243 or 6.5C
- Thread starter sealsun
- Start date
6.5CM does out of the box what takes a lot of effort to achieve from a 243. Around 140gr from a 6.5CM will not loose energy as fast as a 80-100gr 243. Yes the 243 works but is very often marginal in twist rate for heavier bullets or copper bullets.
The 243 would be great for fox and smaller deer where one can use 80-90gr bullets.... then again the 6.5CM can do that as well.
I have both, if going out and not knowing where the day will take me I grab the 308 or 6.5CM and leave the 243 at home.
edi
The 243 would be great for fox and smaller deer where one can use 80-90gr bullets.... then again the 6.5CM can do that as well.
I have both, if going out and not knowing where the day will take me I grab the 308 or 6.5CM and leave the 243 at home.
edi
I own a Tikka M55 in .243 and it's build quality is top class, so I recommend bagging one if you can. Tikka M55 - a dependable working tool or a backup gun In particular the trigger is the best I have used. It stabilises 100gr bullets beautifully. Here's a ten shot group at 300yds. I don't own a 6.5 CM but I have a 7x57 which is a nice intermediate cartridge but not quite as accurate as the .243, so maybe treat yourself to a .243 for small quarry and a 6.5 or 7mm for larger quarry?
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Bandit Country
Well-Known Member
.243 was my first rifle when l started out, back in the last century. It's a versatile calibre that's tried and tested and l still use it today. It's perfectly capable of dropping big deer, it's simply a matter of good bullet placement. However, if I'm after fallow l reach for the .308 as l feel happier with the heavier bullet. I'm a product of my age and decades ago .243/.308 were simply the 'go to' calibres.
I have a mate who shoots a 6.5 Creedmoor and it certainly does the job on big deer, but with the option of a bit more bullet weight than the .243 can deliver. Another friend shoots the 6.5 in competition and his 900m targets are very impressive. If l was starting today my first rifle would be a 6.5 Creedmoor.
I have a mate who shoots a 6.5 Creedmoor and it certainly does the job on big deer, but with the option of a bit more bullet weight than the .243 can deliver. Another friend shoots the 6.5 in competition and his 900m targets are very impressive. If l was starting today my first rifle would be a 6.5 Creedmoor.
You don’t say what type of deer and what sort of ground/conditions.
Mainly Roe, Fallow and Muntjack also Charlie in Hampshire so fields and small blocks of woodland.
nun_hunter
Well-Known Member
Personally having started with a 243 and having numerous cartridges over the years and currently own a 6.5 Creedmoor I would definitely choose a Creedmoor over a 243 if I was in your shoes.
The Creedmoor can do everything the 243 can and then a lot more if you so wish.
The Creedmoor can do everything the 243 can and then a lot more if you so wish.
Stalker-of-the-deer
Well-Known Member
I own a 243, if I was ro start all over again I'd have a 6.5 for every deer species and a 22 250 or 223 for fox
Then either will do, but I prefer Creedmoor for fallow.
FISH BOY
Well-Known Member
6.5 Creedmore.
Been using my 243 weekly for the past five years and while it’s ace on small deer, it just doesn’t have the knockdown power on fallow using 80gr copper - far more pencilling through and follow ups required since switching from lead.
I find my 30.06 causes too much damage on small deer and I lose the sight picture, so just renewed with a new 6.5 grant - was thinking PRC but don’t homeload so a non starter. Looks like I will be joining the 6.5 Creedmore club as a middle do all calibre as it has a reasonable supply of factory ammo available.
Been using my 243 weekly for the past five years and while it’s ace on small deer, it just doesn’t have the knockdown power on fallow using 80gr copper - far more pencilling through and follow ups required since switching from lead.
I find my 30.06 causes too much damage on small deer and I lose the sight picture, so just renewed with a new 6.5 grant - was thinking PRC but don’t homeload so a non starter. Looks like I will be joining the 6.5 Creedmore club as a middle do all calibre as it has a reasonable supply of factory ammo available.
PRC is great, but if you think 30/06 is messy…
Being a dinosaur I have returned to my favourite which is a 7x57. I have used most rifles and had .243 through 25/06 to 30R Blaser. All are useful for varying reasons. As said a .243 will kill all British deer but can be marginal. If it was a straight choice I'd go for the 6.5 either x55 or a Creed. My young "Assistant" has used the 55 for Fallow etc and even large Red stags, it does the job adequately with 140 gr bullets.
jthyttin
Well-Known Member
I don't. Getting spare parts for older than T3 Tikkas (also older Sakos) is between iffy and impossible. Some parts that are probably outsourced are being produced (like plastic mag catches) but many of the more intricate parts are in low or no supply from Sako. This is both personal experience trying to get them, and rumors from factory (I live few miles away).
Taking into account that military orders are like doubling Sako's turnover for the intermediate future, I don't find it very probable they start modeling and making something like bolt parts for older models. The machines that were used to make them have long been sold, and Sako has enough trouble expanding the manufacturing capacity.
Some parts like springs can of course be easily made, but it would require some kind of batch to bring the price reasonable. I'd recommend keeping the M55 extractor spring in good shape, to keep wear&tear down in addition to keeping the flawless function of the rifle.
I have a 243, wouldn’t change it but if I was starting again I would go for the 6.5 just for the extra knockdown,
jthyttin
Well-Known Member
In the context of stalking, yes.
But 6.5mm is currently lacking in lighter (varmint) bullets. If you take 55gr 6mm and scale the weight to 6.5mm you're around 65-70gr depending on whether you use second or third exponent. Lightest widely available 6.5mm bullet is IIRC 90gr Varmageddon. Hornady seems also to have suspended the production of most widely known 6.5mm varmint bullet, the 95gr V-Max. So you're currently stuck around the 1000m/s mark with "regular" 6.5mms while 243 is almost 1200m/s with 55gr.
nun_hunter
Well-Known Member
For shooting varmints why is a 55g bullet at 1200m/s "better" than the 90g at 1000m/s?
The 55g has a worse BC (0.250 vs 0.350) so while they'll both hit small critters within 200m easily with no or minimal drop but once you're beyond that then you'll be dialling or using holdover and so then a better BC has the advantage. Hitting any varmint with either a 55 grain at 1200m/s or a 90 grain at 1000m/s is going to have the same outcome
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