HELLO ALL,

IM GOING TO BUY A HANDI RIFLE FOR MY LITTLE BOY HE CAN HANDLE THE RECOIL FROM THESE TWO RIFLE CALIBERS. ANY ONE WITH ANY OPIONS LET ME KNOW WHICH IS THE BEST, I LIKE THE 7.62 BECAUSE IT IS 30 CAL BUT THE 243 HAS MORE OPTIONS FOR AMMO. SO ANYONE THAT HAS SHOT BOTH PLEASE LET ME KNOW.....

THANKS IN ADVANCE
CHRIS

Of the two, I would take the 30 cal rifle. However I would pick the 260 or 6.5x55 over either of those. Both are available in the Ruger all weather rifle. Good Luck.

Me also!

I'd get the 243 out of the 2 that you mentioned for the extended range, better ammo, and it will make a very nice varmint rifle as well.

I personally got the 243/20 combo youth handi rifle for my son 2 years ago when he was nine. I will never be an actual fan of the 243 but I must admit that it has done a very nice job on the two deer he has shot with it.
He is eleven now and our next move will be a 7mm-08. I dont know your sons size or age but if he handle the 08 Id pick it and if you wand a shot gun as well then go for the 243 combo.
It has been an exdellent and accurate rifle,just have the chamber polished before you get started or the rifle brass wont eject.

I'd get the 243. The 7.62 will kill deer okay within 100 yards but it was concieved as a light assault weapon round. Something that could be fired on full auto without much muzzle climb. In other words it's not that powerful. The 243 despite being very very low on recoil has about 500 more foot pounds of energy at the muzzle. The 100gr 243 bullet has a better B.C than the 125gr 7.62. Despite being a larger diameter the much slower speed of the 7.62 is going to negate any potential advantage in killing power over the 243. Also as your son gets older and able to take longer shots the energy of the 7.62 drops pretty sharply past 100 yards. The 243 on the other hand still has more than 1000 fps of energy at 300 yards. The 7.62 drops under 1000 fps of energy well before youget to 200 yards. Also while there is definately a lot of cheap ammo out there for the 7.62 almost all of it is low grade military surplus or Russian made stuff intended for plinking with AK-47 and SKS type rifles. The selection of well made 7.62 hunting bullets will be miniscule compared to whats out there for the 243.

I use a .243. I love it never lost a deer. I have broken the back,briskey shot and my favorite a lung shot where the bullet went in one side and made swiss cheese out of the liver. Bounced around in there and came out the bottom like a drain hole. It is very accurate. The farthest i shoot is 100 yards and I can get very good results with it.

Stay away from that 7.62, it just doesnt have much power. I hunt in oklahoma, colorado and wyoming ( I am not rich, I just spend what little money I have) and I end up with shots over 100 yards frequently. I took a 150 pound doe (before field dressing) with the 243 at 160 yards and it worked perfectly. If I lived and hunted only where there were whitetails, I would only use a 243 or 6mm remington. Get him a 243 and he will use it forever. EJ

Well, the 7.62x39 is really cheap to shoot (assuming that NEF will fire Wolf ammo) and the recoil isn't quite as sharp as a .243. This means that a kid could practice more without recoil fatigue. Presumably this could mean he/she will become a better and more confident shot. I've heard that where you hit a deer means more than what you hit it with. Ballistically, it packs a little less energy than a .30/.30.

I'd take a .243, no questions asked.