Author Topic: .243 vs. .7mm-08 (Read 6681 times)

h2ofowlr · « **on:** September 30, 2014, 04:54:56 PM »

I have one youth rifle and am looking to get another. Looking at passing down the .243 to the youngest and getting my 11 year old another .243 or .7mm-08 the larger bullet would give him the option for elk as well. What experience have others had with the .7mm-08? Do you guys like it?

sirsnap · « **Reply #1 on:** September 30, 2014, 05:29:55 PM »

My daughter shoots a weatherby vanguard 7mm-08 and loves it. So far she has taken six mule deer and I shot a bear with it as well. All 1 shot kills. She will be using it on her cow tag this year as well. Took most of the deer with federal fusions. Last year we started using 140gn. accubonds with great results on her buck. I personally love that rifle I think it may be one of the best calibers out there. Very little recoil too.

Rich

Halo · « **Reply #2 on:** September 30, 2014, 05:31:17 PM »

Heading out to put a few rounds through a 7mm-08 now. I got for my daughter, Ruger All-Weather Compact with a Leupold Ultra-Light 3-9X33 CDS. Just getting it tuned in, gonna try the Hornady Lite rounds, supposedly 31% less recoil. Seems to shoot good, MOA. If you are in my area some time you could swing by so he could shoot it & see what he thinks.

carpsniperg2 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 30, 2014, 05:33:06 PM »

While the 243 is fine for the elk. The 7mm-08 will shine. The heavy bullet selection for the 7mm-08 will be much better.

huntnphool · « **Reply #4 on:** September 30, 2014, 05:39:49 PM »

My kids use 7mm-08's as well, elk hunt for one of them at the end of Oct. She shoots a 140gr Partition

KFhunter · « **Reply #5 on:** September 30, 2014, 05:45:59 PM »

wouldn't mind finding a youth lefty in this caliber, might have to make one.

can't stand the axis, but Remington makes a 700 in youth left hand.

C-Money · « **Reply #6 on:** September 30, 2014, 06:03:25 PM »

7mm-08 is a wonderful cartridge. Easy on the shoulder and devastating on game.

RadSav · « **Reply #7 on:** September 30, 2014, 06:15:09 PM »

Quote from: carpsniperg2 on September 30, 2014, 05:33:06 PM

While the 243 is fine for the elk. The 7mm-08 will shine. The heavy bullet selection for the 7mm-08 will be much better.

I rarely disagree with Carp, but in the hands of a youth that has not learned how to shoot animals yet...I find the 243 less than fine. I even find the 260 very marginal if not in the hands of an experienced elk hunter. Even in the 7-08 I think you really need to chose bullets and shot distance wisely. Especially if using short barreled youth guns! But it is a great little cartridge when matching bullet to the animal and situation properly.

Halo · « **Reply #8 on:** September 30, 2014, 06:50:37 PM »

Quote from: KFhunter on September 30, 2014, 05:45:59 PM

wouldn't mind finding a youth lefty in this caliber, might have to make one.

can't stand the axis, but Remington makes a 700 in youth left hand.

I hear Ruger is coming out with the same rifle I got but in a lefty in a few months.

Halo · « **Reply #9 on:** September 30, 2014, 07:00:31 PM »

A guy I work with got a 7mm-08 for his wife, small gal, compact rifle, short barrel, not sure what make & model but he was talking today about putting a muzzle brake on it, says it bucks up kinda bad and gave her scope eye last year. I tried the Hornady Lite recoil rounds tonight, a noticeable difference but the claimed 31% might be stretching it. Still a fair amount of recoil in a short light rifle, at least for someone not accustomed to recoil. Myself, I love the thing, feels lots better than my .338 Win Mag.

Dan-o · « **Reply #10 on:** September 30, 2014, 07:27:20 PM »

Hard to think of a deer or elk hunting situation where I'd rather have a 243 than a 7mm-08.

I am a huge fan of the 7mm-08, though, so my opinion is tainted.

h2ofowlr · « **Reply #11 on:** September 30, 2014, 08:04:33 PM »

In case I buy the .7mm-08 I ran across a decent deal on some Hornady American Whitetail loads. Picked up a few boxes of the 139 gr InterLocks. Anyone tried them?

Dan-o · « **Reply #12 on:** September 30, 2014, 08:16:09 PM »

They shoot nicely out of my daughter's 7mm-08.

We're going deer hunting with them this year. I can't imagine they won't do just fine.

