Macnab Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 I was in the process of drawing up an application to chop in my .223 and buy a .243 for fox and deer work (roe and red), but I was out last night for a fox and the .223 set up seems so good I don't really want to change it. So now I think I will get a separate rifle for stalking. I have done almost all of my stalking with a .243 including some pretty solid red stags without too much trouble but after a few searches on here it seems there might be better options. I will stick an 8 x 56 scope on the top to use for roe stalking in the South East and reds in the Highlands but which calibre should I be applying for? Your thoughts please.... Thanks. M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 (edited) I use a 6.5x55 for both fox and deer (including big stags). It's a very pleasant round to shoot - slow and graceful, but still packs one hell of a punch. I shoot a lot of fallow, and wanted something with more wallop than a .243, but without the bark of a .270 or a .25-06. You are also unlikely to be permitted to shoot foxes with a .270 - I believe the 6.5x55 is the upper limit on what's permissible for fox use. The 6.5x55, fed on 140gn SPs, has yet to leave me wanting more gun. Edited April 22, 2008 by Baldrick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tulkyuk Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 - i have recently changed from .243 TO 6.5 X 55, Much better calibre for the Reds and can be easily dropped down to a 100grn bullet for Roe& Fallow, can also go down to a 85grn bullet for Fox and munties Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 Although I have been using a 6.5 and 140grn rounds for the last 5 years, and couldn't be happier with it, if I was looking again I would have a good long look at the 25-06. I see it gaining popularity all the time and I know a very experienced pro-stalker who having switched now never uses anything else, and he has many other guns he could use. Yes, they bark, and ammo can be hard to come by, but they pack a punch and fire pretty flat to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 As above, 6.5x55. But as Stuart says if I was starting all over I would look hard at the 25.06 which I think could also make a good foxing round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macnab Posted April 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 Thanks for the replies, very useful. stuartp - At first look there seem to be a few options with ammunition for the 25-06 but a lot less for the 6.5. Is this right??? Not too worried about availability as I won't get through too much of it. More interested in what the actual choices are of factory ammo. Also when you say the 25-06 has a 'bark' are you talking mainly about the noise or does it kick a lot more than a .243 or 6.5? Thanks. I would only be using it for deer as I will keep the .223 for foxes as it is so well set up now and seems to do pretty much what I ask of it. M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 I agree there is not a great variety of weights available in factory ammo. My Tikka T3 shoots Federa l140gr sp and Norma 129 gr BT a treat. The Norma has the edge but nothing to shout about. Although the 25.06 has in theory a greater variety available I imagine they are difficult to find. In practice when once you have found a round that suits your rifle you stick with it, so the lack of available weights when it is a deer rifle does not matter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cubix Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 What about the 308? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macnab Posted April 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 Don't know anything about the 308 and too much choice is a bad thing in my experience.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 What about the 308? :o (incoming!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 .308 , The jack of all trades and master of them all . Harnser . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 .308 , The jack of all trades and master of them all . Harnser . :o Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob300w Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 .308 , The jack of all trades and master of them all . Harnser . Yep, No contest, the all round champion. :o Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 stuartp - At first look there seem to be a few options with ammunition for the 25-06 but a lot less for the 6.5. Is this right??? Not too worried about availability as I won't get through too much of it. More interested in what the actual choices are of factory ammo. Also when you say the 25-06 has a 'bark' are you talking mainly about the noise or does it kick a lot more than a .243 or 6.5? Thanks. I would only be using it for deer as I will keep the .223 for foxes as it is so well set up now and seems to do pretty much what I ask of it. M Factory rounds for the 6.5 are as Charlie says, Federal 140grn softpoints, great in my gun but others guns like NJC's T3 doesn't like them. I struggle to find them reliably, so last time I saw them at a decent price I just bought a 100, that should last me a fair while. PPU 140FMJ's also shoot well and are less than half the price of the Feds, so handy for range days or just plinking, which also preserves my stock of Feds. My rifle is a Tikka M695 stainless laminate by the way. The same or similar story for the 25-06 (I don't have one but my mate does, so this is secondhand) he struggles to get any ammo locally so buys it in bulk when he sees it. Again Federal's work best for him 117grn (I think) He has a Tikka T3 lite and that does kick, noticably