7x57 mauser vs 243 for son

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gadawg31

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Hello everyone,
I have a question about a potential gun purchase. A friend of mine has a old military 7mm mauser (7x57mm) and is getting rid of it. He states it would be great of my son to use for hunting. (My son is 10, so trying to keep the recoil down). He also has a bolt action 243 rifle and I am torn between the two. If the recoil is comparible to the 243, me personally would rather get the mauser, just because he would have some military history as well as a good hunting rifle. What does everyone think about the two rifles? Which one would you recommend for my kid? Thanks.

JD
 
Go with the .243 and don't look back. For one it has less recoil and is a modern firearm. The military mauser would make a better tomato stake in my opinion.
 
The 7mm will have more recoil but neither should be that bad. 7x57 ammo isn't nearly as common as .243 so that might be worth considering if you don't reload or have a source of 7x57 ammo.
 
7mm x 57mm Mauser is one of the finest hunting cartridges available.

However, if the rifle does not mount a modern optic, or have have a good trigger, or a comfortable stock which fits you will be handicapping your boy.

And, please don't "Bubba" a historic military rifle. :cuss:

Also, many 7mm Mauser rifles are M-93/95, if you wish to use full house reloads a M-98 is preferable.

Most 7mm Mauser ammo available in the US is downloaded because of it being chambered is older rifles like the Remington Rolling Block.

I suggest a modern rifle like a M-700, M-70, or M-77 chambered for 7mm Mauser :cool:
 
IMHO, a ten year old should be hunting rabbits and squirrels.

I killed my first deer when I was 9, with a .243. Killed 2 more when I was 10. A child's maturity is the deciding factor, not age.
 
Either one would work, depending on the area and type of hunting.

Caveat: Check the bore on both of them. The mauser could have anything from a pristine, never-been-fired bore to a sewer pipe. Military mausers also generally have very long throats and this can cause some accuracy issues with off the shelf ammunition. It also depends on the configuration of the mauser. If it's still in full military dress, it will probably be too heavy for a 10-year-old, and the sights will need some work to get it hitting at POA for useful hunting distances. If it has a scope mounted or has aftermarket sights, that would definitely be better.

The 7x57 is my favorite all around cartridge at the moment so I'm somewhat biased, but I would pick the 243, unless the condition of the mauser is significantly better than the 243. If he'll let you shoot them both to decide, that would be even better.

Matt
 
Go with the lighter of the two. Also, fit is important. Be sure that the stock is not too long.
 
Easy, get the 243 for him and the 7 mm for you. After shooting it you and he will soon know how he likes the 7 mm.:)
 
Between the 2, I would go 243.

But you could substitute the 7x57 with a 7mm-08. Basically the short action version of a 7x57.
 
The military mauser would make a better tomato stake in my opinion.

This group was shot with a military Mauser and my handloads. And it's the original military barrel too. Never saw a tomato stake do that.

1019111325.jpg

That being said, I agree with the .243 choice in your instance. It's prolly ready to go, where you would have to have the Mauser drilled and tapped, the bolt turned down, and likely a different stock to be comfortable for a 10 year old. I LOVE Mausers, but they are generally project guns that require time and effort, not to mention a few dollars if you can't do the work yourself.
 
WOW, thanks for all the great inputs. I really like your idea j1. 243 for him and mauser for me. I think the boss lady will really go for that. LOL! After consideration and all your inputs, I think the 243 is the better choice. As for your comment "CraigC", it doesn't even warrant a negative response. My 10yr old son has been shooting since he was 5 and can ring the 6" bell at 200yds with my dads M1 garand and that is with open sites. Thanks guys for all the input. I may make this a xmas present. I'll try and remember to post some pics of the rifle. Take care and Happy Shooting.

JD
 
FWIW, I don't think CraigC's comment was offered in a spirit of negativity or to denigrate the boy's shooting abilities.

The best was to learn to hunt is to start on squirrels and rabbits. They're small, so shot precision is emphasized. They are very mobile, so quick set up and sighting is important. And, generally speaking, he can shoot a ton of squirrels whereas he may only get one deer per season. When he's nailed 20 squirrels and 10 rabbits, he'll be less prone to buck fever and better prepared to drop a dream buck with his awesome new .243 rifle.
 
RPRNY, I can see that view. However; I think a blanket statement without knowledge of the situation would tend to make anyone's comment sound offensive. I will definately not lose any sleep over this, and that is why I gave a little of my sons shooting background. Take care.

JD
 
I don't know why everybody is so quick to get offended.


FWIW, I don't think CraigC's comment was offered in a spirit of negativity or to denigrate the boy's shooting abilities.

The best was to learn to hunt is to start on squirrels and rabbits. They're small, so shot precision is emphasized. They are very mobile, so quick set up and sighting is important. And, generally speaking, he can shoot a ton of squirrels whereas he may only get one deer per season. When he's nailed 20 squirrels and 10 rabbits, he'll be less prone to buck fever and better prepared to drop a dream buck with his awesome new .243 rifle.
Exactly! There is a natural progression in everything. It has nothing to do with machismo or your son's maturity as a young man and everything to do with learning the craft. He'll learn more in one afternoon of squirrel hunting than he will a season of deer hunting.
 
CraigC, Never once said I was offended. Those were assumptions made, based on what I said. Anywho, my point was don't make blanket statements unless you know that someone has zero hunting experience. Hense, my statement of ...shooting since he was five... I guess for some, I should have stated shooting and hunting, but neither here nor there, he is very much ready for the next level. Thanks for the advise/opinion and no hard feelings. JD
 
Having read the thread, I'd advise you to get the Mauser. Two things though - I think the 7x57 is probably the best hunting round ever made. If it's a 98 action and can be loaded appropriately, it's wonderful for any North American Hunting. Two, I have utterly no problem with modifying a rifle. If it needs a new stock, put it in one. If it needs a better trigger, Timney makes decent one inexpensivily. Add an SK mount if you don't want to drill and tap. If you're worried that you're depriving the world of yet another of 1/2 a billion mausers, save the old parts in your safe and you can go back to the original someday if you wish.

In the meantime, your son can have a good hunting rifle and that's worth more in the real world. IMHO & all that.
 
When I was 12 or so, my first center-fire rifle was a M-98 chambered for 7x57mm Mauser.

BUT, it was full military and was not exactly a tack driver since the chamber was oversized. I had to obtain other rifles to learn proper long range marksmanship. Eventually the M-98 was re-built around the action as a taregt rifle....It became a tack-driver with a Douglas Barrel, and I still own it 43 years later.

Where do you live and what type of game is the primary critter?
 
IMHO, a ten year old should be hunting rabbits and squirrels.

As I recall your similar commentary was deleted when offered unsolicited in my thread about 7-08 loads for my son.

Suggestions about how others should raise their children are always rude no matter what the spirit they're offered in.


Back to the op. This is more a question of commercial hunting rifle vs milsurp. For most 10yo's a Mauser will be to long and cumbersome for them to use effectively




posted via that mobile app with the sig lines everyone complaints about
 
A 7x57 is perfect, but I would rather own one in a modern rifle. If the 243 is the modern rifle, go that route.

I killed my first deer when I was ten. It is a terrific memory that I recall as often as once a week, at least.
 
as much as I like the 7mm id go with the 243 also.my son killed his first several deer with a 243 starting at about age 8.i also have killed maybe 25 deer with same gun.never found it lacking.he switched to his gpas browning bbr 06 when he was about 11 or 12.he was a tall big kid for his age and very determined to shoot it well and always has.
 
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