Calibre choice ?

[8x57]

I've heard that during the troubles in N. Ireland when it was nigh on impossible to get a licence for a centrefire rifle in the Republic, a LOT of deer (which here means mainly sika, fallow, and some reds) were taken with rimfires, getting in very close and taking head shots. (I'm sure others will be along to add or correct details, but that's what I've heard.)

But was it ideal? Very far from it.

Again: given the choice, I see no advantages of a .243 over 6.5 for deer, but lots of the reverse: the recoil of a 6.5 is mild, and it's super effective.

I can't remember the exact details but I think that you may have been misinformed there. If I remember correctly due to calibre restrictions in the Republic .22-250 was the most popular deer rifle at that time. When the law was changed sometime in the 1980s there was then a mad rush for larger calibre rifles. Carl Erickson at Litt's told me at the time that they couldn't get enough .270 rifles to supply stalkers from the Republic.

That's not to say that deer poaching with a .22lr wasn't an issue, the Irish like the Welsh have a long tradition of poaching.

 

[VSS]

That's not to say that deer poaching with a .22lr wasn't an issue, the Irish like the Welsh have a long tradition of poaching.

It's still considered an honourable occupation among the Welsh people, in areas of Wales where sporting rights are held by English gentry

 

[bakerlads]

The 6.5 is very versatile and you may change what you do with your rifle in the future.
A lot of choice of bullet in toxic and non-toxic.

I would go with the 6.5.

 

[8x57]

It's still considered an honourable occupation among the Welsh people, in areas of Wales where sporting rights are held by English gentry

I can't find the quote at the moment but in his book "Deer Parks & Deer of Great Britain" Freddie Hingston says about Wales that poaching is more popular than football.