243 vs 7mm-08

[SleightofHand]

7mm-08 for me. I have it in the tikka action and its a great round. Add to that the flexibility of hand-loading and I've got an accurate rifle with all the performance I need without a ton of recoil.

 

[Fremmer]

I wonder if there's much ballistic difference between the 7mm-08 and the .25-06 with a 120 or 130 grn round? I ask because a lot of kids start deer hunting with a .25-06 in the Midwest. That's another lower-recoil option.

 

[X-Rap]

I wonder if there's much ballistic difference between the 7mm-08 and the .25-06 with a 120 or 130 grn round? I ask because a lot of kids start deer hunting with a .25-06 in the Midwest. That's another lower-recoil option.

That's why I asked the OP to contemplate his long term goals, neither the 243 or the 7-08 would be my first choices even though I've got multiple guns in each of those calibers.

 

[Snyper]

I wonder if there's much ballistic difference between the 7mm-08 and the .25-06 with a 120 or 130 grn round? I ask because a lot of kids start deer hunting with a .25-06 in the Midwest. That's another lower-recoil option.

The ballistics would be similar but the 25's are generally heavier rifles which helps with recoil

I have a Model 7 6mm Remington, and a 7-08 Browning Micro Medallion.

Both have accounted for herds of deer over the last 30 years, but my wife greatly prefers shooting the 6 mm based on recoil.

A 95 gr Ballistic Tip kills at any distance one can make a good hit.

The weight and fit of the rifle makes a big difference in how recoil is perceived, and for a young child that means it has to be a small light rifle.

For the OP, I'd start with the 243, and buy a 7-08 later, since it doesn't have to be one or the other forever

 

[Fremmer]

I agree Snyper, I've used 100 grain Remington .243 Core-lokts with great success on deer. The low recoil lets you stay on target through the scope. It's a great deer caliber.

 

[Huntingfit]

I feel like the 7mm-08 is going to be the most well-rounded. Works for antelope and deer as well as elk and african game. I know of quite a few ladies who take a 7mm-08 to Africa and kill large game with one shot. Can't say that as much about the 243

 

[TimSr]

I always wondered why the 7x57 Mauser is never looked at any more.

Would be a good compromise between the wto being considered.

 

[DM~]

Case capacity ? I guess you should tell that to the case, its been done.

I never said it hasn't been done... What factory load in 7-08 is loaded with 175's??? Name just one...

How much case capacity is left after you stuff those long 175's into the case far enough so the round will feed through the "average" short action rifle??

Can you shoot a 175 in a 7-08, sure you can, WITH many limitations...

DM

 

[gamestalker]

I have both a .243 and a 6mm Rem. But the .243 has killed a lot of deer.

I don't know how big your son is, but when it concerns recoil, I would start him on a ,243. I started all 5 of my boys on the .243 and can't recall a single deer walking away with a normal and well placed shot. 90 gr. to 105 gr. bullet will take care of business quite well.

I have a longtime friend who is a guide, that is blind in one eye, thus he doesn't like to shoot higher recoiling rifles. He has killed virtually everything, including deer, antelope, elk, black bear and big horn sheep with his.

One of my DIL's who just started hunting 3 years ago has successfully killed her deer every year with her little .243 shooting 90 gr. Hot Cores.

I'm not very familiar with the 7-08, but I would imagine it probably packs a bit more recoil than the .243.

GS

 

[X-Rap]

I never said it hasn't been done... What factory load in 7-08 is loaded with 175's??? Name just one...

How much case capacity is left after you stuff those long 175's into the case far enough so the round will feed through the "average" short action rifle??

Can you shoot a 175 in a 7-08, sure you can, WITH many limitations...

Exactly, That may be an extreme example but it points out the flaw in trying to make one gun be the everything gun. I can think of few if any calibers that can pull that off.
Every caliber has a "sweet zone" with regards to bullet weight and velocity.

 

[MrBorland]

Can you shoot a 175 in a 7-08, sure you can, WITH many limitations...

