I sold all my deer rifles when my part of the County went all shotgun and muzzleloader. Now a good friend has bought a farm where rifles are legal. I only want one "deer" rifle and I can't make up my mind between a .243, could also shoot g-hogs, 7mm Mag, could reach out there and touch them across the pasture, or a .308, ammo is cheap, recoil is mild. It will be a bolt gun. Which would you get?

id og with the 308...you can reach out and touch with it...and you can shoot hogs with it....and ammos cheap...

mauser06

What about the 7-08 in a nice bolt gun. Seems like a good option. However, of the 3 you mentioned I would take the 308.

Just my opinion...but I'm not a fan of the 7mm mag. Don't mean any offense by this, but I just have never been impressed with the performance you get for the bang.

I like the 243, if the shots are open. (25-06 is a much better caliber, though. A 120gr out of a 25-06 is great for deer...and a 80 grain plays hell on varmints.)

The 308 is also great. The 165 grain core-lokt is one whale of a bullet.

Toss up between the 243 and the 308. I dispise the 7mm Rem Mag

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If those are your only three choices, I like the .308.

Steve,

I disagree with Pro-Line & frizzellr. Everyone has a right to their opinion, but I believe the 7mm Rem Mag is an excellent cartridge. Flat shooting and hits hard. The 7mm Rem Mag is easy to shoot if you get the right rifle (not too light). However, depending on the length of your shots, it may be a little too much gun for your situation. The .308 is also an excellent cartridge for deer size and even larger game for distances up to 200-250 yards. With the .243, you would be limiting yourself to deer size game and smaller. Out of these 3 choices, assuming that you are hunting deer at distances of 250 yards or less, I believe the .308 would be the best choice.

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Why should the price of ammo come into the equasion? Buy ammo that gives the best accuracy possible out of your rifle. You want cheap ,do most of your practicing with a 22LR. It's the same as shooting any other rifle, Body,Breath and Trigger control only you'll be able to do more of it per sitting at the bench.