A week ago, I won a Remington bolt 308. I've been meaning to buy my 14 year old granddaughter a deer rifle. She started hunting last fall and with a borrowed 243 bolt action, she shot a 6 point buck. Now, she's hooked on hunting.

Here's my plan: I have a lot of guns. I checked with the dealer who supplied the 308 I've won and asked if I could trade for either a 243 or 6MM? She said not a problem, just tell me what you're looking for.

My wife has a 6MM and just loves it. So, I was thinking of getting the granddaughter the 6MM. But, her dad is raising a fuss because he said 6MM shells are too hard to find. The 243 is much more common and you can get them anywhere. Please give me your opinions as I know both are excellent choices.

Her Dad is right, if the choice is a similar caliber ballistics get the one you will find ammo on sale more often. My 2 cents

pretty much the same thing, i'd say the 243, but then you already have 6mm in the family, are cartridges that hard to find?

I'd say wait until the granddaughter is out of the house and give her whatever you want to.... Talk about looking a gift horse in the mouth.

Once took my .300 weatherby 2 hours up north deer hunting, went to load it and found I had brought a box of empty shells. Ran to closest town quick and of course no one had .300 weatherby ammo, went back out and watched my brother shoot deer for both of us... atleast I got to track gut and drag his deer for him. I would go for the .243 as ammo can be picked up in a pinch almost anywhere.

243 easy to get ammo for from just about anywhere
J

I agree. I told my wife maybe I should let her dad spend $700 on what he thinks she should have. But, she's a special kid, straight As in school, we go to movies together (mostly because my wife doesn't like things like The Avengers, King Kong, etc), she has always loved watching me in my trapping shed, skinning, fleshing, boarding. So, I want to buy her the rifle.

I'd get the 6mm just to - him off.

It's 2019 you can order ammo on-line and have it the next day. I prefer less common calibers/gauges. Everyone has a .243 or two. Get her what you want her to give her, its not her dad's gun. I'm betting you'll be supplying the ammo anyway!

What's peace in the family worth? The girl probably would be happier with a 243 and no arguments than a 6mm and friction in the family. Be the bigger man and do the right thing.

In reality how much is she really going to shoot? A couple boxes of 6mm may last her years, maybe not? Tit for tat on performance and recoil for the most part... I'd get her what YOU want her to have... just my opinion.

This^^^^^

Yup! I reload for my wife's 6MM. I must have at least 250 casings. I can buy those on line too. Right now I'm waiting for a call back from the dealer to see what she's got available or can get in the next few days. I told her 6MM preferably or I'd settle for the 243 if I had to.

Sounds like ur mind was already made up before u asked the question

If you asked your son in law what your grand daughter would like for Christmas would you make a stink about his answer even tho it’s your gift giving?
The calibers are so close, the sweety is good with the .243, so give that to her. Your not going to always be there in your grand daughters life to load for her.
Gift or not it’s not worth a family “issue”.
I’d give it to my grand daughter with a smile saying “ I have seen how well you handle one of these, I look forward to seeing more” I love you.

Osky

Nope, just off the phone with the dealer a little while ago. I asked for an opinion earlier. She may have to order a rifle. If that's the case, I'm leaning toward a Tikka T3. For the money, they are a fine rifle. Is anybody familiar with a Savage Axis 11?

I'd just give her the 308, she will grow into it.

.243 for 2 reasons. First, near term, keep the peace. Second, when she hands it down to her children or grandchildren, which caliber is more likely to available? I've been divesting myself of obscure calibers, and weeding down to shootable heirlooms in calibers I think are most likely to be available when I'm long gone. In other words, I'd rather pass along a few very practical shooters rather than a safe full of interesting artifacts.

Waiting to hear back from the dealer to see what she's got available in their warehouse. If nothing and I have to order a rifle I'm leaning to a Tikka T3 which is only available in the 243.

Probably wise to let what rifle is available dictate the decision since neither is a bad choice. I have owned both and really like both. With good bullets I am impressed with what the 6mm diameter chamberings are capable of (near and far). I have a slight preference for the 6mm Rem but I don't actually own one at the moment. When I built a 6mm-06 I decided "my" 6mm (a heavy barrel tang safety ruger M77) needed a new home so I let it go. I am down to a couple of youth model .243s which my kids kill a lot of game with. I have three more hunters coming up in the family so will be in use for a long time while the older kids spend more time shooting 7-08s and my 6mm-06.