7mm-08 Youth Questions

[paul63]

Hello. This is my first time to post anything here, but I have been reading the comments for a few weeks. I'm looking for info & comments about the Handi 7mm-08. I'm seriously considering getting a youth model for my wife. From the postings here I realize most for you shoot on a range, but we shoot in the woods. I need a rifle that can put a round in a paper plate at 100yds. It doesn't need to group 3/4", just put a bullet in the vitals of a whitetail. Will the Handi 7mm-08 do this? Where we hunt a 100yd shoot is consided a long shot. Any info will be appreciated, Thanks.

[BBF]

If  you shoot within 100 yards why not a Handi in 30-30Win or a 44 Rem Mag instead. The stock can always be cut back to fit the wife or I presume you can get an extra youth stock.

[quickdtoo]

45-70 Govt makes a good point, the youth 7mm-08 has a standard contour 22" barrel, the stock is just a bit shorter, so any centerfire chambering H&R makes above .22 cal would be good medicine to 100yds, the 30-30, 357mag, (44mag 2007 or later) would all have light recoil and are good shooters. Wood stocks are easy to cut down, syn not so easy, or just get the youth stock from H&R or here in the classifieds.

And welcome to GBO!!

Tim

[EVOC ONE]

Hello and Welcome.

While I agree with the others suggestions, the 7mm-08 will meet your requirements just fine.   I've had one and have shot another.  Each grouped well within a pie plate at 100 yards with no modifications. 

My .30-30 Handi also grouped very well out of the box with no modifications.  I've shot nothing but Remington Core Loct 150's in it.  I like it so much that I bought a second one.  Th .30-30 offers very mild recoil.  Additionally, .30-30 ammo is of the least expensive rifle ammo available and is found most places where ammo can be purchased.  It doesn't get much easier than that.   

 

[paul63]

I really appreciate the feedback. I have to get her something with a light recoil, because she had shoulder surgery & it's sensitive. She wanted a 243, but I've been reading the comments about 243 accuracy issues with Handi & Rossi rifles. I've never had any dealings with these single shot rifles before, that's why I'm getting your comments. Academy has the Handi Youth for $275 w/scope & sling & I know someone w/ a FFL that can get it for $230. Is this a good price on these rifles?

[coyotejoe]

If she wants a .243 I'd get her one, she won't be happy with anything else, even though you may patiently explain "this is even better". The "accuracy issues with the .243" mainly involve the superlite models and even at their worst they'll still drill a pie plate out to 100 yards. I was pretty disappointed with the .243 superlite I got for the wife but groups were no worse than 4" at 100 and after some tinkering with rifle and loads I've gotten it down to a bit over 2". That is still disappointing to a dedicated shooter but realistically it is way better than she will ever shoot under actual hunting conditions. I agree with others who recommend the 30/30, that is my personal deer rifle in an old Savage 219 singleshot but the 30/30 with 150 grain loads does produce noticeably more recoil than a .243 with 85-90 grain loads.

[snmann]

I own 7mm-08 &  30-30 Handi's.  You really can't tell the difference in the recoil with either.  My 30-30 is a tack driver.  Much tighter groups that the 7mm-08.  Historically, a rimmed cartridge performs better in a Handi, plus 30-30 ammo is 1/3 the cost of 7mm-08.  Remington makes reduced recoil ammo that they claim is 1/2 the recoil of a traditional round.  They claim felt recoil on their .270 ammo is equal to a regular .243.  If you are shooting a little farther, Hornady makes a pointed 30-30 bullet that will reach out to 200 yards.

http://www.remington.com/products/ammunition/centerfire/managed-Recoil.asp

I believe a .243 in the hands of a skilled hunter is an excellent deer round.  I wouldn't put in the hands of a young or inexperienced hunter because shot placement is so critical.

just my $.02

[paul63]

Personally I have always likes a 30-30. When I was growing up a 30-30 was the "Mac-Daddy" of deer rifles, but over the years they seem to have fallen out of favor. At least here in Louisiana & I never see single shot rifles around here, except for muzzleloaders. The thing that I can't figure out is, people will hunt with muzzleloader, but not a single shot rifle. Their reason being is that you can't get off a 2nd shot fast enough. How long does it take to reload a ss rifle? 10-15sec? Compare that to a ml, which could take 30sec-1min. If the shooter is good! On top of all that, how many times do you get a 2nd shot at a deer? Sorry about my rant, I get like this when stupidity over rides common sense.

Back to the subject at hand. Snmann is right, with a 243 placement is everything. That's why I was thinking about a 7mm-08. It has a little more knock-down to it. My wife has taken several deer, including a nice 8pt, but she still gets a little "buck fever" & sometimes her placement is a little off.

[Steve P]

Get her the 7-08 and explain to her that it is a .243 necked up to 7mm.  (.243 vs .284)  This minor modification makes the barrel and thus the gun just a little bit lighter for her to manage.  You can even take her to the store and show her that .243 and 7-08 ammo look the same, but one has a little bigger bullet.  She wont know the difference!!

7-08 will put all shots into 9" plate with open sights at 100 yards.

Good luck.

Steve 

[Swampman]

If pie plate accuracy at 100 yards is all you need then the 7mm-08 or the .243 will work fine.  Personally I'd much rather have the .30-30.  It's much more accurate, cheaper to shoot, and functions better in the Handi Rifle.

[BBF]

It will come down to what the wife wants. Is she really set on a 7mm08 then that is what you will need to get or get grief.

 Most women don't care much for the numbers game. Is the rifle pretty and how much does it kick me is probably on top of the list. Next would be  will it work on whatever I shoot at.

[paul63]

She just wanted a 243 because of the light recoil. Before her surgery she would shoot anything, she even shot my Barrett .50 before I sold it. She's good with a 7mm-08, she just wasn't aware of that caliber. All she ever heard of was a 7mm Mag. I work with a guy that has a FFL & can get a Handi 7mm-08 for $229.