Which calibre to change too?

Do you need to change? Would it not be easier to keep the 243 and use an estate rifle for your one trip up north?
 
I don’t need to change but,
It’s nicer to use your own kit and own loaded ammunition.
I might have a look at trying some of the 100gn copper, but the more I go down the rabbit hole, I think I will end up changing calibre. It’s a hobby I love and get enjoyment from so why not
 
Right, but what’s that got to do with it being an ex military round?
6.5x55 was the military calibre in Sweden and Norway(I think). Norway went to Nato standard quite a long time ago, and Sweden went across to 7.62 Nato in mid 1960’s, although 6.5x55 is a popular target calibre.

Military surplus ammo in 6.5x55 will have long been used up. I suspect a lot went to the US Market.

Even surplus 7.62 and 5.56 is hard to find, given wars in Iraq, Afghan and Ukraine. It used to only be released when it was getting close to its use by date, but I doubt much military ammo gets close to that these days.
 
I suggest .308Win. 1:9twist 20” barrel. 155GR Merlin projectiles using Lapua small rifle primer brass. Federal Gold Medal primers. If you do not like the Merlin projectile then use the Osprey. No change in load development between the two - just a difference in terminal performance. The 1:9 twist barrel will also give you the option of developing a decent sub sonic load that will stay under MACH 1.0 and still be stable. This combination has been tested and proven. It might not be the answer what you are after but it works and components are relatively easy to find.
 
I’d keep the .243 and go to Edinburgh rifles as others have said. The 100gn factory loaded peregrines are accurate enough in my Mannlicher PH with a now shortened 20” barrel.

Not shot any deer with them yet but they group acceptably well. The lead round in the magazine is a 100 gun Sako for comparison1674589424512.webp
 

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6.5x55 was the military calibre in Sweden and Norway(I think). Norway went to Nato standard quite a long time ago, and Sweden went across to 7.62 Nato in mid 1960’s, although 6.5x55 is a popular target calibre.

Military surplus ammo in 6.5x55 will have long been used up. I suspect a lot went to the US Market.

Even surplus 7.62 and 5.56 is hard to find, given wars in Iraq, Afghan and Ukraine. It used to only be released when it was getting close to its use by date, but I doubt much military ammo gets close to that these days.
That’s my point!

@TringSaint has stated the op should go for an ex military round due to the availability of fmj ammo for practice. Cheap PPU fmj for 6.5x55 has nothing to do with it being an ex military round and as you say we won’t be getting cheap milsurp any time soon….
 
I’d keep the .243 and go to Edinburgh rifles as others have said. The 100gn factory loaded peregrines are accurate enough in my Mannlicher PH with a now shortened 20” barrel.

Not shot any deer with them yet but they group acceptably well. The lead round in the magazine is a 100 gun Sako for comparisonView attachment 291688
They look like they have the BC of a brick
I'm also curious to the velocity you're getting out of them if you know it?
 
You could just rebarrel to a faster twist and keep the 243, it will kill all our legal quarry well enough.
However I did move away from 243 and a possible lead ban legal or imposed by the dealers was one reason. The other being a really good deal on a rifle I wanted a Sauer 202, it happened to be in 6.5x55. The Creedmoor etc 6.5's have given us a variety of bullets, so that benefits the home loader. You can tailor your loads to the quarry, with bullet choice.
That said I have a 270 probably the least choice bullet wise, and 30-06 again lots of choice for bullet weight and type.
Personally I believe you shoot better with rifle that fits and that you like. As such I tend to find a rifle I like, then see what ammo I can get be that factory or components. Then work from there on calibre/cartridge choice. As let's face it all the deer legal cartridges will do the job, but if you can't feed it it's an expensive ornament.
I won't tell you that you must buy one of my choices of chambering, all I will add is other than foxes and vermin it's the 6.5x55 that tends to come out of the cabinet most. It is pleasant to shoot I can load it with cup and core or non toxic, and choose bullet weights to suit all the deer species in this country. But then I can probably do the same with the 30-06 when I get some loads worked up. There's no right or wrong answer as long as it's legal and it works for you crack on.
 
They look like they have the BC of a brick
I'm also curious to the velocity you're getting out of them if you know it?
I bought ready made rounds. The figures are published by Ed on another thread but are 2972 fps.

They do look a bit like 6.5 Mannlicher rounds from the 1900s but they are more accurate in my 1:10 twist pro hunter than the 80gn Sako copper I have bought in the past. My rifle just prefers 100gn it seems.


 
Simple as this, just get a 30-06

One rifle does all, no Fannying about will shoot, whatever you want to feed it, what’s not to like!

30-06 The king of all calibres!
270win the Queen of all calibres
7x57 the Queen Mother of all calibres

That’s all you need to know

All the others are just for camp cock fighting 😂😂🙈
 
Why have you got .243 now? Did you get it because it was the smallest that would do the job, or are you sensitive to recoil perhaps?

I would say that the closest thing to what you have now would be a Creedmoor. A small step up in calibre, but it will easily handle 120gr copper without knocking you around. There's plenty of ammunition available for it. I love the older and more traditional cartridges like the Swede but let's be honest here, if you don't home load the Creedmoor will offer a lot more choice of ammo and will be easier to find.
 
Why have you got .243 now? Did you get it because it was the smallest that would do the job, or are you sensitive to recoil perhaps?

I would say that the closest thing to what you have now would be a Creedmoor. A small step up in calibre, but it will easily handle 120gr copper without knocking you around. There's plenty of ammunition available for it. I love the older and more traditional cartridges like the Swede but let's be honest here, if you don't home load the Creedmoor will offer a lot more choice of ammo and will be easier to find.
you can get 308/30-06/270 ammunition anywhere, in fact just about anywhere in the world!

If your going to go up, you may as well do it properly!

If your thinking 6.5 creedmoor you may as well grow a pair and get a 270 or 30-06 or a 308 if your must 😂🙈
 
If you reload or plan to in the future go for a 30-06 it will give you the opportunity to load for fox and Deer.

If you have no plans to reload ever, go for a 308 as it will over the broadest range of factory ammo.
 
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