more than a 6.5 or a .243 This gun holds the record number of newbies coming away from a range day with a snipers eye It is also very loud - real loud. He is considering getting a muzzle brake for it. Coincidently I was talking to another 25-06 owner just the other day why reckons the PPU 100 grn stuff shoots very well in his gun, but the best of all for him is 120gn Winchester Power Point ammo - but again double the price of the PPU's. Both are handy dual purpose calibres for fox's if you are out for deer and don't have the .223 with you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macnab Posted April 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2008 That's very helpful, thanks. Lots of food for thought. Obviously best bet would be shoot all of the calibres but that is not on the cards so I will take into account what has been said here and speak to a couple more people before taking the plunge. M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted April 23, 2008 Report Share Posted April 23, 2008 I'm really pleased with my 6.5x55. If you need some real punch you can get Norma 156 grain soft points which I'd imagine take some stopping. I load my own ammo with 140grn heads, as that seems to be a good all rounder for most things. I was stuck between the 6.5 and 25-06 when I got my gun, but ended up with the 6.5x55. from what I've read on the net it's a very under rated calibre here, but is popular in other places. It's quite gentle to shoot (could have fooled me, but then I've not used the others!) and is very good for getting into larger animals because of the heavy bullet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted April 23, 2008 Report Share Posted April 23, 2008 I own a .243 but voted 6.5 because that is what I plan to change to next. I got the .243 because I knew a couple of farms I had as named permission were already passed for this calibre and as a first time FAC applicant I did not want any unwarranted delays (still took ages). In hindsight I should have gone for the 6.5 from the off. The .243 does everything I ask at the moment (roe and fox) but there is potential of some red and fallow deer in the future and I want something a bit beefier whilst still maintaining the fox and deer duality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fallowbuck Posted April 23, 2008 Report Share Posted April 23, 2008 (edited) How you didn't put up the .308w I don't know.? For dependability, availability and "Do-ability" It will out do them all! Edited April 23, 2008 by fallowbuck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macnab Posted April 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2008 Very interesting that the .243 seems to get the vote on the poll but no one has made a case for it. I have been perfectly happy using a .243 up to now, but I would prefer not be at the 'minimum' end of the envelope for reds and variations are such a sweat that I don't want to be changing a .243 for 6.5 in 18 months time. So I think I will go for the 6.5 from the outset. Thanks for all your help guys. M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted April 24, 2008 Report Share Posted April 24, 2008 You're making the right choice, in my belief. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted April 24, 2008 Report Share Posted April 24, 2008 Mc nab , Perhaps you should re do your poll and include the 308 .Then see what answer you get . Harnser . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macnab Posted April 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2008 Too late, for me at least, as I have just dropped my variation application in the post box. Sorry if it looks as though I am dissing your calibre but it's not one that I have heard much about from stalkers I know, and I get pretty confused with 2 choices, never mind 5. You should me go to pieces if I get 5 duck over me......yes with a 12b not a 6.5x55! M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oly Posted April 29, 2008 Report Share Posted April 29, 2008 If it ain't broke, don't fix it. You say you have happily dropped some pretty good Reds with a 243, so why rock the boat and end up with extra expense too I could understand a different calibre if you were looking to just get into stalking etc (in which case I would go for the .270) but if you know what your doing with a 243 and it's doing the job... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macnab Posted April 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 Oly, Usually I would agree with you but the .243's I have used were borrowed estate rifles so not my own. They definitely did the trick. 18 stone red stag my biggest so far - took three steps and went down like a sack of spuds with 11 points. But I have booked red stalking at another place this September and although they will accept any legal (Scottish) deer calibre and round they 'prefer' something bigger than a .243. I have been thinking about getting my own rifle for a few years as I shoot off my left shoulder and I have spoken to plenty of people about getting a stalking rifle. Quite a few have said 6.5x55 is the way forward. I already have an excellent fox set up in .223 so don't want to get a .243 for stalking/fox to then be told by stalkers in the future that a .243 is 'too small' on their ground. I agree a 6.5x55 might be more than required for roe, but I haven't done any roe stalking yet although I intend to start this year with my mentor. M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 You're making the right choice, in my belief. Yup And 140grns don't make a mess of Roe, they do a very tidy job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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