308 or 243?
11-17-2008, 01:03 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 61
308 or 243?
I'm looking at buying one of these two guns to deer hunt with. I currently own a 30-30, .223 wssm, and 7mm mag. I'm looking at the .243 and .308. I'm planning on making the new gun my primary deer gun. I'm leaning towards the .308 but want a gun my wife can shoot to. I don't have a lot of experience with either round and am worried about the recoil for her. Any opinions or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
11-17-2008, 02:30 PM
#4
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 2,414
RE: 308 or 243?
Although the 308 does not have a huge amount of recoil, it hasquite a bitmore than the 243. Twice as much by some accounts.
Are you worried about the recoilbecause she has shown any issues with what she has shot in the past? You mention you have a 30-30. Does she have issues with the recoil on this gun? I can tell you the 243 is less and the 308 more than the 30-30
As far as performance, IMO for deer, both will be fine
Are you worried about the recoilbecause she has shown any issues with what she has shot in the past? You mention you have a 30-30. Does she have issues with the recoil on this gun? I can tell you the 243 is less and the 308 more than the 30-30
As far as performance, IMO for deer, both will be fine
11-17-2008, 03:04 PM
#6
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 61
RE: 308 or 243?
ORIGINAL: DannyD
Although the 308 does not have a huge amount of recoil, it hasquite a bitmore than the 243. Twice as much by some accounts.
Are you worried about the recoilbecause she has shown any issues with what she has shot in the past? You mention you have a 30-30. Does she have issues with the recoil on this gun? I can tell you the 243 is less and the 308 more than the 30-30
As far as performance, IMO for deer, both will be fine
Although the 308 does not have a huge amount of recoil, it hasquite a bitmore than the 243. Twice as much by some accounts.
Are you worried about the recoilbecause she has shown any issues with what she has shot in the past? You mention you have a 30-30. Does she have issues with the recoil on this gun? I can tell you the 243 is less and the 308 more than the 30-30
As far as performance, IMO for deer, both will be fine
She shot her first deer with the .223 wssm last year and it performed pretty well. My father-in-law lost a deer with a 22-250 this morning and I've decided to retire the 22 cal. (as far as she goes anyway) I've been wanting a short action, but just wasn't sure of the recoil for her. If the .308 is more recoil than the 30-30 that may be a problem. Don't .308's and .243's have the same size of case?
11-17-2008, 03:07 PM
#7
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 7,982
RE: 308 or 243?
ORIGINAL: popeye
Another vote for the 308.
Another vote for the 308.
The .308 is actually the military 7.62 NATO cartridge and is well known for its legendary accuracy. The recoil is not anywhere's like a .300 magnum or a 12GA with a slug.
The .243 is a descendent of the .308 (.243 is just a necked down .308) and shoots a little flatter trajectory, that's all. But the .308 has more knockdown power.
11-17-2008, 03:14 PM
#8
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 12,726
RE: 308 or 243?
Bighorn - why not a compromise? How about the 7-08? A bit more recoil than the .243 but less than the 308. And no deer will ever know the difference if it was hit with the 7mm or the 308 bullet. Actually IMO the 7-08 causes a bit more tissue damage than the 308.
11-17-2008, 03:15 PM
#9
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 61
RE: 308 or 243?
That told me a lot of what I wanted to know. I thought the only difference was the caliber. Why wood a larger caliber equal more recoil? Doesn't the powder, weight of gun, etc....... determine "kick", instead of bullet size?
11-17-2008, 03:19 PM
#10
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 61
RE: 308 or 243?
ORIGINAL: bronko22000
Bighorn - why not a compromise? How about the 7-08? A bit more recoil than the .243 but less than the 308. And no deer will ever know the difference if it was hit with the 7mm or the 308 bullet. Actually IMO the 7-08 causes a bit more tissue damage than the 308.
Bighorn - why not a compromise? How about the 7-08? A bit more recoil than the .243 but less than the 308. And no deer will ever know the difference if it was hit with the 7mm or the 308 bullet. Actually IMO the 7-08 causes a bit more tissue damage than the 308.
