Would you change a .243 for a 6.5x55?

[KimE]

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.

Most of our military ranges were built for 6,5*55

 

[barkerint]

Interesting to read everyone’s thoughts, but seriously I was brought up to stalk deer at 80-130yds by serious experienced riflemen as a recreational stalker, which has proved about right as I want to get close enough to evaluate my quarry before placing a accurate shot.

Now I’m 75 and I shoot .22LR. .17HMR, 22.250, 243, 6.5x55, and 308 and have shot more powerful rifles but all I’ve got will shoot anything in the UK with factory ammo.

I just decide 243 nails all my Foxes, Munty and Roe, 22.250 is ace on CWD and Munty, My 6.5 Mauser12 Impact is great on everything in the midlands but going to Scotland my 308 with 150g rounds kills everything if I’m accurate.

The problem here too many people talking shooting deer at 300 yds well that’s target shooting or simply culling deer and isn’t applicable in my book, in fact I’ve just got two more variations come through for another 243 and 308 to cover new regs on lead free ammo, so to answer the original question, in my humble opinion you need a 243 and a 308 which will cover any deer or boar shot at a respectable distance full stop IMHO

 

[glasshalffull]

I did and non rien de rien. Quiet, low recoil and 140gr offers enough punch for all our deer species.

 

[25 Sharps]

Interesting to read everyone’s thoughts, but seriously I was brought up to stalk deer at 80-130yds by serious experienced riflemen as a recreational stalker, which has proved about right as I want to get close enough to evaluate my quarry before placing a accurate shot.

Now I’m 75 and I shoot .22LR. .17HMR, 22.250, 243, 6.5x55, and 308 and have shot more powerful rifles but all I’ve got will shoot anything in the UK with factory ammo.

I just decide 243 nails all my Foxes, Munty and Roe, 22.250 is ace on CWD and Munty, My 6.5 Mauser12 Impact is great on everything in the midlands but going to Scotland my 308 with 150g rounds kills everything if I’m accurate.

The problem here too many people talking shooting deer at 300 yds well that’s target shooting or simply culling deer and isn’t applicable in my book, in fact I’ve just got two more variations come through for another 243 and 308 to cover new regs on lead free ammo, so to answer the original question, in my humble opinion you need a 243 and a 308 which will cover any deer or boar shot at a respectable distance full stop IMHO

Nothing wrong with shooting deer at 300 yards, as long as it’s within your skill set and capabilities of your equipment. I shoot deer out to that range occasionally, I also stalked to within 40 yards of a roe doe on Boxing Day and 25 yards of a big fallow buck a couple of weeks back….

Most factory rifles are capable of shooting consistently at an inch or less at 100 yards. It’s just down to people to be honest of what they are consistently capable of.

Out of interest, how does one become a ‘serious, experienced rifleman’?

I have a .243, just sold a .308 but re-opened the slot and a 6.5x55 amongst a few others, and without a doubt the 6.5 x55 would be the last to leave the out of those 3 and it will deal quite happily kill all quarry available in this country, whether that’s the midlands, Scotland or Norfolk.

 

[Utectok]

What an old thread! 2008!!

 

[glasshalffull]

Nothing wrong with shooting deer at 300 yards, as long as it’s within your skill set and capabilities of your equipment. I shoot deer out to that range occasionally, I also stalked to within 40 yards of a roe doe on Boxing Day and 25 yards of a big fallow buck a couple of weeks back….

Most factory rifles are capable of shooting consistently at an inch or less at 100 yards. It’s just down to people to be honest of what they are consistently capable of.

Out of interest, how does one become a ‘serious, experienced rifleman’?

I have a .243, just sold a .308 but re-opened the slot and a 6.5x55 amongst a few others, and without a doubt the 6.5 x55 would be the last to leave the out of those 3.

Agreed, however my most memorable deer shot have been within 50yrds or closer.

 

[25 Sharps]

Agreed, however my most memorable deer shot have been within 50yrds or closer.

Agreed. One of my most memorable was a big munty with a .357 lever action and iron sights, thick woodland, shot at 17 yards.

Equally a lot of my ground is big, open arable fields that can be 100 acres plus and 600 to 1000 metres plus wide. Sneaking into 80-130 yards, as a serious rifleman would, with no cover for 5-600 yards just isn’t always an option if you want to put deer on the deck. Being able to shoot accurately and consistently gets the job done.

Mind you, I cull hares in the same fields every winter and that is head shots off quad sticks, often at 150-200 yards with a .223. Probably not something a serious rifleman would do either.

I do still miss occasionally though!

 

[Klenchblaize]

Both will do the job and if someone had told the Angus District FCS Ranger and I, back in 1982, that the 243 wasn't suitable for Highland Red I'm confident the response would have been both brusk and succinct.

K

 

[TringSaint]

As an owner of both calibres, I tend to use the 6.5 most of the time, especially if it’s windy.
However, if it’s calm (ideally frosty) then the 243 is much more accurate and on smaller deer, esp muntjac, it’s like a scalpel.
But, given the weather over the last 2 winters (wet and windy) the 6.5 gets the edge.

 

[25 Sharps]

As an owner of both calibres, I tend to use the 6.5 most of the time, especially if it’s windy.
However, if it’s calm (ideally frosty) then the 243 is much more accurate and on smaller deer, esp muntjac, it’s like a scalpel.
But, given the weather over the last 2 winters (wet and windy) the 6.5 gets the edge.

The .243 being more accurate is your particular set up though, not the cartridge. It’s the other way around for me, the 6.5x55 CZ is stupidly accurate and better than the .243 rem 700….

 

[barkerint]

Just read all the replies, I perhaps was misleading re quoting from 80yds as it’s mainly above 300 I was concerned about, I too have shot deer close in, on muntjac at 10yds through thick old chicory game cover off my friend’s shoulder and further out to where i find the acceptable shot which in woodland is going to vary greatly and naturally it varies to the ground one has.
On the hinds in Scotland 70-240 yards is what the stalker wants me to take them so 308 x 150g does the business, but thx for the feedback guys