elkyinzer
WKR
I decided I am going to sell my Sako .270. It's too nice a gun for me. It's a beautiful piece. I hardly even gun hunt, maybe once every 3 years or so, and when I do I am afraid to get a scratch on the thing which does not jive very well with the places I like to hunt. Mostly for whitetail, but I would like it to be varmint and black bear capable. Moreso varmints as I would like to start chasing coyotes more. I guess being elk capable is the only reason I am considering the 308 but I don't see myself rifle hunting them, I am addicted to chasing them with a bow.
With the money I'll get for it, I am planning on buying a cheaper rifle to replace it, and a new shotgun. So I am thinking I will get a Tikka T3 stainless. They seem solid and dependable and I won't have to baby it as much. I don't reload, don't want to, and really I am just a bowhunter who picks up a gun once in awhile...400 yards is my absolute max and I much prefer under 200.
With all that said. I am stuck on caliber and would like to hear some thoughts. I like the 308/7mm/243 family. My family all shoots 243, I shot one for a few years to start out, and I have seen them kill a whole lot of deer. But I may want the versatility of a little heavier bullet.
Most importantly, I also want this gun to be my kids' first deer gun and that's why I am strongly considering 243. Is the 7mm08 or 308 likely to be too heavy for a 10-12 year old kid? I am thinking the 7mm08 is a good compromise but it may still be too heavy and it seems off the shelf ammo can be harder to find? Any insights?
With the money I'll get for it, I am planning on buying a cheaper rifle to replace it, and a new shotgun. So I am thinking I will get a Tikka T3 stainless. They seem solid and dependable and I won't have to baby it as much. I don't reload, don't want to, and really I am just a bowhunter who picks up a gun once in awhile...400 yards is my absolute max and I much prefer under 200.
With all that said. I am stuck on caliber and would like to hear some thoughts. I like the 308/7mm/243 family. My family all shoots 243, I shot one for a few years to start out, and I have seen them kill a whole lot of deer. But I may want the versatility of a little heavier bullet.
Most importantly, I also want this gun to be my kids' first deer gun and that's why I am strongly considering 243. Is the 7mm08 or 308 likely to be too heavy for a 10-12 year old kid? I am thinking the 7mm08 is a good compromise but it may still be too heavy and it seems off the shelf ammo can be harder to find? Any insights?