New WT rifle ?

[SJB358]

Yup, hard to beat a new rifle.

It'll give you time to set up your 30-06 to be more comfortable.

I'd be more inclined to run a 25-06 than a 243. Just cause the extra bullet weight never hurts.

 

[RMiller]

What is your 30-06?

I have shot heavy 30-06's that kicked excessively and lighter ones that are easy to shoot.

Your stock and/or recoil pad may be all you need.

 

[Guy Miner]

Is a .22 cal centerfire legal for deer in your area?

Asking because your parameters of 130 pound whitetail deer at 140 yards are easy to deal with, using a very mild recoiling rifle.

Even the lowly .223/5.56 AR-15 with good, bonded soft-point bullets (Nosler, hint, hint) would work GREAT. Easy to shoot. Accurate. Proven deadly on deer.


Or go all traditional with a lever-action .30-30, which also has very light recoil, good accuracy and is a proven killer.




My good friend Dani went with 125 gr handloaded ammo in her lightweight .308 Win, and easily dropped this Washington state buck at about 120 yards. Very accurate, easy kicking little rifle.


It's not the game or the range that is tough here, it's just a matter of picking the rifle YOU want to use. Any number of rifles will do the job just fine. Buy & shoot what you want...

I've long since gone to a .25-06 Rem 700 with a 6x scope for the vast majority of my deer & coyote hunting. It works GREAT, but I chose it in part because time to time I make a quarter-mile shot at game. For 140 yards, I simply wouldn't need all that velocity!

Enjoy the shopping & subsequent range time & hunting.

Regards, Guy

 

[tjen]

For the range and lighter recoiling I say a 308 case based cartridge 260rem 7mm08 or 308win will work fine. I would go with the 7mm08 with 140-145gr bullets. And a VXIII in 1.75-6, My 0-250 yard gun is a 358win and it wears a VXIII 1.5-5 and it works great for 200 shots and 15 yards shots too.

If you want a custom gun the 6.5mmx47 Lapua.

 

[JD338]

Of the two choices you picked, I would go with the 25-06.

Other choices would include..
257 Roberts
260 Rem
6.5x55 Swede
270 Win
7mm-08
7x57 Mauser
280 Rem
284 Win

JD338

 

[Larry in SD]

I want to get a new rifle to hunt WT deer with, my max range is about 140 yards and
are deer weigh at most is about 130 lbs.

I got an old 30-06 and it's heavy, and a lot of felt recoil. Can't decide between a
.243 or 25-06? Can some of you guys give some opinion?

Thanks,
jr1968

After reading your post I think you are in need of one of the lightweight rifles offered these days. Remington Model 7, Ruger Ultra Light etc. Personally I'd have it chambered for either the .308 Winchester or one of it's offspring (take your pick). The .243 will naturally produce the least amount of recoil, next up would be the .260 Remington, 7mm-08 Remington etc.

This would get you a lighter weight great handling rifle with less recoil in the process.

Larry

 

[dubyam]

If you're shooting small-ish deer (130lbs) and you're shooting close ranges (under 150yds) you have, as has been mentioned, a ton of options. I'll suggest you're on the right track with a 243Win of some sort. Why? Because aside from the 30-06 and 270Win, you won't find any other ammo in more places than 243Win. I'm thinking you don't handload (since you did not mention it, nor have you tried reduced recoil loads in your -06) so store-bought ammo availability is a big deal. Another plus for the 243Win is cost of ammo remains on the lower end of the scale. A 243 will take white-tails with authority, provided you shoot reasonably well. Hit them in the boiler room and they will pile up shortly.

Now, as for your -06, Scotty (SJB above) is right. Getting a new rifle will allow you time to figure out how to modify your -06 to be more workable or shoulder friendly. What model is your -06? How is it currently configured? What ammo are you currently shooting? Knowing all this will help us help you better.

 

[jr1968]

It's an old blonde stock savage 110, I reload all of my own shells.

most of my shots would in the range of right out front to about 40-50 yrds, and I think that
I don't need all the power of the 30-06. I do have a couple of spots that I might get a 125-150
yrd. shot.

But still undecided on a 243 or 25-06?


Thanks,
jr1968

 

[.280 Remington]

My vote, given your terrain is the .243 with 95gr BT's or 100gr PT. Why you ask? Short action! Shorter, lighter, quicker. And can still hammer with authority.

It would not be my choice of the two in my terrain, but I've got nothing but open spaces and can shoot as far as I want to, and comfortable with.

 

[dubyam]

Since you handload, you can get the best of both worlds with the 243Win. Ready supply of components when you need them, and the ability to push good deer bullets at very good velocities. It really hits harder than it's supposed to with the right bullets.