.243 Win or 6.5 CM?

[dieselrealtor]

To start this off, I am juggling things around a bit in favor of suppressor hosts & since I don't have kids at home anymore.

I have a .243 TC Compass that I bought several years ago for a good price, mainly for a low recoil loaner rifle for small frame or young shooters to take deer. It is not probable but possible that I may shoot some prairie dogs out West in the future but may just use a 223 for that.

I do not currently own a 6.5 CM

Admittedly I have not done much googlefoo to compare the 2 calibers so this is probably an ignorant question.

Are they overlapping with 6.5 CM being superior or are they 2 totally different animals?

 

[55fairlane]

I do not own a 6.5cm , but, for prairie dog hunts a 243 or a 223 should provide enough to reach out and knock 'em down
Just my opinion

 

[Mongo59]

Just think how much .223 or .243 ammo you could buy for the price of a new rifle in a new caliber...

 

[Trapper Jim]

.243. They got it right the first time in 1955.

 

[duanewade]

.243 as ammo variety and availability far surpasses the 6.5

 

[patience0830]

I own both. Not far apart. If I was to have to choose it would completely depend on how far away I intended to kill things. Inside 500 yds, I'd take the .243. Longer range, the 6.5 carries more energy.

If you reload the .243 and don't shoot a bunch, the lighter pills are real screamers. Barrel burning loads though. And it will take deer just fine with 85 to 100gr bullets.

 

[yetti462]

I own both and shoot these 2 more than any of my other rifles. Main difference is the wind bucking power of the 6.5. 4' hold on the 6mm is cut in half with the 6.5 in same wind . Suppressed the 243 recoil in more tame, good for staying in scope to see misses . As 1 owner to another, get the 6.5 and have both .

243 is probably my favorite if I were to pick.

 

[bgcatty]

.243. They got it right the first time in 1955.

I’ve got a 1970’s vintage Winchester Model 70 in .243 Winchester and as Trapper Jim said: They got it right in 1955!
There is nothing a 6.5 Creed does that much better, if anything, than a well tuned .243 can do.
Besides my rifle has classically beautiful walnut and steel; something you don’t see too often with a 6.5 Creed rifle.

 

[ditcherman]

Both of those are serious overkill for prairie dogs. Not that there's anything at all wrong with overkill.

I think, in my barely educated opinion, that 6mmCM is a closer comparison to 243.
22-250 is great for prairie dogs, but I ended up using my 6mm CM more on my last hunt just because I didn't have the right scope on the 22-250.
Also had the 6 suppressed which was nice.

Windage and fall, energy at distance, classic walnut on one end and battle rifle style on the other...up to you.

 

[x10]

I'm in the 243 camp also, short action, easy to load for , plenty of factory ammo out there, wide range of bullets, you already have a high performance machine

 

[Hookeye]

A sporter .243 for prairie dogs proly bounce and recoil enough to lessen the experience.

Maybe not if using one of those sled things.

Then theres powder and bullet costs if going for volume shooting.

Have run .243 for chucks and yotes for decades. Like it just fine. Am on the hunt for another Ruger #1B. Theyre heavy which helps and look good. Still has a bit of bounce if running 12x or more mag.

Just depends on what one likes.
Watching impacts is kinda cool.

Have only shot 1deer w .243.win, 100gr cup.n core. Worked but was not impressive.

 

[daddyusmaximus]

If, as stated, it's just for prairie dogs, you don't even need the .243. The .223 is plenty enough gun. (and less expensive as well)

If you're looking for a reason to buy another rifle... It's America still. (sort of) If you want one, get it. It will mean the cost of that gun, most likely a new scope for it, and then the stocking of ammo for it... but providing you can afford it, and you desire it... go for it. Freedom baby!

As far as the .243 goes, like a lot of others here, I'm a fan. There is a wide selection of bullet types & weights available, and it's a popular, commonly available, capable, low recoil round, that's been around for a pretty good while. I even found a factory load mine likes... a lot. When I put it in a KRG Bravo chassis, It became a sub 1/2 MOA precision rifle. (and that's with ME shooting it)

 

[Dean C.]

For prairie dogs just stick with your .243 or 5.56/.223 guns and enjoy the money you save. 6.5 CM is overkill for this IMHO