.243 vs. 7mm08
- Thread starter Yoteboy
- Start date
Homesteader
CGN Regular
- Location
- In a Wallow West of Edmonton.
For your application, I would choose the .243w. If you wanted more of an allround rifle for anything bigger than deer I would go 7-08, I'd even take the 7-08 over the 243 if you took the coyotes off the list. 243 ammo is way easier to get if you don't reload, recoil will be a little less, but I'd say everyone could get used to either.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
A bullet kills game in one of two ways. It can directly destroy the brain or central nervous system that in turn controls the organs that provide oxygen to the brain, or it can destroy the organs themselves. Brain shots on game are very specialized, so mostly big game hunters attempt to disrupt the heart or lungs of the game animal. The wound volume produced is proportional to the expanded diameter of the bullet combined with that bullets ability to penetrate (momentum). The larger the wound volume, the faster the oxygenated blood is prevented from reaching the brain, and the faster the animal succumbs to the wound. Shock may in fact knock an animal down, if that animal is in fact susceptible to shock and not all are, but this has nothing to do with killing the animal.
There are other considerations though when choosing an appropriate rifle cartridge. One consideration is that when used for varmint hunting, the importance to minimize the ricochet potential of the bullet. If this matters, then a light high velocity bullet like a 55 gr Nosler BT from a .243 at nearly 4000 fps would be a better choice than the lightest 7mm bullet available.
My preference is a minimum bore diameter of 6.5 for big game, but this choice is aimed at a general use big game rifle used on all non-dangerous big game. A rifle that is used as both a varmint rifle and a deer rifle fills a different niche, and as such the bullet availability of the .243 makes it a good choice.
There are other considerations though when choosing an appropriate rifle cartridge. One consideration is that when used for varmint hunting, the importance to minimize the ricochet potential of the bullet. If this matters, then a light high velocity bullet like a 55 gr Nosler BT from a .243 at nearly 4000 fps would be a better choice than the lightest 7mm bullet available.
My preference is a minimum bore diameter of 6.5 for big game, but this choice is aimed at a general use big game rifle used on all non-dangerous big game. A rifle that is used as both a varmint rifle and a deer rifle fills a different niche, and as such the bullet availability of the .243 makes it a good choice.
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I would (and did) choose the 7mm-08.
If you reload (and with a 7mm-08, you should) you can load as light as a 100 gr bullet and as heavy as 175 gr. great for coyotes to moose. Not sure what yoyu can get in factory offerings as I live on PEI, I can't buy 7mm-08 period!
Personally I use a 22-250 for yotes, 7mm-08 for deer and bear (so far I have only shot a groundhog) and 30-06 for anything larger (so far 2 small bears)
If you reload (and with a 7mm-08, you should) you can load as light as a 100 gr bullet and as heavy as 175 gr. great for coyotes to moose. Not sure what yoyu can get in factory offerings as I live on PEI, I can't buy 7mm-08 period!
Personally I use a 22-250 for yotes, 7mm-08 for deer and bear (so far I have only shot a groundhog) and 30-06 for anything larger (so far 2 small bears)
Gee I don't know but I would hesitate in starting the "girls" off with something that kicks too much. I would start with the 243, and as they progress, go to the 260, and then the 7mm08. Getting all three at once will probably be the real answer.
I can't see there being much difference between a .243 and a 7mm-08 with light loads
The cartridge is the same size and if bullet weight is the same or close, there likely will be no noticeable difference.
I would choose the 7mm-08. In my opinion it is not even close. The 7-mm-08 can very easily be loaded with a 120gr for the varmints. With the 140-150 grain bullets it is an excellent deer slayer. You can use a reduced load for a recoil shy youngster and still have a very effective deer round. Step up to a 160gr bullet and you can take on moose and elk, if the opportunity ever arises.
If the question was .260 or 7mm-08, then one would have to ponder a little more!
If the question was .260 or 7mm-08, then one would have to ponder a little more!
Loading a 7mm-08 down to a light bullet for varmints is a good theory, but I think you will find that accuracy will suffer in most rifles. For varmints, accuracy has to be a factor, so loading the 7-08 down may not be he best idea.
I can't speak to the prowess of the 243 as I have never owned one. I understand they are adequate for deer.
I do have experience with 7-08's and can say that they are reasonably accurate and flat shooting with 130 - 140 gr bullets. Recoil is moderate.
I also have experience with the 260 Rem and would recommend you expand your choices to include this caliber. I have loaded with good accuracy ...between 107 - 130 gr bullets. Recoil is in the light-moderate range.
I can't speak to the prowess of the 243 as I have never owned one. I understand they are adequate for deer.
I do have experience with 7-08's and can say that they are reasonably accurate and flat shooting with 130 - 140 gr bullets. Recoil is moderate.
I also have experience with the 260 Rem and would recommend you expand your choices to include this caliber. I have loaded with good accuracy ...between 107 - 130 gr bullets. Recoil is in the light-moderate range.
given good bullets and good shot placement the 243 Winchester will kill anything up to 300 lbs inside 250 yards. And there is no better long range coyote cartridge than the 243. Not that I would recommend this, but I shot a 250 lb mule deer with a 55 grain Ballistic Tip @ 3900 f/s and the bullet exited on a broadside lung shot!
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