7mm-08 or .243

[Deerhunter#1]

what are your thought on a better deer gun. 7mm-08 using 120 grain bullets such as the sierra pro hunter or the .243 with core lokt 100 grains and why?

[longwinters]

I've had both cals and still have the 7m-08.  It will give you a much wider range of bullets and weights.  Also a wider range of animals that can be hunted.  The 243 is a great cal but even with deer I would not take anything but a broadside or slightly quartering away shot, while the 7m-08 with the 120 is good for quartering towards shots also.  The 120 BT by Nosler is a great bullet to go with in this cal.

Long

[cole k]

7/08 all the way. Why? I like bigger and heavier bullets. Anb they maker bigger holes.

[Deerhunter#1]

I quess my concern is the sectional density of the 120 grain 08 bullet. I think it is like .215 and just wonder about how well it will penetrate.

[bubba]

I have loaded many 120 sierra pro hunters.  They do a geat job.  130 are available also

[Coyote Hunter]

I quess my concern is the sectional density of the 120 grain 08 bullet. I think it is like .215 and just wonder about how well it will penetrate.

Most manufacturers load 140 grains as well and Federal goes to 150 grains in the 7mm-08.

A Hornady Superformance 139g in the 7mm-08 has the same energy at 500 yards that their 95g .243 Superformance laods have at 300.

For my money, its the 7mm-08 all the way for a deer getter. The 7mm-08 will do elk quite nicely as well.  If you want a dual use (varmint/deer) rifle the .243 is probably the better choice.

[roper]

what are your thought on a better deer gun. 7mm-08 using 120 grain bullets such as the sierra pro hunter or the .243 with core lokt 100 grains and why?

I got my 243 in 1965 15yrs before the 7-08 came out and took alot of Calif deer (blacktail) with that rifle never had a problem. I've shot afew deer with various 7mm never have with a 7-08 mine was more for varmits/target shooting.

I like the heavier bullets for deer so 145gr/150gr for the 7-08 would be my choice.  good luck

[nomosendero]

I quess my concern is the sectional density of the 120 grain 08 bullet. I think it is like .215 and just wonder about how well it will penetrate.

Most manufacturers load 140 grains as well and Federal goes to 150 grains in the 7mm-08.

A Hornady Superformance 139g in the 7mm-08 has the same energy at 500 yards that their 95g .243 Superformance laods have at 300.

For my money, its the 7mm-08 all the way for a deer getter. The 7mm-08 will do elk quite nicely as well.  If you want a dual use (varmint/deer) rifle the .243 is probably the better choice.

I couldn't agree more. As stated, the other uses for the gun, if any,will help make the choice. but as a "just for Deer" rifle the 7-08 would be the right choice, in fact one of the best choices for a Deer rifle period.

[AtlLaw]

I agree with everyone else!     I'm really fond of my M7 7/08.  Deer ain't!   

[Deerhunter#1]

Thanks for all the replies. As mentioned I have a .243 but also a .270. I got the 7mm08 but after loading it with 140 grain bullets it relatively has the same recoil as the 270 with 130 grain bullets. The 08 from what I was told was only slighter higher in recoil then the 243 but I think it is a big difference from the 243. Im not recoil sensative and shoot my 270 well. Wanted a caliber in between the two which is why I was wondering about the 120 grain bullets as it might make the recoil a little less and give me something different then i already have.

[Graybeard]

Given that choice I'd go with the 7-08 hands down but NOT with 120 grain bullets. I've always stuck with 139/140 grain bullets for deer hunting. It is perhaps my all time favorite deer round and as far as I'm concerned is as perfect a choice as it gets.

I've loaded a lot of ammo for the round and hunted with it as well using both Hornady 139 and Nosler 140 BTs and taken deer with both. I began using Remington factory 140s when no one else even made ammo for it. I bought one of the early 18.5" barrel Model Seven guns shortly after they came out with it. We still have that rifle it now belongs to my wife. I hunted with it for years then our oldest son Bobby used it and then it became Faye's. It has never missed on game and never required a second shot on any game taken with it and that's white tail deer, exotics, hogs and even a feral goat that came by my stand a long long time ago.

My current favorite load is the Hornady Light Mag 139 SP and is all I use for hunting these days. Since they've changed to the Super Performance load I guess if I ever run out of the LM load I'll have to go to that. I have a large stock pile tho so won't be running out soon.

[2ndtimer]

what are your thought on a better deer gun. 7mm-08 using 120 grain bullets such as the sierra pro hunter or the .243 with core lokt 100 grains and why?

