Get him the 7mm-08 use Hornady Custom Lite ammo, 139gr SST, great bullet great load. My daughters Go To killa

Buy this ammo at cabelas

Id rather shoot a 243 with quality bullet than a 7mm08 with an sst.

I've shot a few deer and many hogs with a 139SST never had one lost.

I'm not slamming the TTSX, just saying it typically makes a smaller wound channel than a cup and core if no bone is encountered.

I agree it is a great choice for smaller calibers where penetration is paramount.

Grab a couple 80gr TTSX in that 257wby. Hint don't get with in 5" of the shoulders. Even not hitting them offside will be blood shot...

i used a 243 for many years got an exit 95 percent of the time of those 95 percent were in and out holes but internally they were mush, lungs being liquified. right on par with every other caliber ive used. even the 708 left in and out pin holes. sometimes i think the 243 did more internal damage than the 708 with 140 gr bullets.
i wouldnt opt for a tsx if you want bigger holes, you want a bigger hole get a hollow point or a balistic tip. the 85 gr sierra game king hollow point loaded by federal is bad medicine.
heres a plain ol cup and core.







when i was using a 708 i wasnt impressed with what the 139-140 gr was doing so i tried 120s pushed fast. heres those results

My older son used the same rifle when he was 8-12yo and we lost a couple of deer because he didn't get good shot placement because there was no blood trail. All of the deer he ever shot with the 243 was with core lokt's and the insides were almost always completely destroyed, I don't remember but one that left a decent blood trail. Lockley we had a little Fox Terrier that tracked really good...

Good ole SGK!

i find it ironic people here want hp bullets for their 9 but then want a steel bullet for hunting

Major problem is getting deer to run into tree after shooting and then run back to where it was when the bullet struck. My technique has been all wrong.

Just switch bullets as previously stated. I had my friend shoot an ibex nanny and a sika doe with 100gr CoreLockts and the ibex was DRT. The sika doe was a low gut shot (bad light-dusk-new hunter, "buck" fever), but he did nick vitals, and she was down within 40yd. Followed up with a beauty of a head shot.

I don't think you should be having problems with 243. Maybe try shooting behind the shoulder, tucked close, or neck/shoulder joint?

Then again, you could just use this as an excuse to buy a 7mm-08.

Looks like this thread has been beaten to death already, but I'll add my 2 cents. I've taken a dozen or so deer with a .243 shooting a 95 grain Partition and only recovered one bullet. All others were pass-through and a couple of those were through both shoulders. Most ran less than 30 yards.

ive taken truck loads of deer and hog with every bullet ranging from 17 gr to 180 gr never thought i needed a bigger caliber or better bullet.
it aint the arrow its the indian

22 hornet 45 gr small doe 40 yds. small exit but blood shot all the way to the hind.








22 hornet to the neck of a hog.

243 entrance

210 yds at 8 years of age with a 243 come one guys theyre not bullet proof

CUSTOM LITE 129 GR SST

on a standard caliber dont be putting bonded ttsx partitions etc in them and even then shoot a cup and core in your magnum at the distances it was designed for 300 plus yds and your standard bullet will work

X2. I've killed 15 or so animals with a 22-250. This ran from rabbits/fox to red deer/Nilgai/oryx. All were DRT cept a goat nanny that took like 5 steps and a BB doe that was just bad shot that I followed up with a head shot. I've used Silvertips, Nosler BTs, soft/spire points, power points, and VMAXs. Shot placement is everything

Oh Lordy....

X2

Try Berger bullets. I shoot 95 gr. Bergers in my 243 and the doe I shot was DRT.

If you reload, you can load a 7-08 with a 120 grain bullet down to about 2500 fps and recoil will be about the same as a factory .243 load. If you don't reload, Remington makes a reduced recoil load that would work well.

I started my son with a reduced 120 grain load and can confirm that it'll kill deer quick without much recoil. Good luck!

As far as 7-08 being too much gun, if it's an option get him to shoot a friends and see how he handles it. I started with a 25-06 at 4yo and was shooting a 300 Jarrett around your sons age. Everyone handles recoil a little different.

+1