Which calibre is best for fox and deer?

Alwyn

Active Member
Hi Folks

The purpose of this post is to help a friend whom is looking for some advise on which calibre to get for fox and deer in the UK.

I use a .270 and love it! It will drop any UK deer and as for a fox, well I've never seen one survive a hit from a .270. I also think it a beautifully flat firing round and depending on the number of grain bullet you choose you can drop anything from a fox to a healthy size boar and even a stag but that's enough from me. Now it's your turn, So please give your opinions and thoughts.

I'm aware that in some counties in the UK the .270 is not deemed suitable for fox according to the police but we are dorset based and our FAO is happy for .270 to be used on fox.


I look forward to you your comments


Many thanks

Alwyn
 
Suppose If I was looking for one gun to do both then I'd go for the 6.5X55 Sweed. Nice flat, easy shooting calibre.

I do like my .308 too.
 
25-06 will fit the bill perfectly but then so will a .243 or .30-06 lots of choices out there to choose from
 
7mm rem mag has just become my new fox/deer gun used to be .243 then 30.06 but this is the one for me now if i'm going after fox.
 
Anything as long as it's legal and you are accurate with it!

We always have the calibre debate but when you look at LOS Drop etc it really doesn't make that much difference - I personally think things like bullet choice, stock length and scope height are probably more important than calibre as these determine accuracy and the effect on impact/bullet deformation.

I like my .243... But it's a sako 85 so why wouldn't I! Fits me nicely and never had a fox or roe run, have lost a fallow but that was my fault.

i'll get a cheap .308 when I've got some money - reason being you can get them cheap and ammo is easy to get/load.
 
My favorite is the .260 rem. I don't need to sing its praises !:D
 
Last edited:
HI

Thanks Alwyn for starting this thread, I don't really want this to be an "Oh dear another calibre thread" thread. I am trying to choose the correct rifle/calibre correctly the first time, I don't want to do another variation

My FEO is happy to grant me a .270 but a few people are suggesting the .243 and the 6.5x55, so here are my points of view.

1 .243 is great starting rifle and is minimum for deer, but I feel (maybe wrong don't knock me) think it is the "just enough round".
I don't want just enough, only to want to upgrade in a short time, lots available and not expensive, and rounds cheap too.

2 6.5x55 seems to be the next step up and well worth a look at, cheap rounds and rifle cheap are available too, but this seems more a target shooting rifle (so would I get a rifle that has had 5000 rounds through?). This seems to be a round that’s very close to the .243 in ft/sec

3 .270 seems to be the best round for me anyway, ft/sec is high I know but this seem to be the best alternative to a 308 (which I can't justify at the moment and think would be way too much for me anyway). These are available but are not the cheapest and the rounds are not the cheapest either, but how many are you realistically going to blast away in day?

So there you have my argument/opinion for this thread, hope that helps justify the thread?

Thanks
Steve
 
7mm-08 Remington
140 gr BTSP for deer because it's bigger and slower, 1.2" high @ 100 yards & 1.2" low @ 200 yards
120 gr SP for Fox because it's lighter and faster, 1.1" high @ 100 yards & 1.1" low @ 200 yards
But then either will do nicely for both and more.
 
HI

Thanks Alwyn for starting this thread, I don't really want this to be an "Oh dear another calibre thread" thread. I am trying to choose the correct rifle/calibre correctly the first time, I don't want to do another variation

My FEO is happy to grant me a .270 but a few people are suggesting the .243 and the 6.5x55, so here are my points of view.

1 .243 is great starting rifle and is minimum for deer, but I feel (maybe wrong don't knock me) think it is the "just enough round".
I don't want just enough, only to want to upgrade in a short time, lots available and not expensive, and rounds cheap too.

2 6.5x55 seems to be the next step up and well worth a look at, cheap rounds and rifle cheap are available too, but this seems more a target shooting rifle (so would I get a rifle that has had 5000 rounds through?). This seems to be a round that’s very close to the .243 in ft/sec

3 .270 seems to be the best round for me anyway, ft/sec is high I know but this seem to be the best alternative to a 308 (which I can't justify at the moment and think would be way too much for me anyway). These are available but are not the cheapest and the rounds are not the cheapest either, but how many are you realistically going to blast away in day?