Greenhorn · « **Reply #13 on:** September 30, 2014, 08:20:09 PM »

My son's first rifle was the 7mm-08 and he shot his first deer with it when he was 10. It is pretty light weight and very jumpy when you fire it. It is hard to keep on target. Very effective though. Now his favorite rifle is the 300 win mag.

doyourtime89 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 30, 2014, 09:01:47 PM »

What about if you were trying to pick a rifle for deer and coyote hunting. .243 or 7mm-08? I have a .300 win mag for elk and love it. I have thought about a .243 for a long time for deer and varmint. What are everyones thoughts for that?

huntnphool · « **Reply #15 on:** September 30, 2014, 10:15:58 PM »

You are welcome to try my daughters out Fowler, its a M77 Hawkeye Compact.

BOWHUNTER45 · « **Reply #16 on:** September 30, 2014, 10:18:13 PM »

Quote from: carpsniperg2 on September 30, 2014, 05:33:06 PM

While the 243 is fine for the elk. The 7mm-08 will shine. The heavy bullet selection for the 7mm-08 will be much better.

Hard to admit to that being a .243 lover but your right

headshot5 · « **Reply #17 on:** October 01, 2014, 06:27:46 AM »

I have used both on up to elk sized game. What I found was that the .243 requires better bullets (bonded/premium) to hold together well and penetrate on body shots at short range 100gr. The 7-08 however hasn't let me down using standard hornady interlocs in the 139gr weight. That being said my .260 is my favorite all around gun.

addicted · « **Reply #18 on:** October 01, 2014, 08:25:35 AM »

7-08 covers a sweet spot in ballistics without "skimping" on kill power like some would say about the 243 on bigger game. A 7-08 will do everything a 308 will just a bit flatter with the right circumstances.

Bought one for my wife for her first rifle and she has always enjoyed it.

idahohuntr · « **Reply #19 on:** October 01, 2014, 08:27:15 AM »

Quote from: addicted on October 01, 2014, 08:25:35 AM

7-08 covers a sweet spot in ballistics without "skimping" on kill power like some would say about the 243 on bigger game. A 7-08 will do everything a 308 will just a bit flatter with the right circumstances.

Bought one for my wife for her first rifle and she has always enjoyed it.

My wife loves hers!

Wenatcheejay · « **Reply #20 on:** October 01, 2014, 07:47:16 PM »

Quote from: KFhunter on September 30, 2014, 05:45:59 PM

wouldn't mind finding a youth lefty in this caliber, might have to make one.

can't stand the axis, but Remington makes a 700 in youth left hand.

I ordered a Remington 700 left handed youth for my daughter in 7mm-08. She loves it.

fly-by · « **Reply #21 on:** October 01, 2014, 08:19:22 PM »

These guys have a good deal on either one at $324.99:

http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/catalog/category/view/id/4398

h2ofowlr · « **Reply #22 on:** October 01, 2014, 11:04:53 PM »

I can get a Savage Axis for $299 in .7mm-08. I was also kind of eye balling a Tikka Compact "Youth", but it's $560 in .7mm-08. I don't like spending the extra, but I love my other Tikka rifles. I have a new Bushnell Banner in the box that I could throw on top of it. Hmm.

Or since I have one .243 get a second and I will be covered on ammo. Tough decision.

jasnt · « **Reply #23 on:** October 06, 2014, 08:56:51 PM »

Personally 243. Is my favorite cartage! But its had to beat the BC of those 7mm. If you go with the 243 you'll be able to buy just one kind of ammunition but if your a reloaded that's a nill point. Elk wont know weather its hit by a 243 or 7mm-08 or 308.

SeaRun1 · « **Reply #24 on:** October 06, 2014, 09:11:22 PM »

I have both but use the .243 for coyote. I just wanted to add to the 7mm-08 side. Everything I have loaded up for my two guns in that cartridge is accurate. It seems to be one of those cartridges that is easy to load for like the .204.

It's my favorite cartridge.

addicted · « **Reply #25 on:** October 08, 2014, 04:02:11 AM »

Quote from: Wenatcheejay on October 01, 2014, 07:47:16 PM

Quote from: KFhunter on September 30, 2014, 05:45:59 PM
wouldn't mind finding a youth lefty in this caliber, might have to make one.

can't stand the axis, but Remington makes a 700 in youth left hand.
I ordered a Remington 700 left handed youth for my daughter in 7mm-08. She loves it.

Why did you mount the scope so high?

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Author Topic: .243 vs. .7mm-08 (Read 6681 times)

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