Which shoots (ballistically, witha 120 Grain bullte, sighted dead on at 100yards) flatter(at 200yards), a 25-06 or a .270?
I need a new gun for Deer Hunting, and I am tossing up between the two of them! HElP!!!
also, which is a better overall caliber??
.25-06 is flatter, I think. I wouldn’t use mine for deer though. I prefer a .30-06 for that purpose.
I’ve never shot a .25-06, so I can’t make a comparison. However, I can say that I have had luck hunting deer with a .270, and it makes a great rifle. I personally prefer a 6mm. Just my $0.02.
Thanks for all your help, I probably will get the .270 Weatherby Crown Custom now…
Generally speaking, the bigger the bullet, the less flat it flies. This is why shotgun slugs have that big “rainbow” trajectory. I believe the .25-06 and .270 Win. both use the .30-06 case, necked down to .25 and .27-caliber respectively. Since your gun will have the same headspace either way, you will be able to use bullets with much greater sectional density in .25 caliber, since these bullets will be longer with respect to their diameter. Greater sectional density = a flatter trajectory.
But unless you’re a terrible shot, you should be able to hit anything bigger than a rabbit at 200 yards, assuming you’re using a scope. I think the .270 is better, just because you can actually load heavier bullets. I always thought anything smaller than the .270 couldn’t be relied on to penetrate on deer-sized game, mostly because of low bullet weight. I may just be splitting hairs, but that’s the right of us purists!
Happy hunting!
Double check your state’s minimum caliber requirements for deer- there may be a minimum. Texas only says you can’t use rimfire cartridges for certain animals.
I’d say .270 for what you’re looking at, but in the grand scheme of things, .30-06 would be the most versatile choice; heavy enough for elk or maybe moose, and good on smaller things too, without being too much gun in most cases either. Plus, ammo is easy to come by.
min=.23 so, no .223… which is a bummer,
but 30-06’s are Really nice guns, don’t get me wrong, but I like to send a lusty lump of lead and a .270 can definately reach out and touch something…
Heck son, that’s what cap and ball is for.
or a centerfire.45 (Colt, ACP or -70) I’ll have to use that line in SASS shooting somtime.
I agree with Lizard that you’ll have more hunting bullets available on the heavy end of the range with a .270 Unless you’re varminting the .25 cal isn’t that great an advantage.
You wanna reach out and touch something? Get a Barret 82A1…it uses the .50 BMG cartridge. The bullet’s 2 inches long and weighs 900+ grains (2.5 ounces!–now THAT’s a lusthy lump o’ lathe-turned bronze). It’s good against light armor out to a a mile, thin-skinned targets (smaller than a semi truck) over 2 miles. Prollem is, the rifle costs 5 grand, and ammo is $2 a shot, so it’s probably out of your price range. 
Go with the .270
And unless you are a DAMN good shot and have a great handle on deer physiology, it’s cruel to the deer to use anything less than a .270. Assuming you are a sportsman, of course.
hmmm… I have GREAT handle on Deer Physiology…
and can hit a 2*2in. square 10times consecutively with my .22… too bad .22’s aren’t legal for deerhunting…
only reason why I can’t hit it more is it’s got a 10shot clip…
love that gun… will only shoot it unscoped…
but anyhow, I’ve always had a soft-spot for .270’s… ever since I shot my neighbor’s Remington Model 6 .270… just too bad theyw ere discontinued…
OK, I’m hijacking my own thread…
anyone know of a gun that comes in .270 Cal and has a PUMP action for under $1,000?
Field & Stream did an article last year on the ten best for deer, and they spoke in really glowing terms about the .280, too…
A pump??? All this talk about flat shooting and accuracy and you want a damn pump?
The 870 Wingmaster is a good pump. Oh wait we are talking about rifles…
As far as a recommendation between the 2 calibers, I would say go with the .270 over the 25/06. Versatility being the key.
Not sure where you are hunting or what for so that limits things a bit. However, having more power than you need is not a bad thing. The ability to root your quarry in place is invaluable. That translates into shooting as big a caliber as you can comfortably/accurately. Based on the 2 calibers mentioned however it sounds like you are going to be shooting at a distance. These are both fine calibers in this regard as well as the .280 (aka 7mm Express) mentioned earlier. I use a 30/06 which has served my purpose for 16 years. That doesn’t mean I don’t want another rifle. They are like golf clubs they will do the job but some are better suited than others to the task at hand.
One other consideration, everybody and their brother carries .270 ammo, 25/06 ammo might be a little tougher to come by in a pinch.
I’ll check on some pump rifles for you. Any preferences or dislikes in the firearms manufacturing community?
Left or right handed?
Well, there are WAY too many people out there hunting who do not posses our marksmanship skills!
In deep east Texas, they do routinely hunt deer quite effectively with a .22. Yes, it’s very illeagle and the GW’s there take a dim view of it, but some of those people never come to town for food and they are not trophy hunters.
I met a 14 y.o. girl there once who hunted deer w/ a shotgun. Claimed she road up beside them on her horse and head-shot them.
Remington used to make a bunch of 'em. You can probably still get a used one by checking http://www.auctionarms.com or http://www.gunsamerica.com. Good model #s would be the 760 or the 7600, and I wouldn’t expect to spend over $300 or so unless it was in awful darn nice shape.