6.5 CM or .243

[the blur]

I own both. Browning's X-bolt 6.5CM and a BAR .243

I'm doing Wyoming Antelope.

In a perfect world, which shoots flatter ?

 

[Brightwhite]

Not sure about flatter, but I personally would take the 6.5 to shoot a heavier bullet to help buck the wind.

 

[Barrelnut]

Heavy bullets in the CM will deliver 30~35% more energy on target at 500~600 yards too. Depending on bullet selection of course. But accuracy counts on antelope also. Definitely have to consider which rifle shoots better too.

 

[jasent]

Really depends on what your shooting out of each rifle. My 243 is my go too rifle in your situation but with a 28" 1:7 shooting 115's at 2940 it's no slouch with 1000 ft/lbs energy at 715 yards

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

243 will be flatter. Wind drift will be in the 6.5s favor as there are better options in the hunting bullet category for the 6.5. 6.5 will have more energy. I believe the 6.5 will be better all around for hunting. We've shot quite a few whitetails with 6.5s and they're killers. A well placed round from either will do the job though and the antelope wouldnt know the difference. I just prefer to hunt with a bigger bullet than a 243 has to offer.

 

[MNbogboy]

Take them both with you!

 

[lancetkenyon]

Take them both with you!

^ This. I am taking 3 rifles on my NM antelope hunt.
6.5SS @ 10lbs 2oz (primary)
.280AI @ 8lbs 13oz (long hiking rifle)
7RM @ 9lbs 12oz (backup)
Might swap my 15# 6.5SLR for a backup w. The 7RM.
If my 6CM was built and ready, that would be my backup for sure.

 

[ATH]

243 will be flatter. Wind drift will be in the 6.5s favor as there are better options in the hunting bullet category for the 6.5. 6.5 will have more energy. I believe the 6.5 will be better all around for hunting. We've shot quite a few whitetails with 6.5s and they're killers. A well placed round from either will do the job though and the antelope wouldnt know the difference. I just prefer to hunt with a bigger bullet than a 243 has to offer.

I can't disagree. When I'm hunting antelope, my go-to rifle is a 243AI. Antelope are small, not hard to take down, and live in areas where they are not hard to recover even if they travel a bit. I have never found myself wanting with this rifle, taking antelope out to 500 yards.

Yes, larger calibers fight the wind better. Typically I deal with the wind by my approach. Yes, a 6.5 is better, but a 300WM is even better than that. Like I said antelope are small, and the bigger you go the more meat damage you risk. I did once use a 300WM to fight the wind, it worked, and I had less to eat as well.

 

[Tidus56]

I own both a 243 AI and 6.5 creed. They both shoot fantastic. I think if it was me I would end up with my 6.5 creed on an antelope hunt. Simply the creed shoots a bigger bullet and recoil is still way mild. That's just my opinion.

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

I can't disagree. When I'm hunting antelope, my go-to rifle is a 243AI. Antelope are small, not hard to take down, and live in areas where they are not hard to recover even if they travel a bit. I have never found myself wanting with this rifle, taking antelope out to 500 yards.

Yes, larger calibers fight the wind better. Typically I deal with the wind by my approach. Yes, a 6.5 is better, but a 300WM is even better than that. Like I said antelope are small, and the bigger you go the more meat damage you risk. I did once use a 300WM to fight the wind, it worked, and I had less to eat as well.

Like I said, I doubt they'd know the difference. Both rounds will easily get the job done. It just boils down to personal preference. I've never hunted antelope. I just figure they're roughly the size of a whitetail so similar results would likely occur between the 2. Shot and seen deer shot with both. I just prefer the 6.5. Cheers!

 

[Barrelnut]

Careful with Hunterslife72. Copies posts from other forums....
See the second post in the thread below.
https://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=590383

 

[lancetkenyon]

Interesting. Besides, that post has incorrect info anyway. He left out a lot of 6mm like anything above 100gr. Like 105s, 107s, 110s, 115s, etc. Which makes them very viable against 120gr 6.5s.

 

[jasent]

Plenty of energy with the 115's in 243 if you can stabilize them

 

[Barrelnut]

if you can stabilize them

"If" is the thing for the OP. OP's 243 is a Browning BAR with a "10 twist". So super fast twist for cartridge and super heavy for caliber bullets, don't seem to apply here.