Youth Rifle, 243 or 7mm08?
 

Will be buying my 5 year old son a youth Savage rifle in the next couple of weeks. I always felt a 243 loaded properly is a deer killing machine. I noticed the same rifle can be had in 7mm08, a personal favorite. Full power 7'08 isn't an option for his small frame. I came across this reduced load data using H4895:

http://www.imrpowder.com/PDF/Youth%20Loads.pdf

I assume the reduced 7'08 would be in the same recoil range as the full boat 243. The biggest advantage to the 7'08 is that as he grows it will give more versatility. I look forward to your feedback.

I would go with a 7mm/08. I have a model seven youth in 7mm/08. My cousins boy been using his model seven in 7mm/08 for the past 3 years and haven't had a problem killed a hand full of dear and a bear with it. My model seven will be used by my 8 year old nephew next year. I will use my current load of rem 140 grain corelocks in it for him. My cousins son or his 243, 6mm and 7mm/08 and liked the 7mm/08 the best he uses 139 hornady sst. I feel the recoil is not noticeable more in a 7mm/08 then a 243. Remington also makes a managed recoil load in 7mm/08.http://remington.com/products/ammuni...ed-recoil.aspx

He is to small for full load 7'08. I thought about the Remington managed recoil ammo but figure I already have brass and dies for both, could just load down the 7'08. I don't think a deer would know the difference. I've always tried to keep the 243 off the shoulder, with 7'08, doesn't matter.

also shoot lighter bullets, the nosler 120 BT is an awesome deer bullet at 7mm/08 velocities.
RR

As unofficial cheerleader for the 7/08 I chime in on its behalf.
It's not a "starter" caliber but can be loaded so as to be very user friendly to a beginner until he/she is ready to move up in power level.

I was looking at the 120s in both NBT and Sierra Pro Hunter. I found this recoil calculator and figure I can push the 120s at 2600 out of the 7'08 and have similar recoil to the 243 pushing 100s at 2900. I think I'm gonna go 7'08 for his first centerfire.
http://www.handloads.com/calc/recoil.asp

An excellent choice. I don't think a deer would notice the difference but like you said the 7-08 is a bit more versatile and will handle slightly bigger game later on.
What model rifle did you decide on? I purchased the Savage 16 youth model in 7-08 for my grandson for when he comes of age. I shot it and I love it. I have shot 5 shot groups as small as 3/8" with 154 gr bullets with that little rifle.

Gonna be a Savage 11 youth. Have never been a huge Savage fan until I got a really good deal on an 11 FCNS in 243 with Leupy mounts, Zeiss Conquest and less than a box of ammo through it for $500. Gun will hold both 100 gr Sierras and Speers to 3/4 MOA for 5 shots, not to shabby.

wayspr
at 2600 fps the 120 BT will act much like a nosler partition, nosler uses the same jacket cup for the 120's as it does the 140's so it ends up with a thicker jacket. think you made a good choice.
RR

I don't think you can go wrong with either caliber...both cals will provide anyone a lifetime of deer hunting and both have great bullet options available. The 7/08 certainly has a slight edge though with availability of heavier bullets and as RR points out, the 120 BT is a great bullet when pushed at slower speeds...not many bullets have that level of versatility.