243 Win vs 6.5 Grendel for deer?

[mattri]

Looking at putting together a rifle for the wife to use for deer at short-medium ranges.

In the past she has used a 243 that was very effective on deer out to 300 yards.

Recoil is a major- major factor, the 243 is ok but a 260 is too much.

She hunts and shoots regularly, just doesn't like a kick.

We no longer have the 243 she used before but have a SA donor to build from.

Rifle will be used primarily for hunting deer, 200 is a chip shot for her, 300 isn't a stretch and 400 is very realistic accuracy wise.

The 243 is the go-to round for a build like this and am very comfortable with it as such.

Can a 6.5 Grendel perform better on game?

Bolt action 22-24" barrel fwiw.

Thoughts?

 

[MrMajestic]

I don't know if I would say better but the 123 gr. A-Max at 2600+ fps from a 24" tube will kill Whitetails at your ranges with the appropriate shot placement. Only killed one with the Grendel and it was an 85 yard shot to the Apricot so of course it was DRT. Killed another from the same stand a year later with the .243AI and 105 gr. A-Max, same shot placement, and it wasn't any dead-er!

 

[stacy]

MAN IT'S JUST HARD TO BEAT A 243 AT THOSE DISTANCES

 

[NCVarhtr]

I know this isn't what you are asking, but the last 37 Deer I have killed have been with a 6BR using the light weight bullets....Low recoil, long barrel life, extremely accurate---a lot to like. I have only killed one over 300 yards but wouldn't hesitate to shoot further if I needed to. With the accuracy of that cartridge and with the low recoil, its easy to place the bullet exactly where you want it for a DRT affect...Something to consider...

 

[Trapper243]

I know this isn't what you are asking, but the last 37 Deer I have killed have been with a 6BR using the light weight bullets....Low recoil, long barrel life, extremely accurate---a lot to like. I have only killed one over 300 yards but wouldn't hesitate to shoot further if I needed to. With the accuracy of that cartridge and with the low recoil, its easy to place the bullet exactly where you want it for a DRT affect...Something to consider...

If you don't mind me asking, what lightweight bullet are you using? That is a decent sample size. I have used a 243 with 95 to 100 grain bullets on a small number of deer and a pile of hogs. Works very well. It is plenty accurate, and the only reason I do not go with the 6BR, is I have a pile of good 243 brass. The other thing is, I know it will feed. I am not so sure about the 6BR or other similar build cartridges. The downside is I go through barrels every couple of years.

 

[nastynatesfish]

Why not thread it for a break or just run 85gr bullets. Or the 95gr bergers? Use a break and run whichever it's just the noise factor

 

[WyleWD]

MAN IT'S JUST HARD TO BEAT A 243 AT THOSE DISTANCES

+1. And for deer, it his hard to beat a 243 period. Still my favorite deer round. WD

 

[olympian]

300 yds is a chip shot for a 243 Win. Even if downloaded with a high BC hunting bullet, the performance potential is greater with the 243.

 

[drover]

Read what you have written in your post, then ask yourself why would I NOT build her a 243. She obviously shoots the 243 very well, a larger caliber is not necessary for the hunting you are doing, she is familiar with the trajectory and the 243 would be more like an old friend rather than having to learn trajectories of a new cartridge.

Usually in questions like this it is more a case of the questioner wanting an excuse to build something new and different, if that is so then build her a 243 and build yourself a 6.5 Grendel. Problem solved.

drover

 

[Buzz]

The 6br doesn't give up much to a 243. Decent savings in powder consumption as well.

 

[boltgunluvr]

The positives of 243 Win far outweigh 6.5, 6br and numerous others. No, it's not glamorous, but it works well and it remains a threat to other cartridges for several reasons. It's versatile, tame and fun to shoot. I know there's a lot of bs on the net about barrel life. Any one with common sense that allows their barrel to cool will have a great rifle for a very long time.

 

[Fordnutter]

Id stick with the 243 but opt for a 1-8" twist which gives you the option to run 105gr projectiles. The 105gr Berger VLD's are like sledge hammers on deer.. very effective DRT kills. For smaller deer or varmints the 105gr Amax is super explosive & works well on lighter framed animals.

 

[searcher]

I have both and for out to 300 or 400 yards, flip a coin. Shot placement and a good bullet, as we know, are key. That said, I'd probably take the 6.5 Grendel loaded with Barnes 120 TSXes fueled with 8208XBR. To get the heavy bullet horsepower out of the .243, you'll probably want to go a bit faster twist on the barrel than the norm. If being able to buy factory ammo in a country market may be an issue- I'd pass on the Grendel. A lot of gals don't like carrying what may seem like a light gun to the husband. The brake can kill two stones here. She's probably going to have hearing protection on anyway, right? As for resale, I would think a lot of folks would appeal to the .243 due to the multi-tasking capabilities. For varminting, the Grendel is at a huge disadvantage to the .243 in the important areas - except powder consumption. Oddly, my Grendel's throat has seemingly eroded just as rapidly as my .243 - both having around 3,000 rounds on my currently used barrels. I was under the impression the Grendel would far outlast a .243. Not with the bullets/powder combos I use anyway. If you do a fast-twist on the .243 to stabilize the heavy bullets, some folks will be turned off if they plan to use it a lot for varmints in off-season. If I could only have one of the two calibers to do all the different hunting I do - the .243 would be my choice.

 

[mattri]

Great replies all.

Have decided to go with the 243, donor rifle should be here any day.

 

[GSPV]

You know the Grendel has a PPC boltface, right? Sometimes, it's an issue with ejection.

 

[hunter243sgk]

I dnt know much about the grendal but I do know the 243.I have had great performance with it hunting.I don't think you can do much better for a deer and varmint gun.I have never seen a deer drop so fast as one hit with a 95gnbt at 3000fps or so.DRT is the normal.

 

[GSPV]

Have you thought about a 6 BR, 6 BR Improved, 6 XC, 6-47 Lapua, etc? They do what the 243 does with less powder. Feeding is something that you'd have to look into.

If recoil is an issue, I'd also look into using a muzzle brake. Loud, but the do work to reduce recoil.

 

[mattri]

Thanks for the responses, we've decided on the 243.

 

[bheadboy]

being in Wy, I assume that you are taking a mix of wt and mule, I have always felt 1000ftp if energy was a break point for good kills,

as an example the 243 with a 100 sierra sbt (a good bullet) in a 24 inch bbl will give over 1000fp easily with less than max loads, why load to max. if less will do.

Bob

 

[boltgunluvr]

being in Wy, I assume that you are taking a mix of wt and mule, I have always felt 1000ftp if energy was a break point for good kills,

as an example the 243 with a 100 sierra sbt (a good bullet) in a 24 inch bbl will give over 1000fp easily with less than max loads, why load to max. if less will do.

Bob

Diddo...........and glad the OP went with reliable 243 Win.