goshawker Posted January 20, 2013 Report Share Posted January 20, 2013 Hi guys I'm a complete novice when it comes to deer stalking,and I'm now ready to get a rifle, my dilemma is what calibre to get, living here in Northern Ireland the rifle will be for deer only, on the ground on which I have permission it has red and the odd fallow, which calibre would you recommend and why cheers In advance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhysmac Posted January 20, 2013 Report Share Posted January 20, 2013 I have experience with a .308 and 25-06 in Northern Ireland. I have shot 3 deer, 2 sika with the 308 and a red with the 25-06 and all have dropped on the spot, one was about 250 yards out! Whatever you can get passes between 243, 270 win, 308 or 25-06 or 30-06 ! Where have you got the permission mate, pm me ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted January 20, 2013 Report Share Posted January 20, 2013 Anything .243 win up will do but .243" , .270, 6.5 x 55, .308 are the most common. For me due to it being deer only and the deer that reside there I should say 6.5 x 55. I am assuming its factory ammo and you can get all those local enough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goshawker Posted January 20, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2013 cheers for the replys lads, yes kent it will be factory ammo as i will only be taking a few deer a season, can i ask why the 6.5 x 55? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crouch valley Posted January 20, 2013 Report Share Posted January 20, 2013 I would say 270 with 130 gr bullets takes a lot of beating. But I,m sure someone will disagree as most people prefer the caliber they use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted January 20, 2013 Report Share Posted January 20, 2013 cheers for the replys lads, yes kent it will be factory ammo as i will only be taking a few deer a season, can i ask why the 6.5 x 55? Balistically the 6.5 takes some beating- it will better a .308 as regards drift as a generalisation bullet for bullet. I have a Swedish friend who uses his for moose were I think its the smallest legal calibre for them (it will certainly handle reds) yet you will get less recoil than a 30 cal and less meat damage than a faster smaller bullet like the .243 or .270. Bullet choices also have a 95gr for fox 120's for light deer flatter low recoil shooting and all the way up to 140 grn bullets for big stags in the rut. Those 140's are like shooting pencils and they don't half penetrate well. The .260 rem uses the same bullets and is better still but you will find it harder to feed unless you hand load you really want a common calibre Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goshawker Posted January 20, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2013 kent thanks a million thats the info that i wanted cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted January 21, 2013 Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 .270 is a great caliber. However a .243 will do most things. They way I see it is, they are all deer legal because they work. Shot placement is more important and availability of factory ammo. A few people I know moan about the trajectory on the 6.5 but I can't imagine there's much difference unless you're shooting further distances Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted January 21, 2013 Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 Trajectory is not an issue in deer stalking because the whole idea is to get in close as possible a light 6.5 bullet is going to fly as flat as most things, in fairness most deer are shot at less than 100yds in woodland and rarely further than 200 on the hill. 300yds is past the tipping point of stalking and pure culling IMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bolt94 Posted January 21, 2013 Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 I have fired 270, 308 and 6.5x55 all only on a range and I really liked the 6.5x55. The 270 is something I would consider due to the low cost that rifles can be obtained for though, but bear in mind even with a moderator it is a noisey round. I am far from an experienced stalking in fact my experience with those calibres is totally range limited. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redgum Posted January 21, 2013 Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 The great thing about the 308 is that there are a lot about so you will probably have a better choice of rifle than 6.5x55. Ammunition should be easy to source as well plus the calibre will deal with a wide range of bullets right up to 200gr. As for meat damage, I have shot munties with my 308 and to be honest its probably done less damage than a 243. With a moderator the recoil isnt heavy, my Tikka hunter is a light gun and is an easy rifle to shoot. A good alround work horse of a calibre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gixer1 Posted January 21, 2013 Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 Trajectory is not an issue in deer stalking because the whole idea is to get in close as possible a light 6.5 bullet is going to fly as flat as most things, in fairness most deer are shot at less than 100yds in woodland and rarely further than 200 on the hill. 300yds is past the tipping point of stalking and pure culling IMO Agreed.. I would say the 308, 6.5 or 270 as well... I would also agree with redgum on the 308 - plenty of rifle and ammo choice and you will always find gun shops stock them... I use 243 because I shoot 80% fox and the rest roe deer but it also gives me the option of red with 100gr... Regards, Gixer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redgum Posted January 22, 2013 Report Share Posted January 22, 2013 Agreed.. I would say the 308, 6.5 or 270 as well... I would also agree with redgum on the 308 - plenty of rifle and ammo choice and you will always find gun shops stock them... I use 243 because I shoot 80% fox and the rest roe deer but it also gives me the option of red with 100gr... Regards, Gixer If it wasnt for the boar in my area I would have probably stuck with just 243 as the biggest deer I shoot are fallow. Saying that though,since I have had the 308 it is the first choice for the fallow now, unless I'm munty hunting and come across a fallow in the process. I shoot mainly in woodland or along the edges of it and its nice to have a good exit wound in regard to blood trail if your unlucky enough to have the deer make it back into heavy cover. I don't find the 308 with 150gr softnose bullets does anymore meat damage that a 100gr 243 yet the 243 sometimes doesnt make it through the animal. At the end of the day you are governed by firearm departments, its not always certain you will get what you want but 243 is plenty enough rifle for all the deer species. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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