My absolute favorite caliber is the .257 weatherby, for whitetail nothing beats it

That's what I went with back when I had to ask!

Except for a 6.5 Creedmoor, 260 Rem, 7mm-08, 6.5-06, 280 Rem, 7 Rem Mag, ect, ect.

I'd love a nice matching pair of rifles in 260 and 280, but my boring old 30-06's just keep packing the freezer year after year.

-ww

2 4 3

Only in your applications of beyond the horzion shooting. On game performace at those RPM's is stellar especially when factoring in limited recoil.

Not saying it doesn't kill critters. Just saying the "nothing beats it" isn't exactly right.

I like how we can depend on each other, Bobo.

Somebody has to stand up of traditional twists in rifles in .25 and .27

Makes you feel anybetter, wifes pitted 243 will be rebarreled here shortly to 6.5 CM

Go with a .270. The .308 is great as well, but .308 is tough to find during one of the frequent panics as it's popular with the 'tactical' crowd and gets hoarded with the 223 and 9mm. 25/06, 7-08 if you want a little less recoil or .30-06 if you don't mind a little more.

Lou

Woo Hoo! (Homer Simpson voice)

Wore you down, did I?

Lol no. 243 groups just kept opening up last three years but this year it got bad. Cleaned the hell out of it and bore scoped it and it had rust pitting. So started thinking what could wife shoot thats min recoil and still handle elk and mulies under 350, still be a SA and not need a barrel over 22-23" ---> 7-08 or 6.5 so figured hell with it ill get her 6.5 cm. Plus she keeps liking my 257wby more and more, I don't want her dirty paws on it. She my rub off the magic dust.

So, once again we're arguing about "the perfect deer caliber."
Can't stand the .243. Yeah, yeah,.... shot placement..... fast but without enough bullet weight.
Of the "find ammo anywhere" category I'd say .270 is the pick.
If you want to specialize a bit, I'd go with .260Rem for a lighter recoil but just check out the ballistics. It'll get out there and do the job. I've been carrying a compact Ruger 77 in .260 for several years and it has never failed.
I still like my old standby .280Rem as it shoots as flat as the .270 but just gets out there and beyond with more energy on target and if you're a reloader, the selection of bullets in 7mm (.284) is outstanding. I love my old Ruger 77 tang safety. Gosh, it is a solid performer without any alterations. Son carries a .257 Roberts which, on paper, is a very unimpressive round but in real life is a great round on whitetail at normal hunting ranges. Our gun, a Ruger Mk II is particularly accurate. As has been mentioned by myself and others in previous posts, GOOD OPTICS is as important as the gun. Don't go cheap on the scope, friend. The best gun and bullet money can buy get's really screwed up with a cheap scope. I'm not saying you have to spend $500 to get good stuff - I get along fine with my $220 Nikon Buckmaster. The Nikon Monarch is one notch better and worth the extra $100.

7-08 or .270 Win. Either would do you and your kids very well.