Should 6.5x55 Replace My 243 Win?

[Dinny]

I only use my .243 for coyote hunting. It shoots the new Hornady Superformance Varmint 58gr V-Max into small little bug holes. I want to get a new rifle chambered in 6.5x55, but need to sell something to fund it. Can I expect a 6.5x55 to replace my .243 as my predator rig? I know there will be a weight difference due to the action lengths. I'm hoping to find a Tikka T3 and keep to keep the weight down. Wish me luck...


Bullet options I have found include the following:


90gr Speer TNT HP
85gr Sierra Varminter HP
95gr Hornady V-Max


Would twist rates be an issues? I would like to use the same rifle for deer sized game too.




Thanks, Dinny

[BBF]

Dinny
I'm not an expert or even very knowledgeable on the Swede.
 
Generally speaking you always gamble when you trade a good shooter for something new. The most common bullet weight for deer hunting is somewhere between 120 to 140 gr. I don't think you will find any barrels that would not stabilize that weight bullet. You will probably have a slightly higher trajectory curve then the .243 W
 
Is the .243W not performing for you on Deer or is that you are not comfortable for that size game with it.
In between those two would be a 25-06, a very good performer and more choices as to who chambers for it.

[shot1]

No 6.5X55 projectile will be fur friendly. The 6.5X55 is one of those inherently accurate cartridges. The ones that I have shoot really well with about any load you put into them. 8 or 9 twist will work well for your purpose. If you want to shoot 140 gr bullets get a 8 twist but with a 9 twist you can shoot 130 gr Nosler Accubonds which is plenty bullet for even elk when put in the proper place. For deer the 120gr Sierra SP or ballistic tip is hard to beat. One of the 4350 powders will do you great also. With the modern actions you can fudge up the max loads listed in most manuals because they are rated for the M 96 Mauser at 46,000 CUP. Barrel length is your friend with the Swede velocity wise. I have a number of 96 Mauser Swede 6.5X55 rifles. One has been sported but I left the 29" barrel alone. With max loads from the Accurate manual of AA 4350 ( these are under 46,000 CUP) I get 3000 fps with 120 gr bullets and a touch over 2800 fps with 140 gr bullets and bug hole accuracy with either. The 100 gr Sierra HP makes a ground hog look like it is a water balloon full or red paint when hit with a max load of 44.1 grs IMR 4064 from the Sierra V manual at 3200 fps from my rifle.

[2ndtimer]

My experience may not be typical for the 6.5x55, but my Howa 1500 so chambered won't shoot anything lighter than 120 grs into anything close to a group.  I tried some of the Speer 90 gr TNT's and 3 shots went into about 8 inches at 100 yards from a rest.  The Nosler 100 gr Ballistic Tips weren't much better.  It might be related to the extremely long throat that my Howa arrived with.  Remember, the 6.5x55 was originally designed for a 160 gr RN bullet, and most of them come throated for that bullet.  With 120 gr bullets, the accuracy is better but still somewhat erratic.  The Sierra 120 gr MKHP might group 1 inch one day and 2 1/2 inches the next.   Similar results with the Nosler 120 gr Ballistic Tip and Speer 120 gr SP.  My Howa doesn't like the Nosler 130 gr Accubond, either.  Now once you get up to the Hornady 129 gr SP, it does much better.  It probably averages around an inch and a half at 100 yards for 3 shot groups.  The 140 gr Hornady SP is also a consistent performer.  I keep my 6.5x55 around as a back up deer rifle loaded with 129 gr or 140 gr Hornady SP's.  Also the velocity is lower than I expected.  The 140 gr loads generally run around 2500 fps and the 129 gr loads in the 2650 range.  I was  never able to break the 2800 fps mark with the 120 gr loads, either.
I frankly prefer my .243 Win. with the 55 gr bullets at 3800 fps or so, along with the 70 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip at 3300 fps for coyotes and rock chucks.  For deer, it pushes the 95 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip or 100 gr Solid Base or Partition at 2900 fps+ and shoots all of them MOA or less.  In my experience, the .243 Win is a far more versatile cartridge.  At least in my rifles.

[Dinny]

This particular .243 Win rifle has never been used on deer. Most of my life I have lived in the Midwest where it's not permitted to use a rifle for deer hunting. I know I want a modern 6.5x55 rifle, but would need to sell something to buy one. I was hoping the 6.5 could be dual purpose for varminting and deer/hogs. The last thing I wanna do is find that it's kinda like an enduro motorcycle, not so good on or off-road. This thought comes knowing full well the .243 can shoot well under 1 MOA with several different loads and weights of bullets. Maybe I should just explore the heavier weight 6mm bullets for the meantime and save money for the 6.5 later on...


Thanks, Dinny

[BBF]

You might like the .243 for deer and hogs. The energy is there if you get the correct bullet construction to do a good job.

[chutesnreloads]

You answered yourself with your last post.Hang on to a known shooter and save for the 6.5.That .243'll kill you plenty of hogs as long as you place the bullets in the right place.Even the 6.5x55 won't kill 'em with the hole in the wrong place.

[Harry Snippe]

You answered yourself with your last post.Hang on to a known shooter and save for the 6.5.That .243'll kill you plenty of hogs as long as you place the bullets in the right place.Even the 6.5x55 won't kill 'em with the hole in the wrong place.

Good advise here . If the 243 is a good shooter , your forever going to Kick your butt for letting it go . (Speaking from experiance )
If you like a 6.5 then sell something else, or start saving the coin .

