.223 vs 243 vs 7mm-08

[zermatt7]

Planning to pick up a new Savage 110 (model 10) or Stevens 200 this week and still deciding on the caliber....


Just looking for some "educated" opinions  on these 3 calibers for next deer rifle....223 vs .243 vs 7mm-08


The 25-06, 30-06, 308, 7mm-mag, 270 and 50 BMG   
are'nt listed because I'm focusing on the top 3 for various reasons....Deer and maybe Varmint gun (coyote)

Thanks !

Oh, and I've shot ALL the above calibers more than once except for the 7mm-08...Which I've heard good things about.
 

[~Ace~]

.223 is Not enough for Deer
.243 is a good Deer / Varmint caliber
7mm-08 is a Good Deer Caliber, but a bit to much for Predators / Varmints

[LaOtto222]

I agree with Ace. Definitely not the 223 for deer. Every thing else OK for the 223. It would also depend on how much deer hunting you are going to do vs predator hunting. If you are going to mostly varmint/predator hunt and occasionally deer hunt go with with the 243. If it is the opposite go with the the 7mm-08. The 7mm-08 will work for varmints with 100 -120 grain bullets, but if you are going to be shooting more than 5 - 6 shots a day or 50 shots a year, I would go with the 243. Shot placement is key no matter what you are shooting. A 243 will most defiantly kill deer, but you have to limit yourself to slightly quartering or broad side shots with the right bullets. They have to be placed correctly too, as any bullet or size. Better yet; get a 7mm-08 for deer sized game and a 223 for varmints/predators.

[Davemuzz]

What Ace and LaOtto are saying I also agree with.

Well, except that Speer does make a specific 22 caliber (.224) to be loaded for any cartridge (well, maybe not the hornet) that is specifically made for deer. Yeah, I know, goes against some folks conventional thought, and you will get folk who shoot 'em with the .222's & .223's (my uncle just turned 80 and hung up his hunting....he got most with a .222, head shot's all of 'em). The Speer data...somewhere (I know it's either on the web, or in the bullet's as I have a box of 'em) tell you to stick to head or neck shots with these bullets.  http://www.speer-bullets.com/default.asp?s1=3&s2=7&s3=12

But still, a .243 with a 95grain or better will do the job. And the .243 with a 70 or 80 grain ballistic tip will take out a coyote and devastate a groundhog.

I don't have the 7-08, but from the Hodgdon web site, it would appear the smallest bullet of 100 grain, if the gun can shoot 'em accurately, would take care of any coyote. And there is no doubt about it's ability on deer. (With a proper bullet)

Dave

[ms]

I would go with a 25/06 a 243 is limit on deer you can shoot a 85 grain pill for varmints 115 for deer out to 400 yards.

[Davemuzz]

I would go with a 25/06 a 243 is limit on deer you can shoot a 85 grain pill for varmints 115 for deer out to 400 yards.

MS, He specifically excluded the 25-06, along with a few others.  However, if had not excluded some of the others, I would have strongly recommended the 50 BMG. It's a well rounded caliber, and if you can get the game to line up, it will take out all species with one shot, while at the same time giving you that perfect mushroom of a bullet for the photo that you want.

Next: We can talk about exploding tip BMG rounds for those really tough varmits.

Dave

[ms]

WHAT EVER DAVE GROW UP.

[Davemuzz]

It's called "sarcasm" ms. This is commonly know as as an adult form of humor. My comments were not directed at you. Although, I can see how it could have been construed as such. My apologizes as this was not my intent.

Dave

[351 power]

excellent posting davemuzz

[kudzu]

I don't get it. Davemuzz does it and it's adult humor/sarcasm. I do it to Davemuzz and get scolded by Mr. GB himself. LOL

I too like the 25-06 deer/yote rifle choice.

Of the three you mentioned, throw the 223 out. Go with the 243 for southern WT/yotes and the 7-08 for the northern thick hided wt/yotes.

Did I mention the 25-06, DM (that don't stand fer Davemuzz either)

[rbergum95]

i agree with all the above. the .243 or 7-08 are your best choices. what is going to be the PRIMARY use for the rifle? if the primary use is varmints and occasionally deer i would say go for the .243. if it is primarily for deer and the occasional varmint then got th 7-08. either rifle will get the job done.

[poncaguy]

243.............

[handirifle]

The 243 will rock a coyotes world from as far as you can see him, and is good on deer to 300yds.  The 223 ONLY if the deer are very small, and proper bullet selection/placement is considered.

The 7-08 is really, a deer (or larger) round.