Thanks for the info guys I would like to stalk all over the uk for all species not running before I can walk though I have been told that a 243 is sutable for a red stag but only just so though I would go up a calibre and have read good things about the Swede and have been told it is usually one of the calibres fao will accept for a first grant, I would also load my own have a friend who is into it big time so no worries there, what would you recommend guys this being a grant of a deer calibre and all cheers
Several points. Firstly, the .243 is certainly capable of killing a stag (and larger animals) but in my opinion it isn't ideal for a novice to use on stags. I say that as someone who has a 243 (two in fact) and has shot all manner of game with them.
Secondly, the firearms licensing staff exist to provide a service to the public, not to dictate how we live our lives. A sensible working relationship is essential but don't be in fear of them.
Thirdly, any of the medium bore calibres are suitable for all species in the UK. The 6.5x55 is a mild recoiling cartridge as is the 260 Remington (though I suspect that cartridge will die soon). The 7-08 is also mild recoiling and the .308 perhaps less so. The trajectory of one may be better than another but its wind drift will be worse. The 30-06 is the father of the .308, and has a significant advantage over the .308 - everything the .308 can do the 30-06 can do better and I speak as someone who has both. The .270 is a faux 7mm, it can fire up to a 150gr bullet faster, louder and with more recoil than the 7-08 but nothing heavier than 150gr. The 7mm Rem Mag burns a lot of powder in outperforming the .270 but is a fine longer range cartridge (it's not a woodland cartridge in my opinion). Any of these cartridges is suitable for all deer (and pig) in this country.
Which to select is a matter of choice as they will all deliver broadly the same ballistics and broadly the same effect on game - kill it swiftly. (We once shot 16 red hinds, four each, with two .243s, one .30-06 and one 7-08 using different bullets in the .243s. Looking at the carcasses, no one would have been able to say which had been shot with which rifle or which bullet.) From a public safety perspective, there is nothing to chose between them since we do not shoot towards people and a person hit with a bullet from any of these cartridges would be in serious trouble.
Many stalkers have their own favourites and, as with cars or anything else, people tend to justify their own choices by arguing the merits of what they own. Don't be swayed by anyone who says "get a such-and-such, I've got one and it's great". The simple fact is that anything from a .243 upwards will kill any species in the UK but only if you put the bullet in the right place. Put the bullet in the wrong place and you have a problem. Earlier this year, I shot a running warthog with a .375H&H. It hit him in the belly and exited. A second shot ripped a massive wound across the top of the hip breaking bone but didn't anchor him, it didn't even slow him down. The pig didn't collapse until it had run over 2km and crossed a river in spate (the trackers managed to follow it.) Even then, the pig needed a coup de grace. So calibre and bullet weight count for nothing
if put in the wrong place.
One small point on the 6.5x55. It needs a slightly longer action than the .308 class of cartridges (the .243, .260, 7-08 are all derived from the .308 Win and use a 'medium' length action). The slightly longer action may limit your choice of scopes or how it is mounted. The tube length determines how the scope can be mounted and the eye relief. This is not to put you off the 6.5x55, just ensure your do your homework when buying your scope.
For the record, if you are to shoot red stags, I would recommend at least a 6.5mm cartridge. As an all round large game cartridge, for woodland and hill, I would recommend the 7-08. It's accurate (as are others), fairly flat shooting, light recoiling, and can fire a wide range of bullet weights though the 140gr will work on everything. What I suggest you do is try to test fire a variety of rifles in the cartridge you fancy. Some rifles firing the same cartridge will feel different depending on stock shape. For example, I found that a wooden stocked Sako M591 in .308 was comfortable and recoil acceptable but the lightweight Parker-Hale 'Scout' kicked like the proverbial mule.
Do your home work. Decide on what you want, and put in an application for it. Just in case your local FEO doesn't know his oinions, have the ballistics charts for alternative cartridges to hand so you can demonstrate that what you are asking for isn't anything exceptional.
-JMS