7mm08 or 243 for the old lady

I have two neices and a nephew that have been shootihg 7-08's since they were 12 yrs old. They have each taken whitetails, mulies and moose. All one shot kills. I think the 7-08 is the best starter caliber there is. Don't want to start a fight here, just speaking from my experience.
 
The 7mm-08 will have a few more foot pounds of recoil and ammo will be a bit harder to find at the local hardware store but if she can handle it I'd say go with the 7mm-08 as it is IMO a much better all around cartridge for hunting.
Happy hunting
 
rrotzetter said:
Yeah it will mainly be mule deer and maybe the odd white tail 243 is a good enough round ?
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I would say the 243 will fit the bill just fine. In the end, shot placement is what matters.....putting a hole in the animal right where you want it to be. My better half got into hunting last year and the deer reacted no different to a 243 bullet than the ones I've shot with the 30-06.
 
I'd say if you handload then get a 260. She can shoot 120gr pills and it'll feel just like a 243, and be very effective on deer. But if she wants to hunt a moose later on, put in a full load with 140 gr bullets, and it'll kill'em just as effectively as a 308.
 
I have both. The 7-08 has a slight bit more recoil but is still a dream to shoot. I would ask yourself what would look better in your collection - I'm sure you'll use it as well. Ammo's not bad to find for either caliber - just don't count on buying the stuff from anything other than a store that sells guns and stock up once you've found a bullet that works for you...
 
I have both and am switching my Grandson over to the 7mm08 -- some of the mulies around here are fairly large and to my mind the 243 is too light.

Caleb is 10 but he can handle the 08 with no problems and gives him a better chance of bang/flop kills.

Dave
 
prosper said:
would you really expect her to hold her fire if a big buck walks out at 200 yards, offering only a tough through-the-shoulder quartering shot?
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No. I would fully expect her to send an 80gr TTSX right through that measly shoulder, and kill the buck.


For deer the .243 will be as good as anything. I've shot some pretty big deer with the 85gr X/TSX, at ranges out to nearly 400 yards, and they all just die when the bullet is directed torward the vital organs/CNS...
 
Take her to a gunstore and see which rifles fit her. I found the old shotgun fitting method works great for testing the rifles length of pull.

Have her hold her arm at a right angle with her forearm and open hand pointing towards the ceiling (palm up). Rest the butt of the rifle on her upper arm near her elbow and the trigger should be right near her index finger.

Caliber wise is up to what she finds comfortable to shoot well.
Personally I like the 85g .243 TSX method. :)
 
Remington makes managed recoil 7mm-08 with a 140gr projectile @2300 ft/sec , probably be extremely mild to shoot and still effective out to 200-250 yards on game.

Find a rifle that fits her and is comfortable, a poor fitting rifle in a smaller chambering will have more negative effects on the shooter than a proper fitting larger chambering.

If you handload you can tailor anything to meet your needs don't be swayed by chambering, if you find a nice fitting rifle in say .270 or .308 if nothing else is available , you can load lighter loads.

Bottom line, .243, excellent chambering, 7mm-08 , excellent chambering also.

Did you see the thread about the 688 yard Elk kill with a .243?? :stirthepot2:
 
I'll be packing a 25-06 wiht 80 ttsx next year; though I think I'll restrain myself from should and/or ass-shots.

Jordan Smith said:
No. I would fully expect her to send an 80gr TTSX right through that measly shoulder, and kill the buck.


For deer the .243 will be as good as anything. I've shot some pretty big deer with the 85gr X/TSX, at ranges out to nearly 400 yards, and they all just die when the bullet is directed torward the vital organs/CNS...
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prosper said:
I'll be packing a 25-06 wiht 80 ttsx next year; though I think I'll restrain myself from should and/or ass-shots.
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I would only restrain myself from making either shot with your 25-06 80gr TTSX if I would also restrain myself from making that same shot with a 300 magnum w/180gr Nosler Partition. Both would be equally as capable of penetrating to the vitals.
 
^Yup, and I've personally sent many .243 85gr TSX bullets through shoulders and rear quarters, only to end up going through the vitals and exiting, or burying themselves under the offside skin. I've sent a couple through the brisket and dug them out of the outside round roast, too (after going through ribs, vitals, paunch, and then smashing the femur). I've seen it too many times to keep my mouth shut when somebody says that it won't work on deer...
 
Jordan Smith said:
^Yup, and I've personally sent many .243 85gr TSX bullets through shoulders and rear quarters, only to end up going through the vitals and exiting, or burying themselves under the offside skin. I've sent a couple through the brisket and dug them out of the outside round roast, too (after going through ribs, vitals, paunch, and then smashing the femur). I've seen it too many times to keep my mouth shut when somebody says that it won't work on deer...
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Or an elk...;)
 
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