243 or 6.5x55

[ArmedBear]

What is it about varmints and wanting a "dual-purpose" rifle?

A .243 will kill them, but a 6.5 Swede won't, or something?

Seems to me a .30-06 will kill a groundhog as dead as a .243, but maybe I'm missing something.

 

[Maverick223]

A .243 will kill them, but a 6.5 Swede won't, or something?...Seems to me a .30-06 will kill a groundhog as dead as a .243, but maybe I'm missing something.

I think the key for a varmint rifle is a flat shooting cartridge for the longer shots, the added heft of a larger caliber won't make an appreciable difference but the velocity and a good BC will help out quite a bit. Unlike target shooting a P/G-dog or a coyote isn't going to stand around while you dial in the dope on that pumpkin chunker (not saying that is necessarily a 6.5 Swede, but the .243 is a little better).

 

[Vern Humphrey]

For vamit hunting, you're shooting at little critters, close to the ground. Bullets designed for bigger game will usuall penetrate completely and are highly likely to ricochet. That's dangerous. Varmit bullets, on the other hand are quite frangible and will disintegrate -- for example, a 35-grain Hornady V-Max fired at 3,000 fps from my .22 Hornet will not make it through a crow (but the crow is definitely dead.) The danger of ricochet is much reduced.

For larger calibers, the selection of light weight (for high velocity), accurate, frangible bullets is quite limited. The .243 was designed for both heavy and light bullets and does very well as a varmiter. Its closest competitor, the .244 Remington, was designed as a pure varmiter. It has too slow a rifling twist to shoot heavier bullets needed for deer and similar critters -- and it really never was very popular.

The 6.5X55 is on the other end of the spectrum -- designed for heavy bullets (originally for 160 grains), few varmit bullets are available for it, it has a tight twist that can rupture the jackets of fragile bullets and it really doesn't shine as a varmiter.

 

[Paradiddle]

think the key for a varmint rifle is a flat shooting cartridge for the longer shots, the added heft of a larger caliber won't make an appreciable difference but the velocity and a good BC will help out quite a bit. Unlike target shooting a P/G-dog or a coyote isn't going to stand around while you dial in the dope on that pumpkin chunker (not saying that is necessarily a 6.5 Swede, but the .243 is a little better).

The Swede is a very accurate long range round though. I understand the mass of the bullet, but it will reach out with the best of them.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

The Swede is a very accurate long range round though. I understand the mass of the bullet, but it will reach out with the best of them.

The key needs are high velocity (for flat trajectory) and a very frangible bullet (to devastate a small critter and break up if it misses.) It's tough to design a bullet that meets those criteria for the Swede's fast-twist barrel.

Look at it this way -- you could shoot prarie dogs with a .45-70 (and get a hell of a lot of ricochets.) But it's not what 99% of varmit hunters would choose.

Another factor is recoil. There's a reason cartridges like the .204 Ruger and the .223 Rem (and the old .22 Hornet) are so popular. With the mild recoil, you can actually spot your own shots. And a day's shooting isn't so punishing.

 

[ArmedBear]

Look at it this way -- you could shoot prarie dogs with a .45-70 (and get a hell of a lot of ricochets.) But it's not what 99% of varmit hunters would choose.

Ricochets be damned. Ever try to shoot small game with a .45-70 at a good distance? That trajectory is a bitch!

Another factor is recoil. There's a reason cartridges like the .204 Ruger and the .223 Rem (and the old .22 Hornet) are so popular. With the mild recoil, you can actually spot your own shots. And a day's shooting isn't so punishing.

True. However, this kind of varmint shooting isn't done with a rifle you'd want to use for much, if anything, else. How long can you shoot a sporter-weight .243 before you have to cool it for a while, particularly if you are shooting long-range p-dogs?

The frangible bullet thing really makes sense, especially in some environments.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Ricochets be damned.

You wouldn't say that if you'd been where I've been. I was a member of a very active gun club in Virginia. One day, some elbow wth a genuine double-barreled elephant rifle, in violation of the safety rules put a target on the ground. The bullet ricocheted over the backstop and hit a house more than a half mile away. You can't imagine the grief that caused us!

Ever try to shoot small game with a .45-70 at a good distance? That trajectory is a bitch!

Which is why you need a small bullet at high velocity.

How long can you shoot a sporter-weight .243 before you have to cool it for a while, particularly if you are shooting long-range p-dogs?

I've seen people fire a hundred rounds or more before lunch -- and pour water through the bore with a funnel and tube arrangement every so often.

 

[natman]

Around here we have deer, coyotes, and ground hogs that catch the crosshairs the most. Every once in awhile, paper and cans will jump out there too.

OK, for coyotes and groundhogs the 243 would be better. The 6.5 would be better for deer, especially if you handload and have a modern rifle.

Both would work for anything you have listed.

 

[ArmedBear]

Some places around here, the ground is a great place to put a target. The bullet plows to a halt in the fine dirt or lava rock, instead of flying a half a mile.

I've seen people fire a hundred rounds or more before lunch -- and pour water through the bore with a funnel and tube arrangement every so often.

LOL

Never seen that, nor known anyone who'd do it.

