.243 vs 7mm-08

[helomech]

Originally Posted by CentralMA_Titan

I forgot to mention, Howa has some youth models as well. I think
you can get a 7mm-08 Ultralight (around 6 lbs with a scope) for around $400. It has an adjustable trigger - not sure if the Remington does and a 20" barrel. So it should be easy for your son to carry and handle.

I have never owned or shot a Howa, so I can't comment on accuracy. Perhaps someone else can?

I forgot about them, my friend has a howa .308 heavy barrel and he loves it.

[Shane06fl]

Helo it's good to get your young son shooting but please don't scare him away from recoil, if you do it now then it can effect him for a long time. Even a .243 is stout and sharp.

IMO the .243 is not a good deer cartridge and if it is used it should only be used by experts. There is little room for error unlike a bigger caliber, not saying you should take gut shots with a 30.06 if that is the only shot you have, you get the picture. I would rather see a young kid using a 30-30 with a rest out of a box blind than a .243. I have seen way to many deer lost after being shot by kids and seasoned adults using a .243.

I started my son shooting .22's then reduced load .44 Rem Mag out of a Marlin 1894 lever gun. He soon was shooting full loads with 240gr bullets. He then sharted shooting a Marlin 336 in .35Rem with reduced loads and 200gr bullets. At 8yrs old he used the .35 rem to take two deer, he did use a rest but recoil was managable for him. At 13 he is stepping up to a .270WSM with my hand loads with 130gr bullets and reduced charge. It's shooting very well, accurate and with plenty of energy for 100-150 yard hunting but most of his shooting will be done with in 50 yards. The Marlin .44 is awsome!! It's light, small and you can shoot 180gr-200gr slugs for practice. You can put a compact low powered scope on it and with in 100 yards the .44 will make a nasty would even on a bad shot (been there done that) that a deer won't go far. Not to mention the .44 will reak havoc on hogs. BTW the newer Marlin 1894 .44 Rem Mag will shoot .44 Special's, my older one will not cycle them.

But like was mentioned before a .308 or 30.06 with reduced loads are more than plenty for deer hunting with in a 9yr old shooting abilities.

I would buy a bolt gun with a 21'' barrel full grown model. Then buy a youth stock to fit it. When you son grows you can swap out stocks.That is pretty much all a youth rifle is. My Browning .270WSM is a youth model and the stock is only 2'' shorter than a full grown model. I also recomend the LimbSaver recoil pad, the absolute best recoil pad I have ever used.

For me it's more important to have them in the woods learning about hunting, gun safety during hunting and hanging out with Dad than the actual shooting. Of course these are my opinions and I did grow up bias with the thinking and teaching's that bigger is better and I still favor some of those feelings.

[tnbowhunter]

I've owned them both and have killed many deer with both chamberings. I also shoot and own a 260 which is also based on the 308 case.

Recoil wise the 243 will have a little less recoil if you shoot lighter weight [read varmint] bullets. It would be an excellent caliber for your son to practice with using these lighter weight bullets particularly in the 55-70 grain range. It would be an easy matter to step up to a hunting weight bullet [95-105 gr] when deer season rolls around. I can guarantee he will never feel the increase in recoil shooting at a deer or other game. That said I think the 7mm-08 or the 260 is a better over all caliber because you will get a little more penetration and a bigger wound channel on a marginal hit.

Any of the three will kill a deer, especially the size deer that you and I hunt [probably way under 150lbs] with a well placed bullet. If I were hunting deer out to 200+ lbs. I would choose the 7mm-08 or the 260 hands down over the 243 just because you can shoot a heavier bullet.

My daughter and wife both killed their first deer with a 243 in a Remington Mdl. 7. The Mdl. 7 wouldn't be my first choice for a long range rifle because of the short barrel but it is still good out to 100+ yards. My daughter still shoots the 243 but my wife now uses the 260 which is also a Rem. Mdl. 7. The Mdl. 7 also comes in a youth size and all you have to do when your son grows would be to switch the stock out for a regular size stock.

[helomech]

Thanks guys. I will probably get him the 7mm-08. He is only 9, but he doesn't mind recoil as much as my older son. He is the kind that if it is fun he will do it even if it hurts. Not that I want the gun to hurt him. The adult gun with the youth stock is a great idea that I never thought of.

[bestatchess]

Keep in mind that a lightweight rifle, although easier to carry, kicks harder than the same load in a heavier rifle.

[llajumpvid]

I'll add my 0.02 cents. I grew up hunting at a young age and the rifle I shot my first deer with is still my favorite. It was a 243 Remington Mohawk. It is a very short rifle with something like a 18" barrel, short trigger pull and had a moderate kick. It was very easy to balance from a standing position with nothing to lean on when I was probably no more than 5' tall and 100lbs. I don't see them very often and when I do they want a couple hundred more than what we bought the gun for in the 70's which tells you they are still a sought after rifle.

Here is a good discussion on the subject http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/cgi-bin/...c;f=1;t=016217