So there you have my argument/opinion for this thread, hope that helps justify the thread?

Thanks
Steve

Point 1. I imagine we all agree on that.
Point 2. The 6.5x55 is nothing like the .243 in ft/sec, in fact far removed from it but more to the point the 6.5 is a better calibre for hunting deer.
Point 3. Where do I start but some interesting reading may enlighten at the following site (there's too much to write here) 7mm-08 Remington - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Alternatives to the 308 and 270 there certainly are!
 
.243 is more then enough for all deer at ranges you are happy with maybe not the prefered for reds but will still do the job , shot a fox the othe night pretty much cut it in half with .243 at 90 meters
a 308 is a nice caliber and my next rifle for red/fallow, ive never shot a 270 with a moderator but they kick a bit without but super cheap to buy not sure about ammo
 
I had a 6.5 x 55 , lovely... but the barrel was damaged. I needed a bigger calibre for South Africa. So opted for a 30-06 Ackley re-barrel But if I had not gone for the 30-06 and it would have just been used for UK then it would have been re-barrelled to 6.5 x 47. I never really knew about the calibre before discussing it with the smith , but having read about it and spoken to folk who use it they really do like the calibre.
 
what is your favourite colour!?

I have 3 .270's each one kicks less than the other.
Moderate it if you have to. its simple physics, more weight less recoil (real recoil not "perceived" recoil)

It is a subjective issue.
look at the data on the recoil index for each calibre.
.270 is no more a shoulder bashing than any other full bore 6.5+mm calibre
http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm

as for calibre, its like the style of your shoes, some people like some shoes others don't

It depends entirely on what you intend to shoot
for a one rifle fits all few will match the .270win
if you want to shoot foxes up to 23stone red stags then I would rather a .270 than a .243!
it will shoot 90gr screamers through 180gr (or more commonly 150gr) thumpers at speed of between 3400fps down to 2750fps

1.2"high at 100 and 1.2" low at 200 is nothing to be bragging about IMO
what on earth does that make it at 250 and 300yds?! I wouldn't want to be second guessing distance on a wounded stag if I ever had to make a second shot.

by comparison factory 130gr Norma .270 ammo 1" high at 100yds is dead on at 200yds and 6.5" at 300yds.
I have shot hoodie crows through to red stags and everything in between from fox, roe, fawn/young roe, calf/young red.

don't know much about the 6.5x55 other than it is one of the most common "all round" stalking rounds out there along with 308 and 243

One thing I will say if you want one rifle
you never want to be in a position where you start second guessing the calibre/cartridges ability when faced with a longer than usual shot or a bigger/smaller than expected target.
more gun than you need is ALWAYS better than not enough
 
My .243 has been good for uk deer species.
I would recommend one to anyone.
Perhaps not my first choice for larger deer species but as a deer/fox gun it has been perfect.
I feel calibers are a bit like cars........if you like the one you're driving life's great.
 
+ another for the 6.5x55... I started with a .243, but wanted something appropriate for anything and everything in the UK. Only want the one set up, so that's what I plumped for, with no regrets

Cheers
i.
 
what is your favourite colour!?


1.2"high at 100 and 1.2" low at 200 is nothing to be bragging about IMO
what on earth does that make it at 250 and 300yds?! I wouldn't want to be second guessing distance on a wounded stag if I ever had to make a second shot.

One thing I will say if you want one rifle
you never want to be in a position where you start second guessing the calibre/cartridges ability when faced with a longer than usual shot or a bigger/smaller than expected target.
more gun than you need is ALWAYS better than not enough

You are better advised to fully understand the operational ability of your kit and are able to use it effectively than dabble with artillery you can't!

As for 250, 300 yards or up to 500 yards I know what my rifle does but the reality of UK stalking is that most deer are taken at under 100 yards and the majority of stalkers don't take anything over 200 yards. To work within the parameter of a couple of inches high to a couple of inches low out to 200 yards is a perfectly acceptable indicator for choosing a stalking calibre, which in fact makes most calibres such as 243, 6.5x55, 308, 7mm-08, 270, 30-06 to mention a few good for the job. It's just some will be more efficient than others.

If long range shooting, over 300 yards, is to be one's preference then alternative and more specialist kit for the job would be preferable but not a necessity.
 
Back
Top