Youth 7mm-08 load or 243?

N

NineDriver

New member
Hello all,

I have a Model Seven 7mm-08 which my wife shoots. I have a couple of kids and I want to step them up to a deer hunting rifle. So, I have been thinking about getting a model seven in 243 then eventually work them up to the 7mm-08.
However, I started thinking that maybe I could load up some lighter recoil "youth" loads for the 7mm-08 and maybe the kick wouldn't be too bad?? Or maybe if I get a 243 I could load up some youth 243 loads...

What do y'all think? Should I go with the 243 or the 7mm-08.

Also, does anyone have any good recipes and/or results on deer with "youth" loads in these calibers?

Thanks
-Steve
 
I have Lymans 49 and an old sierra manual. My 10 shot my Model 7 in 243 just fine using reduced loads. I think it used imr 4198. Not sure the mix. Check your manuals or online, if you can't find one PM me.
7mm-08 shouldn't be hard to shoot either.
 
My niece shot her first deer this year with my .243 she was 11. She had no problem with it and shoots it often. My deer load is on the hotter end. It is a youth model 770 Remington. My advice would be put them behind one and let them decide if it's too much. Its great to see young kids getting in to hunting, we let her shoot 30-40 rounds before deer season started and when it came time for her to shoot the doe she never hesitated...i think her dad was more nervous than her.
 
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took the boys out shooting this summer. They are both 11 years old started with a .223 bolt gun and stepped up to .243. They told me the .243 didn't kick. that was with some hotter loads in the 80 gr variety. I'd let them try the 7mm-08 with the loads you currently have. See how they handle it.
 
You could easily tame the 7mm-08 to the level you want with H-4895 & Hodgdon's "60% Rule". Nothing wrong with getting another in 243 either.

I can easily tame my 300WSM to less than a 308 with H-4895 & a 150 grn bullet. I don't shoot it that way often, but I have loads available when needed.
 
My son started on a 243 but he could shoot my 7mm-08 also, the stock was just too long for him to get comfortable. I would look at something like a 120 Gr ballistic tip or another bullet under 140 (maybe a 139 SST). Load it down (the 60% rule is good advice) and have at it. The nice thing about going with the 7-08 is that you can start adding a few grains here and there until you get to a level they are comfortable with.
 
I shoot full power 120 Nosler BTs in my 7-08 and it is very pleasant to shoot. That is one tough bullet too; it is not a varmint bullet. I don't see much difference in recoil between that and a .243. If you are a hand loader, you can drop the powder charge down and run about 2500-2600 fps and it will be great. Hodgdon has reduced load data on their site. The only drawback of factory reduced recoil loads is the expense.
 
The hodgdon website has some real good info on reduced loads. Remington has also started loading 7-08 in their reduced recoil factory loads. If it were me, I would start with the 7-08 if that is where I was going to wind up and just adjust the loads like you are thinking about doing.
 
Hey Guys,
Thanks a lot for all the info and advice! I'm thinking I'll go ahead and work up some 7mm-08's as suggested. Makes sense I'll be able to work up the loads as the kids become acclimated.
I'll check out the hodgon website...however, does anyone have a go to youth recipe?

Thanks again
Steve
 
Do the reduced 7mm-08 loads. I started my boy on a 7mm-o8 with Remingtons managed recoil loads. Shot under an inch.

I duplicated the Remington load with SR4759 and a 120 grain Nosler Ballistic tip. Shoots under an inch and hits the same point of aim. The recoil is similar to a .223 IMO. He has had zero issues with recoil shooting these loads. He has shot 3 or 4 deer with the load. Excellent performance on the deer. He had shot one with the factory Remington round as well, couldn't tell the difference.

I will have to verify the load when I get home, pretty sure it is 21gr of SR4759 with the 120gr BT, Remington brass and Federal 210M primer.
 
Both cartridges are excellent but I would rather start them on the 7/08 when deer are the primary targets . I use a 130 grain Speer near max and it is very pleasant . A kid would not have any issues shooting it well. This year I haven't even used my '250 for coyotes . I use a 110 grain TNT in the 7-08 and it shoots great . It wouldn't be good if u wanted the hides though. It's pretty messy. I have always used both rounds for deer but the 7-08 seems to have an advantage in DRT performance.
 
I will recommend the 243. I built a smaller caliber rifle for my sons, I have three boys separated by three years. I knew that I didn't want them starting out with a heavy recoiling rifle. I also didn't want them sharing the same rifle in a season, they should have it sighted in and cared for individually. I also didn't want them stuck with a light caliber, shortened, kids gun once they are 16 and over 6' tall. After they outgrow the youth gun, they get their own hunting rifle, a gift from me.

My oldest has shot a couple deer and an elk with the 7mm-08 with no problems in regards to the recoil, so if you do decide to go that route, you should be fine. My middle son has killed a deer and an elk with the 257 AI. I really like that 257, very little recoil in a nice light gun. I am sure the 243 would have even less recoil, so many kids have started out with it, its a fantastic choice.
 
Really depends on whether you want to buy another rifle. The model 7 is a handy little gun for youth/women and fine for the guys. Never going to go wrong with the 7mm-08 caliber either.

If you buy another rifle and go the 243 route, look at the 85gr Barnes TSX in it. My daughter shoots that combo and it is an incredible deer killer. Not much recoil but I actually think it is a tad more than the reduced loads in my sons 7mm-08.
 
Thanks again for the input. I'm pretty sure I'm going to buy another rifle anyway, as I want each of my kids to have their own and have it something that can grow along with them. I think I'll start shopping model 7's and see what kind of deals I can find. Finding a deal in this political climate may be difficult...
 
I have the same gun model 7 7mm08 and my 9 year old son killed his first deer with it this year. He had no problem with the recoil and really liked shooting the gun. I am shooting 140 grain noslers and 38 grains of varget. That load is on the light side but shoots well in my gun.
 
The 243 is a great round but so is the 7mm-08. I think if you did not want to spend the money for another gun you can tame the loads down plenty to make it comfortable for a kid.
 
IMR's SR4759 or Trail Boss should be considered for youth/reduced loads. Nothing wrong with H4895 reduced loads either.
 
Originally Posted By: DGWIMR's SR4759 or Trail Boss should be considered for youth/reduced loads. Nothing wrong with H4895 reduced loads either.

I couldn't get Trail Boss to push 120-140g bullets out of my 7mm-08 with enough authority to use on deer. That said, Trail Boss loads are a lot of fun to shoot and I plan on trying some 100g Speer HP bullets on rabbits this year to get some more trigger time in with 7-08.
 
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