Whichever ammo is cheaper. I like my 6.5 Arisaka but the ammo is too pricey for much range fun.

The 6.5 X 55 mm Swede. They kill meese with it in Sweden. You can get bullets for the 6.5 with very high ballistic co-efficents.
The .308 has a heavier recoil. The only reason to go for it IMHO would be the wide spread availability of .308 and it's NAT0 version the 7.62 X 51mm. Also if you have a large capacity semi-auto rifle or machine gun you want to bury in the garden somewhere, I'd go for the .308 so you would not have to support two calibers. CZ makes some very nice rifle available in the 6.5 X 55.

.243 Winchester is a super deer round. Fast, flat and punchy if you use a good bullet (such as Nosler partition).

If, like me, you also have unspoken private thoughts that a good deer rifle might also make a good SHTF sniper rifle then .270 is faster, flatter and punchier than .243. Good for any sized game in the UK - including politicians and G20 rentamobbers if needs must.

No doubt Kim will be on later telling you to go Swedish though.

Oh fuck it - get yourself a Barrat .50 cal!

I've owned both and shot a lot of deer (and other stuff) with them. If you reload your own ammo the 6.5 punches well above its weight because of the balistic co-efficient of those long slim bullets. It can be fiddly (but fun) to get the best load worked out but I did eventually have good loads in 85HP, 120SP and 129Interlock. They would, and did, take Fox through to Red stags without a problem. The .308 (7.62NATO) is easier to reload and has a far greater choice of shop bought fodder. I reload and use 150SP for everything, because it works very well. It has more recoil than the 6.5x55, but less than the 270. Its a moot point when shooting at live quarry as I don't notice any recoil due to my concentration and follow through.
Hope that helps.
If all else fails form a square and volley fire.

7.62 for the range as long as you use a 155g sierra match king. 6.5x55 is a fun round in classic rifles and is excellent in the Swedish M41B sniper. It is the best classis sniper rifle by far. The round in general with a 140g sierra match king it will out perform 7.62 back to 1000 yards. With soft points ou can shoot pretty much anything you want and the recoil is lower. Unless you have a desire to shoot heavy bullets then the 6.5 is the better of the two.

But remember the rule when buying guns. If you cannot decide then buy both

You already know im going to be with Kim on this one the 6.5x55 will do all your friend needs and there is a good choice of ammo out there and Sako Tikka Brno Steyr all make good ones.

I have one rifle in each calibre, and it would be had to fault either choice. In these here parts (Belgium) 6.5x55mm ammunition is pretty much a DIY-only proposition, but .308Win is reasonably easy to find, and relatively inexpensive. If you reload, the range of components available for the .30 calibre is better. If you handload, you can do anything within reason with either rifle. If you don't handload, I'd get the .308, as it's easier to find a palette of hunting ammunition.

Of course, if in doubt, buy both!

.303 SMLE with a peep sight. drops any big game up to and including elephants (not that you're likely to get the go-ahead for a safari through london zoo) can be used with hunting ammo for hunting and milsurp or FMJ for military arms range comps...

What more do you need?

If .308 Win is much easier to get or much cheaper than 6.5x55 Over There, then go with that: nobody ever got fired for recommending .308. But if you're not too concerned about that stuff, then read on...

If the choice is just 6.5 Swede vs. .308 Win, I'd of course go for the Swede, for the kinds of deer you're likely to be shooting. Less recoil (and it's a LOT less than .308 and .303) means quicker recovery time for a follow-up shot. And the 156gr Norma Oryx bullets in 6.5x55 are just amazing in terms of what they achieve. (Spendy, but absolutely worth it.) But even the Federal 140 softpoints are good performers.

To my mind, a REALLY difficult choice would be between 6.5x55 Swede and 7x57mm Mauser, but I know that 7x57 is not a common calibre Over There (I'd ALWAYS pick 7x57mm over .308 for hunting, by the way, based on personal experience with both).

Hope that helps.

If .308 Win is much easier to get or much cheaper than 6.5x55 Over There, then go with that: nobody ever got fired for recommending .308. But if you're not too concerned about that stuff, then read on...

If the choice is just 6.5 Swede vs. .308 Win, I'd of course go for the Swede, for the kinds of deer you're likely to be shooting. Less recoil (and it's a LOT less than .308 and .303) means quicker recovery time for a follow-up shot. And the 156gr Norma Oryx bullets in 6.5x55 are just amazing in terms of what they achieve. (Spendy, but absolutely worth it.) But even the Federal 140 softpoints are good performers.

To my mind, a REALLY difficult choice would be between 6.5x55 Swede and 7x57mm Mauser, but I know that 7x57 is not a common calibre Over There (I'd ALWAYS pick 7x57mm over .308 for hunting, by the way, based on personal experience with both).

Hope that helps.

Double post, sorry.

I'm with Kim on this, just bought a .275 Rigby to complement my 2 swedes!
There is no choice beyond bullet weight!

Dont forget Privi do Swede 139 grain FMJs as well as the same in Softies!

I've used both (and many others). Only advantage to the .308 is heavier bullets, but I doubt that's an issue for UK game.

Most of my hunting has been in heavy brush. Especially boar (400+ pounds not uncommon). I have a Ruger #1 in .45-70, for which I handload, and wouldn't trade it for anything.

Kim is on the right track. 6.5 Swede will do fine.

.25-06 ... a 6mm bullet with an awful lot of powder behind it.

Better than either round, IMO.

The Swedish and stock up on ammunition. Makes a good medium duty sniper rifle which you may be needing one of these days.

7.62 without a doubt.

Oh, hell...just get a Vickers.

.308 one shot one kill.

Hi Folks

It doesn't matter, it never does, just pick a rifle you like.