Help me choose.

[fabricator21]

I would like to pick up a deer/antelope rifle for my wife. I have narrowed it down to 3
The 25-06, 25 wssm and 260 rem. I really like the bullet selection in 25 caliber.
The ballistices of the 260 and 25 wsm are vitually identical and the 06 looks like it takes apx 4 grains more poder to achieve the same performance, but has more potential for a hotter load.
Loaded to the same velocity and the same bullet weight which of thes rifles is going to have lower recoil?
thanks.

[454PB]

Get her a .243.

[docone31]

25-06.
My wife likes to fire mine.

[winelover]

Get her a .243.

I thought so too. Wasn't forgiving enough, even with the heavier bullets for whitetails. After a few hunting seasons, I bought her a 308 and haven't regetted it. Relegated the 243 to varminting.

Winelover:coffeecom

[oldhickory]

Of what you have listed, I would go with the .260Rem. For myself though, a sleek little .257Roberts, 6.5X55Sweede, or 7X57 would fill the bill nicely.

I just don't like over bore capacity cartridges.

[fabricator21]

I am interested in the 3 calibers listed. If I wanted a 24 caliber I would go with the 6mm rem

[oldhickory]

Do you already own any rifles in the calibers you have listed? Also I would think of powder consumption and availability of components in these days of shortages and over pricing.

Oh, and there's some nice boolit molds in 6.5!:cbpour:

[Harter66]

New here and all bear with me. I believe the 260 is a 6.5 with it you get the luxury of heavier bullets than with the 25s. I like the 25-06' but would go with the 260 at this time with the same bullet weights it should kick less and cost less to feed than either of the 25s as it is a standard short action case, j-bullet selection is tough though.

[snowwolfe]

Take your wife shopping with you and let her choose the rifle she wants. This will give her great confidence in what she is doing.
If possible borrow a couple of loaners in the calibers mentioned and allow her to shoot them before deciding. Most woman are very good shots so I think the .243 would make the best choice followed by 260 and then consider the 7mm/08.
But remember, it is HER rifle, not yours.

[ammohead]

Nix the 243. Too many people believe that the 243 is a great beginners deer rifle when in fact the 243 is an experts deer hunting rifle. Only enough horse power when bullets are placed perfectly and not a real good deer hunting bullet selection. Just my $.02 worth.

If your wife ever wants to go elk hunting she will be limited with the quarter bores. but the .264 in either hornady 160 roundnoses or barnes 140 triple shocks is a penetrating sob. I would go for the 260. Try 120 gr triple shocks for deer and antelope and when she is ready for elk or black bear she won't have to get used to a different rifle.

ammohead

[Ben]

Ditto Ammohead's remarks !

[Mk42gunner]

Fabricator21,

For your listed use- deer/antelope, my first choice would be the .25-06, second would be the .260 Remington.

Reasons: If you intend for your wife to shoot factory loads the .25-06 can be found nearly everywhere, and is more popular thatn the other two choices.

For reloading you will always be able to find brass for either the .25-06 or .260. You may have to neck the brass for the .260 up or down from a parent case.

I am not convinced that the Super Short Magnums are hear to stay.


Robert

[Crash_Corrigan]

Check out a CZ 6.5 x 55 MM in a full stock bolt rifle. It is handy, points easily, light and shoots a very flat shooting boolit that is used on Moose and Caribu in Scandanvia. It is a fine antelope or deer rifle.

It can handle up to a 160 gr boolit or go down to shorter and lighter boolits. Much more versitile than a 25-06 or a 243.

[exile]

I hope this will not be considered a thread hijack. I went deer hunting this year for the first time with a Ruger Blackhawk .41 magnum. Unfortunately the only deer I saw was a huge buck 130 yards away. The experienced deer hunter I was with said it was the biggest buck he had ever seen.

Therefore, I am trying to make up my mind between a CZ 6.5 Swede with full stock that I have wanted for years, a .243, or a 7mm-08. I have had a 30.06 previously and thought that I might want something in a medium bore. My brother-in-law has a 6mm Remington, so that might be a possibility as well. Anyway, just trying to say I am trying to make the same decision. Good luck, would like to hear what you decide.

exile

[docone31]

The 6.5 is a serious fast and flat.
That would be my choice if I wanted other than -06.
Turk Mauser, k-Kale, trim the front ring, MilSurp 6.5 barrel, Keep the Turk stock, do a trigger job, Probably Timney, recoil pad. The Small ring will fit right in. Should Headspace pretty closely. Except for the top wood, the stock should be a good fit.

[Tony65x55]

Nix the 243. Too many people believe that the 243 is a great beginners deer rifle when in fact the 243 is an experts deer hunting rifle. Only enough horse power when bullets are placed perfectly and not a real good deer hunting bullet selection. Just my $.02 worth.

