2130martin
Well-Known Member
In that case a .243 is the tool,ample ammunition available in all sorts of sizes etc........
Back to a single calibre
- Thread starter Big Kev
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In that case a .243 is the tool,ample ammunition available in all sorts of sizes etc........
Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
25-06 is a really nice calibre but it is a very fast shooting calibre. It is wonderful for anything beyond 150m and thus ideal on open hill ground, or across large fields. But unless you are careful, it can cause a lot of mess on closer range deer. I would add the same comments to the 270.
To get reliable, as opposed to explosive, expansion and penetration most bullets need an impact velocity of between 2300 and 2600 fps. Thus for a good allrounder you need something that shoots an aerodynamically efficient bullet with a MV of c2650 to 2800 fps. ie a reasonably long for calibre bullet with a good ballistic coefficient. It also needs to be a readily available calibre - thus 6.5x55/260rem, 7x57/7-08rem or 308 are pretty much the do it all calibres of choice. Shoot a good common or garden softpoint bullet - 140 grn in 6.5 or 7mm, 150 to 160 in the 308. Sight it an 1" high at 100 and put cross hair in middle of kill zone and squeeze trigger. On longer range foxes - 250 plus you might have to hold a little high - or just call them in.
Make sure the rifle fits, is comfortable and has good optics mounted correctly for you.
243 - is fine for smaller deer, but choose the correct bullet, and actually its fine on bigger stuff provided you take your time, but there are better options.
To get reliable, as opposed to explosive, expansion and penetration most bullets need an impact velocity of between 2300 and 2600 fps. Thus for a good allrounder you need something that shoots an aerodynamically efficient bullet with a MV of c2650 to 2800 fps. ie a reasonably long for calibre bullet with a good ballistic coefficient. It also needs to be a readily available calibre - thus 6.5x55/260rem, 7x57/7-08rem or 308 are pretty much the do it all calibres of choice. Shoot a good common or garden softpoint bullet - 140 grn in 6.5 or 7mm, 150 to 160 in the 308. Sight it an 1" high at 100 and put cross hair in middle of kill zone and squeeze trigger. On longer range foxes - 250 plus you might have to hold a little high - or just call them in.
Make sure the rifle fits, is comfortable and has good optics mounted correctly for you.
243 - is fine for smaller deer, but choose the correct bullet, and actually its fine on bigger stuff provided you take your time, but there are better options.
it's just a personal thing.
I've owned .17, .22/250, .243, 6.5x55 and .30/06 and I'm just about to take delivery of a 6.5x47. We'll discount the .17 as it's too small for what you want. I was never a fan of my .243 for deer, it's a great foxing round and good on the smaller deer but not a true all rounder. I really liked my 6.5x55 for deer, really mellow to shoot and certainly heavy enough for even the biggest Norfolk reds. I didn't like it for foxing as I found it had too much drop on long range foxes in the hills, and was really difficult to compensate for.
If it was one rifle it'd have to be .30/06. Powerful enough to take almost all quarry around the world, perfect for anything in the UK including pigs, and flat enough to fox with at night. In fact of the three centre fires I currently own it's the first thing I get out of the cabinet.
I've owned .17, .22/250, .243, 6.5x55 and .30/06 and I'm just about to take delivery of a 6.5x47. We'll discount the .17 as it's too small for what you want. I was never a fan of my .243 for deer, it's a great foxing round and good on the smaller deer but not a true all rounder. I really liked my 6.5x55 for deer, really mellow to shoot and certainly heavy enough for even the biggest Norfolk reds. I didn't like it for foxing as I found it had too much drop on long range foxes in the hills, and was really difficult to compensate for.
If it was one rifle it'd have to be .30/06. Powerful enough to take almost all quarry around the world, perfect for anything in the UK including pigs, and flat enough to fox with at night. In fact of the three centre fires I currently own it's the first thing I get out of the cabinet.
I cant really see the practicality of some of the comments that say if you have this calibre and shoot a certain weight of bullet it is great for deer and if you shoot a lighter bullet through the same rifle it is great for foxes. Surely the two will impact at differently when shot. My idea is to have one bullet that will kill both effectively. I shoot a 130 grain bullet out of a 270 and my quarry is sika, roe, red deer and fox. The numbers sika being the most and foxes being the least. I also shoot a 140 grain bullet out of a 6.5-284 on the same quarry but on recreational shooting ground. Both rifles will do the job well and at no time have I ever thought, I wish I had a smaller lighter faster bullet when I go to take a shot at a fox.
I have used a 243, 25-06 and both will do the job although I do think with the reds you are sitting on the edge with the 243. The 25-06 was one sure hard hitting round and certainly was capable. One of the reasons I moved a way from this was the old night shooting laws which said it had to be 270 or greater when shooting red or sika at night.
