.243 vs. 7mm-08 for my daughter

I have a Ruger M77 Mark II 7mm-08 compact, and I love it. It is so light its like carrying a 22. And I can shoot as far as I want to up here in NY. The bullets are easy to find and their not very expensive. The kick isnt bad at all, has more knock down power than .243 and you can kill more animals with it. I love mine and would never go down to a .243 even though I do hear good things about them. All depends on personal preference, people with 243 will say get a 243 people with 7mm08 will say get one of those!
 
Shot some 180s out of the same gun in 308.

For a 308, it was brutal. Very loud.

The 7-08 with some 120s is a better choice. I have lost track of how many deer I've taken with 7-08s. A good pile, I reckon.....
 
When considering the two cartridges, I'd also recommend the 243 Winchester for the young lady starting out simply because of lesser recoil. Both are excellent deer cartridges.

Originally Posted By: Bernie P.woodguru where did you see the .243 listed as the most popular deer cartridge?There's no question it's a good cal but the 7-08 is a superior cartridge for any big game animal.

I'd like to see the source of that statistic also. I think its probably far more wishful thinking than fact. It sounds far more like the old "I own one so it has to be the best" syndrome.

And if I knew a bunch of guys who mocked a Sako Forester chambered in any cartridge, I'd just consider the source of the mocking as being not very informed about anything and move on.
 
My choice would be the .243 for someone younger. I think the .243 has a lot of advantages like decent bullets, ammo that can be had about anywhere and low recoil.

For years I wanted a .243, finally got one just before xmas. Now, I just need to be able to shoot it more, to cold at present.
 
243 is a good choice. i have had the same rifle since i was 13 and have taken a bunch of deer,groundhogs,and predators with it. i killed the biggest deer todate with my 243
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I'm with Jdunham....the .243 would be a great Caliber for Your Daughter to start out with or the 7mm-08 with the Managed Recoil shells for lighter recoil yet more knock down power!

The Browning Micro-Hunter would be a good choice or the newer Savage Lady Hunter Rifle....and a nice Box Blind with a good padded shooting rest for the Young Lady Hunter to use!
 
I vote 7mm-08 only because of flexibility. Easily loaded down with light bullets for reduced recoil. Go up to 150 grain bullets when she becomes an elk slayer...it will happen!! 7mm-08 elk round haters...start a new thread.
 
My daughter has one. Just got it. I will hand load light loads and work up for her. What really matters is her shooting enjoyment. Doesn't matter any one else's, If she enjoys full power loads then good to go, if not then it is too much gun. With a 243 you can shoot 55 grain loaded down. Too keep her involed, shooting will have to be fun for her. Not what dad wants. Trust me on this one.
 
In my hunt club we have a youth hunter program. I have not seen a child that can not handle the recoil of a 243. A little girl dropped a 100lb doe at 140 yards last year with a youth model 70 in 243. Adult members must shoot 6 point and up. We let the kids shoot the larger does and spikes if they want.
 
I'd venture there is absolutely no way the .243win is "the most popular deer rifle round." I will be amazed if the .30-30 ever gets dethroned from that position, as it simply had way to long of lead, and guys are too fickle these days to ever use the same cartridge their neighbor is using.

I'd personally decide what weight class of bullets you're looking for. The 6mm's will reach down to coyotes a lot easier than the 7mm's, but they top out just over 100grn. The 7mm's will have better penetration and killing power on big game from their bullet weight, but they can be a lil heavy down on dogs. So FOR ME, if I was looking for a deer rifle that can flex down to dogs, then it's the 7-08, if I want a coyote rifle that can flex up, I'd be going .243.

Pick your poison, either can be nice on the shoulder if you load them right. You can always make a rifle shootable, but making up for the performance on the other end isn't so straight forward.
 
Thanks to everyone for your input. Seems like there is as much debate between 243/7mm-08 as there is between 30-06/270. As far as making it fun for the younger shooters, I have never seen anyone not like to see water bottles blow up. Punching paper is OK for some people, but fill up some 2 liter coke bottles with water and you see instant results when the bullet hits.
 
+1 on the Bob.... a lifetime of hunting is assured in the .243 or 7-08. So, if I were choosing between the two I would choose the .243 because it will knock down a deer and clean out pests like PDs and Chucks with authority and at low cost and lower recoil.
 
Originally Posted By: Dustballs243 both were shot with his Rem. 700 243.
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That's a nice Buck for the youngster too... He should be Proud of that thing.
 
Personally I prefer the 7-08. My son has shot one since he was 9, and my daughter has shot the 08 since she was 10. I have 2. One in a custom Montana Rifleman hunter, and the other will be a bench/tac bolt gun when Mark at SAC finishes up wth her soon.
Increased recoil is not significant. The O8 has better ballistic coefficient, and more knock down power. Accurate, bucks the wind better, same parent case, easy to load for.
I do like the .243, but I personally feel the 08 finishes the job a bit better.
Overall you can go wrong with either. The 7-08 gets my nod.
 
Can't go wrong with either cartridge. Make sure the gun is comfortable for her and has the ability to grow with her. Buy a platform with plenty of aftermarket support such as stocks, triggers, and scope mounting options. Let her grow up with the rifle and she will do great things with it. Managed recoil loads are an option if she can't handle the recoil, but it is not bad in most medium weight bolt actions. I recommend a scope with good eye relief as well. Nothing like scope bite on a youngster to deter them.

I have a model 700 in 243 for a varminter and a Model 7 in 7mm08 for deer. Recoil on the 7mm08 is very managable and my buddies kids shoot both. My buddies oldest boy has taken a deer two years in a row with this rifle and his runt of a little brother shoots it just fine also. They also shoot their dads stock Stevens 200 in 7mm08.
Last year:
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This year:
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Originally Posted By: Bernie P.woodguru where did you see the .243 listed as the most popular deer cartridge?There's no question it's a good cal but the 7-08 is a superior cartridge for any big game animal.

Common knowledge. There are more .243's out there than 7mm-08's, that makes it more popular. The 708 will not be a superior round if the OP's daughter will not shoot it because of recoil. The 708 has noticeably more recoil, just a little less than a 308.

I vote for the .243 but I'm bias as I use one for all my deer and antelope. If you know for sure recoil won't be a problem than there is nothing wrong with the 708 as a youth gun but that little bit of down range energy comes at a price. My daughter has a youth .243. My son has a youth 708.

Last year prior to hunting season out at the range my son shot the 708 twice and said he was done, due to poor form it punished his shoulder. He has, previous to this, put a box of full house 160grainers through it with no problem. He chose to use his sisters .243 for antelope and deer but took the 708 for elk.

Shot with ruger compact .243 with 105 gn Amax

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