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Old February 11, 2013, 01:38 PM   #51
eldermike
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There was a time when a man would walk into the local hardware store and ask for a box of rifle shells and a box of 150 grain flat point 30-30’s would show up at the register. The merchant knew what the man was talking about. Today a guy walks into Wal-Mart and picks out some 243’s and pays for them without any understanding on either end of what these are used for. But what did he just purchase? My point is this: Any 7mm-08 or 270 cartridge in Wal-mart will do for deer but that’s not true for 243. The 243 would be a more experienced hunters choice is what I am trying to say here.
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Old February 11, 2013, 01:42 PM   #52
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For American whitetails....270 nuff said.
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Old February 11, 2013, 01:47 PM   #53
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L_Kilkenny, you are preaching to the choir here. I am not arguing with against the merits of a .243. It is my go to deer and varmint round. I load everything from 55gr varmint loads to 100gr PSP. Go back and read post #46 and maybe you can understand my point. Their is no need for animosity here. We are here to help some less experienced hunters who have some questions. That's all I am trying to do without my personal favorites playing into it. Have a nice day.
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Old February 11, 2013, 02:33 PM   #54
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No animosity here brother. I've just found it interesting over the years (not to be confused with "irritating" ) that so many will argue adamantly against the .243 for deer yet turn around and spout the virtues of cartridges like the 7mm-08, the .25-06 and even the .270 on deer, elk and black bear. Maybe the discussions on the true differences will help someone, maybe it won't but a good debate (or agreement in the case of like minded folk) never hurt anyone.
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Old February 11, 2013, 04:21 PM   #55
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I know what you mean. I personally have thought about and came close to buying a 25-06, .250 Savage, 257 Roberts to name a few but in every case I came to the conclusion that none of them would do anything I couldn't do just as well with the .243.
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Old February 11, 2013, 04:47 PM   #56
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.270's my favorite deer cartridge. I have seen what .243's do to deer, and it's a very capable rifle caliber, I think that the 25-06 is a killer cartridge also, Any of these will work wonderfully for whitetail deer.
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Old February 11, 2013, 10:01 PM   #57
reynolds357
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I think the best whitetail rifle ever is the .264 Win mag. I keep trying to find a new favorite and just cant do it. .257 Wby. is very close though.
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Old February 11, 2013, 10:05 PM   #58
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Kutz, I have never seen a .270 Win that was "flat" to 400 or even close to being "flat."
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Old February 11, 2013, 10:10 PM   #59
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I would go with the .243 there will not be that much of a deference at those ranges. and probably cheaper. Plus the .243 would be better if you ever decide to go predator or varmint hunting in my opinion.
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Old February 12, 2013, 09:12 AM   #60
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I really like the 7mm-08.
I bought my son a rifle in a 7mm-08 fourteen years ago when he was 9 years old and it has been an excellent whitetail cartridge.
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Old February 12, 2013, 08:30 PM   #61
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243,
270.
nuff said.
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Old February 12, 2013, 09:40 PM   #62
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270 cause 243 is a little light for larger deer
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Old February 12, 2013, 10:03 PM   #63
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Being a reloader I have to approach this from a bullet selection point of view. I have never hunted with a 243 but started reloading for 7mag back in 1972. I'm not advocating a magnum rifle.

There appears to me to be very few suitable bullets for 6mm, 90gr, 100gr, and 105 grain would seem adequate for whitetail and a perfect shot at a mule deer

The offerings in 7mm include 120gr, 130gr, 140gr, 145gr, 150gr, 160gr, and 175gr in various types, including spitzer sp, spitzer btsp, a 140gr trophy bonded bear claw, 160gr trophy bonded bear claw.

Here where I live, there are more species to hunt, whitetailed deer, antelope, mule deer, and elk, along with mountain goat, Big Horn sheep and moose.

This data seems to indicated that unless you only going to hunt Pronghorned Antelope, and white tail deer, the 243 seems rather limiting to me. I know hunters can and do use 243 on Mulies, but again you may have to pass on a quartering shot that would be available to 7mm-08. oh, and while 7-08 has been used successful on Moose I think you need real confidence in your ability to take a moose with it.

