.243 or 7 mm mag

[whiteeye]

It's always interesting when people post threads regarding gun sizes. I think there is a lot of us who are not being honest to our self's about what the real reason is that they bought that mighty 7mm or other large caliber gun.

 

My brother and I hunt Coues with a 6mm and 243 respectively, and have never had any issues with feeling they were undersized. (We both got deer this year.)

 

I think this debate about size is a lot like the situation of the guy who goes to buy a new truck and thinks he needs to have the biggest and baddest engine and 4x4 system available, and then never drives the thing off the pavement and never tows anything more than his small utility trailer to Home Depot to get a sheet of plywood..... But hey, he can tell his friends he's got the HEMI....It's an ego thing, nothing to do with much else.

 

I goto the range all the time and see these guys there with 7mm mags and they can barley hang on to the dang thing as it about knocks them off the edge of their seat. They go through a box of amo just trying to get it on paper, let alone in any type of respectable grouping. I asked one guy what he was going to be hunting and he said COYOTE!

 

As far as "I need to have it for the long range shot" goes, there was a study done by a popular hunting magazine a few years ago and they found that the average shot distance on deer was just over 200 yards; well shy of the 500-600 yard "moon shots" everyone likes to fantasize about. (My deer this year was about 125 and my brothers was less than 100 yrds. Both dropped dead in their tracks with minimal meat damage.) I think shot distance has a lot more to do with laziness and lack of desire to get off ones butt and stock up closer for a higher percentage shot than it does a worry about having an undersized gun. As stated previously, larger caliber does not always equal more accuracy at longer distance.

 

So I'm not sure why everyone seems to feel the need for such a large caliber gun for such a very small animal. We're not hunting elk or elephants here guys. Were hunting an animal that most times weighs less than 100 lbs. Don't get me wrong, I think the 7mm is a great gun and very much has it's reasonable place with the right species of animal. But for Coues, IMO it's way too much. (Notice how many of the posts above talk about "Huge Exit/Entry Holes"....)

[cactusjack]

Take the one you shoot better. They both are awesome for deer. The 7mag performs better at the longer distances if the recoil isnt an issue.

 

I think I answered the question well, without a challange anyone's ego. I have a brother-in-law who only owns one rifle (7mm mag) which he hunts everything with. Being on a budget might be the reason some hunters buy a larger caliber rifle.

 

In that popular hunting mag, to get an average of over 200 yards there must have been quite a few long shots to cancel out ALL the Mid West/Eastern tree stand 20 to 40 yard deer.

 

Just sayin.

[Tines]

It's always interesting when people post threads regarding gun sizes. I think there is a lot of us who are not being honest to our self's about what the real reason is that they bought that mighty 7mm or other large caliber gun.

 

My brother and I hunt Coues with a 6mm and 243 respectively, and have never had any issues with feeling they were undersized. (We both got deer this year.)

 

I think this debate about size is a lot like the situation of the guy who goes to buy a new truck and thinks he needs to have the biggest and baddest engine and 4x4 system available, and then never drives the thing off the pavement and never tows anything more than his small utility trailer to Home Depot to get a sheet of plywood..... But hey, he can tell his friends he's got the HEMI....It's an ego thing, nothing to do with much else.

 

I goto the range all the time and see these guys there with 7mm mags and they can barley hang on to the dang thing as it about knocks them off the edge of their seat. They go through a box of amo just trying to get it on paper, let alone in any type of respectable grouping. I asked one guy what he was going to be hunting and he said COYOTE!

 

As far as "I need to have it for the long range shot" goes, there was a study done by a popular hunting magazine a few years ago and they found that the average shot distance on deer was just over 200 yards; well shy of the 500-600 yard "moon shots" everyone likes to fantasize about. (My deer this year was about 125 and my brothers was less than 100 yrds. Both dropped dead in their tracks with minimal meat damage.) I think shot distance has a lot more to do with laziness and lack of desire to get off ones butt and stock up closer for a higher percentage shot than it does a worry about having an undersized gun. As stated previously, larger caliber does not always equal more accuracy at longer distance.