If you are talking deer only, then there is no argument that the 7-08 offers bigger heavier bullets and more energy.  But if one also wants to shoot varmints most of the time and deer once in a while, there can be an argument made on behalf of the .243.  I had a 7mm-08 in a Winchester Lightweight Carbine with 20" barrel and found it recoiled noticeably more than the .243's I have had.  Even with 100 gr max loads the .243 recoil is very tolerable.  Max loads with a 140 gr bullet in a lightweight 7-08 can be a little snappy.  I love the .243 Win., have 2 of them.  Enjoy shooting them off the bench, believe they are adequate for deer loaded with a 95 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip, 100 gr Solid Base or 100 gr Partition at 2900 to 3100 fps.  Just need to resist temptation for really long shots, get within 300 yards (the closer, the better!)  Although, I will admit I plan to rebarrel my Stevens 200 in .243 to the .260 Remington once I shoot the factory barrel out.  Probably will take a couple of years of whacking rock chucks and prairie dogs.

[rickt300]

I like em both for deer and generally it would take a pretty tough shot angle to make a lot of difference where one would show superiority over the other.  In my area the large numbers of over 300 pound feral hogs makes the 7x57 or 7-08 a much better hunting round.

[TLARbb]

The .243 is an adequate deer cartridge to 300 yds.  The 7mm-08 is good to 500 yds or more if you can hit one that far.  For a deer rifle, it is 7mm-08 all the way. - EJ

[ratherbefishin]

if you are deer hunting and happen upon a black bear I'd rather have the 7-08 than the 243,course I pack a 6.5x55 swede exclusively for deer.The 243 will do the job but the bigger caliber gives you a bit more edge

[cole k]

Deerhunter#1

I think you need to look at a .250 Savage, .257 Roberts or a .25-06.

.25 cal bullet   BC
100 gr      .216
110 gr      .238
115 gr      .249
120 gr      .260

I have or have owned rifles chambered these three of these cartridges.
I've killed deer with the 100 gr bullets but preffer 110's or heavier.
I gave my .250 Savage to my grandson because of the 3 it had the least recoil.
The .25-06 has the most recoil of the 3, but the recoil is less than a .270 Win.
The recoil of my .257 Roberts is about like your .243. No muzzel jump. You can the bullet impact.

[mannyrock]

    The answer to your question, as to a deer caliber that is "in-between" as far as recoil, is very very simple.  It is the 6.5 Swede all the way.  Tremendous killing power.  Very low recoil.

   

[WillieC]

I think all that could be said about the .243 and 7mm-08 have been said for the most part.  7mm-08 preferable for deer and .243 winchester if varmiting/target practice is going to be a considerable amount of your shooting.  I am biased however and believe the .25-06 (doesn't everyone have an opinion?) is a better choice if your are 50/50 on deer and varmit hunting.  For deer the 120gr 25-06 has an SD of .260, loaded at 3000FPS it will should flatter/faster than a 120 or 140grain 7mm-08 round.  The BC's on a lot of the .257 caliber bullets are inferior to most of the .284 (7mm) caliber bullets however.  Speer does make the "Deep Curl" .257 caliber 120 grain bullet with a BC of .462 (not bad at all) and berger makes a .257 caliber bullet 115 grain with a BC of .466.  If you look at Chuck Hawk's rifle recoil table http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm (though the table isn't perfect---but neither am I) you'll see very little difference in recoil between the 7mm-08 120gr and 140gr factory loads (probably almost imperceptible).  Also on that same chart the 25-06 recoil is almost identical in a comparable weighted rifle.  The point is moot though probably if you are shooting a bolt action and enjoying the advantages of the short action.  But if you are a "handy junky" long or short actions are irrelevant.  Either way if I went hunting with a .243, 25-06, or a 7mm-08 with a "zeroed" rifle, the appropriate ammunition, and good marksmanship critters will be dispatched both large and small.  Heck, I'll take one of each.....that is if my wife would let me!  Better just keep my 25-06 and my mouth shut for now. Cheers

[ratherbefishin]

yup-my milsurp 6.5x55 swede has dropped over 30 blacktails,all one shot kills and nothing went farther than 20 yards,couple of black bears too-hit them on the point of the shoulder broadside and they put their nose in the dirt.And thats with regular ''Century'' 139 gr ammunition too.It can shoot accurately  way farther than I can shoot.Am I biased?-you bet I am...

