I plan to get my daughter, which is now 7, a rifle for next years Bama gun season. Right now she weighs about 53#s. I've been told that A .243 would be too much recoil for her. I've also been told that there isn't much difference in recoil between the .243 and .223. I don't know because I've never shot either one.Which would be best? Also, I know that a .243 is a good 300 yd. gun but going by the ballistics of a .223, looks like it is a 150 yd. gun at the most. Would that be about right? Thanks, Scott Woody
The 223 will kill deer well at 150 yards. I think the 243 and 223 are interchangable at that range. I have used both a great deal. Use the Barnes, Nosler Partition or the Trophy Bonded bullets in the 223 and it will work fine. These bullets are made for deer hunting with the 22 centerfires.
Please don't get the 223. I know it *can* take down a deer, but there's precious little room for error and the situations where it would be an ethical shot are very limited, IMO.
My buddy is a good shot. He handloads and gets mickeymouses at 100 yards. He brought both of his .223s ona deerhunting trip we took last month. He used the Remington with a custom receiver and ended uplosing two nice bucks. Both broadside around 100 yards.
The first was shot just before nightfall and our whole party looked everywhere but found no blood and no deer. He was sure he'd hit it, but he admitted getting buck fever and shaking a bit, so it was possible that he missed, or worse - missed the vitals.
Next morning he went back out with the 223 again. Another buck shows up and he took his time and put two bullets in him. Never found that deer, either,or even any blood.
Please reconsider buying a 223 for deer. I'm inclined to say that if something like a .243 kicks too much, it may be just best to wait until she's older/bigger.
Maybe an alternative is a .220 Swift or a 22-250. I don't notice any kick from my Swift at all, but it's a heavy target/varmint rifle, so that may make a difference. I personally think both the Swift and 22-250 are still a bit small for deer, but the only two deer I ever shot at with my Swift dropped in their tracks.
Best of luck to you - can't wait until my kid is old enough!
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"When I found the skull in the woods, the first thing I did was call the police. But then I got curious about it. I picked it up, and started wondering who this person was, and why he had deer horns." --- Jack Handy
the 243 kicks more than the 223, but if she can't shoot a 243 comfortly, she shouldn't be hunting yet. i agree with c j, the 223 can kill deer, but the shot has to be perfect. borrow a 243 and she how she likes it. let her get used to it. goodluck lswoody
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It used to I'd run to get where I was goin, I didn't think it take me anywhere-Forrest Gump
I don't have problems with the idea of buying a .22 for the purpose of deer hunting. But, like it's already been said, to combine minimum gun with new/inexperience hunter is not a good idea. I have a 22-250 and if that is too much recoil she needs to what a few more years. Go for a 243. Maybe even a 30-30.
This should helphttp://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm
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Anything I say is my opinion, just that...and only that.
"...and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God?
Lots of deer have been shot and killed with the 22's, (lots have been lost too) but i'm with the rest that feel if a 243 is too much recoil, maybe waiting is better. To be honest, i think a 257 Roberts or 260 Rem. would be even better.
My daughter took her first deer at the age of 6 years old with a Ruger/McGaughy 77/30 ( 30 m1 carbine cartridge). She is 10 now and has taken a totalof 5 deer with the little gun ( 2 of the deer where taken with one shot,... oops). This year she put a deer down with a Ruger 77/44, 44 mag. 180 grn sp. Before she was allowed to hunt deer, she had to master marksmanshipat the bench and infield conditions, she also had numerous practicalanatomy lessons on cattle our family has butchered. All this learning was for teaching shot placement. I think a 357 mag in a marlin lever actionwith a trigger job and 12" length of pull stock would be the best factory gun for young hunters. If a kid keeps thier shots within 80 yards with these gun and uses all thier training you better have some freezer space handy!
I don't think I would allow my kids to hunt until they were old enough to clean their kill. Not saying they need to do everything themselves, but they definately need to be involved in the process beyond pulling the trigger.
.223 for 8 yr. old for deer?
