The Famous Grouse
New member
I think you might not find much difference between the recoil of the .25-06 and the 270. That 25-06 has a fearsome charge of powder for that little bullet, that's why it's the King of the Pronghorn Rifles.
Is recoil REALLY that big of a deal to you? Keep in mind, when you step up to a gun that you're going to be using in situations as you describe, there's not going to be much need to sit around hammering away with it. Unless, of course, you're an accuracy crazed handloader and you can't leave a gun alone until it's shooting half inch groups or less.
The .243 would be great, but if elk really are in the picture, I'd say 270.
As another approach, you might want to just say to yourself that IF you go elk hunting, you'll buy a rifle that's more suatable at that time. Now that you can get very good rifles for under $500, the rifle has become one of the cheaper parts of the equation for the traveling hunter. If you're planning on going out of state for elk, the cost of the rifle could very well be cheaper than your elk tag.
I'd love to make a case for the .25-06 because it's a fine cartridge and it has ruined the day of a lot of mule deer. But it's mainly a specialist tool for the open country hunter that needs to be able to reach out a long distance because getting closer isn't an option. It's a pronghorn's worst nightmare, but I'm not sure it's really a fit for your situation.
Also, I've seen a coyote that was hit by a hot .25-06 load at about 250 yards. One would not exactly call the the .25 a fur friendly gun, let's just say that.
Grouse
Is recoil REALLY that big of a deal to you? Keep in mind, when you step up to a gun that you're going to be using in situations as you describe, there's not going to be much need to sit around hammering away with it. Unless, of course, you're an accuracy crazed handloader and you can't leave a gun alone until it's shooting half inch groups or less.
The .243 would be great, but if elk really are in the picture, I'd say 270.
As another approach, you might want to just say to yourself that IF you go elk hunting, you'll buy a rifle that's more suatable at that time. Now that you can get very good rifles for under $500, the rifle has become one of the cheaper parts of the equation for the traveling hunter. If you're planning on going out of state for elk, the cost of the rifle could very well be cheaper than your elk tag.
I'd love to make a case for the .25-06 because it's a fine cartridge and it has ruined the day of a lot of mule deer. But it's mainly a specialist tool for the open country hunter that needs to be able to reach out a long distance because getting closer isn't an option. It's a pronghorn's worst nightmare, but I'm not sure it's really a fit for your situation.
Also, I've seen a coyote that was hit by a hot .25-06 load at about 250 yards. One would not exactly call the the .25 a fur friendly gun, let's just say that.
Grouse