#2020181 - 08/06/10 03:45 PM
Need Help on Youth Caliber!!!
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tn_hunter
4 Point
Registered: 09/08/09
Posts: 136
Loc: S.E.,TN
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I am looking to buy my daughter her first deer rifle and would like some advice on the best caliber to buy. I have narrowed it down to either a 243 or 7-08 in a youth rifle and have done alot of research and still can not make up my mind. I am leaning toward the 7-08 and loading up some reduced loads and later on regular loads where it will last her for a long time. I have never shot a 7-08 so I do not know what the felt recoil is to compare it to. On the other hand I know that many feel the 243 is a great deer caliber and the recoil is perfect, I just think it is on the small side for deer and could be less forgiving than the 7-08. I want to buy a rifle that she will be able to hunt with and not out grow in a few years. I would just like to see what everyones opinions are between the two calibers. Thanks for any and all of your help.
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A bad day hunting is better than a good day at work.
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#2020183 - 08/06/10 03:47 PM
Re: Need Help on Youth Caliber!!!
[Re: tn_hunter]
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bobthebowhunter
10 Point
Registered: 11/20/07
Posts: 2997
Loc: Knoxvegas
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I think the .243 is fine. I'm going to try with my .223 this year.
_________________________
"I have two guns....one for each of ya."
ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!!!
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
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#2020210 - 08/06/10 04:06 PM
Re: Need Help on Youth Caliber!!!
[Re: bobthebowhunter]
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wlf89
8 Point
Registered: 10/14/07
Posts: 1965
Loc: Lawrence County
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dont know nothing about the 7-08 but the 243 is a good deer rifle especially for kids
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#2020214 - 08/06/10 04:09 PM
Re: Need Help on Youth Caliber!!!
[Re: bobthebowhunter]
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Pursuit Hunter
8 Point
Registered: 10/01/08
Posts: 2084
Loc: Way out there
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My son killed a bunch of deer with the .243. None of 'em went far. My advice is that it is more about marksmanship than caliber, though. Start her off on targets with something that won't scare her like a .22. Worst thing you can do is start her flinching because she's scared of the rifle. Once she can shoot well, any centerfire cartidge will do just fine if the shot is good.
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#2020233 - 08/06/10 04:38 PM
Re: Need Help on Youth Caliber!!!
[Re: Pursuit Hunter]
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muddyboots
12 Point
Registered: 11/06/02
Posts: 5913
Loc: savannah, tn., usa
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7-08 and you are done for life. There is no telling how many deer i have shot with mine and i have owned alot of calibers and this one is king for whitetail deer.
_________________________
X Force is Bad!
Let em go and let em grow!
There is a difference in a turkey killer and a turkey hunter!
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#2020245 - 08/06/10 04:55 PM
Re: Need Help on Youth Caliber!!!
[Re: Gravey]
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Rowdy
14 Point
Registered: 12/25/07
Posts: 9377
Loc: ky lake
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7mm-08 if you reload, more versatile.
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Gone fish'n....be back for deer season
EARL PITTS is my HERO!
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#2020254 - 08/06/10 05:05 PM
Re: Need Help on Youth Caliber!!!
[Re: Rowdy]
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fishboy1
14 Point
Registered: 01/13/03
Posts: 9696
Loc: Warren Co
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7-08.
.243 is a good caliber BUT.... you have to use the proper bullet. If you use a light frangible bullet, good luck getting an exit wound. Not a big deal if shot placement is good/excellent but can be a tracking nightmare if not.
IMO you need one of the heavier for caliber bullets in the .243 for deer. No you don't have to shoot a 3" piece of rebar but no high velocity ballistic tips or hollow points in the lighter bullet weights. If you shoot factory loads, over half of the choices available are going to be marginal (too light or frangible) as a deer bullet. Yeah yeah....they will work, but leave you with little margin for error.
The 7-08 is a great caliber. Low recoil. Accurate. Good bullet selection. If you reload, you can tailor your loads across a wide spectrum of uses. Good factory rounds available for deer hunting if you don't reload.
_________________________
A gun in the hand is worth 2 cops on the phone. No one can name a single power the government has granted itself that hasn't been abused. Socialism is for losers http://amillerphotoevent.com
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#2020271 - 08/06/10 05:28 PM
Re: Need Help on Youth Caliber!!!
[Re: fishboy1]
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mr.big
Non-Typical
Registered: 01/03/01
Posts: 27931
Loc: Copper Head Road
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Ruger Hawkeye 257 Roberts,,,nicest new rifle I have seen in awhile and the 257 IMO would be the perfect deer caliber
and amen on the 22 practice,,JW and Ethan have gone through 17 boxes of the Federal 550 count bulk packs since Christmas,
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Tndeer`s resident poacher and desperate loser
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#2020318 - 08/06/10 06:29 PM
Re: Need Help on Youth Caliber!!!