 

So I'm not sure why everyone seems to feel the need for such a large caliber gun for such a very small animal. We're not hunting elk or elephants here guys. Were hunting an animal that most times weighs less than 100 lbs. Don't get me wrong, I think the 7mm is a great gun and very much has it's reasonable place with the right species of animal. But for Coues, IMO it's way too much. (Notice how many of the posts above talk about "Huge Exit/Entry Holes"....)

 

Why so angry????

 

You can't argue which one has better terminal ballistics. We'll leave it at that. And you also can't assume that those who shoot LR aren't capable of closing the distance. MANY LR shooters are archery hunters as well and find themselves within "bow range" every year. In a perfect world, we'd all stalk in within 100 yards like you and your brother and whack 110" bucks. BUT, unfortunately there are much more variables to consider.

 

Be careful calling people lazy who shoot beyond your abilities. Just because someone took a 500yd shot doesn't mean he's lazy. How do you know that he didn't just pack in 5 miles and spend 10days in a spike camp, hunting his butt off for a buck of a lifetime......which finally presents himself on the other side of a mean canyon? Boy does it feel good knowing that you've got all of the right equipment to make it come together.

 

As mentioned before, shoot what's comfortable for you and what you're most accurate with- all the while considering YOUR limitations AND the calibers limitations.

 

Many people out there shoot magnum rounds at these "tiny" critters NOT because the round strokes their ego, but because it far exceeds expectations of effectiveness. After-all, that's what we're trying to achieve, right?

 

I drive a Toyota Tacoma. Although that little V-6 does a pretty good job with what I use it for, it sure would be nice to put a couple more friends in the cab and pull a trailer. Is that the exception to YOUR analogy? Possibly..... But I will say this. Many people out there find LR shooters/hunters to be an egotystical pile of lazy hunter-trash, but it's largely due to ignorance on their part.

 

Most, not all, who argue that the .243 is just as capable of the .284 in effectiveness, will always back themselves up with "it's all about shot placement!" Never did a statement make more sense, right? But by using that, you'd ALSO have to agree that if I'm capable of shooting 1/2 of your group at TWICE the distance, I must be more prepared, right??????

 

Shoot whatever you want, but be disciplined enough to make the right decision when the opportunity arises. THAT'S the right answer to his question....

 

 

 

 

[joeybari]

It's always interesting when people post threads regarding gun sizes. I think there is a lot of us who are not being honest to our self's about what the real reason is that they bought that mighty 7mm or other large caliber gun.

 

My brother and I hunt Coues with a 6mm and 243 respectively, and have never had any issues with feeling they were undersized. (We both got deer this year.)

 

I think this debate about size is a lot like the situation of the guy who goes to buy a new truck and thinks he needs to have the biggest and baddest engine and 4x4 system available, and then never drives the thing off the pavement and never tows anything more than his small utility trailer to Home Depot to get a sheet of plywood..... But hey, he can tell his friends he's got the HEMI....It's an ego thing, nothing to do with much else.

 

I goto the range all the time and see these guys there with 7mm mags and they can barley hang on to the dang thing as it about knocks them off the edge of their seat. They go through a box of amo just trying to get it on paper, let alone in any type of respectable grouping. I asked one guy what he was going to be hunting and he said COYOTE!

 

As far as "I need to have it for the long range shot" goes, there was a study done by a popular hunting magazine a few years ago and they found that the average shot distance on deer was just over 200 yards; well shy of the 500-600 yard "moon shots" everyone likes to fantasize about. (My deer this year was about 125 and my brothers was less than 100 yrds. Both dropped dead in their tracks with minimal meat damage.) I think shot distance has a lot more to do with laziness and lack of desire to get off ones butt and stock up closer for a higher percentage shot than it does a worry about having an undersized gun. As stated previously, larger caliber does not always equal more accuracy at longer distance.

 

So I'm not sure why everyone seems to feel the need for such a large caliber gun for such a very small animal. We're not hunting elk or elephants here guys. Were hunting an animal that most times weighs less than 100 lbs. Don't get me wrong, I think the 7mm is a great gun and very much has it's reasonable place with the right species of animal. But for Coues, IMO it's way too much. (Notice how many of the posts above talk about "Huge Exit/Entry Holes"....)

