for the price the Vanguard in blued or stainless is probably the least expensive, while still giving -- i'd expect -- very good accuracy. it's trigger can be somewhat lightened. mine in .270 win' is a dream for shooting off a stick or off a bench. if using it for long-range shooting, with little walking, that's the rifle i'd consider. it is a little too heavy for walking a long ways.
if walking is on the agenda, i'd go with a lighter rifle by Rem' or Ruger. either one would be a very good rifle, with the Ruger M77 MkII being my idea of the best "all weather" rifle i've seen. it's just very expensive in the new Hawkeye iteration.
here's one last pitch: if i could find a model 700 adl' syn' in .270 Win' at a reasonable price, i'd go for that instead of a .25-06. that's an accurate, long-range, bell-ringer of a caliber, in a very decent walk-around rifle. i know. i owned one that i let my buddy eventually have because of how generous he's been to me. with light bullets, using IMR 4064, jack o'connor loved it for varmints. and with 100 grain Hornady spirepoints it should be good on most of the larger deer at medium to longer range, with proper shot placement. otherwise you'll waste meat with that bullet, i'd expect.
take care,
ss'
