243 or 6.5x55

[All That is Man]

I want a rifle to hunt game ranging from coyotes to black bear in Va. I'm leaning towards the 6.5x55 but wanted some input.

[rugerfan.64]

I wouldnt consider a 243,but thats just me. Started my daughter and son off with a 7mm-08,moved my daughter over to a 260,(thats a long story) son kept the 7mm-08. Either would be fine for what you are wanting. They've both grown into hunters now and see no need in changing rifles. I like the 260 alot,nice mild on the shoulder, brass is easy to come by or make from other rounds. 7 mm-08 is about the same little more recoil but not bad at all. 6.5x55 would be in the same ball park as the 260 cept brass would be specific to that one round,harder to find. Same over all results tho,dead deer. Can't go wrong with those 6.5 cals.

[LanceR]

With those twp calibers to choose from the answer, for me, is the 6.5.

Black bear don't show much blood trail as a rule and a bigger hole is always better.  They also have bigger bones than a white tail does.  If you season is like ours in New York where deer and bear can run concurrently, I'd personally pick a fairly heavy for caliber Barnes TSX, Nosler Partition or similar load.

Good luck and check back with the final choice.

Lance

[Graybeard]

Limited to those two options for what you plan to hunt then the 6.5 hands down but better still a 7-08 or .308.

[Freezer]

There is no way I'd shoot a bear with a 243. The bullets are way too light for relyable penatration! If you hit that shoulder your in trouble

[nomosendero]

With those 2 choice alone (and that's what you asked), it's a no-brainer.

For Varmits you have new bullets like the 123 A-Max with a BC of .510 and heavier Bergers which covers long range Varmits, both will work with light, "blow up bullets" folks like at shorter Varmit ranges, so the 6.5 is at least equal.

For Target work even though the 243 has some good target bullets now, the 6.5 bullets are better, so a definite 6.5 edge.

For hunting the 6.5 has a huge edge, especially for the larger end you mentioned. My Wife has used the 6.5x55 for many years now, I killed
my biggesrt Hog with her rifle.

Yea, no contest really!! 

[shot1]

The 6.5X55 hands down over the 243. I have some 6.5X55 rifles. They kill with authority WAAAAAAY beyond what a 243 Win will do.  Like has been said above about the 6.5 you have light varmint bullets like the 100 gr Sierra HP that comes apart on the hair of a varmint. The 120 Nosler ballistic tip that is a super deer killing bullet and then for the big stuff that you want to break bone and go deep you have the 140 gr Nosler Partition.  The 260 Rem will do the same as the 6.5X55 and you have more rifles to pick from. Savage is making some of their rifles in 260 Rem now with a 24" barrel and 8 twist which is a real winner.

[Savage .250]

To me it`s 6 of one or a half dozen of another.       But for me it`s the .243.     

[parkergunshop]

The .243 may be ok in the hands of an expert marksman hunter on whitetail deer, but in the hands of a beginning hunter or on larger game it is a wounder and not a sure killer.

Carry enough gun for a humane kill, sure the 6.5 kicks a lot more than a .243, but it delivers much more out of the muzzle and at reasonable hunting ranges, especially for those longer shots than unexpectedly come up.

Worked on .243's don't own one, but do own a Hart stainless steel barralled 6 M/M Remington on a single shot action for varmints.   For deer I start out with a .257 Ackley Improved with Barnes bullets. 

[Mikey]

6.5

[FLNT4EVR]

Check out the CZ full stock model 550 in 6.5x55 and you will forget you even considered a 243. The 6.5 will do everything you need,and then some.

[anweis]

Check out the CZ full stock model 550 in 6.5x55 and you will forget you even considered a 243. The 6.5 will do everything you need,and then some.

Don't check out a CZ full stock in 6.5x55 because you will end up wanting one really bad. I did, recently, and now i really want one. They are super well balanced for offhand shots and the cartridge will kill very well. I agree that 6.5x55 is more appropriate for large game because it shoots heavier bullets, but i do not agree that a 6.5mm hole is much better than a 6mm hole. A 0.5mm larger hole will not bleed much faster.

