 70, but I felt like I couldn't jump on the first rifle I saw, plus it was fairly well used, at least on the exterior.  The bore looked good, so I may go back and take a second look at it.