Looking for suggestions on a new caliber

[F250]

I recently switched to a 7mm-08 for deer. However, I would recommend the .270 Win. You can find ammo for it almost anywhere. The .270 served me well for decades : deer, elk, moose, caribou. I still own two. Carried one for work for many years.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Best deer cartridge I ever have used is a 375 H&H, I've used mine on everything from song dogs to moose. Always DRT and you can eat right up to the hole. Just don't believe a rifle battery is complete without one.

 

[perma]

I’m tickled about all the .270 endorsements.

 

[Fire_9]

Why would you be looking for something bigger than a 25-06 for deer? I personally would be looking for something smaller that is easier to shoot.

 

[SaskHunter]

Both calibers you have will kill everything in NA. My go to is my .25-06 for whitetail, mule deer and antelope, and my .300 WM for anything bigger. If I'm hunting up North in the thick bush I take my 45-70 though.

If you want a caliber with a huge variety of ammo, definitely go for a .308. My .308 is now my brother's rifle when he comes here to hunt. He's killed a few deer with it over the years and so have I before getting my .25-06.

 

[AlpineAssassin907]

Another vote for .270 win

 

[HighDesertSage]

270 win is an awesome round. It’s simple too. Zero 3” high at 100. O-300 hold on fur. 350 hold high shoulder. 400 hold on the back bone. Dead animals every time.

 

[Dougfirtree]

Lots of choices that fit the bill, but you said you wanted a wide ammo selection. I think you're looking for a .308 win. .30-06 would certainly fit the bill too, but I've noticed the last couple of ammo shortages, that .308 ammo seems more available.

 

[MaddH]

270,308,30-06 are great choices. I really like a 6.5 Creedmore but have all the aforementioned calibers too. Ammo is pretty cheap and an be found pretty much everywhere

 

[Sheltowee]

.308 win to be different. No one is doing it these days. Well except for me!

I've shot deer with a lot of cartridges. Nothing seems to stone them quite as fast as the .308, while still not being overgunned.

 

[In2Hntn]

270 if you don't "roll your own", 270 or 280 if you do.

 

[MTLabrador]

.270 or .30-06, don’t mess with success.

 

[wvhunter304]

7mm-08

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Why would you be looking for something bigger than a 25-06 for deer? I personally would be looking for something smaller that is easier to shoot.

That was my thought as well. “More deer oriented but bigger than 25-06?”, 25-06 is overkill for deer. Not bad, just more than enough. Not sure why you’d want a heavier bullet or slower velocity?

 

[SCliving Outdoors]

I have a 45-70, 7mm08 and 300wm. Covers pretty much whatever. I like my guns to have specific purposes. I guess you just need to look at how you hunt if you really want a new caliber. What you have will kill a deer. I would say if you hunt in the woods a caliber like a 45-70, 30-30, 350 legend might be beneficial for the closer shots in thick cover.

If you're more of a field, foot plot, shooting lane type whitetail hunter and you like your 25-06 I'd spend the new rifle money on tricking out your 25-06 (new scope, carbon fiber barrel, carbon fiber stock, suppressor, new trigger etc).

 

[ropeup79]

There’s quite a bit of 25-06 ammo available on ammoseek.

 

[longbow51]

Learn to reload your 25.06. You'll save tons of money.

 

[Ben Lamb]

A standard 7mm or 30 caliber cartridge will fit in perfectly between your two excellent cartridges.

I'm a fan of the 06. It's done everything that can be done on the north American continent, and 95% of the rest of the world. The 308 is a great cartridge as well with a more efficient case and less recoil. The 7mm-08 is pretty danged nice as well.

 

[Steiny77]

Whatever you decide, make sure it has a pretty wood stock.

 

[6mm Remington]

25-06 is a fantastic deer and other big-game cartridge!

280AI

30-06