Would you change a .243 for a 6.5x55?
- Thread starter Heym SR20
- Start date
sikamalc
Administrator
300wsm I have no issue with anyone debating over calibres, and no one is slagging off BASC, we are just putting facts forward.
What I do not want to see is people getting personal with each other, lets leave that to the playground shall we!!!
By all means debate over calibres I have no intention of stopping, just keep it civil PLEASE!!
What I do not want to see is people getting personal with each other, lets leave that to the playground shall we!!!
By all means debate over calibres I have no intention of stopping, just keep it civil PLEASE!!
D
Davie
Guest
Well i have learned something from this thread and i have thrown my Richard Prior book in the fire. I am not going to poach any more just retrieve all my deer from the other side of the fence under the no trespass law in Scotland. I will also be having a good look at my rifle set up to see why it manages to kill most of the deer i shoot at with out any problems . 
PS KEVIN YOUR RIGHT T TAKES A LOT TO UPSET ME
PS KEVIN YOUR RIGHT T TAKES A LOT TO UPSET ME
sikamalc
Administrator
6.5x55
I am sure your preffered calibre 6.5x55 is perfectly adequate to take any species in the UK, just the same as my 25.06 and 270
and a very good round the 6.5x55 is as well.
As far as I am aware the law in Scotland now allows you access to your own land via a neighbours ground providing the rifle is in a slip and covered, and also providing you are limited by access. But as with most things in life it pays to at least advise your neighbours that you intend on doing so and seek their good wishes.
Now gentlemen whatever calibre you use best of luck and good hunting.
Whatever legal calibre you choose to stalk with, just ensure the bullet is in the right place, and as sure as the sun rises tomorrow you will have a dead deer.
I am sure your preffered calibre 6.5x55 is perfectly adequate to take any species in the UK, just the same as my 25.06 and 270
and a very good round the 6.5x55 is as well.As far as I am aware the law in Scotland now allows you access to your own land via a neighbours ground providing the rifle is in a slip and covered, and also providing you are limited by access. But as with most things in life it pays to at least advise your neighbours that you intend on doing so and seek their good wishes.
Now gentlemen whatever calibre you use best of luck and good hunting.
Whatever legal calibre you choose to stalk with, just ensure the bullet is in the right place, and as sure as the sun rises tomorrow you will have a dead deer.
Thar
Well-Known Member
6.5 x 55 said:
Dave you are quoting the wrong piece of legislation, it is the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 section 25 that covers you when you are tracking a wounded deer that has traveled on to land were you do not have permission to shoot. It is the same piece of legislation that covers you when attending RTAs ect. All stalkers, especially those that use dogs for tracking wounded deer should make themselves familiar with this part of the deer act. The act is referenced to in the Deer Commission for Scotland’s Best practice :- “dogs for deer”
One other unknown fact is that under Section 25 of the act you can shoot the dependant young of a mother that you have shot or are about to shoot (on your land) even if they are on the wrong side of the boundary fence.
Two things I would add are, if you find your dog is taking you over your boundary fence, are once you have recovered it is to take photographic evidence of the wounded deer,ie were it was shot, leg, gut, jaw, neck, ect. Also it is a good idea if your dog has a distinctive tracking collar so there should be no misunderstanding that you are tracking a wounded deer.(as my dog did)
Malc under the 1995 right of access act I don’t think there is any specific need to have your rifle in a slip, you just have to give good reason for being on that land with a firearm, good reason is usually traveling to or from land that you do have permission to shoot on. But I concede that a slip might help prevent any misunderstanding with the land owners.
Best rgds
Tahr
D
Davie
Guest
well It didn't take you long to Wise up to the Scottish law Kevin and i think that any of the English chaps who shoot up here should get them selves familiar with the new laws and some of the old ones. It could save them and the others involved in any altercation a lot of time money and sanity 
It didn't take you long to Wise up to the Scottish law Kevin and i think that any of the English chaps who shoot up here should get them selves familiar with the new laws and some of the old ones. It could save them and the others involved in any altercation a lot of time money and sanity 
buck52
Well-Known Member
Thar said:6.5 x 55 said:
Dave you are quoting the wrong piece of legislation, it is the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 section 25 that covers you when you are tracking a wounded deer that has traveled on to land were you do not have permission to shoot. It is the same piece of legislation that covers you when attending RTAs ect. All stalkers, especially those that use dogs for tracking wounded deer should make themselves familiar with this part of the deer act. The act is referenced to in the Deer Commission for Scotland’s Best practice :- “dogs for deer”
One other unknown fact is that under Section 25 of the act you can shoot the dependant young of a mother that you have shot or are about to shoot (on your land) even if they are on the wrong side of the boundary fence.