That being said, i use a 6mm remington with 100 gr. Hornady round nose bullets on hogs and deer. All shots exited, all shots broke bones, all shots killed on the spot or almost, Most recently i shot 2 pigs, 200 and 150 pounds. They did not take a single step after being shot from 50 yards, but they were hit in the neck and brain.  Before being mine, the very same rifle and cartridge load killed lots of deer, black bears, and elk. I suppose its more about bullet choice and shot placement than about cartridge, but yeah, the 6.5x55 will give you much more bullet choice. 

[gr8ful]

6.5 due to the availability of heavier bullets for larger game.

[parkergunshop]

I  used close to a dozen different calibers on deer in the Va mountains in Grayson and Carroll Counties as well as several NC mountain counties.

My two favorites were both in Mannlicher Stocks, an 8X57 Mauser with the Norma 196 grain round nose, and a 30-06 Springfield with a 150 grain Speer.  When hunting from a tree stand the 18 inch and 19 inch barrels are much easier to manuver and as someone said earlier the excellent balance on them makes target alignment easier.

I used my Ruger No 1. in 45/70 on one deer but went back to my Mannlichers because they handled so much better.

The CZ is just a modern version of the 98 Mauser Action including the claw extractor and controlled feed, both positive points over the new push feed, tiny extractor moden actions.

[All That is Man]

I should have been more clear. I have a 7mm-08 for a dedicated bear hunt. I'm looking for something for my combo gun (Valmet 412) for the days where I'm just out and about and jump something up. On any given day I will run across anything from bobcats and turkeys to deer and sometimes black bear. So I'm looking for something that will not turn a turkey in to burger but may be usable if a good shot presented itself on a black bear most of the ones I see are in the 200 lb range. The one thing I like about the 243 over the 6.5 is that i can buy ammo for the 243 at the corner store and rarely see ammo for the 6.5 in my neck of the woods.

[hillbill]

i have both, and killed lots of deer with either. the 6.5 can do a heavier bullet and id say has deeper penetratraion.but ive never recovered either a 243 or a 6.5 bullet from anything.just from my experience id have to say if yu shot a turkey with a 243 there would not be much edible meat left.with a 100 grain bullet its goin about 3 to 500 fps faster than the 6.5 with a 140.

[cole k]

243 or 6.5x55 to hunt game ranging from coyotes to black bear?

Of the choices, 6.5x55 hands down.

For 'yotes, I would use 100 gr or smaller bullets.
For deer,  I would use 125 gr NP.
For bear, I would use 140 gr NP.

[anweis]

243 or 6.5x55 to hunt game ranging from coyotes to black bear?

Of the choices, 6.5x55 hands down.

For 'yotes, I would use 100 gr or smaller bullets.
For deer,  I would use 125 gr NP.
For bear, I would use 140 gr NP.

Except that all those bullets will have different trajectories and points of impact; he also wants to shoot turkey with the rifle, which would turn them into featherburger, regardless of bullet choice and especially with soft tipped bullets.
Maybe he really needs a drilling, something like 30-06/20/.22LR

[Lloyd Smale]

out of those two id probably favor the 6.5 but it just isnt chambered in enough guns i like. Personly id probably opt for a 308 if looking for a short action rifle for what your hunting. If long shots are more the norm id look at a 708 again if a short action is what your looking for. another good choise if you want a short action and want to shoot 6.5 bullets is the 260 rem.  If its a long action gun which most 6.5x55s are again id skip both of your choises and go with something like a 2506 270 280 or 06.

[DakotaElkSlayer]

Check out the CZ full stock model 550 in 6.5x55 and you will forget you even considered a 243. The 6.5 will do everything you need,and then some.

That's what I have!   And yes, she shoots as good as she looks.  A 100gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip going 3050fps at the muzzle is the best deer combination I have ever shot.  Load up some 130gr. Accubonds, I wouldn't hesitate to smoke an elk with it out to 300yds with the proper shot angle.  For smaller stuff, you can get some 85gr. varmint bullets and push 'em out around 3400 or so.

