#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.
_________________________
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: 1973
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: 5920
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.
_________________________
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: 9715
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,
_________________________
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: 6979
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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