Thread: Barrel length considerations

Greetings, grandpamac.
I should have been clearer, I've given up on the 6.5 Swede as my first rifle. I agree with you that I am still a fan of the cartridge, particularly if I was to hand load.

I still harbour ambitions of owning, reloading and shooting a Swede. But it certainly won't be my first rifle. That will be a .308, although many are making a strong argument for the .243.

I will throw in my 5 cents worth ....
243 is a most capable cartridge.
Will do the job no question. Penetration isn't an issue. Was drilling perfect holes in 12mm steel plate with an old Parker Hale 243 using ppu soft points at 100 mtrs. Less recoil but need the longer barrel.
I currently use a lightweight 16 in tikka 308 as my bush gun with dpt suppressor.
Kicks more than 243 and on smaller goat/fallow sized animals at close bush ranges can be devastating and do lots of damage but can destroy alot of meat in the process. My 45/70 did far less meat damage funnily enough.
That's also the reason I bought my black semi 223 years ago to avoid so much close range carnage.
If you go the same route with 308 and run a dpt you will need at least one extra baffle to help tame the noise and recoil and will end up with a barrel around 20 plus inches long but if want it suppressed and solely as a bush rifle working through tough scubby shit I find the shorter barrel a godsend if suppressed. But I also have other rifles for more open hunting.
So in my opinion if you want a bush basher go shorty suppressed 308 but be prepared for a possible extra loss of meat over a 243 , depending entirely on shot placement of course but body shots will incur much more damage from my experience.
If you want a pleasant to shoot, accurate, popular (for a reason)all rounder caliber for more open shooting as well and don't mind the extra barrel length can't go wrong with 243 . In most hands probably more accurate also .