bob,
when i used the 25/06 it was very good for goat skins with 87 gn sierra or hornady soft points.
when shooting fox skins, a 17/222mag ackley blew holes out the other side of them, but going to a 17 mack1V solved that problem.
the smaller cases do have a place for sure.
the only reason i have a 223 is that fox skins came to and end about the time i took up fclass, so i rebarreled the rifle to an 8 twist 223.
that twist is for 80 gn bullets, but shoots 50 gn bullets deadly accurate as well.
only thing is that the only 50 gn bullet that will hold together spun that fast is the nosler ballistic tip.
it is amazing the difference in terminal performance with the faster twist compared to the std twist.
with a 28" barrel it gives good speeds with not heavy charges using benchmark 2.
if i did not have a 223 i would probably not buy one, but having one it gets used more than expected.
shooting deer in built up areas is very safe with regards riquochets, no pass throughs etc, and quieter than the 280.
of course bullet placement is paramount in that application.
the 280, 280 ackley, 7mag, are terribly versatile mid game range cartridges which is most of what we do.
the stw with barnes bullets does surprising things to quite big animals, and the pre mentioned 7mms will do the same at closer ranges with shot placement.
i have dropped undisturbed camels where they stand at 300 to 350 yds with the stw when i have time to get a good rest and wait for the right shot. this aiming dead on, allowed by the excellent point blank range.
bruce.
