which one of the 3

[Deerhunter#1]

If you could have either 243, 25-06 or 7mm-08 for deer under 250 yards which one would you select. I know the 30-30 with the new leverlotion ammo would also fit the bill but I have 2 of them in lever guns so these are in a handi only.

[Farrier Matt]

I like the 25-06. Thats what I would pick, unless: I wanted a dual purpose varmint/whitetail rifle, which the 243 excells at, or I was going to chase big deer or maybe something bigger than that and needed/wanted a little more punch, in which case I would go for the 7-08. All three are good rounds, IMO, but I have a sweet spot for the quarter bores.

[LONGTOM]

All three would do the job but I would take the 7-08.



LONGTOM

[mechanic]

Ditto's on Longtom.  I've killed deer with most calibers now, and even though I don't have a 7mm08, I do have a 280, and the 7mm's are just good on deer size game. 

Ben

[Deerhunter#1]

I have the 243 and 7mm-08 just trying to justify getting the 25-06. Have been thinking of the caliber for a while but as mentioned have 2 30-30 a 270, 223, 243 and 7mm-08. The biggest thing I hunt is deer and maybee some boar this year ans take a gun for a black bear hunt. As far as accurate in a handi say using 100 grain bullets in both is the 243 or 25-06 any more accurate then the other. I know the 06 will have a little extra recoil with 100's due to its larger case but would think it wouldnt be much more.

[keith44]

I chose the .25'06 many years ago.  It is effective out to 400 yards for deer, and I've killed coyotes at 550 yards with mine.  The down side of any long range rig (any one capable of 300+ yard kills) is that in most of my hunting situations if you can see it you can kill it.  Makes for a short season.  That's why I switched to .44 mag / .45-70's

[cwlongshot]

ANY will completely and entirely meet your ctiteria of a 250 yard deer harvester...

30-30 is still avalible in the Handi as well! BTW, Did someone tell you there was a LIMIT  on the number of same caliber firearms you could own?  If so, I was sleeping that day and or maybe I simply didn't pay attention.   

CW

[PHATINJUN]

CW that must of been the day "justify" and justification was discussed My 25/06 has shot PD's yote's and jack rabbits but being from a non rifle deer hunting state has yet to get blooded by deer. She has been promised a WY/SD antelope though from the bucket list. Kurt

[Graybeard]

Hands down the 7-08. In fact it's the only one of the three I currently own tho I have had both the others in the past.

[ham7777]

Deerhunter, I would say the 7mm08 it has the best bullet selection by far as my Dad would have  said from mice to moose.    I do have all 3 in Handi's and bolt. I did shoot a nice 7 point with the .243 using 105 Speer hot cores and he dropped in his tracks. But have only used the 25-06 on groundhogs and crows talk about red mist  .  Later   Tom 

[Sourdough]

I would go with the 25-06.  Yes all three would do what you are asking.  But the 25-06 has far superior range and knockdown over the other two.  Just in case you see that Monster Buck out at longer ranges.  A friend shoots and kills Wolves at 600 and 700 yards with a 25-06.  Our Wolves are the size of your Deer.  At $400.00 a pelt he wants enough gun to make a solid kill at those ranges.

I am shooting an Accubond 110gr bullet in my 25-06, and would not hesitate to shoot a Caribou or Black Bear out to 500 yards.

[OldSchoolRanger]

All three are good rounds, but I would have to go with the 7mm-08.  I have a 7mm Mauser (Rem bolt gun), that I have been using for years.  Only had one bad experience, when I was using a cheaper brand (Hansen) ammo, instead of US made ammo.  And as ham7777 said, if you hand-load, you have a wide range of choices of bullet weights, which is a big plus.

[AtlLaw]

I'm with the majority here; the 7-08.     I wouldn't consider the 243, and as much as I love the quarter bores your criteria doesn't call for the 25-06.  Now if you had said the 257 Bob...   

[keith44]

  I wouldn't consider the 243, and as much as I love the quarter bores your criteria doesn't call for the 25-06.  Now if you had said the 257 Bob...   

Ok I'm callin you out on this one.  In my reloading manuals when loading deer appropriate bullets the difference between the '06 and the bobby is as close as 100 feet per second with the '06 using starting loads, and pushing the bobby, using the same bullet weights.  Why does that dis-qualify the '06.

Keith

[AtlLaw]

Ok I'm callin you out on this one.  In my reloading manuals ...

Well there you go!  Anyone can tell the OP was thinking factory loads!     I deduce, and would go as far as to say, he isn't a handloader.     At least not in those cartridges.   