If your wife ever wants to go elk hunting she will be limited with the quarter bores. but the .264 in either hornady 160 roundnoses or barnes 140 triple shocks is a penetrating sob. I would go for the 260. Try 120 gr triple shocks for deer and antelope and when she is ready for elk or black bear she won't have to get used to a different rifle.

ammohead

Wise words and absolutely right on. The .260 develops about 4 ft/lbs more recoil than the .243. In every way it is a short action version of the timeless 6.5x55. It is a far more versatile and capable round than the others and is a joy to shoot. I know the others have their fans too and certainly, they have qualities to commend them, but nothing will turn off your wife to hunting faster than listening to a doe bleating in pain because she drifted a little .243 bullet a bit too far back. It is an expert deer hunter's gun...period!

The .25-06 is a fast, very accurate beauty but the blast is worse and being a long action, the guns are a few ounces heavier and a bit longer and in the end, what do you really gain? A 260 will throw a 120 grain bullet out a mere 100 fps slower than the .25-06 and when the time comes to move her up to bigger game, a good 140 grain 6.5 bullet will make short work of a elk, bear or moose. Works well on venison too. At 2700 fps, a 140/6.5 will kill with finality without blowing the eating parts to shreds. Remember, in Scandinavia it is the first choice for moose!

I have been shooting the 6.5x55 for 35 years and I own nine of them. I also own many other hunting rifles but when I want to get the job done my 6.5's are in the front of the line. I've never lost an animal with one and I've only had to shoot twice on two occasions (they were both my fault.) I'm sold on the .264 caliber because it works. (Shortest kill: 20ft Longest kill: 413 yards (lasered))

Get the .260. You won't regret it.

[David2011]

The 6.5/ .264 and the 6.5x55 in particular is a very pleasant cartridge. With its gentle recoil it's no problem to shoot 60 rounds in one afternoon. Compare the ballistics. A .30 cal 150 gr. bullet has more muzzle energy than a 140 gr. 6.5, both at 2700 fps. Downrange, a 140 gr. 6.5mm bullet launched at 2700 fps will retain 50% more energy at 500 yards over a .308 diameter 150 grain bullet launched at the same speed because of the high ballistic coefficient of the 140 gr. 6.5. As has been said, it's also a flat shooting caliber and with light bullets can be as flat shooting as traditional varmit cartridges. Accuracy? Those long, slender bullets can't refuse to fly well. They just leave the barrel wanting to fly straight. This is definitely one place the Europeans discovered something that is often overlooked in the U.S. I'm not sure I would make it my first choice for grizzly or polar bear but it's good for any other game in North America.

David

[dale2242]

My wife has killed more blacktail bucks than most men. Gun of choice, Remington M 700 in 25-06. She is an average size woman, 140# and the recoil is not much with our favorite hunting load. 100 gr Nosler partition - 54 gr H4831. Flat shooting and accurate load....dale

[NickSS]

I have hunted deer and elk for nearly 45 years and have used a lot of different cartridges in rifles to do it with. I have killed deer with a 243 and seen a friend kill them with a 6mm Remington but I would not choose to do so now as they are a minimal deer cartridge (I call it a 90% deer round). I have also killed deer, elk, caribou, and antelope with a 30-06, 7 X 57 and a 270 Win. Worked for all of them with no problem. Today I am getting older and wiser as is my wife. We did a lot of discussion concerning hunting cartridges, bullet availability, ranges likely to be hunted and game to be chased. I have come to the conclusion that what we needed was a 6.5 bore rifle for each of us. We went to our friendly pervayer of fine fire arems and looked at what was available. I bought a CZ 550 American in 6.5 X 55 for me but my wife wanted a lighter rifle so she got a Remington model 7 in 260 Remington. Last year she ahd I both shot our deer and she bagged a large bull elk this year too. We use Nozler partitions in 140 gr for all our hunting.

[wiljen]

250-3000 Savage?

[Doc Highwall]

My vote goes for the .260 Remington. You have to ask your self why there is so many 6.5 cartridges used for target shooting, it is because of the selection of bullets with a high sectional density and high ballistic coefficient combined with mild recoil.

[209jones]

I'd vote for the 7-08, can form from 308win, great bullet selection, can be shot with reduced or full power loads, short action, very accurate, good off the shelf rifle selection also. Kills deer,sheep,coyotes, wolves, blackies just fine, will do elk or moose at reasonable ranges ,too, with good bullets. Had one for over 20 yrs now, it's a keeper.

[Tony65x55]

.260 Rem also forms from .308 Win.