one deer rifle

[Bowland blades]

Guys
what would be the best all round calibre for all species of uk deer i’m running a 222, 243, 6.5 x 55 and 308 at the moment


will keep the 222. but possibly looking to go to one calibre for all and as it’s looming and will shoot well with copper

cheers
phil

One of the 6.5mm types 1-8 twist . I can run slightly under 100 grain up to 140 grain or a tad more in my 260 rem . That said i can do fine from Muntjac to the biggest stags just using the 100 grain Barnes tTSX copper .
Could maybe be done in your 6.5 , if it handles that range of bullets with its current twist rate ? After you leave this bullet weight range your into the magnums to gain a noticeable amount tbf

 

[big ears]

I like your thought process.............But........At the other end of scale of tradition and history.....The 6.5 CM does a bloody good job.

So did and still does the 6.5x55.
I’d stick with tried and tested

 

[big ears]

i’m using 140 SP in my 6.5 c 55 and it’s really accurate it sure knocks em over, started out with 120 grn but picked a bit of damage on fallow hence the changer to 140

140gr in my 6.5 was go to bullet. Big and slow always seemed to work better

 

[Acm]

No way I’d want to be down to one deer rifle, rifles break, scopes break, accidents happen. Keep what you have, it covers all bases, could easily afford to drop the .243.

 

[Overlay]

No way I’d want to be down to one deer rifle, rifles break, scopes break, accidents happen. Keep what you have, it covers all bases, could easily afford to drop the .243.

Yus it’s bit scary, just thinking being on one rifle, the 243 is a very versatile caliber 6.5 is a sledgehammer and 308 does the job admirably, it wouldn’t be an easy call

 

[Ajax]

Swede or 308, however the swede has less recoil so easy to maintain sight picture.

 

[Bowland blades]

No way I’d want to be down to one deer rifle, rifles break, scopes break, accidents happen. Keep what you have, it covers all bases, could easily afford to drop the .243.

I have but 3 years on i am very , very likely to re-add one ! Why? Because it really does do everything in UK from long range crows and Foxes up to Red stags 55 -100 grain . Besides i fancy a Sako Carbon lite and the idea of a light to carry All deer and vermin rifle will sit well between the 223 and the 260 rem 70 nosler BT - 85 or even " 100 copper ?" Nice Lightweight Leupold Variable sat in a box in my gunroom that would go straight on mmmm?

 

[rem284]

Isn't Lapua dropping or has dropped the 284 ? replaced with 6.5PRC.
edi

I wouldn't be surprised. I hope I can still get cases for my 6.5-284

 

[long_range_rob]

How many members on SD, that's the number of options this thread will generate.

I think it will be number of register member+number of admin+1

 

[SCB]

Having used and still using many calibres, 243, 6.5 Cr, 270, 30.06, and seen may clients and colleagues using all the other calibres, I think I know what I’d stick to if I had to shoot one, the 6.5 Cr.

There’s nothing not to like about it. I can shoot big Dorset Sika stags at any range I choose, can shoot roe or muntjac with the same bullet without any excessive damage, short action using little powder, high BC bullet choice, minimal recoil, very accurate.

As I said, nothing not to like

Hi
So what bullet would you choose??
Thanks
SCB

 

[Deermanagement]

Hi
So what bullet would you choose??
Thanks
SCB

I've only used 130g Accubond. Can take Sika, Roe Muntjac and Fallow admirably. Should I need to go non-lead, after listening and reading plenty about this and that, I'll be using Yew Tree (reloading of course). I am looking at a day on CWD in the near future over in Norfolk, but I'd like to use something considerably lighter with less chance of a big lump exiting into the distance on flat terrain. I luckily stalk rolling countryside and have seen the type of angle a solid bullet can exit an animal

I should maybe buy a box of factory so if anyone has a recommendation for CWD on flat terrain from a 6.5, please let me know

 

[timbrayford]

How many members on SD, that's the number of options this thread will generate.

But all the others are wrong!

 

[billy_boyle_2010]

They all work fine

You can tailor your choice to your conditions, preferences and species perhaps- but they all work fine

 

[HonestJohn]

7-08 if you want the ability to have a short 18” barrel for an over barrel
Mod. Or .308

Don’t write off the 25-06!!!!

 

[Dickie]

Just to mix it up get a Blaser R8, 1 rifle many barrels

 

[JTO]

I have always fancied a 7mm-08, but I don't shoot enough deer to make my opinion worth anything.

 

[SussexSteve]

I use 243 on all my deer. Love the calibre so much I’ve just added a second in r93. Only ever get the 6.5 out if I get an invite on reds

 

[Overlay]

If you shoot mainly the smaller three species, keep the 6.5. If you shoot mainly the bigger three, keep the .308.

all species but reducing on Red deer next year

 

[Tim.243]

If you shoot mainly the smaller three species, keep the 6.5. If you shoot mainly the bigger three, keep the .308.

I have a 10mm mild steel fox target and the .243 95gn round punches a neat hole through @250 as we tested it...
Having yet to find any deer with that on the out side, the myth of deer are tough is just a myth as you can break down a red with 1 sharp knife but you can only scratch the paint off the 10mm plate with the knife.
I have shown a few new shooters the plate and holes as a reminder to be sure about back stops.
Paul o' and others SA Shooter as Werner was with me on a few times practicing off stick at 250 punching holes in it.
@paul o' @SA shooter

 

[Overlay]

good point there Tim on the potency of different calibres
i’ve had Muntjac run using 308 and dropped Red stags on the spot with a 243 100 grn

just a few days ago H&L shot on a fallow doe and it run over 90 yds with a 100 grn SP from a 243 through a thick as guts plantation and if I hadn’t had my teckles with me it would have probably been on the lost sheet, that’s the second serious runner i’ve had in just over a month both shots were bang on the button one from a high seat and the other off of sticks
shoot with a 308 and it pushes the exit side leg out
overall it’s the same with any calibre squeeze the best shot off and have a back up plan

To be fair you have to pencil in the odd runner as sod’s law irrespective of calibre used
Some deer haven’t read the must die instantly bit in the manual unfortunately