RE: new gun 243 or 7mm-08 -308?
 

7mm-08 would be good and don't rule out the 260. I also shoot and love the 257 Roberts. I don't know who all makes the 260 now but Ruger makes a dandy. My wife shoots a 250-3000 Savage bolt gun. Very little recoil. Drops deer right now.

RE: new gun 243 or 7mm-08 -308?
 

A new gun for your wife eh? Ok, if thats what you say...lol.
Well I've never been a fan of the .308 even though I owned three of them. I used the .243 for many years and took alot of whitetail with that rifle using 100 gr Hornady bullets over 40.5 grs of IMR 4350 and all but one dropped where they stood. I also own a Browning Micro Hunter in 7-08 which I really like. Its easy to tote around in the woods, recoil is just slightly more than the .243 and packs a bit more punch. I load this cal with 150 gr Rem core lock bullets over 46 gr of IMR4350 and took a nice whitetail this year with it.
My opinion, buy your wife the 7-08. If you look around I think Remington makes its Model 7 in a youth model that should fit your wife better than a full size rifle. And as long as we're on the subject, what about the .260 rem??

RE: new gun 243 or 7mm-08 -308?
 

James B is right .Don't over look the 260 . It is a sweet shooting caliber that is fun to shoot at the range but yet is plenty enough for any deer .Ruger does make a nice one.

RE: new gun 243 or 7mm-08 -308?
 

.308 Win. Good luck.

RE: new gun 243 or 7mm-08 -308?
 

i would pick a round that will suite your hunting area and needs.my fiaancea's two little brothers ( who are 13 at the time of shooting it ) shot my browning medallion chabered in 30-06sprg using 165gr. loads.

i would go with maybe the 260rem 7mm-08rem 6.5X55 sweede. the 308win would be another fine choice but in a light gun might just kick more than she would want.
plus if you already own a 30-06sprg why get your wife a 30 cal. i would get something differant so you will have two differant calibers to shoot yourself.

RE: new gun 243 or 7mm-08 -308?
 

I love the 30.06 but it does have a little more recoil than a woman may want to shoot. If it's going to be a deer only rifle i'd look at the 25.06 as my first choice and the 260 as my second choice.