Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting .243 vs. 7mm-08 on whitetails?

Web, I don't know only what I saw, the doe was in heat and she ran more than the usual 50-60 yards where they run out of oxygen in their blood. This seemed a tad further and with a bigger drain hole.

I know I run much faster when I'm in heat...

Triggernosis--- males -rut +++ females --heat. Does your neck also swell? and Jimmyp -- you are right --put a 165gr. in that .308 and see what it will do in energy at 300yards.---- We say hookings on a tree. Some say rubs. Scrapes are scrapes and not turkey scratchings. Web

Triggermosis, have you ever shot a BLR?

I had one once, it was built by FN and was a .308 Win. It was in dire need of a very good recoil pad and a trigger job.

If''n it was me, I go with the 7-08 and add a good recoil pad. If it was still to much recoil I would look at rebarreling it to a .257 Roberts.

I would also take some steel wool to that high gloss finish.

Don't care who or what!!!!!
Here's a 243 kill.......

185 yds....DRT

7-08 kill....

90yds....Bang Flop....

WHATS THE DIFFERENCE???????


George

Agreed on the steel wool; I did my most recent one that way and it turned out nice.

As to recoil, the pistol-grip version (like my .325 WSM) handles recoil WAY better than the straight-stock version (like my .358). The difference was not subtle- to me anyway.

Heck you are already buying a fugly rifle, might as well go all the way and go pistol grip! <grin>

65BR, That Guide Gun does open up leak-holes. I really don't know why I bought it other than just wanting one. It ain't fun to shoot....

jimmyp, my go-to is a .308, and I am sitting here now admiring a new batch of reloads, getting them cleaned up and put away.

I have shot deer with calibers from .243 to .45/70, with the majority being either with a .30-30, .308 or .30-06. The .243 seemed to be as terminal as any of them, and if recoil becomes an issue, I will certainly explore one of the smaller calibers, such as the ones 65BR has suggested. I guess that is why I like the thought of the .250 Savage, don't know why I settled on that cartridge, but it is a known quantity in the deer fields. Bullet placement is far more important than headstamp.

Jeff, I sure the pistol-grip version will handle the recoil better than the straight grip version.

Recoil table.
1st column-rifle weight
2nd column-recoil energy in ft-lbs
3rd column-recoil velocity in feet per second


.243 Win. (100 at 2960) 7.5 8.8 8.7
6mm Rem. (100 at 3100) 8.0 10.0 9.0
.243 WSSM (100 at 3100) 7.5 10.1 9.3
.240 Wby. Mag. (100 at 3406) 8.0 17.9 n/a
.25-35 Win. (117 at 2230) 6.5 7.0 8.3
.250 Savage (100 at 2900) 7.5 7.8 8.2
.257 Roberts (120 at 2800) 8.0 10.7 9.3
.25 WSSM (120 at 2990) 7.25 13.8 11.1
.25-06 Rem. (120 at 3000) 8.0 12.5 10.0
.257 Wby. Mag. (120 at 3300) 9.25 15.1 10.3
6.5x55 Swede (140 at 2650) 9.0 10.6 8.7
.260 Rem. (120 at 2860) 7.5 13.0 10.6
6.5mm-284 Norma (140 at 2920) 8.0 14.7 10.9
6.5mm Rem. Mag. (120 at 3100) 8.0 13.1 10.3
6.5x68 S (140 at 2990) 8.5 16.8 11.3
.264 Win. Mag. (140 at 3200) 8.5 19.2 12.1
6.8mm Rem. SPC (115 at 2625) 7.5 8.0 8.3
.270 Win. (130 at 3140) 8.0 16.5 n/a
.270 Win. (150 at 2900) 8.0 17.0 11.7
.270 WSM (150 at 3000) 8.0 18.9 12.3
.270 Wby. Mag. (150 at 3000) 9.25 17.8 11.1
7x57 Mauser (139 at 2800) 8.0 14.0 10.6
7mm-08 Rem. (140 at 2860) 8.0 12.6 10.1

Triggernosis,

I shoot a 7x57mm, the ballistic twin of the 7mm-08. My whitetail load has been 120g X bullets for years with that rifle and push them right around 3000 fps. I have dropped more whitetails with that rifle / ammo combo then any other over the years. Works great. It is also a 7/8 to 3/4 five shot grouper in my rifle.

As others have stated, they have had very good luck with other 120 grainers out their 7mm-08's. You will not be disappointed and if you handload your choice are many and varied.

OK guys, let me clear a couple of things up.
Yes, Web, I know the difference between "rutting" and "heat", scrapes and scratches. I was just mouthing off. BUT, I do live in a household with three women, so perhaps I'd better check myself in the mirror to be sure of things.....

I'll be getting the pistol-grip version of the BLR. Shot one a while back and loved it.

Hey Triggernosis--- I figured you knew -- Just busting on you. And God bless you, you are outnumbered 3 to 1. Web

The 243 don't bounce off.........







243AI 85gr X

Fogswamp, welcome to the 'fire. Seems like we've had quite a few new folks sign on here at the turn of the calendar.

Nice animals, too. I especially like the choco antlers on the deer, but if the opinion of someone who is unlucky when it comes to blackbears matters, the .243 isn't the right caliber for a blackie of any size.

Steve

Fogswamp, your 6x42, one or two M1 knobs? How do you like it? Duplex, wide duplex or other? So your 243, what bullet on the elk/bear? Thanks.

elevation only, love it, std dupe, 85 gr X same/same.

M8 or FX? Been contemplating a 6x/M1 set up a long time, too bad leupy does not do an m1 or m2 ele. only.

That's a straight 243? Looks like a shooter. Thx.

FX, ordered it directly from leupy...AI

My 20" #1 RSI shot 85x at 3100, you should be getting 3300-3400 in your longer tubed improved. Whose tube? Twist out of curiousity? I figured an 85 Barnes would take out an elk no problem, wicked little bullet. What is your accuracy with that set up?

Good choice. I think the pistol-grip version is great. And if you want to reduce the the perceived recoil even more you can always replace the recoil pad with a good one.