6.5 Creedmoor vs 243 for deer/coyotes?

Suther said:
Im in the same boat except my daughter is still too small for a centrefire rifle. She's 10 in September but only 50lbs. Probably going to be small game only for her this year - but at least she can still come and partake in big game even if she can't be the trigger woman.
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Same. We're still a couple years from it but I'm already planning. My wife is ambivalent towards both firearms and hunting, though doesn't object to my spending time or money on either, so I hope that at least one of my kids maintains an interest.

pete dobinson said:
You can't go wrong with either cartridge. If it were me, I would go with a 6.5 cm, it'll be a better all around cartridge in case you decide at some point to hunt larger game. I think it's a better cartridge for him to grow into. Your son is only an inch shorter than me. :)
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Valid point. I already have a 7mm-08 so didn't factor anything larger than deer into my response. If my girls eventually want to go after bigger things I suspect they'll be close to full grown and able to handle the guns I already own. If he may want to progress into hunting animals larger than deer with the same gun he started with then the .243 isn't the right tool.
 
TT1900 said:
Same. We're still a couple years from it but I'm already planning. My wife is ambivalent towards both firearms and hunting, though doesn't object to my spending time or money on either, so I hope that at least one of my kids maintains an interest.



Valid point. I already have a 7mm-08 so didn't factor anything larger than deer into my response. If my girls eventually want to go after bigger things I suspect they'll be close to full grown and able to handle the guns I already own. If he may want to progress into hunting animals larger than deer with the same gun he started with then the .243 isn't the right tool.
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What "larger game" do you think your girls could "go after" with a 6.5 vs a 243?
 
IvoB said:
i would go 6.5 creedmoor would work on both species - as for the 243 its pretty hard on barrels - do to the angle of the shoulder compared to the 6.5 Creedmoor
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Any Chance you would go into DETAIL about the shoulder angle of the 243 Win making it hard on barrels ? Also what would you call Hard barrel life ? 500 or 1000 or 1500 or More rounds - Thxs RJ
 
They are both going to do about the same job pm deer and yotes, but in 2020 there is no reason not to go with the Creed. Especially if you want to hunt stuff like moose.
 
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6,5 bullets are available with a better BC than any 308 out there. Bullet selection with high BC can be used further out due to the cartridge specs. Bonus points if you want to shoot further and buck the wind better. 243 is a thing of the past but there will always be the guys that will keep and love their 243 and I can't blame them. It's a flat shooter for short distance so why changing... Use google to see the specs and you'll see by yourself.
 
Superbrad said:
Please explain why the 6.5 is better for larger game?......

OP, the 243 is a good time honored cartridge for everything from coyote to deer for ages.... There are multiple factory options readily available at your local Cambodian tire and it would suit your young lad just fine...
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For the same reason I believe the 270 win is better than a 25-06 for big game. Heavier bullets with a higher bc and sd. I also stated that you can't go wrong with either cartridge, but imo the 6.5 has the edge on larger game. A 260 rem would also be a good choice.
 
Superbrad said:
What "larger game" do you think your girls could "go after" with a 6.5 vs a 243?
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None. As previously noted I’ve already got a 7mm-08 they can eventually use for that. Or a 30-06.

Putting aside my personal circumstance, the obvious answer is a 6.5 would allow for Moose. 6.5x55 has dropped them reliably for decades; no reason a 6.5CM , or .260, 6.5x47, etc won’t do the same.
 
If ye handload, it ain't hard to work low impulse loads that are dandy fer young shooters on game and pests inside 200 yds or so. The 6.5 of yer choice will work out well for many folks, young or old.
 
redbirddog said:
Stir the pot..
243 is a varmint caliber. 6.5 is more of a deer Caliber. I think your kid would love it and it's good on yotes as well.
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If you think 243 is not a deer Caliber then you're commenting on your own ability not the ability of the cartridge. With good shot placement (which should be the goal regardless of caliber) a 243 will reliably kill things much bigger than your average white tail. Would it be my first choice for moose or elk? No. But in certain cases (such as my daughters, where she is tiny) I'd rather her shooting a 243 with a good bullet that she can shoot well than something bigger that she can't shoot as good. The 30-30 was the old standard, and the 30-30 of yesteryear doesn't hold a candle to what a 243 with modern bullets is capable of.

Got Juice? said:
With a big brake on it, the 6.5 should be acceptable for a young one in the 80lb and up category.
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God no. If you need a brake, it's the wrong caliber for hunting. Period.

Gatehouse said:
They are both going to do about the same job pm deer and yotes, but in 2020 there is no reason not to go with the Creed. Especially if you want to hunt stuff like moose.
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With identical recoil levels, a 243 is going to be the better option for the game the OP suggested. Considering the draw rates of moose in Ontario, I would not be picking my kids rifle with that as a consideration.
 
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jonyork said:
Yep, this is a future purchase, and really the idea behind it was if I can "standardize" ammunition if you will.

My boy is 11 now, and 5'6" and 90lbs. He's going to be looking at a "fullsize" rifle if you will since he doesn't have much issues getting around mine, but being 90lbs right now, recoil does bother him some (totally understandable), which is why I'm looking at something like a 243.

I've been using my 300 on coyotes and it's a bit....much.
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You say recoil bothers him, but also he has no issues getting around your gun(s). That makes me assume he's shot something of yours? What caliber did he shoot? If he can handle a few rounds of something bigger, then you could always get a 243 for range practice/deer/coyote, and just have him use one of your bigger rifles if you do get that prized moose draw etc.

