7mm-08, .243, or the good ole .308?

[junkyguns]

Originally Posted by Big country

And another reason I'm leaning towards the 243 is that my wife might take over this rifle when I get my 30-06 finished.

my wife shoots a browning a bolt in 7mm-08 to date she still hasn't had to learn about tracking a wonded animal with the correct ammo you can take almost anything this country has to offer as a game animal , with 140 gr hornady a-max bullets it will drop a white tail in its tracks

[M. Sage]

You're lucky: A-max is a match bullet for putting holes in paper, not a hunting bullet.

[Texas1911]

Originally Posted by M. Sage

You're lucky: A-max is a match bullet for putting holes in paper, not a hunting bullet.

I don't think it's luck so much as a well placed shot on a Texas white tail from anything above a .22 LR is going to kill it.

[Texas1911]

If you are going to choose a non-standard "Walmart" caliber then I would get a 6.5x284, 260 Remington, or any of the much better calibers than 7mm-08.

Honestly, if you are considering a 7mm-08 then you should just get the .308. Ammo is available everywhere in every configuration known to man, and honestly there is absolutely no significant advantage to the 7mm-08 in terms of recoil or ballistics. Even if you go with the .308 you can install a muzzle brake and it will make it shoot very soft.

If you absolutely want a 7mm, then buy the best short action one on the market, the .284. You can go to a 6mm or 6.5mm bullet later on if you want better accuracy, using the same case. The .284 is superior to the 7mm-08 in every regard.

[Texas42]

Originally Posted by Texas1911

I don't think it's luck so much as a well placed shot on a Texas white tail from anything above a .22 LR is going to kill it.

Yeah. . . for better or for worse, Texas deer are . . . . well lets just say they aren't Texas sized for the most part.

[Texas1911]

Originally Posted by Texas42

Yeah. . . for better or for worse, Texas deer are . . . . well lets just say they aren't Texas sized for the most part.

We might have had Texas sized deer at some point... but then firearms came around, and well ... Humanicus Redneckicus + Firewater + Firearm = Yeah.

We need to import some more elk, mules, etc.

[junkyguns]

I really hate to hear that the a-max is merly a target bullet for dan
g sure there wont be any targets walking away if the a-max can put an exit wound in a deer that you can hide an apple in imagine what it will do to a target !
accuaracy is the key to any hunting bullet and the a-max has been one of the most constantly accurate bullets I have sent down range in a target situation or in hunting, if you send a b-b at deer at near 3000 fps i bet he would go down as long as the shot placement was good ! plus they are devistating on coons that rob your feeders !
if you have access to some ballistic gel fire one into the recovered bullet expands just as any other "hunting bullet" will.
I have loaded many rounds for this caliber from sierra,nosler ,remington,and berger the hornady has been the best through my rifle so far. and you just can't argue with meat in the freezer !

[junkyguns]

Humanicus Redneckicus + Firewater + Firearm = Yeah.
you forgot + spot light in the equation !

[Texas1911]

Originally Posted by junkyguns

Humanicus Redneckicus + Firewater + Firearm = Yeah.
you forgot + spot light in the equation !

Before the days of spot lights. Back in the "you'd better use the silk waddings for this one" era.

[Texas1911]

Originally Posted by junkyguns

if you have access to some ballistic gel fire one into the recovered bullet expands just as any other "hunting bullet" will.

I have loaded many rounds for this caliber from sierra,nosler ,remington,and berger the hornady has been the best through my rifle so far. and you just can't argue with meat in the freezer !

I think it has more to do with inconsistent performance. It's still a 160+ grain projectile, but the risk of bullet failure is higher with a bullet designed for match shooting compared to hunting.

The A-Max is essentially the same as the V-Max, just in heavier match weights and with greater tolerance control. The SST is the same bullet as the A-Max just with a "lock ring" to help keep the jacket and core intact.

Honestly the A-Max is viable for hunting, it's vastly different in design compared to a Sierra Match King.