 

[NCsmitty]

My 6.5x55 is more than capable of shooting a 95gr V-Max at 3200fps using H414 out of it's 1in9 twist 26" heavy barrel. The 95gr V-Max has a BC of .365 and is very flat shooting, and truly explosive on target, being a varmint bullet.

It's potentially superior to a 243 as a dual purpose round, in a modern firearm.

A Tikka or CZ in 6.5x55, loaded to normal pressures, will be all you need. They need not be restricted to M96 Swede Mauser pressure limits.

My rifle is too heavy to carry hunting though.


NCsmitty

 

[106rr]

If you buy the CZ in 6.5x55 you can avoid buying magazines and spend your money on better optics. Both the CZ and Tikka use magazines in 243 and both are long action which might limit resale and convenience. The Tikka 6.5x55 also uses a magazine. The Tikka mags are expensive.
The other critical issue is ammo. If you reload the 6.5x55 is the hands down winner. If you only buy ammo at WalMart the 243 takes the cake. 6.5x55 ammo was has been easily available in the shortage though. You can also buy cheap ammo for the 6.5x55 from S&B, PriviPartisan or Wolf.

 

[TheGrimReaper]

+1 for the 6.5x55!!!

 

[cowhide1]

6.5x55 is THE BEST round I have fired. By all means get the swede!

 

[huntman]

i kinda agree with 6.5 but y hunt with this round when you have 30 cal rifle around why take a chance with a varmit round maybe you are that good of a shot but still i dont turkey hunt with a 410 hum

 

[Oldtrader3]

From my perspective, the .243 is minimal for deer. The 6.5x55 is a much more versatile general hunting caliber for medium game. Is that simple enough?

 

[viking499]

Picked up a CZ swede the other day. Now I have 2. That should keep me content in the 6.5x55 dept. for a while.

Also had a 452 follow me home the same day. Always heard about CZ's multiplying, but didn't know they would do it before they got home.

 

[Girodin]

Sometimes things are simple. Sometimes people try to complicate simple things.

And sometimes people are too ignorant to consider all the factors that would help them make the best choice.

2 choices, one answer. No other reasoning needed.

With out factoring in all the relavant factors you get a pretty worthless answer. I might tell you that I would obviously get the .243 and that the 6.5 is not even worth considering. That would be because I greatly prefer varmint hunting to big game and when I do hunt deer I use a muzzle loader (plus I already have other good deer guns). Does that answer mean much to you if your end goals is to shoot white tails and you have a .223, 22 Hornet, a 22-250, 204 ruger etc already in your safe.

But if you still don't undertand my question , then look at it as this is the only gun you can have with you right now. No other calibers anywhere in the stable.

As was pointed out above this still doesn't provide the most important info, what will you be using it for.

The problem of asking which would you rather have outside of any external influences is that the answer depends entirely on external influences. Certain calibers and guns are better for certain uses.

If I already had a good deer rifle and wanted to shoot varmints .243 If I already had a 22-250 and wanted to shoot deer I would not have to think twice about getting the swede.

If I had no guns and was looking for a dual purpose gun it would depend on other factors. How much do I do of each thing, what type of deer are we talking about, a big mule deer is very different from a small white tail.

I'm not sure why someone asking for more info to give a better answer was deemed so objectionable. In fact one of the things that repeatedly amuses me is that people will ask for opinions on a gun and people will start spouting off with out having an information about what the intended use is. Given what you want people to base their response on you might as well flip a coin. People will at best tell you what suits them not you, and unless they elaborate as to why even that info is of very limited value.

 

[Redneck with a 40]

Ammo availability is a whole lot better with the .243, but for long range target shooting, the 6.5 has superior ballistics. The 6.5 can probably take larger game too, I think the Swede's shoot moose with it.

 

[3pairs12]

If I were choosing a gun between those 2 calibers, and lets just say I have the guns that I currently have, I would go with 6.5.

 

[Uncle Mike]

Behind door 1... the .243.

Behind door 2... the 6.5X55.

I choose door number..... 2

I like the 6.5X55.... I would choose the 6.5X55 between the two mentioned cartridges...

...what was your question...? lol ... jus kiddn'

 

[nathan]

I have my son's Rem Youth in .243 and its zeroed with a Bushnell scope. Less than an inch with WInchester Super x at 100 yds. Havent gotten a deer with it yet.

 

[oneounceload]

I still have my 96 Swede, don't have my Ruger No. 1 RSI in 243 (MY mistake)....while I like the Swede - if you're more concerned with critters and paper, I would take the 243. If you're going to do more deer hunting, then the Swede gets the nod

 

[Arkel23]

6.5x55mm.

 

[berettashotgun]

260 is out?
I don't own a 6.5 anything, love the 243 with a 1-8 twist.
A 105gr. from a 243 AI is so good at long range, but the 6MM remmy is my FAVORITE.
Of the 2 calibers listed I'd take the 243 because I have quite a bit of experience with it. Ditto on the modified 6.5 swede - the 244 remmy aka 6mm remmy.
Nothing against either choice - heck, in 25-30 years who knows which will be worth more on the market?
Those 28ga. Winchesters sure seem to draw a Kings ransom.

 

[Slamfire]

Ain't no 243's around here. Only 6.5 X 55.