Buy the way, I agree with you.  But I still have both a Bob and a 25-06!     Nevertheless I will feel incomplete 'till I get my 250-3000! 

[keith44]

Ok then we do agree, it's just that as a reloader who only uses factory ammo to get the brass, and base line chrono numbers I don't consider hunting with factory ammo.

 

[geezerbiker]

I'm the same way.  Factory rounds are not tuned to my rife and I need all the accuracy help I can get...

Tony

[thejanitor]

The new light contour short 7-08 the factory is offering makes for a very nice light gun to carry and hunt with. The one we just had fitted by the factory is all set up with a synthetic stock set and although you feel the kick a little more for target shooting it is going to make a wonderful carry all day gun for hunting. Even the 20" barrel will work fine for the 300 yd shot but you may suffer with longer range shots (350 - 400yds) It would be a welcome option if I was looking at the same options you are especially if I had to carry and sneak with it all day. If it is just going to be a "in the stand" type gun it won't matter, but to carry it all day it would be a nice option to consider.   thejanitor

[yukondog]

Had all 3 and like already said all will work just fine but I vote for the 25-06, but if you plan on hunting anything larger than deer, I would opt for the 7-08 with the heaver bullet selection.

[Deerhunter#1]

Well I decided to pass on the 06 at this time. My 7mm-08 shoots 139 grain horns great with h4350. think im going to get some 120 grain Nos bt and load some of them up. The 120 sectional density is still .216 which should still be fine when it comes to deer. I should lower the recoil a lit but still be a larger bullet then 100 grain 243.

[keith44]

A good decision, just watch and make sure that the velocity isn't too fast when the bullet gets to the target.  The thinner jackets the manufacturers tend to put on the lighter bullets will allow the bullet to expand too soon and not penetrate well enough. 

Just out of curiousity is there a 7-30 Waters chambering available for the Handi's?  I do not remember seeing one, but that might be a viable option as well.

[mechanic]

One thing that has thus far gone unmentioned.  Now that you have considered all three, you should get all three.  It's a Handiholic rule hereabouts.  Tim is the big daddy of the Handi's, and I think he how has about everything he can conjure up to buy or build in a Handi, but he's not the only pusher here.

Make room in the safe.  You're gonna' need it!

Ben

[cwlongshot]

Just out of curiousity is there a 7-30 Waters chambering available for the Handi's?  I do not remember seeing one, but that might be a viable option as well.

Sadly, no it has never been offered.

YES it's a great little cartridge !!  I have shot a number of deer and coyote and a boar with them! I had a 14"contender a 21" contender carbine and a Winchester all in 7/30. 

Those of us liking rimmed cartridges would love this in a handi!!!!!

I have all three chamberings, but only the 243 & 25/06 in a handi. I have had a 7/08 since just after they where introduced in the early 1980's. GREAT caliber!!  I especially love it with a 154 Hornady RN bullet at too vel! Accurate Nd hard hitting.

I'm mostly a close range hunter. Not by choice but rather by terrain. I have made a couple very long shots under these conditions but nothing like our friend in Alaska!!!

My longest with the 243 on a deer was about 250-275 yards. Hit him a bit high and back about three inches. Right over the tip of the lungs in the spine. ( he was walking slowly). He dropped on the spot, but required second shot. That was a 90Gr Speer and 4351 powder.

The 25/06 has taken a couple all bang flops. Mostly from my brother. He loves the caliber but with three children not allot of && for firearms. the Speer GS 120gr is my bullet of choice. I wanna say 175 yards is about as far as we have killed with it.

That 7/08 is about the same. I shot a bunch of deer with the factory 140 while collecting brass. I also listened to others and shot for lungs so very few DRT shots until I learned better. Then and combined with the HornDy RN bullet mostly bang flops followed. Shots out as far as 150/75.

Again, simply because you don't get many places for longer shots here.

I made two long shots at 300 or so. One was down hill in a logged area with my Knight Muzzle loader!! HUGE deer as I truly thought it was 150-60 yards out. Hit it at the base of the neck. LUCKY shot for sure. Deer spun and maybe went five feet and dropped. Other was in VT in a huge field shooting my Bolt 35 Whelen. Small fork horn stepped out across the field. My friend was watching as I shot off Harris bi pod sitting. The 200gr Hornady hit him squarely I. The shoulder literally taming his feet out from under him. He hit the ground and bounced!  One of my best shots.

So as I said, ANY of these will do what your proposing with out issue. If you went Any farther I would first drop the 243, then at about 400 loose the 7/08. The 25/06 will humanely harvest any whitetail sized critter as far as you can accurately shoot them with good bullets and experienced shooter.

CW

[SHOOTALL]

25-06