.243 V/S .7-08

F

Fox Fire

New member
I dony have a balistics chart so just outtta curiosity I was wunder'n how the .7-08 compared to a .243 as far as accuracy, ft pounds of energy & bullet weights variety for reload'n.

Rite now I'm still struck on my trusty ol .243 but have been eye ball'n the 7-08 for a while, never had a chance to shoot one or talk with anyone who does, figured someone here could fill me in.

Thanx in advance.
 
I have owned multiples of both 243s and 7-08s. They are 2 of my very favorite cartridges.

Both are excellent deer cartridges. One is also good for smaller stuff, and the other also good for larger stuff.

Both are capable of great accuracy, as are all .308 Win based cartridges.

Although I have experimented a great deal through the years with both cartridges, I have used more IMR4350 in both cartridges than any other powder. Generally running 85-105gr in the 243, and 120-140gr. in the 7-08.........
 
I bought my .243 to pull double duty as a deer/coyote gun but as a deer gun its a bit on the small side, it'll do the job but bullet placement is paramount, think'n maybe the .243 should be coyote only.
 
By all means, don't under estimate the killing power of the 243. I've had more one shot kills and 0 tracking on whitetail deer than any other caliber I've shot. Some may argue with me, but I will stand by the 243 till Hades freezes over. The 243 is a deer killing machine.

I really like the 7mm-08AI also!!
 
I am taking my 243wssm to Alaska in August for Caribou and Wolf. I plan on shooting 80gr Barnes TTSX. I had planned on the VLD (may still take it) But i plenty of penetration at longer ranges. You read all the time of people killing Elk with the .243. I was on a site earlier and a 12 year old kid killed a moose with the 7mm-08. Either one is a great round
 
I've only took one deer with the .243, a frontal shot, the deer rared up and done a u turn then ran about 60 yards then done a crash & burn.

Maybe I need to give it more time, I'm just used to take'n deer with a 30-06 so the .243 seems somewhat lite to me, I guess it'll be fine.
 
I have not shot a 7-08 very much but have shot the 243 a lot. I would ask do you reload. If not then I would stick with the 243. They can be found in almost any mom and pop sporting good store across the country. The 7-08 not so much. They can be found but not always. I would not rule out the 7-08 it is a good caliber.
 
Killing power of a 243 is awesome, just remember that shot placement with any caliber is critical.

4 years ago, we were hunting in Kanas, bucks were in the rut. We had placed hay bales in the corner of a field for cover. We saw a large buck off about 600 yards, I grunted and here he comes at a dead run. At 325 yards(leica range finder) he stopped quartering frontal shot. My nephew hit him in the left front shoulder and the bullet exited the center of the rib cage, he took one step and flopped...220 lbs live weight.

The load is as follows:

100g Hornady BTSP
42.3g of H4350
Win primer
Bullet seated to touch lands

85g Barnes tripple shocks are wicked on deer also:
45.5g of R#19
Win primer
Bullet seated .050 off lands
1/2" groups at 100 yards
Rifle is a Rem 700 stainless

I love the 7/08 and with the 130g Speer BTSP with IMR 4895 with a 9 1/2, will sure make deer real dead, real quick.

Shot placement is key, bullet nor caliber will make up for a shot too low or a gut shot.
 
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