I am looking to up the caliber size my wife is shooting for hogs. She is currently shooting a 243, I would like to upsize her a little without overwhelming her with the kick. What do you suggest?

7mm-08.

308 or 270 but if you hunt in tx only no need for anything bigger

7-08, 260 or 6.5 creedmore

What are you trying to accomplish? What can a 7mm-08 accomplish that a .243 cant? or a 260 Remington? you are talking a .243" bullet vs. a .284" bullet or a .264" bullet. You are talking about a fraction of a tenth of an inch.

What problem are you having with your .243? Lots of people kill hogs with .223's.

I'd rather invest $300 in ammo to shoot than in a rifle.

What Chris said. What ammo are you currently using, shoot them with 100 gr remy core-lokts.

Unless she just wants another, 7mm-08, 25-06, .270, .270 wsm or something else

x2

Chris42 you make good points, but she has been shooting my 243 and we are giving her own gun. I was a little hessitante to buy another 243 since we had one. I was having the same issues with selection. What will that one do that a 243 would not. That is why I possed the question was to get some imput. But I think I am going to stay with another 243 and we can share the ammo, instead of having to locate and buy another caliber that does the same thing. Any reasons that is a bad idea. Mainly want a riffle that she is going to be comortable with and not be afraid to pull the trigger.

The 7mm08 with the 140 managed recoil bullets has less recoil than the 243 IMO. I have both calibers.

I'm not sure how big your wife is but mine is pretty tiny, 5'2" approx 115-120lbs.

Point being, you'd be surprised how much someone can handle with the right set up. She shoots a 243 and took her first deer wiit it this weekend. She can shoot my 30-06 fairly comfortably as well. She won't sit on a bench sighting in and make dope charts with it but she can easily shoot about 6-9 shots to make sure she's comfortable with the rifle right before a hunt.

I encourage you to find out whether it is something she can hanle something larger. Ask around if others ya'll know will let ya'll shoot a few through their caliber. I agree with others that if you have a 243 available to ya'll, then why not get something noticeably "larger" that serves as the big rifle of the house like a 308 or 270?
If i were in your situation assuming it is primarily for hunting, then get either a 308 or a long action 270/30-06. If she don't, then that can be your rifle and she can use the 243 as her regular if that is something she likes. It's all in the family so what does it really matter?

A side note on the caliber, sounds like you don't a bunch of rifles in different calibers. For now I HIGHLY suggest sticking to what I always call Wally world calibers. If Walmart near you don't carry is regularly, then I would consider another. Stuff like 260, 6.5 anything, and Weatherby anything and others of the like are cool but just a bit of a pain unless you reload or don't care about spend a little extra time looking for ammo.

This^^^

7mm-08, 25-06 or 270 should fill the requirement just fine.

Your scenario has 7-08 written all over it IMO.

I think you have answered your question and you are correct. Might ask her. Back in the 60's the 243 was touted as the perfect Texas gun for those people who were good shooters.

I had a 7-08 and loved the caliber but I didn't reload, and it wasn't always easy to find ammo.
I've got a .243 now and it's much easier to find ammo just about anywhere. Some areas may be different when it comes to ammo availability, but that is one thing to consider.
So the moral of the story is if you don't reload, it might be better to stick with the same caliber you already have.

.270

6.5, 257wby, 260 if your not worried about ammo... just like the fact that anyone will have .270, 25-06 etc.. im just not a big fan of 30cals

7mm-08 or 30-30 or 35 Remmington or 25-06 or 308 or 6.5x55 Sweede or 303 British. Just because it will give you another caliber to shoot as well! You know, "Honey, I'm so glad you're spending time with me, I'll spend as much as I have to. Just to make sure you're happy!"

Wrong, wrong, wrong!

.25-06

Have you slipped a cog, Bobo?

7mm-08, is my choice, 140 gr bullet and she is set

Most underestimate Lady's and their capacity s to handle weapons. No Husband should teach his wife anything if he likes his home as is. We have older and younger ladies shooting Skeet with 10-13 lb O/U Shotguns and beating the pants off Men. A 308 is a good round and usually accurate in multiple applications. One word of caution. Lady's tend to be more designer conscious rather than function. That's definitely your job. Assuming she's not going to be stalk hunting I'd make sure its something that will shoot. With good bullets anything from a 25-06 up will work with proper shot placement !