jmbn

I'd use the '06 without thinking twice. I have shot several deer, both blacktails and southern mulies, with a 22-250, plus an antelope, and it did a perfect job. Saying this, I need to point out that all shots were lung shots, and if I didn't have a good shot I didn't shoot. These were all in the mid 60's (and you're right- I put this rifle together before Rem standardized the 22-250) and the choice was between the 22-250 and an old 30-30. I'd hate to shoot a deer in the shoulder or gut-shoot it with a 22-250. I totally agree with the theory of "it's not what you shoot them with, but WHERE you shoot them", but only up to a point. The 22-250 is fine with a carefull shot, but doesn't have much of a margin of errol. Besides, an '06 with the right bullet is better in the wind and probably as flat shooting at 400 yards. It's a no-brainer. Personally, I would look at this dilemna as a good reason to go buy a 25-06 or a 270. jmbn

recurveman- For years I carried a cloth tape and measured the top-to-brisket heights of quite a few deer. For AZ whitetails, the smallest was 12" (a spike) and the highest was 16. The 16 was a big one with a 17 1/4" spread, and I'd say most decent three-pointers are 14 or 15. I use this to estimate range by determining at which power the duplex part of the scope just brackets 15", or whatever. Might as well be optimistic! Another thing I do is to determine how much elevation the point of the bottom post gives you. Most scopes are fairly close and on 9 power will give you 12 to 16". For instance, the Bush 3200 3X9 on my .270 gives me 12" at 400 yards, and the bullet drops just over 13 ( 2 1/2" hi @ 100 yds) at 400 yds. So if I hold on the top of the heavy bottom segment of the aperature instead of the crosshairs at 400 yards, the bullet will be an inch or two low. I determine all this with a yellow or white yardstick at a measured 25 yards (times 4, of course, to get the figure at 100 years, then go from there.) Looking at a ballistic program can get it close, but you need to actually go out and do it, especially if you don't have a chrono. Factory figures are usually pretty optimistic, both in bullet drop and velocity.

Well, I've never had a problem with a deer, but once I almost got et by a duck. I finally had agreed to take my wife duck hunting, and she was ready to quit after I got one duck. I put it in my bag after I shot it, then in the trunk of the VW for the trip home. Upon arrival home, I opened the trunk and the duck was standing there looking at me, as surprised as I was. He didn't stand there long and tried to fly right thru me on his way out. I never laughed so hard in my life, and the wife never went again. Last I saw of the duck he was flying over the horizon in Newport Beach, CA! Hope he recovered.

I've usually used a 25-06 or a 270 for whitetails, but I've got an old buddy that has shot many (and I'm talking 20 or 30) OR blacktails with a 243 and has all the confidence in the world in it, altho I notice that he's now using a 270 WSM. I have a 243 Ackley Improved that I use for varmints and have shot a few javelinas with it, (can't ever remember shooting a deer with it, altho I got a blacktail with another 243), but I really prefer something a little larger for deer. Hate to be a little off at long range, and have one suffer. A 270's about perfect! jmbn