Two things I would add are, if you find your dog is taking you over your boundary fence, are once you have recovered it is to take photographic evidence of the wounded deer,ie were it was shot, leg, gut, jaw, neck, ect. Also it is a good idea if your dog has a distinctive tracking collar so there should be no misunderstanding that you are tracking a wounded deer.(as my dog did)
Malc under the 1995 right of access act I don’t think there is any specific need to have your rifle in a slip, you just have to give good reason for being on that land with a firearm, good reason is usually traveling to or from land that you do have permission to shoot on. But I concede that a slip might help prevent any misunderstanding with the land owners.
Best rgds
Tahr
In Scotland it is also the law that, to get around the wind, you can stalk accross your neighbours land to get 'at'/shoot a deer on your own patch.
In Scotland it is also the law that, to get around the wind, you can stalk accross your neighbours land to get 'at'/shoot a deer on your own patch.
=====
That bit above is not correct.
You can have access if it is the only way you can get to your land e.g. you can have a rifle in your car driving up the A1 (which you don't own). But you can't carry a gun uncovered/shoot on anyone elses land unless you are stalking a wounded deer shot on your own. Even then you have to show you have carried out a risk assessment first or you are comitting armed tresspass.
It's is also true that once you have shot the beast dead it belongs to whoever owns the land it dies on and if you remove it then its theft, and your game dealer could be charged with handling stolen goods.
There is no criminal offence of tresspass, but aggravated and armed tresspass do exist and are very real.
If in doubt call your neighbour, or have it in writing beforehand.
Think twice before stepping over a boundary with rifle if you don't have permission. I certainly wouldn't recommend telling the land owner that you have a legal right to be there loaded rifle in hand for any other reason than stalking a wounded animal.
Best,
S.
=====
That bit above is not correct.
You can have access if it is the only way you can get to your land e.g. you can have a rifle in your car driving up the A1 (which you don't own). But you can't carry a gun uncovered/shoot on anyone elses land unless you are stalking a wounded deer shot on your own. Even then you have to show you have carried out a risk assessment first or you are comitting armed tresspass.
It's is also true that once you have shot the beast dead it belongs to whoever owns the land it dies on and if you remove it then its theft, and your game dealer could be charged with handling stolen goods.
There is no criminal offence of tresspass, but aggravated and armed tresspass do exist and are very real.
If in doubt call your neighbour, or have it in writing beforehand.
Think twice before stepping over a boundary with rifle if you don't have permission. I certainly wouldn't recommend telling the land owner that you have a legal right to be there loaded rifle in hand for any other reason than stalking a wounded animal.
Best,
S.
As a newcomer I am quite surprised at the partisan stance over different calibers and the way people feel the need to address each other in. However it is great to see so many trying to answer the actual question and make this forum good fun and really helpful to read. Learned a lot, about the forum and its members.
Cheers, Rene.
Cheers, Rene.
steyr 243 said:You can choose what ever "Deer legal" Calibre you like. put up as many statistics up as you want, argue the toss between each other over what calibre will do better than the other
What the F##K does it matter
If the **** behind the rifle cant shoot then it makes no difference what cal your using, your not gonna get the results you want.
if your relying on larger calibre to take your Deer down then can i suggest you spend some more time punching holes in targets to improve your shooting ability than shooting at Deer
Ive shot alot of deer over the years & used all kinds of calibres, There all up to the job if you use them properly & place the bullet in the rite place
Like they say size does not matter :!: its how you use it at the end of the day
we all have our favourite calibres & feel comfortable with what weve got so thats all that matters.
i dont get involved in the calibre argument because whats good for 1 person aint always good for the other. choose your calibre & practice with it until you know you limitations & know exactly what you can & cant do with it, Once your happy with it then that will become the best calibre in your mind, but just remember it mite not be the best in the mind of others
TOO TURE its not what you got its how you use it.
you can miss ,wound with any sort of caibres .i think a lot of shooters think of getting the biggest caiblre they can thinking it will make them a better shot.
if tis right for you and the job then thats all that matters.
tikkathreebarrels
Well-Known Member
6mm, 6 and a half, my dad's fatter than your dad but....