But why would you need to? With premium bullets like Triple Shocks, Partitions and Accubonds, 140 - 160 grainers ought to take full advantage of everything the 7mm-08 can deliver, up to elk-sized game, I'm guessing.

 

[jmorris]

Kind of funny but the only reason I have a 7-08 is because I have always liked how my 7mm BR XP-100 performed on game and wanted a rifle chambered for night time "walk around" hog hunting.

Really was not into "smithing" at that time and a Shilen re barrel was going to cost more than I wanted to spend.

Wound up finding a used model seven in 7-08 and just down loading it. 140 grain partitions have worked best for me. I would imagine the loads I use would be fine for any kid that should be shooting a rifle as they are not to far from loads I fire (comfortably) from a pistol.

Even down loaded it beats 300 blk by a good margin and it seems deer and hogs fall over dead just looking at a rifle chambered for the round.

 

[ironworkerwill]

OK by that " just name one" logic, the 7x57 IS loaded with 175's yet the load data for the 7x57 is bested by the 7-08 by 250 fps.

You said it doesn't have enough case capacity but pushing 175's at 2500 fps proves otherwise.

No its not a 284win or a 7mmRM but it does a good job pushing heavies while maintaining the 2.80" col.

 

[DM~]

But why would you need to? With premium bullets like Triple Shocks, Partitions and Accubonds, 140 - 160 grainers ought to take full advantage of everything the 7mm-08 can deliver, up to elk-sized game, I'm guessing.

IF you go back and read all the post, someone else remarked the 7-08 would shoot 175's, my answer was, it lacks case capacity ect... and it does...

I wasn't the one promoting 175's in a 7-08...

DM

 

[DM~]

OK by that " just name one" logic, the 7x57 IS loaded with 175's yet the load data for the 7x57 is bested by the 7-08 by 250 fps.

You said it doesn't have enough case capacity but pushing 175's at 2500 fps proves otherwise.

No its not a 284win or a 7mmRM but it does a good job pushing heavies while maintaining the 2.80" col.

1. we aren't talking about the 7x57...

2. part of the problem with the 7-08 case with 175's is, you have to deep seat the bullets for many of the short actions, and that hurts case capacity ever more...

NOW, again, name one 7-08 factory load, loaded with 175 grain bullets...

DM

 

[ironworkerwill]

I believe the point has become quite moot. The existence of a particular factory loading neither proves or disproves its terminal performance or relivance.

 

[Covelo-NdN]

Hello Xrap we are most defiantly a gun family! Born an raised on a Indian Reservation in Northern California a well served streaked that was taken from the field is the sweet smell of heaven!

 

[Covelo-NdN]

Thanks All!

Thanks High Roaders!

After sitting on this post I will settle on a 243. The rifle will not be mine, I had to tell myself that over and over, my wife wants to hunt has never shot before. I don't want to scare her. Once again I have to tell myself the rifle is not mine.

Many of you said that yes you a well placed bullet from a 243 and deer don't walk off. I agree, hell I remember my uncles telling stories or hunting on the Indian reservation with pocket full 22lrs! balogna! And that's about it. I don't want to over think this project nor do I want to frighten anyone.

Thanks high Roaders

 

[hawk45]

Caliber has something to do with it, but shot placement is the most important. .243 is a great caliber and lots of fantastic modern bullets out there that will drop'um if you (or your wife) do their part and put the shot on target. I'm a big .243 fan. Nothing against the 7/08, b/c the 7mm ballistics are fantastic, but it is more recoil, even if just a bit more. If she like the .243, next get her a 7mmRM, should cover most basis in hunting.

 

[d2wing]

A little late to post but having used both, they are both low recoil very accurate cartridges. In my experience the .243 is disappointing in it's performance on deer. Bullet selection is more critical. But it is still a good cartridge.
I have a Tikka T3 in 7-08 that I am very pleased with. I doubt I would go back to a .243.

 

[Offfhand]

Think .260 Rem and you're on the right track for the best of both worlds

 

[Art Eatman]

Enuf. Decision made.