[deerandduck]

Having guns in both calibers, I like them both.  However, I really like the 7mm-08 better.  It seems to make a better hole in and out of any whitetail.  BTW, I use a 120 gr Sierra (for one 7mm08) and use a 140 Sierra for another 7mm08.  Both work real well.  The 120 gr load has killed many deer with no problems at all.  I can tell no real difference between the two.
However, one caliber you might want to consider is the 260 Remington.  Its real similiar to the 6.5x55.  I've heard very good performance with a 120 gr on deer, but it would probably be best if you handloaded.  I'm looking at a Rem model 7 in 260 myself.
Best of luck,
Deerandduck

[ratherbefishin]

Ballistically, I don't think there is any diference between a .260 and a 6.5x55-all you get is a shorter action in the .260,but whether that justifies it or not I don't know.I do know that the 6.5x55 swedes probably have the best quality and workmanship of any rifle you can buy anywhere but for a fraction of the price of a ''new'' rifle.Put a new Boyds stock on one and top it with an older  M-8 Leupold and you have as fine a hunting package as you can buy for any money,and you probably haven't spent much over $500-and sometimes a lot less if you opt for an older Weaver K-4 or Bushnell Scopechief-not the quality of Leupold but none of them have let me down either

[basdjs]

Although you could easily easily go with either of the cartridges you're considering, I'm going to agree with others who have suggested you consider the .260 Rem.  Just like the .243(actually a 6mm-08)and 7mm-08, its parent cartridge is the .308.  So it's actually a 6.5mm-08.
I'm primarily a bowhunter, but I've shot at least 2 doz. deer with my .243 over 4 decades without a loss. I also have an Encore barrel in 7mm-08 that's a good whitetail caliber.  Personal preference is the .243 simply because it's plenty adequate for eastern whitetails and, with very low recoil and years of shooting both groundhogs and deer with it, I shoot it better.  After reading a lot about the design and ballistics of the .260, about 6 years ago I had a chance to pick up a .260 barrel for my Encore and now I have the best of both worlds...recoil just a bit above the .243 and tremendous range and accuracy.  Shoots factory 120's extremely well but factory ammo is expensive and not always available so reloading is a good idea.

Although the .260 has been a little slow to catch on and not many guns have been chambered for it, it's one of the most accurate and versatile medium bore rounds out there and it's getting more and more attention.  Savage has come out with, I believe, at least 3 models chambered in .260 for 2011.  Savages are hard to beat for out-of-the-box accuracy and very reasonable in price.

[shawlerbrook]

Love both 243 and 7-08, but for deer, definitely the 7-08. My wife has the A-bolt Micro. Since 2007, 4 shots= 4 dead deer. The last one a 200# 3 1/2 year old 8 pointer.

[basdjs]

Deerhunter, One additional thought for your consideration that doesn't continue the "which is best" caliber debate... I'm not sure what you rifle set-up is but if your 7mm-08 doesn't already have a quality recoil pad on it like a Simms Limbsaver,  I'll bet you'll trim your felt recoil down considerably by putting one on.

[Savage .250]

No doubt both have there merits. The 7mm-08 has a heavier load and can reach farther.
   I `ve never had or shot a 7mm-08 so I can`t speak to them.  Come to think of it, I`d rather have a 25-06 but that`s not in play here.
   The .243 as a deer cal when used properly, is a fine deer round.  Won`t go through brush, trees or what ever meaning at times you`d have to pass on a shot but when you`ve got a clean bead on something it will more than .....get- her -done!   
    I`ve had one for many years and it sure has taken care of business!   Plus, mine is light as a feather.   

[Dave in WV]

I have both and had quicker kills with my .243 and 100gr Corelokts than my 7mm-08 and 140gr Corelokts. I like both.

[84Jim]

I'll cast my vote for the 7mm-08 for a deer gun.

And in a sporter weight gun with a scope that you'd want to use for deer hunting, I don't think they'd be a big difference between calibers for a varmit rifle.  Back in the day we went groundhog hunting to get practice with our deer rifles. 

Jim

[PA-Joe]

You didn't say what rifles you were using. A 243 out of an 8 pound 24 inch barrel will have less felt recoil than a 708 out of a 5 pound 18.5 inch barrel. Is it the ammo or the rifle that is giving you the felt recoil?

[All That is Man]

If you are looking for somthing between 243 and 270 I whould check out the 6.5x55 or the 260 rem.

[Lloyd Smale]

hears my opinion for what its worth. Both are 300 yard max deer rounds. Anything over 300 and i want something more powerful. Out to 300 yards the 708 no doubt is a bit more powerful but hit two deer in the same spot in the vitals and I doubt youd see a pinch of differnce in actual killing power. Both deer will be dead and last i checked theres not degrees to dead.