7mm-08 vs. .243 ?

[MUP]

I've never shot a 7mm-08, so can someone tell me which would have more recoil? My daughter, age 8 has shot a .243 before just fine, but I've got a chance at a 7mm-08 youth rifle that I'm considering now. Thanks in advance!

 

[TiminTN]

Remington makes what they call Managed Recoil ammunition for the 7mm/08. Much softer kick. Its a much better killer and more humane on the whitetail.

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

7mm/08 is very mild load as far as recoil anyway. I wouldn't hesitate one bit to stick it in the hands of any child.

 

[Rubberduck270]

That's what the misses shoots now. Her youngest sister hunted with it several times when I took her on her first few juvenile hunts. Think she was 9 first time we went.

It's a Remington Model 7 youth. Short barrel so it's pretty loud but recoil is very mild.

 

[mike243]

Im thinking 3-4 more lbs of kick depending on bullet weight.most
Of the factory #s give the edge to the 243 at a distance

 

[muddyboots]

I personally use a 7/08 and i wouldnt take 10 .243s for it. JMO. Kick is not much at all but the barrell does jump.

 

[KPH]

I have seen a chart somewhere on recoil. I bet if she can handle the 243 she can the 7mm-08.

 

[BlountArrow]

I guess I have to be the lone pup here and disagree. I have a Model 7, synthetic/ss version in 7mm-08 and in that light weight gun it has some bite. It's not bad for an adult but personally I would not even think of putting it in the hands of an 8 year old. Agree w/Muddyboots it has some jump too. I'd stick with the .243 for a good while. You don't want to scare her or start making her flinch.

 

[Hardwoodmaterials]

If you can get the 7mm-08 at a good price go ahead and get it. If you think it might be a little too much recoil for your young'un just slap a slip on Limbsaver pad on it. My wife has a T/C Venture in 7mm-08 and the recoil's not bad at all.

 

[BlountArrow]

If you can get the 7mm-08 at a good price go ahead and get it. If you think it might be a little too much recoil for your young'un just slap a slip on Limbsaver pad on it. My wife has a T/C Venture in 7mm-08 and the recoil's not bad at all.

Only problem with a slip-on recoil pad is that you just increased the length of pull on a youth rifle 1-1/2 to 2" and that makes a big difference for short arms.

 

[Hardwoodmaterials]

Take the screws out of the butt plate and remove the original pad if the Limbsaver makes the gun too long. The gun should end up close to the original length with the Limbsaver then. I had to do that with my wifes shotgun.

 

[7mminatree]

Stick with the .243 for little one. The 7-08 is a fine cartridge and doesn't have much kick in a 7 or 8 pound rifle, but a light weight rifle could give her the scope eye. The .243 will get the job done.

 

[BlountArrow]

Stick with the .243 for little one. The 7-08 is a fine cartridge and doesn't have much kick in a 7 or 8 pound rifle, but a light weight rifle could give her the scope eye. The .243 will get the job done.

X2

 

[Kimberman]

Split the difference and get a .260.

 

[ImThere]

I Think about the same and include the 308 in there 25.06 for that matter with comparable grain bullets im not sure one would notice the difference

 

[Rackseeker]

My daughters have been shooting a 7-08 since they were 9 years old. With Hornady 139 sst ammo.

 

[W.Seay]

My 45 pound son shoots the Remington 700 in 7/08 with the reduced recoil and loves it definitely go with the 7/08. It's a gun they can shoot for thru adulthood! I was in the exact same situation and I'm soo glad we went with the 7/08 over the 243! I put a zeiss conquest 3x9x40 and a limbsaver recoil pad. As I said he loves it and it's Much more versatile than a 243 will ever think of being!

 

[mike243]

i will put a 243 up against a 08 any day of the week for recoil & accuracy.anderson county bring it lol

 

[W.Seay]

7/08 can shoot a much bigger round which is definitely an advantage as well as making it much more versatile

 

[Deer Assassin]

Remington makes what they call Managed Recoil ammunition for the 7mm/08. Much softer kick. Its a much better killer and more humane on the whitetail.

to say the least hands down 7/08

 

[Deer Assassin]

Split the difference and get a .260.

as long as it is a rem 700 it would be a good choice if he reloads

 

[reloadxx]

243
i have 4 people in my house that use a 243 and one of them is my 8 year old very little recoil. cant say much about the 7/08 never had one of them

 

[mike243]

http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm

 

[W.Seay]

Remington makes what they call Managed Recoil ammunition for the 7mm/08. Much softer kick. Its a much better killer and more humane on the whitetail.

to say the least hands down 7/08

X2!!

 

[knightrider]

Remington makes what they call Managed Recoil ammunition for the 7mm/08. Much softer kick. Its a much better killer and more humane on the whitetail.

what a crude and pitiful statement. how is it a better killer dead is dead, how can one be more humane than the other? ive killed a tracto and trailer load of derr with a 243 with core lokt bullets(yes the ole cheapies) and can only think of two that have run over 40 yards and that was my fault.

 

[DaveB]

243 has less recoil than 7/08, we have both and handload for both. The 7/08 shooting 120 grain pills has very little felt recoil. At 140 grains, it is a bit more, you can tell the difference. The 243 shooting a 90 grain factory round has very little recoil. Long term, the 7/08 is a much better investment as bullet weight goes far beyond what the 243 can shoot.

Thing is, at the age we are talking, I would positively go with the 243, 90 grain bullets, and a recoil pad that did not effect the length of pull. And ear plugs even in the field. At that age, a single round without hearing protection can have lifelong impacts.

 

[AllOutdoors]

My son and daughter both started with a 7-08 at age seven. They have killed lots of deer with it. I have killed a few with the 708 as well. I currently own 3. I like the 260 as well. I have used 243 in the past. I feel the 708 in much more versatile.

 

[Deer Assassin]

im sorry 243 is a terrible round

243 has less recoil than 7/08, we have both and handload for both.

Thing is, at the age we are talking, I would positively go with the 243, 90 grain bullets,

recoil is subjective and determined by several factors to include the weight of the rifle as well

a 90 gn 243 is not going to have an advantage over a 120 Nosler BT at 2700 fps in recoil certainly not when it comes to performance



I have killed several upon several, my son his friends, my friend with neck injuries (AC HUNTER) and i assure you they will tell you

120 gn 7/08 NBT loaded 2725 fps- 2775 fps

han no recoil and deadly
I have killed a deer 207 lbs live weight at 280 yds with this load he never took a step

i used to load a 140 hot nosler partition load for when my son wasnt hunting i got tired of switching the setting on the scope so i used my youth load


heck if recoil is such an issue id use a .223 or .22 250
rather than a 243

 

[Deer Assassin]

but for the record

a 243 will kill deer fine i have seen roger crappie luck kill them all day long with his 243

i just have no use for this round

 

[Model70Man]

243 is one heck of a cartridge that doesn't get the recognition it deserves. Thousands of people elk hunt with a 243 every year and have no problems at all killing them dead in their track's.