.243 or 7mm-08?

B

beagler

New member
Believe I'm going to purchase a Ruger American Compact for my 9yr old daughter. Now my question is .243 or 7mm-08? I was considering going with the 7mm-08 shooting managed recoil shells (I don't reload). My daughter isn't a tiny framed girl, she just took her first turkey a few weeks ago shooting a Mossberg 510 Mini. Now I'd like for her to get a deer.
 
Good going getting for getting a new gun for your daughter. A loving dad you are.

If all you are ever going for is deer then no question, the .243 would be my choice. BUT, if you think this girl maybe in a few years might want to try for something elk sized then the 7/08 might be worth considering. But heck, even a .243 can bring down an elk if you use the right bullet and hit it in the right spot.

So all in all, I think that the .243 would be a fine choice.
 
Get the 6.5 Creedmoor and shoot the 120gr bullets for deer and the 140gr for elk.I was a big fan of the 243 until I started shooting the 6.5 stuff.
 
Originally Posted By: LexGet the 6.5 Creedmoor and shoot the 120gr bullets for deer and the 140gr for elk.I was a big fan of the 243 until I started shooting the 6.5 stuff.

A good one too but that was not one of the choices. Besides, the .243 is 60 years old now and still going strong. Ammo is available everywhere. Another couple of good reasons to make that his pick.
 
243. The 7mm-08 is not a hard kicker by any means, but the recoil of the 243 is substantially less. Plus, your rifle may not group the managed recoil loads well.
 
I have six of the Ruger Americans, 22, 22 mag 5.56, 22-250, 7-08, and 270. I bought the 7-08 for my 12 year old grand-daughter to hunt elk last year. I had a muzzle brake installed and it now kicks less than a 243. you cant go wrong with the Ruger Americans, They all shoot lights out, I am not, however, impressed with the magazine design, some fed well, others not so good. Call Ruger and they will Replace defective magazines.

Just my .02
JD
 
Either Calibers are nice,the .243 is a great shooting Rifle and can use lighter grain bullets if You decide to make it a Coyote/Predator Rifle?The 7mm-08 is light in recoil and is very close and similar to the .243 in recoil and even the bullet size is scary close to being the same.....just the other day I had a group of bullets in a container and was shocked and how close in size the both are!

I have a Browning A-bolt Hunter in a .243 that has taken down many a Deer with the Hornady 100 grain Custom Bullets and a newer Savage model 11/111 GCNS Wood Stock Bolt-action 7mm-08 that is light on the recoil and has plenty of knock-down power so I would put into consideration on any a Future type of Hunting and Ammo Availability on each Caliber then choose which one fits Her needs the best?Another Rifle that would be an Awesome well made and great looking Rifle is the Savage Lady Hunter Rifle...check it out and see how nice it is!
 
Either would be a fine choice but I'll vote 7-08.It's simply one of the finest cals for most any big game there is.Both are hard on fur but should a bear or lion come to call's I'd be a lot happier with the 7 in my hands.
 
7-08 It will be a good reason to start reloading, which adds one more thing that you and your daughter can do together.
 
I have both and have killed quite a few critters with both. As some have noted, one CAN kill an elk with a .243, but we're talking under ideal conditions--most likely a broadside shot on a stationary animal while using the proper bullet for the job, at a reasonable range.

The 7mm-08 is more ideally suited for this task, and I feel more comfortable with 7mm-08 on "less-than-ideal" shots, especially with all copper or non-lead bullets, like Hornady's GMX bullet or Winchesters 95/5 bullet (which I suspect is just Hornady's GMX bullet under another name).

However, since you said this rifle would be for your daughter's first deer, I'd go with a the smaller of the two calibers. The .243 has less recoil, which will allow your daughter to have longer range sessions, reduces the chances of your daughter developing a flinch, and gives you the opportunity to use her rifle during the off season for coyotes. Seeing that your in Pennsylvania, and--I'm making a dangerous assumption here--you'll probably be hunting from tree stands and/or blinds, the .243 will work just fine for the ranges you and your daughter will be shooting.

good luck on your purchase and be sure to give us a report on your new rifle.
 
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