What's the recoil like?
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jimbires
Well-Known Member
nothing wrong with a 243 for deer hunting . I bought mine a 7mm-08 . I'm using a slightly reduced load of H4895 with a nosler 120 grain ballistic tip bullet . she seems to be doing ok with it .
here is a recoil chart . it does not include the creedmoor , but you might find it useful . Jim
Rifle Recoil Table
here is a recoil chart . it does not include the creedmoor , but you might find it useful . Jim
Rifle Recoil Table
Sully2
Well-Known Member
If you are using factory made rifles....with the recoil pads provided....you wont notice 1 bit of difference...and toss in a Rem 260 if you can find it.
jimbires
Well-Known Member
the 260 is based on the 308 . this family includes the 243 , 260 , 7mm-08 , 308 . if you look at the chart I posted the 260 has more recoil than the 7mm-08 . rifle fit and recoil pads are important for comfortable shooting .
Sully2
Well-Known Member
and nothing says that chart is 100% correct!
243 with rifle weight of X and shooting a 100-105 gr slug
VS
260 with same weight rifle and shooting a 120 gr slug
Now...how much difference in recoil is their going to be????
MudRunner2005
Well-Known Member
When I used to work for the locally-owned outdoors store (not one of the local big-box stores), I can't tell you how many customers I sold 7mm-08's to for their wives or kids to use as their first deer rifle. I never once had anyone come back and trade it in for something smaller with less recoil...Everyone of them we sold, the customers would come back in for ammo or something else, and would always talk to us, and they all loved them.
My first deer rifle was an old Marlin 336 .30-30 Win. It was dad's, so we still have it, but my first bolt-action rifle I got when I was 10 or 12 and it was an old Ruger 77 stainless/skeleton stock mountain rifle in 7mm-08. I still have it, too. I can't tell you how many deer and coyotes got put down at my hands with that gun...
My first deer rifle was an old Marlin 336 .30-30 Win. It was dad's, so we still have it, but my first bolt-action rifle I got when I was 10 or 12 and it was an old Ruger 77 stainless/skeleton stock mountain rifle in 7mm-08. I still have it, too. I can't tell you how many deer and coyotes got put down at my hands with that gun...
Wachsmann
Well-Known Member
My wife has a tikka t3 light in a 243. The recoil was a little bit more than what I expected from a 243 but she has got used to it. It is her first gun. Sometimes I wish I would of went with the 7-08 because it can be used on elk at average ranges with no issues. The 243 is great and she can drive it out to 600yrds with a little coaching. This is her first rifle and she probably does not have 50 bullets down the barrel as of now. It shot good from day 1. But if I had to do it again I might would of went with the a 7-08 for a first rifle. I also have a 6.5x284. Not sure were the recoil lies on that one. The tikka t3 lights are very light so it did surprise me the first time I shot it. Not that it was bad because I also have a 300 ultra mag but it was just not expected. I had a friend with a savage bull barrel 26 inch in a 243 that had almost no recoil because the rifle was heavy, So weight helps alot.
"When I used to work for the locally-owned outdoors store (not one of the local big-box stores), I can't tell you how many customers I sold 7mm-08's to for their wives or kids to use as their first deer rifle. I never once had anyone come back and trade it in for something smaller with less recoil...Everyone of them we sold, the customers would come back in for ammo or something else, and would always talk to us, and they all loved them."
I have a friend that has owned a gun store for 34 years and he could say the same thing as above except it would be the 260 Rem.
If you hand load you can load the 125 Nosler ballistic tip with 46 grs IMR 4895 in a 308 Win rifle and get about the same recoil as the 7-08 or 260 and it kills deer like lightening struck them. I use this bullet in all my 30 cals for deer. Just keep the impact velocity under 3000 fps and it really works on deer.
I have a friend that has owned a gun store for 34 years and he could say the same thing as above except it would be the 260 Rem.
If you hand load you can load the 125 Nosler ballistic tip with 46 grs IMR 4895 in a 308 Win rifle and get about the same recoil as the 7-08 or 260 and it kills deer like lightening struck them. I use this bullet in all my 30 cals for deer. Just keep the impact velocity under 3000 fps and it really works on deer.
MudRunner2005
Well-Known Member
For my 7mm-08 I load using Nosler 140 AB's, with 39.0gr of Varget for my starting load. I'll probably give 40.0 a try next loading.
You could load some Berger 140 VLD's with 39.0gr of Varget and that would be an excellent deer load, too.
Only reason I didn't use Bergers is b/c I don't have any 140's (just 168's and 180's), and that gun has always been sighted in from the very beginning for 139-140gr bullets.
You could load some Berger 140 VLD's with 39.0gr of Varget and that would be an excellent deer load, too.
Only reason I didn't use Bergers is b/c I don't have any 140's (just 168's and 180's), and that gun has always been sighted in from the very beginning for 139-140gr bullets.
MudRunner2005
Well-Known Member
The 6mm Remington is also a good caliber for beginners. It has virtually no recoil at all. I shot one at the range when I was a kid. I wanted one, but was glad I got the 7mm-08 instead b/c of the larger bullet diameter.
Outlaw6.0
Well-Known Member
In reference to the question you actually asked.
The .243 is a ***** cat, always has been & always will be. For a first time and/or small framed shooter, the .243 is always atop my list. In comparison, (similar weight rifles) the Creed will always recoil more, heavier bullet similar case capacity= more boot. Would I have difficulty with introducing a new shooter to the 'Creed? No. There isn't THAT much difference. The 'Creed will also have more knock down power.... it's always a compromise.
You mentioned deer & light recoil. I'm going to go out on a llimb & assume that the ranges will be moderate? At moderate ranges, there is nothing the 'Creed (or 7mm-08 for that matter) can/will do to a deer or for the shooter that the .243 cannot. If/when the range increases, I would opt for the heavier bullet & more punch of the larger calibers.
I own several 6mm bores & just ordered my second 6.5. I've killed more critters with 6mm bore rifles than my 6.5's, 30's & .338's put together & have never felt undergunned. Shooter confidence is the key to the game, if dropping down to the .243 makes your wife more confident & gets her out shooting more often, the decision is very easy to make.
t
jimbires
Well-Known Member
Joe King
Well-Known Member
I whole heartedly agree with the 243 for new shooters! My GF used my 243 last year to take her 1st deer, I have since gotten her a 25-06. I'm not worried about her tolerating recoil since she can handle the 7mag just fine (actually she liked it). I did make sure to ask folks I know that have various makes in 25-06 about how their rifles transferred recoil.
One other thing you want to think about is the stock on some factory rifles. I don't know if the stocks on the newer savages have gotten better yet or not, but on the pre accutrigger savages getting a decent stock makes the rifles night and day better.
). I did make sure to ask folks I know that have various makes in 25-06 about how their rifles transferred recoil.One other thing you want to think about is the stock on some factory rifles. I don't know if the stocks on the newer savages have gotten better yet or not, but on the pre accutrigger savages getting a decent stock makes the rifles night and day better.
