APOD Firearms

which caliber would you pick

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  • Younggun

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    Jul 31, 2011
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    hill co.
    As my old friend used to say "if you need a tracking dog to hunt with a .243, you shouldn't be hunting".

    I learned on a .243, never had to track one. Still use it.

    Either will suit you fine. Lots of bullet options for .243, not sure what is available for 6.5 hunting but bullets options were expanding rapidly when I last checked.

    You won't be dissapointed with either round.


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    HKShooter65

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    True
    I’ve got a ruger pr in 6.5 creedmoor I love it but I ain’t dragging that heavy ass rifle to hunt with.

    Was just thinking that Saturday when I hauled out my Ruger PR with it's Magpul PRS and it's heavy tactical scope and it's suppressor.

    One heavy MF'r.
    It spits out groups (.5 inch) far smaller than needed for a piggy or whitetail.
    Did I say it's too dang heavy?

    I'll keep shooting my deer, under a couple hundred feet, in the neck with my light handy Kimber .223 any day.
     

    toddnjoyce

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    Boerne
    I think you have enough to make a decision with.

    If you think you’re ever going to shoot something bigger than a Texas whitetail, I’d go with the .270 or .30-06.

    Both classic hunting cartridges that can take down most American game species.

    Except bear; they’ll need something a little more appropriate. Like a Barrett.
     

    Kosh75287

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    Nemo
    I think I'd try shooting 100-200rounds of ammo through each, with careful attention to how you score on targets at known distances. If you score 10% better with one than with the other, I'D say that the one you score best with is your rifle/caliber combination. If the point score between the two is less than 10%, I'D opt for the 6.5 mm cartridge. Slightly more mass on target may win the day. Additionally, if you are constrained to "step-up" to a larger-bore rifle (say, 7mm, 7.62(x51, 54, 63, or larger), or even 8mm), then your greater familiarity with the 6.5xwhatever may make your transition less of an adjustment.
    NEITHER the .243 Winchester nor the 6.5 CM are rifles with which I would confidently hunt "anything on the North-American continent", but the skills necessary to graduate to such calibers can be learned from either round.
     

    Saltyag2010

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    I'm looking at getting a bolt gun. just cant decide between a 243 win or 6.5 Creedmoor. the main purpose of this rifle would be hunting whitetail deer. I used a 243 when I was younger. I have many memories hunting with my dad using a 243 rifle (Winchester I think). Never owned anything chambered in 6.5 creedmor
    .243. You can find good ammo everywhere. It’s a light shooter and even kids can learn on it. Ammo price is great too
     

    Kingarthur777

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    I have a 6.5 Creed, simply because it shoots, long, flat and does a tremendous damage on the other end. My son has a 7mm08 with a Monarch BDC I helped him sight in last year. If he does his part, it will do its.
     

    ZX9RCAM

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    Sorry you guys can't shoot well enough to kill a deer with a .243.
    I killed my first deer at 8 with a .222 (actually missed the first shot at ~100 yds, it ran & I hit with the second shot at ~170 yds) , and killed another with a .243 at age 9 or 10 (not sure when I transitioned).
    All dropped dead right there, shot in the neck.
     

    deemus

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    DFW
    Bought my wife a 6.5 CM. Its a Savage Axis with a scope that I got for under $300. I decided on that round, as I think the recoil should be pretty light with my reloads. Either would take deer. My daughter has shot several deer with 243 that ran 30 yards or less.
     

    Kingarthur777

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    Well, when I am shooting off at 250 yards plus I prefer a heart lung shot, and not limping after the damn thing. I prefer a one shot, one kill ideal. But, in truth, I don't have it in me anymore to do the work after shooting one. That is why I am having one of my hunting buddies train my son. I know how to do it. It is just becoming physically harder to do over time. I did up a doe last year and was hovelled up for a week. I was proud to get meat in the freezer. But, it still beat me up like an SOB.
     

    ZX9RCAM

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    Well now everything has its limits.
    All of my kills were under 200 yds, most were around 100.
    I wouldn't shoot a deer that's too far away for my personal tastes.
     

    Vaquero

    Moving stuff to the gas prices thread.....
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    Well, when I am shooting off at 250 yards plus I prefer a heart lung shot, and not limping after the damn thing. I prefer a one shot, one kill ideal. But, in truth, I don't have it in me anymore to do the work after shooting one. That is why I am having one of my hunting buddies train my son. I know how to do it. It is just becoming physically harder to do over time. I did up a doe last year and was hovelled up for a week. I was proud to get meat in the freezer. But, it still beat me up like an SOB.
    I'm understanding that.
    Had a friend invite me on a hunt once.
    I got skunked. He shot a 10 point with a 7 mag. It ran 10 yds.
    Downhill. Steep hill.
    The "easy" solution involved me dragging it the rest of the way down while he drove the truck around to the bottom.
    That was some 20 years ago. I don't believe either of us would take that shot today.
     

    FireInTheWire

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    Mine too, but I use a .243.
    I still won't shoot one on the side of a hill that it will likely fall down, forcing me to haul it.
    I was a 10min bystander of some hunters pulling an audad about 50yrds up the cap onetime. Not something I would like to "partake in".

    I have a 338lm when that time comes. Hoping it'll "lights out" quick.
     

    Kingarthur777

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    I was a 10min bystander of some hunters pulling an audad about 50yrds up the cap onetime. Not something I would like to "partake in".

    I have a 338lm when that time comes. Hoping it'll "lights out" quick.

    Shit, red mist, and fur for a white tail. LOL

    I saw a crown Victoria do that once. I couldn't stop laughing. I doubt the Supervisors or the motor pool found it funny. But, I did, when I we were relieving a team that went for broke down highway 83. The guy I was with and I about fell out, LMAO.
     
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