14yr Old Girl, Which? 7mm-08 or .308

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Texasred

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I'm buying a rifle for my sister, Texas hunting in particular deer, hogs, and the occasional turkey. I do reload and plan on throwing the idea at her later. I can't decide on which of these two rounds just yet. It seems to me that either way I go, I'll be okay. I'm going to get her a synthetic Remington 700 full-size, with a Leupold 2.5x8 VX-II. The scope was given to me by our dad, so it's going on no matter what(legacy). I have a 7mm Rem mag, .25-06, and a .308 semi. Only have reloaded for the .25-06 just yet. What do you fellas think? I was originally thinking .243 but that seems to limit you on the larger animals and bullets seem kind of light.
 
7mm-08! Great ballistics and less recoil. You might also consider something in 6mm such as 6.5x55.
 
i suggest a 7-08 as well.

normally i would suggest the bigger cartridge, especially to a handloader, but in this case i feel the 7-08 is a superior cartridge and would be the direction i would go.
 
With nearly identical case capacity, same weight bullets will provide identical recoil between the 7-08 and the 308. Both have lighter loadings to mitigate the shove. I would add a .243 to the mix; a 100 grain 6mm will get it done on all deer sized game, and it is a pleasure to shoot from the bench.

This site might help---

http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm
 
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7mm-08! Its softer recoiling (by about 10-20% depending on load) flatter shooting and actually exceeds the 308 ballistically at distance. Kills game just as dead as .308. I wouldn't get a .243 unless lots of varmint hunting is in the mix. Although, if you plan to limit the rifle to small southern deer, the .243 might be ok. If I come across a nice 250lb buck, I'd much rather have the 7mm-08! Also, if she might ever hunt mule deer or even elk, the 7mm-08 (or .308) would be a much better choice.
 
180 gr .308 recoils twice as hard as a 100 gr .243; the 7-08 shoves with 50%more flinch inducing recoil than that same 100gr load. For any south Texas game, the .243 is more than enough. I agree with other posts that more would be needed for a 200lb buck, but that is probably 110lbs more than any buck you will ever see near Houston. For the hogs, shot placement is key regardless of caliber. If you plan on eating them, then hitting the "behind the ear" kill switch is required regardless of caliber. With that shot, a .223 up to a .50 bmg will work equally well. Body shots risk perforating something nasty, so you want your eating pigs perforation free.
 
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I vote for the 260 REM. a great cartridge with very high ballistic co-efficient and excellent penetration. Recoil is very manageable,and if you reload you have a great choice of bullets.As a bonus cases can be formed from 243 and 7mm-08 brass quite easily.
 
I think either is sufficient for 14 yr old girls. As ever placement is key. Are these southern or northern 14 yr olds?

I'm sorry!!!! Just too much like the "Is this enough gun for....." threads.
 
I would get a .308. I have been loading 125 gr rounds for my recoil sensitive wife and she doesn't mind them a bit. The 14 year old will grow up and maybe have a chance to escape Texas to a place with real big game hunting. The .308 is a much better round for elk, moose. etc.
 
................7mm-08.............7mm-08................7mm-08.................7mm-08...............

I like the 7mm-08 for the younguns'.... my daughters would agree, as they have used the 7mm-08's since age 12 and are still using that caliber for deer.
 
For a young hunter you can't go wrong with a 7mm-08. I used a 7-08 all through my teen years and it's still my favorite caliber for whitetails and hogs. Plus there is a good wide selection of 7mm bullets to choose from.
 
The common deer loads for the 7mm08 and the .308 are the same but for ten grains of bullet weight. 139 or 140 vs. 150 grains. That's not a lot of difference in recoil.

Sure, handloading can make a difference...

The main thing for that 14-year-old is how well the rifle fits, particularly in the length of pull. If that's correct, and there is a really good-quality butt pad, she oughta be good to go with either.

However (And ain't there always a however?), I've ruined some 20+ Bambis with my .243. I was maybe a bit more judicious on my shots as to range and precision, but even the little 85-grain Sierra HPBT does quite nicely. (100-grain bullets are more reliable for penetration, but that's not an issue for neck shots.)
 
If you are limiting yourself to the .308 size cases (and that is a reasonable thing to do), then either .243 or .260 are outstanding. .243 has lighter recoiling factory rounds and really is adequate for what you state you want to hunt. The .260, has some outstanding bullets available for hand loading into exceptional long range loads. Either cartridge would be an excellent choice, since she is always going to be a girl and probably not a big strapping sort, you might lean toward the .243; although a .260 would be a life time of long range challenge.
This is a win win question any of the above answers are right.
 
the .22-250 will work in Texas, I regularly kill big hogs with it and should be no problem, if you have doubts, shoot partition or tripe shocks out of it, low recoil, flat shooting, just right for a girl, small boy or a grown man that is tired of getting beat up by large calibers.
 
I started the thread mentioned above, and was handed some wonderful advice. I through the .308 out, recoil is about the same as my .30-06, and I don't want her to be afraid to pull the trigger. I have narrowed it down to 3; .243, .257 Roberts, and the 7mm08. As for now I am a little undecided, but am leaning on the .257 Roberts. I am very impressed with this round. Main thing that will make my descion will be ammo availability. I am a reloader, but if she runs out in the field, I wann be able to stop in at the local hardware store and pick some up.
 
MORe than enough to take deer in Texas. One of the best caliber choice out there.
 
How tall is she? You might want to consider a youth stocked rifle instead of a full-size unless she is, say, 5'8" or taller. Full size stocks are made for the "average" man, which I believe is 5'10" or so.
 
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