6.5x55 or .243?

[stubear]

Both are great cartridges and have accounted for many a deer - Personally I would go for the 6.5 Swede simply because it will push heavier bullets.

If your rifle doesnt like 100gn pills in .243 then you suddenly cant use it in Scotland on reds because 100gn is the max for .243 and the minimum for reds north of the border. You can get up to (I think) 156gn with the Swede so you have a lot more choice of legal loads.

 

[enfieldspares]

Hey "diz90"... It is the old "gun fighter" critique isn't it though?....

Yes, and that's the problem. Post-WWII the British Army did a study, involving speaking with those concerned, about the relative merits of .380" Mk II, 9mm and .455" in the issue handguns.

Unsurprisingly those that used the successfully .380"Mk II said that was "the best", those the 9mm successfully that it was "the best" and successful .455" users said their calibre "the best". But, as was pointed out, many of those who'd found that .380, 9mm or .455 hadn't worked for them didn't respond to the study as they died finding out that fact. Same as the M1 Carbine vs Thompson vs M3 Grease Gun M1 debate in the US Army. Dead men usually can't make representation about how no it wasn't "the best".

So the problem with those critiques is those who have used one calibre repeatedly and with success won't usually have tried anything else to know if, in fact, that anything else was actually better.

 

[Boarboy]

I used to have a 6.5 x55. Found it to be fantastic with 120gr and particularly the Norma 120gr ballistic tip. At the time ammo cost and availability was an issue, but I’d say if your set up with reloading and able to trial a few things I’d go for it.

 

[Teazel]

I have just started with my 6.5x55 Tikka lite and love it, was a bit worried about the short barrel and velocity's but there was no need to worry. A lot of data in manuals is on the very safe side due to the old swedes still around (which in itself says a lot for the calibre). With my homeloads I'm pushing up around the 3000fps with 120 sierra prohunters and 2650fps with gamekings ( no hint of pressure signs). The 243 is a great foxing round for long distance and lighter bullets but some rifles struggle with 100gr's though my Tikka hunter shoots them well enough. Think the summing up is, 243 if you want to shoot lighter bullets for fox yet want a rifle that will also deal with our deer species on occasion, 6.5 x55 if its going to be mainly deer. As for loopy trajectory, think that's a saying left for the older rifles, my 6.5 with 120gr isn't far off ballistics as a 25-06 which is notably a flat shooting round.

 

[Kennethmk2]

6.5x55 for everything

 

[Andy-Painter]

I use 223 (Were the laws allows), 243 and 308 for UK deer and AOLQ, I’ve used other calibres but keeping coming back to the more usual offerings.

My 243 is an old Tikka M55 and still my favourite combination.

Low recoil, flat shooting out to 170 yards and low cost per bang plus you can find factory ammo in most shops if your running low.

Lot to be said for keeping it simple.

 

[big ears]

Low recoil, flat shooting out to 170 yards and low cost per bang plus you can find factory ammo in most shops if your running low.

You’ve just described my 6.5x55 with 120gr!!

 

[dggowdy]

I've had both calibres and personally I prefer the 6.5. It's smoother to shoot and there is a better choice of bullet weight's available which is a plus if you are shooting bigger deer.

 

[Heym SR20]

This is an interesting article given that the 243 vs 6.5x55 argument is pretty much the same as 243 vs 6.5 creedmor, 260, 7-08 etc etc

I can't help feeling that the 243 in Scotland is hampered by the need to shoot 100gn bullets - from what I have read it performs better with 95gn. And statistically 50% of all 100gn bullets will be below 100gn - ie 99.99gn

243 Winchester Versus 7mm-08 Remington - Ron Spomer Outdoors

 

[pendle]

Message me your email address and I'l send you the SKAN Viht reloading data for the swede.

A man with good sense . Great round loaded with this loading data . Not far of Creedmore .260 and 6.5x47 depending on barrel length just use more powder

 

[njc110381]

It has to be 6.5x55 for me. I love the round, it's my rifle of choice. I've had two .243's too so experience of both. For deer the 6.5 is just better, in my opinion of course.

Even with the heaviest of bullets the .243 is still storming along. At close range it will mangle the carcass. You already have a fast round, so my choice would be to have a slow one to compliment it when you happen to be doing close up woodland work.