New rifle purchase...opinions sought on caliber

[Harold Mayo]

I have used older rifles for hunting for years, never buying any new long guns unless it's AR's or the occasional bolt gun meant for prone shooting. I've decided that I'm going to buy a Remington 700 SPS Compact for general use but haven't decided on the caliber. They are offered in .243 and 7mm-08 only. I've been a fan of the .243 but have never actually owned one of my own and have never even fired the latter cartridge.

The rifle itself isn't subject to change but I'd like to solicit opinions about the caliber. I'm not going to hunt anything larger than whitetail with it. I really haven't strayed much from .308 and .30-'06 in bolt guns, regardless of rifle size/weight, to give an idea of what I'm used to in terms of caliber.

Any opinions would be appreciated.

 

[bang_bang]

I think I would go with the 7mm-08 over the .243. Sure, the .243 is a good round, but for shooting deer the 7-08 would make me feel better for tagging a big buck.

I do not own either, but have been interested in the 7mm-08 round for some time. I'd imagine that reloading one would be a must, given the variety of 7mm cal bullets on the market.

 

[OrangePwrx9]

Even though I have a couple, I'm not a big fan of .243/6mm. The .22 centerfires will usually outshoot them on varmit sized targets; the 7mm and .30s will do better on big game. If big game hunting is what's planned, I'd definitely go with the 7mm-08. The available bullet weights are much more appropriate.

Even if the majority of the usage is on varmits, I'd still favor the 7mm if any big game hunting is expected. Losing big game due to poor cartridge performance is a much more serious proposition than missing a few shots at varmits.
Bob

 

[NCsmitty]

Either caliber is good for targets but the 7-08 is a much more capable deer round and actually catches the 308 Win past 400 to 500 yds and holds an expanding advantage because of a great BC.


NCsmitty

 

[blackops]

I would go with a 243. You can shoot that gun for years with half the recoil and knock deer down all day long with it. Not to mention you can hunt varmit as well as deer. The 7-08 is exactly the best choice for an "all around" cartridge. The 243 is going to shoot flatter and I'm not sure if you reload, but even if you don't 243 bullets, cases, and cartridges have always been easier to come by than 7-08 in my neck of the woods.

 

[Publius1688]

To my way of thinking, .243 is the best deer hunting caliber for smaller framed hunters, or those particuarly sensitive to recoil for whatever reason. The 7mm is a better all around cartridge, IMO, giving you greater range and stopping power should you wish to branch out to bigger game. I own a .243 that my grandfather hunted with before he passed away, it's a great rifle for people who need it,but if there's no recoil issues, I'd hunt with the 7mm (I actually hunt white tail with a .30-06).

 

[raindog]

Split the difference - .270 ;-)

 

[handle02]

The 243 will kill anything the 7mm 08 will and as mentioned before 243 ammo is more available.(at least where I live)

 

[JShirley]

If you're comfortable with .30 caliber, 7mm is certainly close to it, and very close in potential.

.243 isn't bad, just very different.

J

 

[jpwilly]

7mm-08 IMO

 

[RonE]

I like the .243, it is very accurate in the right rifles and has a wide selection of bullets. Ammunition is very easy to obtain commercially.

 

[blackops]

Split the difference - .270 ;-)

That's what I use

 

[FLNT4EVR]

Check out the Remington Model 7 in 260 Rem. A realy nice compact ,light rifle, with plenty of power and minimal recoil.

 

[Sav .250]

Asking for an opinion opens the flood gates. Not always bad I might add but can lead to some confusion. Everybody has their likes and dis-likes as shown in the postings. That`s what makes ....opinions.

For me, It would be the 243. Have taken many a deer with mine and while I have other large cal rifles, it does the job just fine. Plus, it`s lite. I got over carrying a heavy cannon a long time ago. Just my opinion.

 

[rangerruck]

if limiting yourself to deer as you max size, and you are primarily going to feed it with factory ammo, and not handload. then 243. You can buy factory loads for it, from 58 grain barn burners for small vamints, up to 100 grainers, evern 105 and 110 vld bullets, for big stuff and long range target. Way more bullet choices for the 243- if you were handloading, i may say 7.08.

 

[AH-1]

if I had to have just one all around rifle(never would happen),hunting deer target shooting ect and didn't handload...7/08 or 25/06 would be it.I would also give the tikka rifle a long hard look over a rem..
pete

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Blackops, where on earth is it hard to come by .284 diameter bullets. Either they, or .308 are probably the most common on earth. As far as brass being available, just run .308 Win brass through your sizing die, and viola, you have 7mm-08 brass. For reloading, components won't be an issue.

 

[bpl]

What do you plan to hunt with this rifle besides deer? Pigs and the occasional coyote, or groundhogs and the like? Do you have a .223 or .22-250 or similar for the smaller varmints? Unless you don't have a .22 centerfire and plan to do alot of varminting, then I'd say the 7mm-08 would be preferable.