7mm-08 vs .243

[Roc 1972]

Does anyone have experience with these cal's, for the kids/ladies. Ballistics aside, what is your experience/fit, recoil etc. for the specified group. THANKS!

 

[dzelenka]

I would choose the 7mm and download the bullet to about 2400 fps. Recoil will be reduced, but performance on game should be superior to the .243. I did this with my daughter's .260. At age 10 she could handle it very easily.

 

[highstandard40]

I agree with Dan. The .243 is a capable cartridge in the right hands. Shot placement is crucial for a good outcome. The 7-08 with reduced loads is much better and the kids can grow into it.

 

[dzelenka]

Oh, for anyone who is interested in downloading cartridges, 4895 is a very good powder. It will provide good accuracy at reduced loads. I am pretty sure that my daughter's .260 load is 32.0 gr H4895 with a 120 gr Nosler Ballistic tip. It gets 2370 FPS.

 

[glimmerman]

Can't go wrong with either the 7MM-08 or 260 Remington. They are so close (ballistically) to each other I couldn't decide, so now I have a Kimber in each cal.

 

[lp11]

7mm-08 in a remington model 700 sps youth, worth looking into.

 

[Scottr88]

7mm-08 all the way.I shoot one ,as well as the wife and daughters.The 140 grain bullets do a great job on whitetails,not much recoil,the girls handle it well.I started hunting with a 7-mag,went to a .280 Rem,and now shoot the 08.I kill them just a dead and as far as I did with the 7-mag.I killed two deer this season at over 300 yards,one dropped in it's tracks,the other one ran about 30 yards.I suggest the 7mm-08 to anyone who ask's about a good whitetail cartridge.Good luck

 

[Roc 1972]

Man this is great info- it started out as me convincing a fellow BS'r adn close friend to go 7-08, not 243. Both of us happened to be setting one up for another friend, a crack H&R, and bang WOW, it had some kick. We both figured it ws due to this type of rifle. Deffintely appreciate all the input guys, THANKS 7MM08 HAS WON!

 

[dwr461]

I hunting white tailed deer in Pennsylvania with a .243 Winchester Model 70 for fifteen years and killed a deer every year with it including several 8 points and larger deer. The 243 is of course just the 308 necked down to 6mm. The 7mm08 is the same only neck down to 7mm. I now hunt with a 7mm08 in a 18 inch Ruger M77MII International Stainless. The rifle is light. The recoil with regularly loaded 7mm08 is very manageable and less sharp than the 243. While the recoil from the 243 is light I've always found it to be sharp. For white tail either round is extremely effective. I dropped most deer in less than 25 yards with the 243 and in some cases they never took a step after being hit.

Dave

 

[mitter]

Although I don't have any "hands on" experience with either round, I have researched them both while loooking for a rifle for my son. And from what I've found (and as mentioned by others) 7mm-08 is the way to go. Its more "forgiving" on shot placement, than .243 and with reduced recoil load (there are several factory loads, if you don't load your own) the felt recoil will be less than the .243 (some say like a .410).

FWIW, also look into the Youth Package from Howa. The rifle comes with both the youth stock and an adult Hogue stock plus scope.

 

[cajun 22]

7mm-08 is what I bought for my son when he started deer hunting at 11. Remington 700 youth model. Great results with this caliber using 140gr bullets.

 

[gmshooter]

7mm-08 is what I use. Pm me if you want me to price something for you.