woof
Member
Shawnee, Have you read all of Eckert's books?
.243 or 6.5 Swede for deer rifle?
- Thread starter greg788
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Shawnee
member
Only three.
Float Pilot
Member
What is not huntable about a Tikka T3 http://www.gunsamerica.com/97754755.../Tikka_T3_Lite_Stainless_6_5_X_55_Swed_Ne.htm
Or maybe one in wood:
http://www.gunsamerica.com/97700029...a-Rifles/Tikka_T3_HUNTER_6_5_X_55_Swed_Ne.htm
or a CZ-550? http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=119251468
Or a M-700 Remington?
Or Ruger M-77 Mannlicher ? http://www.gunsamerica.com/96131164.../Model-77/Ruger_77_Manlicher_6_5x55mm_New.htm
Or Ruger All Weather Stainless http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=119136160
And then there are all those sporterized Mausers in 6.5x55mm that Kimber marketed.
Or even better yet, my favorite for classic sporting arms, how about a nice Husqvarna 1600 sporter from the late 50s in 6.5x55mm
Like those at Allans Armory.
http://www.allans-armory.com/aaresult.php?PageId=65
Yeap, nothing huntable about any of those...
Shawnee
member
Well Float Pilot.... I didn't know naming a rifle I consider to be especially "huntable" would light the fuse on your Tampax. If you think those others are very "huntable" - by all means - sing out! I hope it mends your wittle heart to know I happen to agree with you on most of them.
Your Civil Rights really haven't been violated - Honest - I promise!
Your Civil Rights really haven't been violated - Honest - I promise!
A 6mm works on deer just fine, but the comfort margin diminishes considerably if you don't have a good angle. I've shot a dozen or so with my old 6mm Rem, and never had to track one down afterwards. I did pass up shots, though.
A 6.5, whether it's in a 55mm or 51mm case, is equally pleasant to shoot, penetrates better and has a slight advantage in downrange trajectory.
My vote goes to the 6.5/260, but much depends on your choice in rifles. I couldn't get a T3 in 6.5x55 years ago when I bought one, so I "settled" for a 308. I understand that Tikka has fixed that problem, although supply can be spotty now and then.
A 6.5, whether it's in a 55mm or 51mm case, is equally pleasant to shoot, penetrates better and has a slight advantage in downrange trajectory.
My vote goes to the 6.5/260, but much depends on your choice in rifles. I couldn't get a T3 in 6.5x55 years ago when I bought one, so I "settled" for a 308. I understand that Tikka has fixed that problem, although supply can be spotty now and then.
.38 Special
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There are a lot of choices in .243. None of them are especially good, IMO. Obviously they can work, but I'd choose my shots very carefully.
The 6.5 is essentially the "standard" caliber in Scandinavia, much like our .30-06. With proper bullets it is adequate for everything up through elk -- but it is a lot less available.
As a handloader, I would absolutely choose the 6.5. For non-handloaders, I would not choose either cartridge.
The 6.5 is essentially the "standard" caliber in Scandinavia, much like our .30-06. With proper bullets it is adequate for everything up through elk -- but it is a lot less available.
As a handloader, I would absolutely choose the 6.5. For non-handloaders, I would not choose either cartridge.
Float Pilot
Member
That's a big "Ten Roger".
A guy could buy a Ruger or Remington (or whatever) rifle in 308 and find all sorts of factory ammo just about anywhere. Without going broke buying it.
Or for that matter get a nice 30-30 and find that ammo just about everywhere too. Including that new fangled ammo...
If there is such a thing as inexpensive factory ammo anymore...
TimboKhan
Member
Either will do just fine; I prefer the Swede simply because I enjoy shooting both my Swedish rifle and My Swedish carbine. The carbine I would take into the woods in a New York minute, the rifle... well, maybe if I ever hunt from a stand.
Now, that's just my opinion based on the fact that I have two nice Mausers that I very much enjoy shooting. There isn't any ballistic data or research behind it other than me knowing that the 6.5 is plenty for deerz. It's basically just a personal opinion based on an established bias.
Now, that's just my opinion based on the fact that I have two nice Mausers that I very much enjoy shooting. There isn't any ballistic data or research behind it other than me knowing that the 6.5 is plenty for deerz. It's basically just a personal opinion based on an established bias.
rangerruck
Member
If the 260 choice was ammo not costing an arm and a leg, which it does, and I don't understand why, then i would do the 260 over the swiss. But a box of swiss, new mfgr, or milsurp, can be had for 10 bucks or less for the milsurp, 260 ammo, last I checked, was about 25 bucks a box. No thanks...
For smaller deer, like the fallow and chital, or whitetail and mule like you have over there the .243 would serve you well. But for anything bigger id say the 6.5, but if your a good shot either would be fine, its what you like best and what feels the best for you.
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Lloyd Smale
Member
ive shot a pile of deer with the various 6mms and .25s up to the 2506 and never saw a differnce from one to the other with a good hit. I never killed anything with a 6.5 but im sure it does fine too. Ive never seen even a large deer run off after being hit with a .243. If it runs off its not the guns fault its yours. Warren Page shot a truckload of elk with the 243 and 6mm and swore by it for that purpose.
When stationed in Germany in the 80's I took probably 6-7 Roe deer with the 243 and it was a death ray. Then the guy who owned the land I was hunting asked if I wanted to shoot any Boar I saw; of course I said yes......the catch was that by German law you had to hunt large game with a 6.5 mm or larger.
I had a Swedish Mauser turned into a nice hunting rifle and it did a fine job on both.
I guess my long winded point is if you have only one big game rifle go with the 6.5, if you have multiple, like the 30.06 you spoke of, you can specialize and I would go with the 243 for whitetail and bump up to the 06 for larger game.
I had a Swedish Mauser turned into a nice hunting rifle and it did a fine job on both.
I guess my long winded point is if you have only one big game rifle go with the 6.5, if you have multiple, like the 30.06 you spoke of, you can specialize and I would go with the 243 for whitetail and bump up to the 06 for larger game.
I would take the 6.5X55 any day of the week. It is a great deer round. And as for coyotes and the like, it is fine too. In reality, it is not that much wider of a bullet, even though there are much longer bullets available (which may or may not mean anything to you).
Also, keep in mind that the ballistic coefficiency of the 6.5 is much better. That is the reason it is such a popular long-range target round in Europe. Again, 6.5.
Just my $.02.
Also, keep in mind that the ballistic coefficiency of the 6.5 is much better. That is the reason it is such a popular long-range target round in Europe. Again, 6.5.
Just my $.02.
deacon8 is absolutely correct. The 6.5 mm rd. because of the BC it fly's like a bat out of hell and because of the sectional density it has tremendous penetrating power. To start to get to anything close to the sectional density of a 6.5 mm in a .30 caliber you got to go with at least 190 gr.
I use the 6.5x55 in a sporter Swede for antelope, and would not hesitate to use it for deer. Its a great caliber, and I've found that the Privi Partisan SP ammo is very effective on those speed goats. Winchester still puts out factory 6.5x55, and it also has been very accurate in my rifle.
lefteyedom
Member
Buy both, and you will have the best of ether
longdayjake
Member
6.5 is what I would pick. It has such a huge range of bullets you can shoot and it has a better BC. A nice rifle should be able to make the 6.5 a great deer/elk/moose/rabbit/rockchuck/etc. gun. But you would probably want to reload for it because that is where you will get all your performance.
jacob.elliott
Member
243 will be satisfactory for all deer needs
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