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Old November 28, 2010, 07:06 PM   #1
mlong
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pick your brain please

whats your thoughts on a 7mm-08 for my 10 year old son ?
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Old November 28, 2010, 07:11 PM   #2
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Just my opinion but seems like a lot of gun. Must be a big boy, that or he'll definately have to grow into it.
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Old November 28, 2010, 07:33 PM   #3
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It's a bit much gun for a 10-year old but he may be able to shoot it. I'd lean more toward a .223, just my 2cents.
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Old November 28, 2010, 07:33 PM   #4
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no he not a big boy just about normal size but thats what i was kinda what i was worried about i dont want him to get gun shy ! thank you !
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Old November 28, 2010, 07:35 PM   #5
mlong
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he is also hunng up with the .243 he has killed 4 deer with a .243 so he thinks thats all there is but im open to all sugestion
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Old November 28, 2010, 07:42 PM   #6
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I am gonna say that I would consider it to be too much. Now a CZ in 7.62x39 with the right stock would be a decent choice for a small young shooter if it were needed for white tail sized or smaller game. Make sure with whatever to double up the hearing protection. I have noticed several young shooters with a flich from the loud report, and no recoil.
If it is just for a learning to shoot a cenerfire for targets and plinking a .223 would work just fine. Not to mention cheaper ammo that is more commonly available at most stores that sell ammo.
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Old November 28, 2010, 07:43 PM   #7
Bamashooter
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i bought my son a .243 H&R Handi Rifle when he was ten. A 7mm-08 isnt much diffrence. I think a .223 isnt enough gun assuming its legal there. If i had it to do over again i would have gotten him the 7mm-08, but the .243 is a fine caliber for deer.
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Old November 28, 2010, 08:04 PM   #8
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If he is doing so well with the .243 why do you want him to go to a bigger caliber?
The 7mm 06 will only push the same bullet weight as the 243 a couple of hundred FPS faster so there won’t be that much difference in recoil. The big thing would be to stay with lighter bullets.
243 100 GR Max velocity = 3100
7mm 08 100 GR Max velocity = 3277
This is data taken from HODGDON web and only shows the max velocity achieved with a 100 GR bullet for each.
http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp
Has he shot bigger guns?
I would think that gun shyness shouldn’t be that big of a problem if he has taken that much game already. Find something he can try and let him make the decision. To me the sharpness of the recoil is a lot worse than the energy. I have shot thousands of 30-06 with steel but plated military rifle's over the past 30 years and recoil never bothered me once.
A friend last year asked me to help him with hunting loads for a 7mm Rem MAG. This was a light weight hunting rifle. 3 rounds were enough for me, I hurt for 2 days. Then again the gun didn’t fit me worth a hoot.
That brings up another point. If he is not that big, having a gun that is too long will make the recoil, any recoil worse.
What did you do for length on the 243?
Personally I think that it’s really neat that you have a 10 year old that is that gun savvy to have taking that many deer.
Sounds like you have made a good father son combination. Good for you.
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Old November 28, 2010, 08:06 PM   #9
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7mm-08 is fine for a 10 year old. My daughter is 10 and shoots my 308 BAR.
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Old November 28, 2010, 08:13 PM   #10
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I'm confused - he's already killed four deer and loves the 243? Buy yourself a 7-08 if you want.
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Old November 28, 2010, 08:42 PM   #11
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I don't see a problem with it. It will help him be a better shooter when he gets older as long as he learns to handle it.
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Old November 28, 2010, 10:49 PM   #12
Art Eatman
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Another vote to let him stay with the .243. I've tagged over a couple-dozen bucks with mine. I've gone to a 7mm08 in lieu of a much-heavier '06, but absent long-range on big deer, the .243 is as good as any.
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Old November 28, 2010, 11:21 PM   #13
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I had a Browning A-bolt Micro-Medallion in 7mm-08 and it is the perfect gun (caliber) for a young boy or a woman. Light, plenty of power and range and still doesn't kick very much at all. And the 140 gr is the right bullet.

