243 or 6.5C

Leica Fortis 6 - Bright and powerful.
For the same reason people want to use 40gr in their 22cals, even when modern 53gr offers same trajectory (regarding 243 and 6.5mm, 243 will always retain better trajectory while 6.5mm has wind advantage)?

Or because varmint bullet selection is much smaller, especially when trying to keep in the trajectory race (only Varmageddon then)?

With 243 you can always go up to .350 G1 BC and match the 6.5mm (velocities are same).

I have no 6mms, do have 3x 6.5mms and would like to see more varmint bullets, especially in lighter weights, available.
 
If your police force will allow you to have a .308 for your first rifle then get one. Will knock over all deer in the UK even if you have to drop down in bullet weight with the advent of copper.

If that is going to prove difficult then go for a 6.5 CM or even the good old 6.5 x 55 Swede.

Again with the advent of copper the .243 may we’ll be relegated to a foxing or Muntjac only round.
 
6.5cm has a lot more going it than 243. I use 6.5x47, 6.5-284 and 270w. The 6.5x47 would have been 6.5cm if it had been available at the time of buying
 
Others have said it 243 the copper seems to be an issue getting them to work! I own but selling a 6.5 CM shooting bug holes with copper Yewtree 112gr as moved back to .270 .
 
Get a 6.5cm as ammo readily available yet to find anything out of a box that doesn’t shoot well. Plus if you ever get bored and want to try shoot long range it’s s pretty decent entry without jumping for a proper target rifle.
 
sealsun said:
I’m looking at buying my first stalking rifle and can’t decide should I get a 243 or 6.5C? So I thought why not ask you guys with a hell mo experience than me.

What are the advantages and disadvantages off each?

Thanks
Stuart
Click to expand...
243 will shoot smaller / faster very frangible bullets in lead at high velocity ( this might be compromised when we no longer can shoot those rounds ) 243 win exceptions for use with copper as the lead ban comes in will be reduced in Scotland to if i remember correctly to "80 grains ?" these will work exceptionally good if you can find them in Barnes TTSX or Hornady CX copper ( the IF is something i dont yet know about is there any made or going to be made ) . Some Copper is not good , the brands i mention here though are in my experience they are better than lead
6.5 Creed ? Well its nothing really special in the hunting field 6.5 sweed ( with the correct twist ) or 260 rem will both better it on velocity but again twists will work " genrally " but really you need faster twist rate similar to the creed of 1 turn in 8 " . I personally run a 260 rem in 1-7.5 twist and it will run 100 grain lead varmint bullets , 143 ELDX lead , 120 lead pro hunters just great ! In the main part i shoot 100 grain TTSX Barnes copper but also 120 Barnes .
Lighter the bullet the less the recoil , which makes the gun faster and flatter over shorter distances. I definitely find 100 TTSX to be the best killing bullet i have ever used hunting from our smallest deer Muntjac, CWD , Roe up to the biggest stags ( close up or far away) Remember though I have mine in a 1-7.5 twist ( not the std slower twist )
I have also had a few decades with the 243 win . Smaller bores and faster velocities through what is a fairly high powder fill do burn out your rifling faster but they also give a lot of velocity , Dont buy one second hand unless its spent very little time being shot and defo get it looked at with a bore scope ( mine still shot well with no rifling at all for the first few inches but definitely be careful if buying used ) Makes for less recoil meaning faster following shots and a flat trajectory though in 80 grain copper especially it will wind drift a fair amount more than either 6.5 .
SO
If your planning on shooting factory ammo in 6.5 copper get a creed 6.5 mm , if your going to handload consider a fast twist 1-8 260 rem or 6.5 sweed . Other 6.5mm and 6mm like "243" exist but do remember you really do need to think "faster twist " not the old standards if going for a 6mm
 
.243 seems to be the entry level of rifle for most. Never had one so can't really comment, but if your any thing like me I went straight for the 6.5x55 Swedish and have the 22-250 for smaller deer and foxes. All areas covered in my opinion. Although I have been tempted to get a .243, but got talked out of it by a few people. Hope that helps
 
mat83 said:
.243 seems to be the entry level of rifle for most. Never had one so can't really comment, but if your any thing like me I went straight for the 6.5x55 Swedish and have the 22-250 for smaller deer and foxes. All areas covered in my opinion. Although I have been tempted to get a .243, but got talked out of it by a few people. Hope that helps
Click to expand...
The 243 mirrors the light bullets in 22-250 . Until the law is amended as promised you cannot shoot a Scottish deer other than a Roe with any bullet under 100 grains . Neither can you shoot a Roe in England / Wales with less than a 6mm . Now tell me what sort of fools advised our uk governments ? More nations and states of nations on earth allow all deer to be shot with 22 cf than do not . I would gladly shoot a Red stag with a 223 but i wouldn't want to be confined with only shooting with one , as the criteria of range and conditions are far more relevant . We must just work to what the law states .
 
Bowland blades said:
The 243 mirrors the light bullets in 22-250 . Until the law is amended as promised you cannot shoot a Scottish deer other than a Roe with any bullet under 100 grains . Neither can you shoot a Roe in England / Wales with less than a 6mm . Now tell me what sort of fools advised our uk governments ? More nations and states of nations on earth allow all deer to be shot with 22 cf than do not . I would gladly shoot a Red stag with a 223 but i wouldn't want to be confined with only shooting with one , as the criteria of range and conditions are far more relevant . We must just work to what the law states .
Click to expand...
Agreed!! Im well aware of the laws and im sure the chap who asked the original question is. But I think the question was around which calibre? Pros and Cons. 6.5cm or sweetish will cover all your problems. The end.
 
I know a chap who shoots upwards and over 100 deer a year mostly roe but some fallow and a fair few munties. He has 243 and has been using copper bullets for about 3 years now with excellent results so I dont see the issue with 243 and copper. He uses Yew tree bullets.
Tusker
 
I would go 243. It's more than capable for any UK deer and ammo and rifles should be a bit cheaper and more widely available. With optimum bullet weights it will shoot a bit flatter at typical UK stalking ranges than the 6.5.

Both cartridges wil do the job perfectly well and you won't go wrong either way. I'd be sceptical of advice telling you that the 6.5 is better for your needs.
 
If you were just shooting roe, muntjac and CWD the .243 is perfect. If you might have a chance at fallow, red or sika then the 6.5CM is arguably a better option.

The copper point (for .243) is real and has been covered above. It does mean there are some very good deals on used .243s around of course.
 
I think that starting out now the 6.5CM is the obvious choice as there is very little recoil and the choice of rifles is as wide as with .243. There aren't really any disadvantages to choosing the 6.5 in my opinion. The chamber and cartridge specs have much smaller tolerances meaning a wider variety of factory ammo will shoot well in a wider variety of factory rifles too so there should be less messing about.
 
For what you are shooting the 6.5 covers everything and some. Had a 6.5x55 for years and shot everything with it out to 300m

If you weren’t shooting foxes I would say 7x57. There are some real bargains around at the moment and is a mild mannered great round.

BE
 
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