Jim

[2ndtimer]

Unless you are a handloader, the .243 Win makes more sense.  I have both, and while there is no doubt the 6.5x55 provides better penetration on larger game with the 140 (or even 160 gr bullet) at modest velocity, the lack of availability of both rifles and factory ammo suggests you pursue a different course.  Use the .243 Winchester with good 95 or 100 gr bullets, i.e. Nosler Partition, and it should do the job on black bears with decent shot placement.  The .260 Remington is also getting harder to get, although I have heard that Savage is planning on chambering their model 10 and 11's this year for it.  But again, good luck finding ammo locally.  You can order it online, but bullet selection isn't that great.  I still plan to rebarrel my Stevens 200 .243 to .260 Rem once my son finishes shooting the barrel out.  Probably the best option for a light recoiling rifle for off the shelf ammo and rifle availability would be one in .308 Win. or 7mm-08 Rem.  Both of these recoil more than the 6.5x55 or .243 Win.  If it was me, I would just opt for the .243 and use Remington Core-Lokt on deer and step up to Federal Fusions or Nosler Partitions for the bears.  Of course, if you handload, then you can choose whatever caliber you wish and just find a rifle chambered for it, or have one rebarreled.

[martineta]

I have all sorts of calibers for my encores.  My favorite deer sized caliber is my .243 I bought for my son when he was 11.  He is 16 now and has moved to the .308 so I use the .243 Win.  I load Nosler Partitions in 100 gr for the 243 and 150 gr for the 308.  Both are great well made deep penetration bullets.  Neither has had anything run off.  I would not hesistate shooting a bear with the .243. 

I hate looking for crips, hunt from tree stands, and my ranges are 90% under 100 a yards.  For the bear,  I would take a head shot. 

[sidewinder319]

The little .243 is fine on varmints and Antelope. The 6.5 is a good choice for a hand loader on most North American game. The .308 for varmints to bear with its wide range of bullets. You can find it in about every rifle built. Their is also the surplus ammo which is fun. I live in the west and own many rifles. It seems my old pre-64 Winchester .308 rides with me more than anything else.

[WyoStillhunter]

I haven't shot at a coyote for many, many years.  I sold my only .243 several years back.  In 2009 I took a buck antelope, forkhorn mule deer, and spike elk with 6.5X55 in Rem. Classic 700 and Leupold FX 4X.  'Nough said.

[LanceR]

I hadn't checked back on this thread for 3-4 weeks and there have been some interesting posts.  Thanks.  I like seeing others share their thoughts.

Truthfully, I don't worry about local availability as much as some folks do.  Unless you are planning to ignore the approach of the season and wait to the last minute what you local store stocks just does not matter as much as it did 20 years ago.  Once you find out what your rifle shoots well that will get your job done then order in enough for a while and forget about it.

As I said in my first post a bear will not generally leave a blood trail like a deer tends to and bigger holes are a lot better for both that reason and simply because of the damage they cause.

Each of us is responsible to make choices such that we put a bullet of adequate construction and velocity into a part of our quarry that ensures a quick clean harvest.  What if you run into the biggest bear in your neck of the woods and he weighs 350 pounds?  What it you hit a shoulder on the way in with a bullet from a cartridge you selected to not tear up a turkey?  If I were making the choice of caliber for the range of turkey to bear I'd still have to vote on the heavier caliber.  Worrying about excessive tissue damage to a bird should not outweigh the necessity of quickly harvesting a much larger animal.

Thanks

Lance

[Ranch13]

Basically it'll come down to what ever floats your boat.
 I have no first hand experience with the 6.5 ,but do know folks that use it,and swear it to be the best of all.
I do have a half century of experience with the 243, and it works well on everything from mice to moose, when loaded with 90-100 gr bullets intended for shooting game.
 It is hell on turkeys tho, even loaded down. Maybe alright if a person could come up with some catsneeze loads with cast bullets.

[LanceR]

.
 It is hell on turkeys tho, even loaded down. Maybe alright if a person could come up with some catsneeze loads with cast bullets.

Which would defeat All That Is Man's idea of having one load in the rifle to do it all.  I don't think it exists unless you go to a drilling or some such and have multiple bore and cartridge choices in one gun.

I can't think of a single bullet and cartridge choice that will do everything he wants.

Lance

[Ranch13]

  Ok I should of clarified, just a bit. With turkeys and  a rifle most any rifle it's really a good idea to head shootem. And it's really no big deal to carry a couple of "reduced "loads for whatever rifle one is carrying and load the chamber with such when necessarry.
There's only a dozen or so rifle cartridges that come to mind that are plenty capable of doing what the op asked. The caveat preemptor is he asked about 2 specific cartridges. Either one or both will do fine for his asked application.