Or just don't worry about moose, focus on the stuff you'll be likely to hunt.
 
IvoB said:
i would go 6.5 creedmoor would work on both species - as for the 243 its pretty hard on barrels - do to the angle of the shoulder compared to the 6.5 Creedmoor
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That is absurd.

With a big brake on it, the 6.5 should be acceptable for a young one in the 80lb and up category.
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Yeah, it's always a good idea to start your kid's hearing loss as soon as possible.

Either will work very well for what you want to do. The .243 is the one I chose for my own kids first "big game" rifle. It is an excellent round that has a long history of success on everything from gophers to moose. It's light for moose and elk, but, as has already been pointed out, I wouldn't make my choice based on something that will happen so seldom. You certainly don't think it will be the ONLY rifle they ever use, do you?
 
I don't think there is much difference in recoil between the 2 cartridges mentioned, especially with light bullets in the 6.5. A friend of mine has mentored a few young hunters, they were 11 -12 years old. None of them had a problem shooting 270's, in fact they loved to shoot his 30-06 remington mountain rifle, which isn't a heavy rifle. I know everyone is different but we are talking about a 6.5 cm here vs the 243.
 
jonyork said:
Hi Folks,

My son is looking to get into hunting with me, and we are currently looking at some rifles.

I was originally thinking 243 as a youth friendly deer getter, that can do double duties on coyotes very well.

On the other hand, I was also looking at getting a 6.5 creedmoor rifle myself.

Would the 6.5 Creedmoor be "ok" for the varminting/coyote aspect that the 243 would be good at? Would the 6.5 Creed be ok for a youth shooter as well? I understand the recoil is a bit more than the 243.

Thanks everyone!
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The .243 is a better varmint/coyote round in my opinion. Both are certainly adequate for whitetails. You're looking at a 6.5 Creedmoor for yourself, I assume as a lighter recoiling recreational and varmint/deer round in place of your current .300 Win Mag. Your desire for a standardization of ammo/components with your son is certainly a good one as is your concern with recoil for your son. Go with the .243 or if you want a Creedmoor round go 6mm Creedmoor, it is only going to become more popular and become more available.
The simple fact is the .243 is going to provide a lower recoil option that is suitable for deer and black bears with suitable bullets. The down side is it occasionally comes with twist rates that aren't ideal for modern bullet trends even in current production rifles. It is not going to disappear for a long time but a faster twist may be desirable, particularly if you want to play at longer ranges.
 
Jim870 said:
The .243 is a better varmint/coyote round in my opinion. Both are certainly adequate for whitetails. You're looking at a 6.5 Creedmoor for yourself, I assume as a lighter recoiling recreational and varmint/deer round in place of your current .300 Win Mag. Your desire for a standardization of ammo/components with your son is certainly a good one as is your concern with recoil for your son. Go with the .243 or if you want a Creedmoor round go 6mm Creedmoor, it is only going to become more popular and become more available.
The simple fact is the .243 is going to provide a lower recoil option that is suitable for deer and black bears with suitable bullets. The down side is it occasionally comes with twist rates that aren't ideal for modern bullet trends even in current production rifles. It is not going to disappear for a long time but a faster twist may be desirable, particularly if you want to play at longer ranges.
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Most 1 in 10 twist 243s will stabilize 100gr hunting bullets without issue. I shoot the Hornady 100gr btsp in mine, and they shoot just over MOA in a $235 mossberg without any real load development. Some of the new high BC bullets and stuff heavier than 100gr will need a faster twist, but if the purpose of the rifle is to get a kid hunting it's not like you need a 1000yd capable load - 90gr accubond, 95/100gr partition, 90gr swift scirrocco II, 80gr tsx would all be great choices. The list goes on. You get the point. I bought my 243 as a range toy to get more time behind a centrefire rifle at a lower cost to my wallet and shoulder than my main hunting rifles, so I just use the cheap stuff but when my kids are big enough to hunt ill be stepping up to a premium bullet for that.

That said, a faster twist certainly won't hurt!
 
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jonyork said:
Hi Folks,

My son is looking to get into hunting with me, and we are currently looking at some rifles.

I was originally thinking 243 as a youth friendly deer getter, that can do double duties on coyotes very well.

On the other hand, I was also looking at getting a 6.5 creedmoor rifle myself.

Would the 6.5 Creedmoor be "ok" for the varminting/coyote aspect that the 243 would be good at? Would the 6.5 Creed be ok for a youth shooter as well? I understand the recoil is a bit more than the 243.

Thanks everyone!
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#1 issue is rifle fit, have him handle as many different rifles as possible, purchase the one that you can afford that fits him the best, with overall balance and handling trumping weight.

Then pick either cartridge, I have been shooting 95gr bullets from my Creedmoor with great success, they were left from my 6.5 Grendel.

357
 
rral22 said:
That is absurd.



Yeah, it's always a good idea to start your kid's hearing loss as soon as possible.

Either will work very well for what you want to do. The .243 is the one I chose for my own kids first "big game" rifle. It is an excellent round that has a long history of success on everything from gophers to moose. It's light for moose and elk, but, as has already been pointed out, I wouldn't make my choice based on something that will happen so seldom. You certainly don't think it will be the ONLY rifle they ever use, do you?
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Wear hearing protection. Active muffs are your friend. Wether Varminting with .22’s or hunting with centerfire, wear the right gear. And yes that includes shooting glasses.
 
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