Our family are big fans of the 6.5's: 260 Rem and 6.5x284. We've owned .243's and 25-06's and .223's. The ability to shoot high BC 140 grain bullets is what sets the 6.5's apart. Yet in a moderate range hunting role, 120 grain bullets will perform very well with a tad less recoil. A light 25-06 is still going to have some recoil with a 115-120 bullet and a full power hunting load. A 260 Rem with a 120 grain bullet will have less recoil.
With light bullets, the 25-06 never quite lived up to its promise. It was super accurate with 100-117 grain bullets, but not so much with 85 grainers.
There is really no wrong choice from .243 to .270, even perhaps a 7mm-08. The tradeoffs are subtle. They will all kill deer dead, dead, dead.
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