Okay so I'm new here and maybe I ought to be more respectful but I have to say I did enjoy this thread: all the facts, semi-facts, quotes and counter-quotes, all those diversions from the original question (yeah, why don't we all shoot 6.5x 284 then we can rebarrell every 1000 rounds) but I must confess to attention fade somewhere around page 8. Nothing to do with the content of that particular page, just that I couldn't see any new FACTUAL information coming to light.
Maybe a push-button poll would help?
What - me? Oh, I've got both, but my trouble is that one is a 101 year-old Swedish service rifle and the other is a modern stalker with a moderator. Yes, yes, I know about 30 calibres too, it's just that well, you know....
Now, the next thread, something about .22/250 versus those new-fangled chamberings (anyone remember .22 and 6mm WSSM, the best things to come out of the USA since the model T Ford?)
Okay so I'm new here and maybe I ought to be more respectful but I have to say I did enjoy this thread: all the facts, semi-facts, quotes and counter-quotes, all those diversions from the original question (yeah, why don't we all shoot 6.5x 284 then we can rebarrell every 1000 rounds) but I must confess to attention fade somewhere around page 8. Nothing to do with the content of that particular page, just that I couldn't see any new FACTUAL information coming to light.
Maybe a push-button poll would help?
What - me? Oh, I've got both, but my trouble is that one is a 101 year-old Swedish service rifle and the other is a modern stalker with a moderator. Yes, yes, I know about 30 calibres too, it's just that well, you know....
Now, the next thread, something about .22/250 versus those new-fangled chamberings (anyone remember .22 and 6mm WSSM, the best things to come out of the USA since the model T Ford?)
I wouldn't change a .243 for a 6.5x55 if I was planning to go abroad for larger game. Keep the .243 and get a big gun. In my limited experience .375H&H drops Deer very well and will stuff anything on the planet. Mind you it's like the 6.5x55 in a way, you could always use something more powerful. It is however overkill on Squirrel (which I have also shot with it).
I know a few experienced shots that use the 6.5x55. I picked it because it was better than a .243 for the larger UK species. Having said that, who wants to shoot a Munty with a .270? The 6.5x55 is a mild calibre and most of its problems seem to be due to bullet choice. With too light a bullet it will make a mess like the .243 can, with a heavy one it will drill through much deeper than a .243 ever will. What I like is having the choice - if I ever want to shoot anything bigger with it I can get a bullet that digs in deep, an option the .243 doesn't have.
It is however overkill on Squirrel (which I have also shot with it).I know a few experienced shots that use the 6.5x55. I picked it because it was better than a .243 for the larger UK species. Having said that, who wants to shoot a Munty with a .270? The 6.5x55 is a mild calibre and most of its problems seem to be due to bullet choice. With too light a bullet it will make a mess like the .243 can, with a heavy one it will drill through much deeper than a .243 ever will. What I like is having the choice - if I ever want to shoot anything bigger with it I can get a bullet that digs in deep, an option the .243 doesn't have.
Like the original member I also find myself asking similar questions.... owning a 243 + 308 do I "need" 6.5x55 ...will it add or replace any of the above... I am content with my 243 and home loads. Taken down everything including stags to the extent that the 308 is not getting an airing. Will it be beneficial to the open Scottish hill over the 308?
Tempted but feel that it is more the case of satisfying an urge rather than "solving" a problem
Would of course welcome thoughts and opinions
Tempted but feel that it is more the case of satisfying an urge rather than "solving" a problem
Would of course welcome thoughts and opinions
Having shot a 243 for more years than I care to remember, I've never felt the need to change to anything else. Like most things in life, fashions change; they come and they go. There's always"something better." I've shot pretty well everything this country offers and always found the 243 up to the task.
I went from 6,5 to 308w last time as I were shooting more heavy bullets for driven game 156gr in 6,5 and 180gr in 308w. Now I hunt more smallgame than big game so I would benefit to go from a 150gr fmj to a 120gr fmj(or OTM) but the big thing is to get a better platform and scope. With a limited amount of money I got other things to spend money for hunting, tents, petrol for my car and snowmobile a truck would be nice.
If you shoot on military ranges you might want to think carefully about the Swede (or any other 6.5 for that matter. Might just be a temporary situation of course.
Whats the story here please?But look what happens when reloading goes wrong (OK he did use a Blaser)
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