NE Hunter

I've never fired the 7mm-08 but it's supposed to be about the same as the .243 recoil wise. If all you are going t hunt is deer then the .243 is all you need.If you're thinking bear (black) then I'd go with the 7mm-08.

I've seen that argument before and I don't know where it came from get a .243 for the youth now and get him something larger when he's older ... if he .243 kills ( and it will) deer when he's 10 it will still when he's _______ ( you fill in the blank)

bow98

I purchased my son a 7mm 08 to start hunting with at 12...He is now 15 and has had 3 sucessful years . He wouldn't part with it if I payed him . I am so impressed with this "little" gun that when he had to go to school and I was off work I carried his gun . ( with his permission of course . ) I am considering buying another for myself .

Todd1700

Well they are both based on a necked down 308 hull. The 243 will shoot a little flatter (not much flatter however) but only because the heaviest bullet weight for it will be 100 grs compared to about a 140 gr bullet for the 7mm-08. But the 7mm-08 is by far the more powerful and deadly whitetail gun and will kill black bear and even elk with the right bullet. And it does this without knocking your shoulder out of joint. In fact with a good recoil pad its really not much worse than a 243. Remington also makes a 120 gr hollow point in 7mm08 that will make a 7mm08 a very flat shooter and is perfect for coyotes and other varmits. Heres a comparison chart. The top line in each category is a 100 gr 243, the second a 120 gr 7mm08 and the third a 140 gr 7mm08.

PRINTER FRIENDLY

Index No. Cartridge Type Wt. (grs) Bullet Style Primer No. Ballistic Coefficient
243 Remington Express 100 Pointed Soft Point Core-Lokt® 9 1/2 0.356
7M08 Remington Express 120 Hollow Point 9 1/2 0.343
7M08 Remington Express 140 Pointed Soft Point Core-Lokt® 9 1/2 0.39

VELOCITY (ft/sec)
Cartridge Type Bullet Muzzle 100 200 300 400 500
Remington Express 100 PSP CL 2960 2697 2449 2215 1993 1786
Remington Express 120 HP 3000 2725 2467 2223 1992 1778
Remington ExpressC 140 PSP 2860 2625 2402 2189 1988 1798

ENERGY (ft-lbs)
Cartridge Type Bullet Muzzle 100 200 300 400 500
Remington Express 100 PSP CL 1945 1615 1332 1089 882 708
Remington Express 120 HP 2398 1979 1621 1316 1058 842
Remington Express 140 PSP CL 2542 2142 1793 1490 1228 1005

SHORT-RANGE¹ TRAJECTORY*
Cartridge Type Bullet 50 100 150 200 250 300
Remington Express 100 PSP CL 0.1 0.7 zero -2 - 5.4 -10.4
Remington Express 120 HP 0.1 0.6 zero-1.9-5.3 -10.2
Remington Express 140 PSP CL 0.2 0.7 zero -2.1 -5.7 -11

LONG-RANGE² TRAJECTORY*
Cartridge Type Bullet 100 150 200 250 300 400 500
Remington Express 100 PSP CL 1.6 1.5 zero -2.9 -7.5 -22.1 -45.4
Remington Express 120 HP 1.6 1.4 zero -2.9 -7.3 -21.7 -44.9
Remington Express 140 PSP CL 1.8 1.6 zero -3.1 -7.8 -22.9 -46.8

AJ008

I'd go with a .308. My dad has had one for 30 years and its the only rifle he owns and its killed many elk, deer and antelope. I bought a .308 last year and shot my first antelope with it and that boy droped so fast! Then right after that i dropped one of the buck's does (i had two tags). And i shot my first buck with a rifle with a .308 (i mostly bow hunt).
The .308 is like a 7mm/08 but from what i heard the .308 is better. The .270 will drop a moose and an elk with ease.
The .243 is a good caliber, but out here in Montana it wouldnt get much use sept for deer, coyotes and pronghorn. Wich might be good if thats all you hunt but i wouldnt even think of shooting an elk or a moose with one.

Buckshot

Dont over look the .260, recoil at .243 level and ballisics aproaching 7-08. Bought the wife a model 7 youth in .260 a few years ago, heck I use it more than her, short little rifle and cartridge, Ive shot deer all the way out to 300 yards with it. Very sweet outfit.