A .243 works okay on small deer but on a huge Wisconsin buck you're pushing it.
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Old November 29, 2010, 12:02 AM   #14
mlong
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ozzie the only reason i am considering another caliber is that my son has taken a likeing to lever action and im kinda limited on choices in the .243 with savage and browing the only two i know that might have something in his size so thats why im looking toward other calibers eny other suggestion i would love to hear thank yall i added a picture of his first and only buck he got now he thinks this is what he is suppose to kill all the time and that dont happen around here all the time
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Old November 29, 2010, 12:08 AM   #15
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There's a good reason to talk him into his next rifle.
"Son, that lever action you like so much just isn't available in .243. You're getting to be a young man, now, so you can step up to a bit more gun..."
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Old November 29, 2010, 12:14 AM   #16
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yea i guess your right i want him when he is ready to move up to a remingtion 700
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Old November 29, 2010, 02:16 AM   #17
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+1 busgunner. your boy can handle it
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Old November 29, 2010, 03:49 AM   #18
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Isn't this about the time all the girls are bigger than the boys?Then in a few years they start to eat,grow,have zits,and occasionally smell like a billy goat?
I'm thinking about fit.I remember trying to keep up with buying baby shoes.I believe having a rifle fit plays many very important roles.
I believe,so long as it is a reasonable choice,caliber,or cartridge,is not so important.
If he likes levers,some of the 92 carbine clones or a marlin in .357 might be an enjoyable shooter.Maybe not the greatest deer round,That .243 seems to work.A collapsable stock M-4 in 6.5 Grendel would probably make him happy.
:-)
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Old November 29, 2010, 11:54 AM   #19
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My kid had the usual quota of "I want..." He learned all about, "Well, maybe later--but not now." There are birthdays, Christmases and "just because". They happen every year. Think "incentive". A kid making high grades in school and being helpful around the house with chores is more deserving of another rifle than otherwise.
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Old November 29, 2010, 12:05 PM   #20
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I don't see a big enough difference in bullet grain sizes to have to switch from a .243 to a 7-08.

Then again, I would certianly want the extra 30 grains a 7-08 has when shooting at the mid-west white tails.

I see the .270 is a popular round for lower recoil as well.

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Old November 29, 2010, 12:14 PM   #21
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HG, I disagree. There is a 40% weight difference between the preferred 243 and 284 bullet (100gr vs 140gr).
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Old November 29, 2010, 12:18 PM   #22
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I have both cals in the same gun. The 7mm-08 in the handy rifle kicks like a 308 with factory ammo. Where the 243 has very light recoil. But being young he might like the recoil.
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Old November 29, 2010, 12:41 PM   #23
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Quote:
HG, I disagree. There is a 40% weight difference between the preferred 243 and 284 bullet (100gr vs 140gr).
Looking at ballistics and the difference is very small compared to the 100 grain to 140 grain. You're talking a 40% weight difference for an increase of 8% Energy.
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Old November 29, 2010, 12:54 PM   #24
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The 7mm is definately more gun than a .243, and would a nice step up. If the full house 7mm's are a little overwhelming for him at first, there are light loads available. This caliber is also available in youth sizes from a couple of companies.

This is a caliber that he can grow into with the options that are available, and he will have a gun that is a perfectly capable elk rifle, which the .243 is not.

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Old November 30, 2010, 08:50 AM   #25
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If he is shooting the .243 successfully, the 7mm-08 shouldn't be any problem.

It sounds like he has a "youth type model" in his current rifle which might cause some problems in changing over to a full size rifle.

Personally I shoot .270 win and .30-06 spfld. My brother has a 7-08 which I have played with a couple times. Recoil from these 3 from LEAST to heaviest are:
7-08
270 win
.30-06

With the new stocks and recoil pads, I don't find any of them excessive. I'm sure a 10 year old would have little problem with the 7-08 or even the 270 win.
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