As I have all ready said if I could use only one rifle my choice would be the 6.5-284 the only thing is you do really need to home load for it.
I would say again good advice is to select a projectile that flies well, kills well. Then choose a suitable case and powder that gives it enough speed to do the two jobs mentioned. Then think of the platform(rifle, scope etc) in which to get it up to speed
I have used a 243, 25-06 and both will do the job although I do think with the reds you are sitting on the edge with the 243. The 25-06 was one sure hard hitting round and certainly was capable. One of the reasons I moved a way from this was the old night shooting laws which said it had to be 270 or greater when shooting red or sika at night.
As I have all ready said if I could use only one rifle my choice would be the 6.5-284 the only thing is you do really need to home load for it.
I would say again good advice is to select a projectile that flies well, kills well. Then choose a suitable case and powder that gives it enough speed to do the two jobs mentioned. Then think of the platform(rifle, scope etc) in which to get it up to speed
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Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
You don't hear or see much about the 257 Roberts - strikes me as a very nice all round calibre for light rifles and smaller big game. But then not much between it and the 6.5x55, which is also a very nice all round calibre, like the 7x57.
What always surprises is that, unlike shotguns, the rifle industry has n't settled on a small, medium, large and dangerous game and long range calibre. ie a 222 ish (vermin and small deer), 7x57/308 ish (deer, antelope, sheep etc - something that can be dragged by one man), a 9.3x62/375H&H ish (for anything bigger or driven shooting), a 458 Lott ish (for something that is large and grumpy and wants to stamp on you and needs putting down quickly) and 300 win magish (for where you need to take shots at 300 ish yards in mountains etc).
In the thread right beside this one, several of us have touted the .257 Roberts. With the new bullets, it is better than ever.
Recoil like a .243, but tosses 100, 110, 115, 117 and 120 grain bullets, too.
Easy to work up accurate loads, and easy to shoot well.
Fits into small, light stalking rifles like the Remington 700 Mountain, Browning A-Bolt and X-Bolt, and the Kimber.
Shoots 75-gr bullets very well and at high velocity, for foxes, coyotes, etc.
The 87-gr bullets for the .250 Savage work very well on small deer, at mild or hotter velocities.
The 100-gr Sierra, 100-gr Barnes and 110-gr Accubond are flat shooting and hit hard.
115-gr and 117-gr and 120-gr bullets like the Nosler Partition, Interlock and Speer have taken elk cleanly, so red deer are no match for the .257 R.
Recoil like a .243, but tosses 100, 110, 115, 117 and 120 grain bullets, too.
Easy to work up accurate loads, and easy to shoot well.
Fits into small, light stalking rifles like the Remington 700 Mountain, Browning A-Bolt and X-Bolt, and the Kimber.
Shoots 75-gr bullets very well and at high velocity, for foxes, coyotes, etc.
The 87-gr bullets for the .250 Savage work very well on small deer, at mild or hotter velocities.
The 100-gr Sierra, 100-gr Barnes and 110-gr Accubond are flat shooting and hit hard.
115-gr and 117-gr and 120-gr bullets like the Nosler Partition, Interlock and Speer have taken elk cleanly, so red deer are no match for the .257 R.
iain b
Well-Known Member
what he says.
This is the round that should of been NATO standard if it wasn't for those meddling kids......
ChesterP
Well-Known Member
Tempted to apply for a variation for a 6.5 x 55 as an all round deer rifle...the gentleman's calibre?
308 (currently used) is fine but a 6.5 is undoubtedly sweeter to shoot with less recoil.
my choice as a New to Full bore hunting (tho not target shooting etc) was a 6.5mm / .260" as a calibre what engine you put behind it isnt that critical tho they have pros and Cons
in the end my choice as 6.5x47L the biggest Con is you have to Reload from the start as factory ammo isnt available (tho Lapua have recently released one cartridge with their naturalis lead free hunting Bullet )
mine runs 140 and 130grain SGK happily out of a short barrel
.260 or 6.5x55 would i guess be the best bet for factory ammo but still not a massive range
I still wouldn't be without a 22LR and or a 17HMR for rabbits as i want some left for the freezer.
in the end my choice as 6.5x47L the biggest Con is you have to Reload from the start as factory ammo isnt available (tho Lapua have recently released one cartridge with their naturalis lead free hunting Bullet )
mine runs 140 and 130grain SGK happily out of a short barrel
.260 or 6.5x55 would i guess be the best bet for factory ammo but still not a massive range
I still wouldn't be without a 22LR and or a 17HMR for rabbits as i want some left for the freezer.
