Can't decide caliber

[overhere]

So, I'm stuck can't decide, I have a 243 love the caliber but it's going to my son as his first gun , now I'm stuck between 25-06 and 6.5 creedmoor, not wanting a 308 just don't like the round and not looking for a rifle with a kick that's why I love the 243 , also not going to put a break on the gun .
Not shooting long range 400 at most and only hunting rifle, only some plinking

What do all you have to say about it,

The rifle will come once caliber is picked

[Pathfinder76]

6.5 Creedmoor. It has so much to offer from a practical standpoint.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Pathfinder76

6.5 Creedmoor. It has so much to offer from a practical standpoint.

I would agree with this as well
Lots of different bullet weights for factory ammo.
Cat

[wildrose]

My vote is for the 25-06, I love to shoot mine with 117g bullets.

[Patchrat]

6.5 Creedmoor will have a lot better ammo selection than 25-06. Go to whichever retailer you have close and check the shelves to see what they have available.

[overhere]

What is recoil like compared to 243 ?

[lund17]

I agree with you on the muzzle break, I would never get one either. Have you considered a 30-06? It's pretty hard to beat for an all around calibre. Of if you have a 243 and loved it, get another one.

I don't own a 6.5 Creedmoor and I am not going too. One look on the internet for used guns and there is a pile of 6.5 Creedmoor's for sale. That tells me there is a lot of buyers remorse with that calibre.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by lund17

I don't own a 6.5 Creedmoor and I am not going too. One look on the internet for used guns and there is a pile of 6.5 Creedmoor's for sale. That tells me there is a lot of buyers remorse with that calibre.

Interesting, not a single person I ever met regretted buying a 6.5 Creedmoor.
I bought a McGowan barrel prefit for my steel match rifle and it was superior right out to 1K.
I know of many deer hunters who have been cleanly killing critters with theirs.
Cat

[bezzola]

My 25/06 has knocked down moose elk deer. Thats what i would pic over the 6.5

[pikergolf]

Originally Posted by bezzola

My 25/06 has knocked down moose elk deer. Thats what i would pic over the 6.5

A creedmoor cannot do that?

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by bezzola

My 25/06 has knocked down moose elk deer. Thats what i would pic over the 6.5

The 25/06 would work well too, but sone people like a bit more bullet weight than you can get in a quarter bore, not to mention as well as factory ammo availability fir those that do not hand load.
My choice of cartridge/ caliber is neither readily available in newer rifles or cheap as far as factory ammo goes, so I never recommend it ! LOL
Cat

[Dick284]

https://youtu.be/RrVYS7S5N5Y?si=xDPnFXlUfHLJ3X2v

Swede
Swede
Swede

[sns2]

6.5 Creedmoor would get my vote. If there are so many on the used market, my guess is that would simply be a reflection of the incredible number of rifles sold in that chambering over the last decade.


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[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by sns2

6.5 Creedmoor would get my vote. If there are so many on the used market, my guess is that would simply be a reflection of the incredible number of rifles sold in that chambering over the last decade.


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Many people bought into the hype, then realized that there was nothing magic about the cartridge, and tried something else. The 6.5CM is a good cartridge, but no cartridge could live up to the hype that it received.

[outdoorsman12b]

Just get another 243! My vote would be a tikka with 8 twist. When that burns out rebarrel 6cm.

[6MT]

Another vote for the Creedmoor round. Whether hand loading or not, lots of choices. With the heavier pills, it will reach a mile. Pretty decent recoil (depending on rig weight of course). Pretty good medium size game and varmint round.

Weren’t the choices by the OP either 6.5CM or 25-06?

[ghfalls]

270 is a nice fast calibre. Low recoil. Every deer I’ve shot with mine has left a nice blood trail.

[Smokinyotes]

I would buy a Tikka in a 6.5x55. I had one and regret selling it. My buddy just bought one for his 12 year old son. I had forgot what a joy they are to shoot and how accurate they are.

[Trochu]

I'd get the 6.5 CM. Lots of rifle selection and lots of ammo selection/availability. Recoil of the CM is approx. 12 while the .243 is 9, so, percentage wise, quite a bit. It reality however, it's still pretty mild. The .308 is approx. 18.

[3blade]

Another 243. If you love it, why change?

If you are stuck on getting one of the other two, whichever you can find in a rifle you like and get ammo for. I don’t think a deer will be able to tell the difference.

[fordtruckin]

Originally Posted by Smokinyotes

I would buy a Tikka in a 6.5x55. I had one and regret selling it. My buddy just bought one for his 12 year old son. I had forgot what a joy they are to shoot and how accurate they are.

I’ve always wanted a 6.5sweede but never crossed one. If I was looking for a deer only rifle that would get the nod from me! Or yea the 6.5 creedmoor.

[M.C. Gusto]

25-06

[AB2506]

Either the 243 or 6.5 Creedmoor.

My daugters started at 12 with a Savage 243 with a "youth" sized stock. We used Barnes 85gr TSX. Very impressed with the reliable killing on deer with that combo.

They now use the same pattern rifle but in 7mm-08, the 243 is their coyote rifle. We use the Barnes 120gr TTSX. Deer and pronghorn just die.

I have a Creedmoor and it would be a good intermediate between the 243 and the 7mm-08. We have used a Hornady 139gr Interlock to harvest a young bull moose.

I love the 25-06, but it requires a long action. Kids might find the longer action a little harder to handle. It is excellent for deer and pronghorn.

[Desert Eagle]

I would go 25-06…

Many here have talked about the creedmoor, and sure it gets a lot of press and a lot of fans, but I have had a few 25-06 over the years and saw them used on critters up to elk size. Within your range it shoots faster and flatter and would align closer to the 243 in my experience.

I had a creedmoor and was surprised of the trajectory after coming from some much faster guns.

[Hunter Trav]

7mm-08...lol

[6.5 shooter]

6.5x55, 6.5 Creed, 7mm-08, .270, .243, 25-06

Would be my order of preference

[fishnguy]

Originally Posted by overhere

So, I'm stuck can't decide, I have a 243 love the caliber but it's going to my son as his first gun , now I'm stuck between 25-06 and 6.5 creedmoor, not wanting a 308 just don't like the round and not looking for a rifle with a kick that's why I love the 243 , also not going to put a break on the gun .
Not shooting long range 400 at most and only hunting rifle, only some plinking

What do all you have to say about it,

The rifle will come once caliber is picked

Between the two options given, if you do not reload, 6.5 would be a no brainer, imo. The only ammo that has been consistently available, and is most common to find on sale.

If you like .243 that much, just get another one for yourself and you would have to only grab one box of ammo when hunting together with your son. Provided it shots well enough from both rifles, of course.

[brewster29]

If you’re going 6.5 take a hard look at the PRC, or if you want to be different the 6.5-284. Maybe not as practical as the Creedmoor but at least they’re interesting.

[Fowl91]

25-06 is great cartridge, however it suffers from a shortage of factory options and lack of bullet options above 120gr. I can think of only two manufacturers still chambering for it in production rifles currently. If you reload or plan to get a custom rifle then I would choose the 25-06 for a great low recoiling hunting rifle. There will always be one in my safe.

6.5 Creedmoor is the easiest to find ammo and rifle availability. If that matters to you then it's an option. I am not a fan myself, but I can see why most people lean towards the cartridge.

[GrandSlam]

If you are reloading, the CM is the more efficient round compared to the 25/06. Burns much less powder and gives the same performance. If that matters to you.