[Re: mr.big]
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scn
12 Point
Registered: 02/05/03
Posts: 6946
Loc: Brentwood, TN US
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The Remington Model 7 also is a great youth rifle. I got one in .260 Rem. for my kids who didn't end up hunting. But, I have killed several deer with it. It would be one she could use a long time.
I think if I did it over I would get the 7mm.08 in that same rifle.
Edited by scn (08/06/10 09:48 PM)
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#2020360 - 08/06/10 07:39 PM
Re: Need Help on Youth Caliber!!!
[Re: scn]
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white65
Spike
Registered: 11/05/09
Posts: 33
Loc: Bradley county,TN
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my advice is tht if u know the shot she is going to take is 150 yards or less try a 30-30 i have killed two deer with my 30-30 and love it they are youth sized and the recoil is a small step above a .22 but the only problem is after 150-200 yards the bullet just dies. I am 16 years old and shot my dads 30-30 at 11 for first time and it was fine to me. but for something of more range i'd say the .243.
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#2020488 - 08/06/10 09:26 PM
Re: Need Help on Youth Caliber!!!
[Re: muddyboots]
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Boone 58
16 Point
Registered: 06/23/04
Posts: 13533
Loc: Food Plot
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X_2.....unless she is of real small frame and allready intimidated by recoil.....nothing is worth gun fear and if that is the case then go with the 243.
_________________________
Romans 10:9-13
NRA lifetime Mem & Crockett Friends of NRA
Hoyt Razor Tec
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Carpe Diem.
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#2020619 - 08/06/10 11:53 PM
Re: Need Help on Youth Caliber!!!
[Re: wlf89]
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stik
TnDeer Old Timer
16 Point
Registered: 03/12/99
Posts: 18419
Loc: lenoir city,tn
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dont know nothing about the 7-08 but the 243 is a good deer rifle especially for kids
i couldn't disagree more. i know lots of deer are killed every year by kids with the 243 but it is more of an experienced shooter's gun with little margin for error. the 7mm-08 is THE BEST light recoil youth round ever made.
_________________________
experienced hunters know its not just a bushy white tail, its a big middle finger.
nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught
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#2020622 - 08/06/10 11:57 PM
Re: Need Help on Youth Caliber!!!
[Re: stik]
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smstone22
16 Point
Registered: 01/11/04
Posts: 16257
Loc: Allardt, TN
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They are all good and they will all work with decent marksmanship and good bullet selection. If it was my kid, it would be a .260. I just like 6.5mm, use mine all the time.
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-QDM=Better Deer, Better Deer Hunting
- Fentress Roots 200 years and growing
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#2020632 - 08/07/10 12:22 AM
Re: Need Help on Youth Caliber!!!
[Re: scn]
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whitetailfreak
4 Point
Registered: 02/18/10
Posts: 177
Loc: SE TN
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Not sure how old your daughter is but, my son was six years old last year when he killed his first deer. I bought him a Remington youth model 700/.243. It has very little recoil. He uses the Federal 85 gr hollow points for a little extra help as far as devestation. The deer didn't run 20 yards and fell over. I also bought me a 7/08 in the same model. It has a little more recoil but it is not bad at all. (For a kid) I figure to let him graduate into this gun when he is ready. But the youth model is great when their small as far as the lenth of the stock goes.
_________________________
Hunt hard or go home.
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#2020636 - 08/07/10 12:27 AM
Re: Need Help on Youth Caliber!!!
[Re: whitetailfreak]
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Beekeeper
Good ol' Boys "Team Buckcreek"
16 Point
Registered: 08/26/09
Posts: 10933
Loc: McMinn Co. Tennessee
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Where I usually hunt is very thick so I started my nephews out with a Ruger .44 mag. The gun was short enough to be confortable for them and it had plenty of knock down.
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Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
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#2020637 - 08/07/10 12:33 AM
Re: Need Help on Youth Caliber!!!
[Re: whitetailfreak]
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whitetailfreak
4 Point
Registered: 02/18/10
Posts: 177
Loc: SE TN
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Another thing buy a quality gun. I sighted my friends sons single shot.243 in last year and it kicked pretty bad. And im a pretty good size fella. Think it was a NE Firearm but not sure.
_________________________
Hunt hard or go home.
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#2021304 - 08/07/10 08:52 PM
Re: Need Help on Youth Caliber!!!
