Looking for suggestions on a new caliber

3006 or 308, the 06 is more flexible if you reload, 308 will be best off the shelf.

That 25-06 is a damn fine round though.
 
I had suggestions until you said bigger than 25-06. Then you lost me. I consider that to be quite a bit for deer.

Are you looking for a 7mm or .308 based cartridge? Honestly, it's really hard to beat the good 'ol .308 for deer.
 
Ok, serious answer. What I have available to grab and go are an assortment of .22's and .22 mag . Next up are .223 to .6.5 calibers. Next are various .30 calibers. I have a 25-06 coming only because there's a gap from the .223 to the 6.5.
I carry a rifle every day. Depending on the weather and where I'm headed it's either a .223 or the Creedmoor. There's always a .22 or a .17 in the back seat somewhere. If I only had one rifle, my Ruger Predator 6.5 gets the nod.IMG_20250114_081116813_HDR.jpg
 
Ok, serious answer. What I have available to grab and go are an assortment of .22's and .22 mag . Next up are .223 to .6.5 calibers. Next are various .30 calibers. I have a 25-06 coming only because there's a gap from the .223 to the 6.5.
I carry a rifle every day. Depending on the weather and where I'm headed it's either a .223 or the Creedmoor. There's always a .22 or a .17 in the back seat somewhere. If I only had one rifle, my Ruger Predator 6.5 gets the nod.View attachment 356768

Hear me out... 25 Creedmoor or 25 PRC. I have been firmly bitten by the quarter-bore bug. Had a .257 Ackley built, a .25-7PRC on the way, already plotting a 25 Creed in a PRS-style rifle or a 25 PRC (off the 6.5 PRC) for a superlight goat/sheep rifle. Maybe pick up a .25-20 lever gun while I'm at it.
 
It occurs to me that the reason there are so many calibers and so many chambers for each caliber is that none of them really matter. They all work. So just close your eyes and pick one - or pick something that is commonly found on the shelves if you do not roll your own.
We probably had all the cartridges we would ever need by the mid-50's. Some would argue much earlier and they wouldn't be wrong. The rest is just the by-product of indulgence and excess disposable income.
 
Boy there's a lot of choices for what you want. Years ago I used a 7x57 for what your wanting, worked great. Used a 308 for years as my deer rifle also, can miss with the 308. These days my deer rifle is one of three 6.5's. 260 Rem, shoots 140gr Speer 140 HC unbelievably well. Then there's my 6.5x55 which also handles the 140 gr Speer HC well. And lastly I have a 6.5x06 that shoots great with 140gr Hornadys. If I were to look for something else I'd go back to the 7x57 or make friends with a 7mm-08. Never shot a 7mm-08 but bet it runs right along with the 7x57. Lots of choices to cover what you want.
 
Boy there's a lot of choices for what you want. Years ago I used a 7x57 for what your wanting, worked great. Used a 308 for years as my deer rifle also, can miss with the 308. These days my deer rifle is one of three 6.5's. 260 Rem, shoots 140gr Speer 140 HC unbelievably well. Then there's my 6.5x55 which also handles the 140 gr Speer HC well. And lastly I have a 6.5x06 that shoots great with 140gr Hornadys. If I were to look for something else I'd go back to the 7x57 or make friends with a 7mm-08. Never shot a 7mm-08 but bet it runs right along with the 7x57. Lots of choices to cover what you want.
7x57 fan here, who finally made friends with the 7mm-08. Never quite the same, but certainly more convenient.
 
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