First hunting rifle: .243 or .308?
 

I'm looking for any extra possible advice towards my first rifle purchase for hunting. I'm leaning towards the Model 750 Woodsmaster, so for a general deer only hunting rifle would the Model 750 in .243 or .308 be a good cartridge to start with?

Also note: I'm not looking for advice on changing the rifle platform I have chose, just which cartridge would be better suited for a deer hunting round. Thank you.

If your rifle of choice comes in 7mm-08? do your research and you will find that the 7-08 is the perfect blend of the 243 and 308.

I personally love the 308 it is an amazing deer caliber. But the 7-08 is an even better alternative NOWadays.

I'm not new to firearms, I am a self-claimed "gun-nut", but yes I am new to the world of hunting. Grew up respecting it and always wanting to be a part of it. I have yet to take an animal but I will when I can arrange to go on my first hunting trip, which will be next fall.

So aside from my little introduction, thank you for your advice. I've been learning towards the idea of the .243 for quite a while. Though I tell you my very first ideas were to run out and by a .30-06 or 7mm Rem Mag haha.

As far as I know the Model 750 does not come in 7mm-08, but thanks for the tip. I'll look into that cartridge as well.

The .243 works great for Whitetail size animals with the proper bullets and will also make a great varmint gun with lighter bullets. The .308 is as good as it gets for Whitetail and if you don't push the range too far, it will work on larger game too!
If I was not going to hunt anything larger than deer, I'd go with the .243.

The more I have been reading up on the .243 I'm starting to really like what it has to offer for deer hunting. Thank you for your words.

.308 ..........

Both guns are excellent deer rifles. IMO the .308 is the superior deer rifle. As others have mentioned the .243 is good for varmints, Ill add that the .308 is great for deer, moose, elk and bear as well. The versatility is nothing but a bonus, as I personally think that as far as strictly deer rifles go, you cant go wrong with the .308. I noticed that in a earlier post someone said something along the lines of "as long as your not shooting too far". Im not sure what they mean by that. A .308 will shoot 400-500+ yards with ease if you want it to. At 300 or less, which is more likely for deer, you can put 3 in a quarter with ease.

I would say dont limit yourself with the 243. Its a wonderfull little gun, but lacks diversity. The .308 will out perform it in every way on deer.

Since 1980 the only centerfire rifle I have owned is a Ruger M-77 .243...I've killed over 200 deer with this gun and 6 black bears...Nothing wrong with a .243 and deer...

Either cartridge would be fine, although, having shot a few deer with the .243 and a lot with .270, .308, and .30-06's, I would tend slightly toward the .308. However, I would definitely rethink the 750 idea. I think that in the long run you would be happier with a good bolt action rifle, or a 7600 pump.