[Re: plinker22]
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arctic_cat
8 Point
Registered: 11/18/08
Posts: 1943
Loc: Lenoir City,Tn
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I traded a sks for a rossi 243 for my wife to shoot and it had more recoil then my 30-06. sold it fast and just let here use my gun. As far as little kids we let 2 of my nephews use our 30-06 and let them shoot the remington managed recoil shells for a season
Edited by arctic_cat (08/07/10 09:15 PM)
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WHEN YOU LOSE SOMEONE YOU LOVE, YOU GAIN AN ANGEL YOU KNOW
MEMORIES, IT'S THE ONLY THING THAT CAN NEVER BE TAKEN AWAY.
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#2022495 - 08/08/10 10:00 PM
Re: Need Help on Youth Caliber!!!
[Re: plinker22]
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Boone 58
16 Point
Registered: 06/23/04
Posts: 13533
Loc: Food Plot
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Awesome!
_________________________
Romans 10:9-13
NRA lifetime Mem & Crockett Friends of NRA
Hoyt Razor Tec
CVA Accura V2 Nikon BM BDC 3x9x40
Winchester Mod 70 Weather SS 270 WSM
Nikon Monarch 3x12x42SF
Carpe Diem.
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#2022623 - 08/09/10 01:15 AM
Re: Need Help on Youth Caliber!!!
[Re: Boone 58]
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longaction
Button
Registered: 01/02/10
Posts: 4
Loc: southern middle Tn
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another vote for the 7-08, just got one for my eight year old girl. Aready have a limbsaver recoil pad for it, may have to put a brake on it and bring some hearing protection.
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#2022738 - 08/09/10 08:19 AM
Re: Need Help on Youth Caliber!!!
[Re: longaction]
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BowGuy84
10 Point
Registered: 09/16/07
Posts: 4847
Loc: Nashville, TN and Louisville, ...
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Lots of good options and a ton of deer have been killed with a 243 but I agree with stik it is more of an expert round. For youth Id look at as many have mentioned:
7-08, 260, 30-30 (what I got my younger brother) or if they are a little older/bigger IMO one of the best whitetail rounds around and what I shoot 25-06. All of these caliber bullet selection is key. 120 in 260, 115 ballistic tip in 25-06, 170 hollow point in 30-30
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#2022772 - 08/09/10 08:46 AM
Re: Need Help on Youth Caliber!!!
[Re: scn]
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Winchester
Non-Typical
Registered: 12/05/03
Posts: 25229
Loc: TN
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From my personal experience and 2 kids that love to hunt, the .243 gets the nod 100% Its a super accurate caliber and ammo is easily found in a wide array of bullet choices and loads.
Recoil is almost non existent in a good gun, and the choices of gun types is great as well. Its also a super performer on deer, with a great range of distance as the kids get more comfortable with longer shots. I/we have had nothing short of super results from ours and my oldest son who has since moved up to a .308, still likes to carry his little .243, due to the super amount of confidence he has built up in it over the years, and trust me it is far from an expert that can have great success with one, just ask my kids!  Even if I didnt have kids I would still have a place in my safe for a good lil .243 which is a blast to shoot, and with its top notch accuracy serves the purpose in many situations! I have worked up loads and sighted in a couple of 7m08's over the years for friends, and hands down its the .243 every time for me!
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#2023009 - 08/09/10 11:31 AM
Re: Need Help on Youth Caliber!!!
[Re: Winchester]
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fishboy1
14 Point
Registered: 01/13/03
Posts: 9696
Loc: Warren Co
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30-30 is a good gun as well BUT>...mine only likes the heavier bullets 170gr minimum for good accuracy.
That means more recoil. The 150gr seems to recoil about half as much but it shoots 9" groups in my gun. 
Have a buddy who loves the .243 neck shoots almost all his deer. Had a Hoss at 60yds in a foodplot and decided to take the behind the shoulder shot. Deer ran and the blood trail peetered out in about 40 yds. Never found it.
He was using a hollow point that was too fragile and it most likely broke up. When he didn't get an exit on a 45yd neck shot, thats when we figured out that his bullet choice was better suited for varmints.
Since then he switched to coreloks in a heavier bullet and hasn't had a problem but the gun recoils a little more than it did.
_________________________
A gun in the hand is worth 2 cops on the phone. No one can name a single power the government has granted itself that hasn't been abused. Socialism is for losers http://amillerphotoevent.com
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#2023023 - 08/09/10 11:38 AM
Re: Need Help on Youth Caliber!!!
[Re: fishboy1]
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Hillbilly Hunter
Killbilly
16 Point
Registered: 07/15/05
Posts: 16982
Loc: Branchville
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I like the 7mm-08
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