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

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Go for the BOB, be differant. The 257 Roberts will take care of anything smaller than Elk. Though in the right hands it could drop an elk. Otherwise 250 Remington, 7-08 or a 7X57 mauser.
 
Rifle

.260, .257, .250 Savage (also called 250-3000). I really like the .250 Savage.
No recoil, feels like half the .243, deadly out to 300 yards for deer. many Old Timers even used the .250 Savage for Elk & bear. I really like the caliber and am glad several companies have re-introduced rifles in the caliber. Hard to believe that it ever decreased in popularity.
 
7-08 All the way!Such cartridges (7-08,.308,7x57,.284 Win) will do anything you'll ever need for N America and most other places as well except the thick skinned African critters.They're as close to ideal efficiency wise as you can get.
 
I'd go with the 7mm-08. As Art noted above, fit will be CRITICAL as far as percieved recoil goes.


As a note-

Everything I've read and pulled the trigger on generally has the 7mm-08 showing a preference for the 140 grain slugs accuracy-wise. This isn't a problem, as that's what most stores stock anyway.
 
Of the two, I would lean towards the 7mm-08. But I'm really partial to the .243. I think it's a perfect caliber for a youngster's first step into big rifles. And I think it's a great caliber for adults too. I love mine (which by coincidence just happens to be a Rem. 700 with synth. stock).
 
At age 12 and 90 pounds soak and wet, my Dad bought me a .243 for Georgia deer hunting. I used exclusively up until I was about 20 years old and killed 5 or 6 deer each year. It is an absolute killer on anything under 200 pounds! Light recoil, accurate, and very few deer had to be tracked! Double lung shots and they will seldom take more than 3 or 4 steps!
 
Of the two listed, the 7mm-08 is my choice, the .243 is my real favorite. Whatever you choose, handload some light loads to introduce her to the firearm and to learn to shoot it accurately. When she becomes more confident, increase the charge.
Also be sure to add a quality recoil pad and some good hearing and eye protection. A shooting coat or a shoulder pad could help prevent any flinching. Good luck! We really need to help the next generation learn about hunting and the outdoors!
 
Texasred, I think your first idea of a .243 is the best for a 14 year old girl. It will actually last her the rest of her life and it will take down more than you are giving it credit for.
Good luck with your decision and happy and safe hunting to you and your sister.
 
Agreed. Use a good bullet in a 243 and she will be fine. It is not marginal. I don't get the folks saying the 257 Rob or 25-06 is great with 100 grain bullets but the 243, with higher sectional density, is somehow inferior. My first rifle was 6mm that never had a problem killing deer while getting pass throughs in most cases. I have since gotten larger calibers but any confidence I get from using one of them seems more internet related than field testing. Give her something as comfortable as possible so she can make as good a shot as possible. It isn't mostly about where you hit them it is ALL about where you hit them - then don't be surprised if you find yourself using her rifle now and then.
 
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It all depends on the girl. At that age I bought mine a mini 30 and she wouldn't shoot it and opted for a 30-06. I can't forget one time she was blazing away with it at a range and a grown man at the next table was moaning ad groaning about how his 06 kicked. My daughter had been shooting a SKS from the time she was 9. Even today at 21 she probably weighs a little over 100 pounds and will shoot the 06 until she runs out of ammo. I, on the other hand, weigh, well lets just say I weigh more than that, and wish all my guns recoiled like a 22. My wife shoots a Marlin 1894C in .357 which will drop deer out to 100 yards. Here in the Missouri Ozarks the chance of a really long shot is slim. Good advise on let the girl try out several different calibers. If you go to a neighboring range the shooters are usually more than ready to let a young shooter try out their gun.

RJ
 
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