rifle for new youth hunter, .357 mag, 44 mag or 243.

Hookeye said:

I like using enough oomph to get the job done at various angles.
And don't mind blasting a shoulder in doing so.
Buck around here usually dress 150-200#.
We had one on cam two yrs ago, got shot over a mile south, dressed 230#.
So some big ones around LOL

Click to expand...

Normal "big" buck where I am tend to be at or just over 200. (Weighed not eyeballed) We have some of the bigger deer in NC. Crap land to walk on though. So shots are not crazy long (or really long at all). No high powered rifle will struggle with a whitetail here. And people spend thousands and drive hours to come here.

Nice to have an update. I'd be interested to know how the 7.62×39 does.

I'd figure out what one they shoot the best, with suitable ammunition and then ask them, what one they would pick.

If its not the one they do the best with, I'd ask why and see if it made sense.

243 with 85 grain Sierra BTHPs.

1st deer 120 yard shot. 10 years old




His deer this past season. Same 243, same load on a HUGE Roman nosed old Muley buck. Shot…. 40 yards chest on. He hit the ground and never moved. 12 years old



1st antelope this past season. Same 243, same load and a 310 yard one shot drop.



This isn’t counting his 15 year old brothers pics. I can add those too. He is on 14 one shot kills in a row.

The point is, when we practice, it’s off the bench and we shoot little bitty rocks, prairie dogs out to 300 yards. They never shoot from a bench, I do that to zero or work loads. We shoot A LOT, and I tried talking them into trying my 22/250 for an antelope. Nope, They wouldn’t take a million bucks for their XBolt 243.

We have killed so many big, rutted up mule deer (250 +/- pounds) with that 85 grain load over the years I’m not even concerned. Practice, be picket when you shoot and you will have years of enjoyment.

A few more:

Ironically my oldest son shot his first deer with a 30/30! 125 grain Sierra BTHP and 120 yards.



And here is how they practice!

Art30/30 said:

Ironically my oldest son shot his first deer with a 30/30! 125 grain Sierra BTHP and 120 yards.

View attachment 1201305

And here is how they practice!

View attachment 1201306

Click to expand...

My oldest(16) saw a bench for the first time about 6 months ago, in a store, and decided it must be for lazy people , I educated her on the uses of benches and while she accepted it, she retained a skeptical look until we left that part of the store and she found something that struck her interest.

Bearcat1982 said:

wanted to revisit this thread, went a different direction than 44. mag. bought a Ruger American GEN II 7.62x39. and if its a hit I may buy another, and one in 5.56/.223. I have enjoyed my .308 GEN I and am very impressed with these new ones. Ill get some pics up in a day or two once I settle on an optic.

Click to expand...

The 7.62x39 will work great as a deer rifle, I have a CZ 527 in that caliber. It's a great walking around gun and perfectly adequate for shots out to around 150-200 yards on deer size game. Mine really likes the Tula 154 SP ammo, S&B 123 SP, and Hornady Black 123 SST. It will shoot the Tula and S&B into 1-1.5 inch five shots groups and the Hornady into .75-1 inch groups at 100 yards, though the Tula and S&B have a few fliers here and there.

I am another on the side of the 243. The 357 is a good play around rifle with 38 special that can be used for deer up to a point. 44 mag can do the same with more expense and a little farther point. In my area I wouldn't even consider either of the pistol calibers but not everyone has the distances I have to deal with. If equipped with a pistol caliber rifle I would have to only stood and looked at the largest deer I ever took. Although I used a 30-06 the 243 would have got him.