[equinoxbuilders]

This particular .243 Win rifle has never been used on deer. Most of my life I have lived in the Midwest where it's not permitted to use a rifle for deer hunting. I know I want a modern 6.5x55 rifle, but would need to sell something to buy one. I was hoping the 6.5 could be dual purpose for varminting and deer/hogs. The last thing I wanna do is find that it's kinda like an enduro motorcycle, not so good on or off-road. This thought comes knowing full well the .243 can shoot well under 1 MOA with several different loads and weights of bullets. Maybe I should just explore the heavier weight 6mm bullets for the meantime and save money for the 6.5 later on...


Thanks, Dinny

Now you're talking. 
I think you'll regret selling a .243 for a 6.5 or .260.
Keep the .243 and save for the 6.5 (Any 6.5 is great to have)
The .243 was questionable on deer 20 years ago, but with modern day bullet design, there are a number of 95-115gr bullet that are more than enough. (prefer Barnes 100gr.)
Here in NH, Moose have been taken cleanly with .243 where they can grow to 1/2 ton or more.(I took mine with 7mm Mag, so please, no angry moose hunter comments).  It's all about choosing the right bullet, not so much caliber.
the 6.5 is nicer on barrels, but barrel length will need to be considered.
The swede will be best with a longer barrel, while a 260 has a shorter action and is ideal with a 22" barrel. (The bench shooters 6.5's are 28" or more)
The 6.5 is starting to gain some popularity again.  However, there are now many different versions of the 'same' ballistics.
I think as the baby boomer crowd ages and finds they no longer NEED or want their magnums that the 6.5 will become more commonly available.  Wait for a round to run away from the crowd and be more commercially available before jumping for a Swede.
6.5 Swede, 6.5 Creedmoor, Norma, Grendel, 260.  One of these will be more readily available in 5 years. Probably either the Swede or 260.
Opinion:
Keep the .243 and buy a Swede or equal when you can afford.

[Brithunter]

Once you save up sure get a rifle chambered in 6.5x55 but do get one with the correct twist rate. I have a sporterised Swedish Mauser and t shoots well with 120 grain bullets and quite well with the few loads I tried with 100 grain bullets and well enough with some factory Norma 77 grain SP's. Not sure what twist Tikka T3 (aka Berretta) use but reports say they shoot well.


I also happen to be of the opinion that  if you sell the .243 you will miss it and regret it and this will make you feel badly about the new rifle... no good that so save and sell something else to raise the funds.

[coopershooter]

I think you should keep the .243! sounds as if you like it. Im a big 6.5x55 fan. but dont gamble on a rifle you really like.
  coopershooter.

[Mikey]

Dinny:  coopershooter x 2, and get some heavier bullets to use in that 243.  I have owned and used on but if it was a 'first choice' I would go for the 6.5 however, as you already have the 243, just load some heavier slugs for it and you should be alright.  Mikey.

[martineta]

I shoot encores and over the years have ended up with a number of calibers.  I am a big fan of Nosler Partition bullets for hunting.  I use 100 gr in the .243 win, 120 gr in the 6.5x55 swede, and 140 gr in the 7x57 mauser and 150 gr for the .308 win.  All my hunting loads are mid level loadings, accurate, and easy on my getting older no tolerance for recoil shoulders.  From the .243-.308 win, all are fun to shoot, lots of bullets to choose from, and have plenty of whump for hunting North American big game except large bears.  Get what you like and enjoy.  If money is a little tight, I would keep the .243 for now and get something else later if you decide you really want another rifle.

[parkergunshop]

Ok,
You have nothing to gain using the light under 100 grain bullets in a 6.5 over the same weight bullets in a .243,  less accuracy and a poorer trajectory down range.
It is simply a loose, losse situation with no gain if you are not going to use the heavier bullets 120 grains and up in the 6.5.  I prefer the 140 grain for all around use in this caliber, good velocity and trajectory and excellent accuracy.
Be as it may I consider the .243 to be a varmint round, not a big game round for use only by an expert marksman on deer.
My only .243 is actually a 6 m/m Remington on a single shot Mauser action with a 26 inch Hart barrel with a 24 power scope.
 

[jrchurch254a]

I agree with some of the other folks here on this thread; keep the .243 and save for the 6.5.  I have been an admirer of the 6.5 with its excellent sectional density on bullets, accuracy and history in killing Moose in Europe.  I have killed a truck load of big mule deer with my .243 using Nosler Partions (primarily). Both a great cartridges in my book.
 
Chief

[BBF]

Today was the first time I had the chance to try my new to me Husky in 6.5x55. I had the rifle at least one year, it needed a lot of work including a new barrel which the Mail Order owner conveniently forgot to mention.
 
First load tried was a full bore 160 gr Hdy RN pushed with Norma MRP. Not good not bad at 25 yard about 1" spread. This needs tweaking. Estimated MV 2400 fps
 
Second load tried was  a close to max load with H-380 pushing a 140 gr Sierra SP.    WOW, one slightly enlarged hole. Estimated MV 2900 fps.
 
This is not a light weight rifle. There is no recoil pad, I wore a T-Shirt and I felt it !
 
Dinny, keep the 243 but do get a 6.5x55 !

[tacotime]

The thing is, once you get the extra funds, get the 6.5 and try it.  If you don't like it, assuming it was not bought new in the box, it is likely still worth what you paid for it.  The value is not gone and you can just sell it and get the money back.  It's like a free trial...

[martineta]

The thing is, once you get the extra funds, get the 6.5 and try it.  If you don't like it, assuming it was not bought new in the box, it is likely still worth what you paid for it.  The value is not gone and you can just sell it and get the money back.  It's like a free trial...

Been my M.O. for years.  Buy used, play with it.  Fall out of love, sell, on to the next.  My problem is I have stayed in love with to many calibers and have just about filled my second gun safe.