All together I believe that the 7-08 is more versatile and efficient choice IMO.
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Old February 12, 2013, 10:09 PM   #64
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IMO, 243 win in a 22" bolt action with a 6x scope, you should be set.
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Old February 13, 2013, 01:52 AM   #65
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My first deer rifle was a Ruger 77 in 6mm Remington Back in the day when some of the gun writers touted the 6mm Rem. as the caliber for the 'One gun hunter'. It was considered better than the .243 since it could hold a little more powder. I was never disappointed ... coyote to deer. The 6mm Remington never caught on, so I'd go for the .243 for a first rifle choice.
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Old February 13, 2013, 06:11 AM   #66
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+1 on the 6mm rem being awesome
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Old February 13, 2013, 07:32 AM   #67
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I would definately have to say the 7mm-08 I have one and it has never let me down.
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Old February 13, 2013, 11:22 AM   #68
Brian Pfleuger
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Quote:
Originally Posted by handlerer2
There appears to me to be very few suitable bullets for 6mm, 90gr, 100gr, and 105 grain would seem adequate for whitetail and a perfect shot at a mule deer

The offerings in 7mm include 120gr, 130gr, 140gr, 145gr, 150gr, 160gr, and 175gr in various types, including spitzer sp, spitzer btsp, a 140gr trophy bonded bear claw, 160gr trophy bonded bear claw.

What's missing from the list of pure bullet weights is the fact that most factory 7mm-08 firearms have a twist rate that won't stabilize bullets heavier than 150gr and/or shorter chambers that require heavier bullets to be seated so deep that performance is sacrificed. Most bullets lighter than 120gr are meant for smaller animals or varmints. What you end up with, in 7mm-08, is one or two basic choices in factory ammo bullet weights. With the vast majority being 139/140gr.

For the handloader, there are more choices, such as Barnes excellent TSX line with bullets as light as 110gr for deer and a number of other choices that are appropriate that are just not loaded in factory ammo.

The 6mm/.243 bullets are the same. For the handloader, bullets down to at least 80gr (again, in the Barnes line and others) are perfectly suited for deer. While the heaviest weights (over 105gr) will not stabilize in many guns.

Also, "perfect shot" requirements are a myth. The 243 is ENTIRELY adequate for elk, with a proper bullet choice, and is used as such regularly. It's certainly fantastic for Mule Deer and anything smaller than elk.

A heavier, slower bullet that is .041" wider is not going to turn a bad shot into a good one. Good shots are good shots, bad shots are bad. The difference between a 375H&H Magnum and a .243Win will almost never turn a bad shot into a good one. Those 1%ers? Sure, but should we base are cartridge choices on that, particularly when we consider that flinching from increased recoil and bad shooting from lack of practice with higher recoil guns has caused more bad shots and lost animals than any increase in power has ever saved?

I'm not knocking the 7-08, I have one and have sung it's praises for quite some time. I'm just saying, trying to differentiate from that list of cartridges based on one being a better killer over the other is silly.
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Old February 13, 2013, 01:49 PM   #69
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I think he was referring to the 7mm rem mag. ( first line in his post)
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Old February 13, 2013, 02:41 PM   #70
Brian Pfleuger
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Yeah, but he said "I'm not advocating a magnum rifle" and the only 7mm in the OP's list was 7mm-08.
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Old February 13, 2013, 07:44 PM   #71
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Well, I stated what seems reasonable to me, as reloader, and everyone is influenced to some degree by local attitudes. I have never hunted with 7/08, so am not that familiar with the twist rates in models offered. My point is that for a reloader 7mm is a sweet spot along with 30 cal. I received as Valentine last year, a Cooper model 22, 26", 6.5x284, 1/8". Am growing to really enjoy this caliber now, a decent choice of bullets and effective bullets. 6mm isn't used much locally, so I could be ignorant of its real potential. I own and reload for 223, 300WBY, 340WBY, 6.5x284, and 44mag. All but the 223 and 44mag are custom rifles, so I chose the twist before I bought the rifle.

And Pete, I really like the C.S. Lewis quote!
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Old February 13, 2013, 10:24 PM   #72
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As a practical matter, any of the three are perfectly wonderful deer hunting rounds. There's a bunch of others that fill that bill as well. A decent rifle and scope combination that you practice enough with to become familiar and proficient with are much more important than splitting hairs over which chambering has less drop or will handle heavier bullets better.
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Old February 14, 2013, 03:27 AM   #73
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7mm-08.
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Old February 14, 2013, 08:04 AM   #74
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Between the three, I'd go with the .270. Can't really go wrong with any of them though.
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Old February 14, 2013, 09:22 AM   #75
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30-30.
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