better caliber .308 or 7mm-08?

The wife and I have killed over 100 deer with .243win.
Most have been 95 NBT . Some with the new Fed fusion which a great bullet.

We shoot mostly shoulders to avoid dealing with the propety lines.

The very best bullet for small cal deer rifles are Barnes TSX and TTSX hands down.

I've heard great things from the 7-08 guys and the 120 g Barnes.
 
Originally Posted By: cawilson82she's not really recoil or sound sensitive i mean i wouldn't let her shoot a 300 mag or anything and we have a variety of rifles. she's been shooting the .243 mostly and my 25-06 when dad hasn't got it which is rare. just wanting her something with a little more knockdown. the .243 is a great caliber but it lacks the whop really needed to put deer down unless you lie to do alot of tracking. we were discussing getting her a new gun b/c i can't go with her all the time and then i have to go track the deer she shot "somewhere over there". she gets pretty excited but is a crack shot. maybe another 25-06 is in order. thanks everyone

EPIC FAIL!

I've been shooting 243 for years and my wife hunts with a 243AI. Always shooting 95 or 100g bullets we've never had a deer go more than 50yds. I shot a 30-06 before that and the deer went just as far.
 
If you break a deer down ie; high shoulder or neck they are hitting the dirt ! A gut shot with a .223 or 300 win is still a gut shot and they will run.

Also a lung shot deer will expire faster and run less than the old heart shot. However high heart low lung = dead EVERY time.
 
One more thing I'll add.....

Don't care if it's man ,woman, or child. If you are stand hunting and walking a short distance and heavier rifle will help tame recoil . Less felt recoil = better shooting.

My wife shoots my old .243 win M700 VS and it is like a .223 compared to my M700 sporter in .243 win.
 
Originally Posted By: wdchuckhuntr+1 on the shoulder hit with any caliber. Their's not much worthwhile meat there and they drop in their tracks.

Trashed deer shoulders make good yote bait !
thumbup.gif
 
I have whole lots of experience with both cartridges. Taken many a deer with them.

As much as I like my 308s, the 7-08 remains my personal favorite deer cartridge of all time. However, you can't go wrong with either of them.........
 
Well, I've used a bunch. Probably taken the most deer with 140gr Partitions. Work well near or far. Have been loading 120 TSXs lately. 162gr A-maxes are another good one.....
 
Originally Posted By: Tim NeitzkeI've not had either ,but I would pick 7-08.
I shoot .243 win.

Same here.
After a half a century of hunting I've graduated "down" to a Plain Jane 243.
A nice light weight little Browning Micro Hunter with a big fat recoil pad on it, shooting 85gr SGK's to be exact, but don't tell 2MG.
wink.gif


I'm not sure how tough the Whitetail in the south are but mine kills Idaho's just fine.
DSCN7970.jpg

High shoulder and down they go.
Now day's I only shoot meat Deer from my deck.
At those distances, a spine shot does even better.

JMO
Luck
 
Originally Posted By: tntrapperthere basicly the same .get the one u can find ammo or reloading compants for the easiest id say


I agree, the 308 wold be the easiest one to find ammo for off the shelf at your local gun shop. I love my 308. Just my 2 cents

Mark2
 
I like the 7-08 better.I really don't see where the .308 has any advantage other than maybe ammo might be easier to find sometimes but I doubt it.175gr 7mm bullets are easy to come by and I think there are still 200gr available.I know they were at one time for sure.Anyway 7mm bullets have better BC which gives them the edge all else being equal.
 
Pretty close to a wash. I would get the 7 but that is just because I have a personal beef with 308 (except if its coming out of a m1 or fal). Both are great calibers, although 243 is also. White tails 200 yards or less wont know the difference.
 
Originally Posted By: Jerry M.260 Remington will shoot flatter than either of them.

Although true, most people won't shoot a deer beyond a range that a slug gun or 30-30 couldn't handle ballistically.
 
Back
Top