|
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,696
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,696 |
.243 - the Barnes bullet loadings in .243 have given me new confidence in that round as a reliable deer killer.
As for the rifle - make sure it fits well, has a safety she can use from a shooting position and a little extra weight in a first gun never hurts from both a recoil and a steadiness perspective.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,666
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,666 |
243, 257 Roberts, 25-06, 260, 7-08
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 52,680
Campfire Kahuna
|
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 52,680 |
Depends on your wife. A friend's wife shoots a .340 Wby...he shoots a .378 Wby
Liberalism is a mental disorder that leads to social disease.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 8,238 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 8,238 Likes: 1 |
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,121
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,121 |
I would go for the .260, but that isnt as common and ammo is a bit more difficult. Using that criteria, the .243 wins hands down. I dont feel that the 7mm-08 is any more common than the .260 when it comes to available ammo. All 3 are great cartridges. My son started with my .25-06... its a great caliber but will likely come in a bit longer package.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 17,817 Likes: 3
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 17,817 Likes: 3 |
My wife started with a .243 and 250 Sav., but came to use the old 7mm Rem. Mag. more than any other caliber..
Molon Labe
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 9,266 Likes: 3
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 9,266 Likes: 3 |
.243 or 7mm-08.
Excellent choices for all of the same reasons, accurate, very low recoil and light on muzzle blast.
Both will hammer deer and antelope clear out there.
My kid has had highly impressive results using both cartridges.
Proud NRA Life Member
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 975
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 975 |
Managed Recoil .308 ammo is a fine choice.
Sherwood
FIRE UP THE GRILL - is NOT catch and release!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 10,861 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 10,861 Likes: 1 |
Maker of the Frankenstud Sling Keeper
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 7,988 Likes: 3
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 7,988 Likes: 3 |
There are 2 243's in the classifieds right now that would fill the bill- a Model 70 carbine and a Model 7.
Never underestimate your ability to overestimate your ability.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,680
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,680 |
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 33,856
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 33,856 |
The more I use the 243 on deer, the more I leave the 300rum and 270wby Mag at home. They were both for long range shooting but now I hunt for fun.
Shooting and handling the 243 is fun.
Last edited by eyeball; 10/18/12.
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time by the blood of patriots and tyrants.
If being stupid allows me to believe in Him, I'd wish to be a retard. Eisenhower and G Washington should be good company.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 16,972 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 16,972 Likes: 2 |
243's loose way too much energy past 350-400 YDS, 25-06 is the best of all worlds for a low kicker
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,214
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,214 |
Another vote the 243, i like mine for deer and i used a 30-06 for a long time! Ammo is availible everywhere and it's inexpensive.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,339
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,339 |
Gotta go with the .243. I'm a grown man and that is my most used rifle caliber.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,395 Likes: 2
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,395 Likes: 2 |
243's loose way too much energy past 350-400 YDS, 25-06 is the best of all worlds for a low kicker Curious how many deer you have shot past 350-400 YDS with the 243 and with what bullet?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,278 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,278 Likes: 1 |
Looking to get the wife her first rifle as she wanting to get involved in hunting. Wondering what would be recommended as a good caliber for deer and antelope? First thoughts are .243, 25-06, 7mm-08. Also thought the .270 & .308 though I think those would be a bit much for her to shoot enough to be comfortable and accurate with the rifle. Whats your thoughts? Any one "better" than the others? Trying to stick with more common calibers due to ammunition cost and availability as I do not reload.
Thanks If all she'll ever hunt is deer and antelope the 243. If at some point she might want to go for something bigger then the 7mm08 or a 308. Those last two are both mild in the recoil if the rifle fits her. (Find a BLR, women seem to get along with those real well). The biggest reason I recommended the 708 and 308 for bigger stuff is it's less likely some azzhole idiot with about as much real world experience as a can of spam, will be able to put doubt in her rifles ability, they way the experts can almost wreck a new/young shooters physcy with a lite rifle like the 243. Of course I do know of an example where a person claiming years of elk experience gave a thumbs down to the 308 as being in adequate ( only to later admit he didn't even know anybody that used one) So I suppose no matter what cartridge someone can come along a screw with a newbies mind....
the most expensive bullet there is isn't worth a plug nickel if it don't go where its supposed to. www.historicshooting.com
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 6,930
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 6,930 |
243's loose way too much energy past 350-400 YDS, 25-06 is the best of all worlds for a low kicker Curious how many deer you have shot past 350-400 YDS with the 243 and with what bullet? No, you don't understand what he's saying. The .243 Win. looses too much energy past 350-400 yds, meaning that it unleashes formidable amounts of killing power once it goes past these distances. As for myself, I've seen this phenomenon on 4 different occasions when one of the idiots that I hunt with tries to kill mule deer with a .223 loaded with varmint bullets. Then I get to send a 100 gr. Partition up the south end of a mule deer headed north at anywhere from 250-450 yds. I've only recovered one of those bullets, three exited the animal completely. I know this because I killed them dead with a .243 Win after loosing all of that energy on the deer.
Selmer "Daddy, can you sometime maybe please go shoot a water buffalo so we can have that for supper? Please? And can I come along? Does it taste like deer?" - my 3-year old daughter
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,325
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,325 |
.243 .257 Roberts .25-06 .260 7mm-08 No debate here will declare the winner of "Which is best." Just go find a good deal on one and go kill stuff. Add 6.5 Swede to the list above and I agree.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,243
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,243 |
I would be looking at a 7mm-08 with the 120gr pills. Light on recoil. If needed you could move up in weight. If you get a 260 you would have an excuse to start a new reloading hobby
|
|
|
|
468 members (1beaver_shooter, 12344mag, 1badf350, 10gaugemag, 160user, 06hunter59, 38 invisible),
2,669
guests, and
1,192
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,194,786
Posts18,536,296
Members74,041
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|