 

Why so angry????

 

You can't argue which one has better terminal ballistics. We'll leave it at that. And you also can't assume that those who shoot LR aren't capable of closing the distance. MANY LR shooters are archery hunters as well and find themselves within "bow range" every year. In a perfect world, we'd all stalk in within 100 yards like you and your brother and whack 110" bucks. BUT, unfortunately there are much more variables to consider.

 

Be careful calling people lazy who shoot beyond your abilities. Just because someone took a 500yd shot doesn't mean he's lazy. How do you know that he didn't just pack in 5 miles and spend 10days in a spike camp, hunting his butt off for a buck of a lifetime......which finally presents himself on the other side of a mean canyon? Boy does it feel good knowing that you've got all of the right equipment to make it come together.

 

As mentioned before, shoot what's comfortable for you and what you're most accurate with- all the while considering YOUR limitations AND the calibers limitations.

 

Many people out there shoot magnum rounds at these "tiny" critters NOT because the round strokes their ego, but because it far exceeds expectations of effectiveness. After-all, that's what we're trying to achieve, right?

 

I drive a Toyota Tacoma. Although that little V-6 does a pretty good job with what I use it for, it sure would be nice to put a couple more friends in the cab and pull a trailer. Is that the exception to YOUR analogy? Possibly..... But I will say this. Many people out there find LR shooters/hunters to be an egotystical pile of lazy hunter-trash, but it's largely due to ignorance on their part.

 

Most, not all, who argue that the .243 is just as capable of the .284 in effectiveness, will always back themselves up with "it's all about shot placement!" Never did a statement make more sense, right? But by using that, you'd ALSO have to agree that if I'm capable of shooting 1/2 of your group at TWICE the distance, I must be more prepared, right??????

 

Shoot whatever you want, but be disciplined enough to make the right decision when the opportunity arises. THAT'S the right answer to his question....

 

 

+1

[Guest borderboy]

No disrespect intended but a deer 555 yds out, about to cross into reservation, strong wind and diminishing visibility is not a shot I would attempt. A shot like that could end up a lost or wounded deer. Big buck or little buck it's a bad shot. I'd pass with any caliber.

[whiteeye]

"Why so angry???? "

 

Who's angry? I'm not.

 

I was just expressing my opinion, which is what he asked for.... I know that my opinion differs from most on this issue. (I am one of the few that would recommend the 243 over the 7mm.) But don't interpret my opinion as anger my friend.

 

Also don't get me wrong, there are always extreme circumstances where a larger caliber gun would be more effective, but those conditions are not the norm. What I'm saying is that in the average situation under average conditions, a 243 would do just fine. If you read most post on this type of a subject, they would want you to believe that under average conditions you would still be better off with the larger caliber. I don't agree.

 

As far as shot placement goes, I also don't believe that it has to be a perfect shot or it will not be a "clean kill" with a 243. That's just not the case at all. Again, another misnomer brought on by the "got to shoot large caliber or your not a real hunter" crowd.

 

In regards to the distance survey. If I recall correctly, I believe they had it sorted by regions of the country. So the deer stand shots did not skew the results.

[couesridge]

 

7mm rem mag 160 gr accubond dialed into 700 yds come nov. 27 big bucks watch out

[whiteeye]

Nice gun! The finish is very nice. Did you make/finish the stock or purchase it that way? Don't drop it or trip and fall while your out there!

[BigBfever]

360 yard shot waded my buddies deer in oct. with a .243 using a 85 grain sierra match king, the bullet dropped him like a sack of potatos, down fall very little exit wound. As long as it a good shot the .243 will do the job just fine. shoot whatever is more comfortable/accurate .

[Browning'sCustomMeat]

I have shot 13 coues with my .243 from 150 - 450yds. 85grain. Dropped them like rocks. But thats my pref. My dads loves his 7mm MAG. Just has alot to do with what YOU are COMFORTABLE with.