Want a new rifle.

[grundy53]

I love my  .25-06. I also really like .243's.

sent from my typewriter

[BKMFR]

If looking for low recoil, legal for deer in Washington, and if you reload try the 6/.223 it is legal here and low low recoil, brass is .223-everywhere I have taken coyotes, bobcat, two good mule deer (211 and 224) with it, as well as many others and whitetail as well. It's just one of those cartridges that seem to kill a little better, when you pull the trigger if you do your part.
I have one built on a little Sako that everything is built to scale, small- light and very accurate.... It's my "Go To Gun"
At least look into it, if looking for a low recoil, inexpensive to shoot, legal for Wa. caliber.
Les Baer is now clambering for it, and there is limited factory rounds available, reloading is simple for this caliber...

[runningboard]

given that you are keeping your 7mm, & you said you're leaning towards .243 or .260, I'd say it comes down to whether you reload or not. .243 rounds are everywhere, .260 not so much. good luck with your search 

[buckfvr]

I have been poring over the same dilema.......have a 7mm and .243.......want a .25-06 or .260.  Not really satisfied with .243 for deer at the longer ranges over here, even though its my wifes deer gun.  She would like something a tad better.

My thought is making the .243 predator specific with say 87gr V-Max, and getting a 25-06 for wifes deer gun, and Id also use it for other stuff.......The 7mm will do anything a factory 6.5 will do and then some, so the .260 to include Creedmore, and 6.5-.284 do not call to me since I have the 7mm LRH. 

[762Armo]

So I am 95% setteled on a .260.

Planned on going custom with it, and getting parts over time then have it put together. BUT, I just got an offer from one of the dealers I go to. He will sell me any rifle I want, AT COST.
So got me thinking if I should just take him up, and buy a rifle, then in the future use that action and build off it?

Or stick to original plan: buy a custom action, the parts needed, and have it built?

[lhrbull]

257 whby is what I hope to find in a whby markV

[TVHunts]

You'll like the .260 a lot and you get a huge bullet selection in the 6.5 mm.  But the 25-06 is an awesome round also if range time and deer hunting is what's on your menu.  Either one are easy low recoil shooters. 

[Biggerhammer]

The .260 Rem is a excellent cartridge. A great bullet selection(As mentioned). You can use several different head stamps if brass isn't available. The 6.5 bullet period, is a flat out game killer.

[Jim the Plumber]

So I am 95% setteled on a .260.

Planned on going custom with it, and getting parts over time then have it put together. BUT, I just got an offer from one of the dealers I go to. He will sell me any rifle I want, AT COST.
So got me thinking if I should just take him up, and buy a rifle, then in the future use that action and build off it?

Or stick to original plan: buy a custom action, the parts needed, and have it built?

If you are not in any hurry, I'd stick to the plan and build a custom.
You might also take a quick look at the 6.5 Creedmoor. A little better case design than the 260 for the heavier bullets.
In a  factory rifle action that you want to later build on, Tikka, Savage, and Remington all have smiths that will build on them.

[Heredoggydoggy]

For varmints and bigger game, a .243/6mm is the minimum in this state.  For lower recoil, and longer ranges, the 6.5mm's are really good.  Felt recoil and bullet weight go hand-in-hand, but there are ways to tame it nowadays--Muzzle brakes and Limbsaver recoil butt pads are a couple that come to mind... 

[huntnphool]

Anytime you are offered to pick up a firearm at cost you should jump at it.

Why not do both?

[savagehunter]

One option not mentioned is 257 Roberts just my 2cents

[762Armo]

Anytime you are offered to pick up a firearm at cost you should jump at it.

Why not do both?

Might have to do that, just sets back the custom build a tad.

On a side note, why isn't Surgeon accepting orders on their actions?

[Blacklab]

6.5 Grendel is another sweet cali 

[yorketransport]

On a side note, why isn't Surgeon accepting orders on their actions?

They're backlogged on orders. Check these guys out if you need a custom action. I was referred to them by Stiller

http://bugholes.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=88_97_98