7mm-08

[Alberta Ed]

My personal all-round choice is the .30-06, with handloads (Speer Grand Slam). However, given proper shot placement (and if you can't place a shot, don't shoot) the .243 is an amazingly effective cartridge on soft-skinned game including moose and black bear, given a bullet of adequate construction, as I noted. In the Yukon, locals (aboriginal, that is) use .22's to take caribou at close range.

 

[338375]

My personal all-round choice is the .30-06, with handloads (Speer Grand Slam). However, given proper shot placement (and if you can't place a shot, don't shoot) the .243 is an amazingly effective cartridge on soft-skinned game including moose and black bear, given a bullet of adequate construction, as I noted. In the Yukon, locals (aboriginal, that is) use .22's to take caribou at close range.

There have been many Moose tipped over by the old 6.5 too

 

[black mamba]

I shot 3 whitetails last year with my 30-06 handloads of the 165 Remington Core-Lokt spitzer at a modest 2650-2700 fps muzzle velocity. 2 shot at 75 and 135 yds with high shoulder shots dropped instantly into fetal position with all 4 legs pulled up to torso, instant kills. The third was shot at around 60 yds just behind the shoulder and took two jumps before expiring 25 yds from where shot, about 3 seconds after impact.

Mike is absolutely correct as to quick kills: shot placement #1, and bullet construction #2. Caliber makes less difference now than 20 or more years ago before the advent of so many premium bullets. The original premium, the Nosler Partition, is still a great killer over a wide spectrum of velocities, which cannot be said of all the premium bullets out there. Many of the newer designs require high velocity to keep from acting more or less like a solid. The Partition does not. It opens nicely at standard velocities and penetrates deeply.

 

[Planetcat]

I shot 3 whitetails last year with my 30-06 handloads of the 165 Remington Core-Lokt spitzer at a modest 2650-2700 fps muzzle velocity. 2 shot at 75 and 135 yds with high shoulder shots dropped instantly into fetal position with all 4 legs pulled up to torso, instant kills. The third was shot at around 60 yds just behind the shoulder and took two jumps before expiring 25 yds from where shot, about 3 seconds after impact.

Mike is absolutely correct as to quick kills: shot placement #1, and bullet construction #2. Caliber makes less difference now than 20 or more years ago before the advent of so many premium bullets. The original premium, the Nosler Partition, is still a great killer over a wide spectrum of velocities, which cannot be said of all the premium bullets out there. Many of the newer designs require high velocity to keep from acting more or less like a solid. The Partition does not. It opens nicely at standard velocities and penetrates deeply.

It's nice to hear that there is still interest in the Nosler partition. I find myself getting caught up in all the new bullet styles, and now have "no lead" restrictions in some zones, but the N.P. still has a fantastic design and expansion properties. It's too bad that a lot of the ammo companies are getting caught up in the hype of plastic tipped, super flat bullets with "controlled" expansion, many of which I've seen pass straight through deer and hogs with very small exit wounds. If I could find NP ammo at a decent price (i.e. not $50/box), I'd buy a ton of it. Never heard anyone complain about them not being accurate out of their rifle either. I guess I could just reload and have whatever I wanted.

 

[Ridge-Runner]

I'm a 308 fan myself, so I would go with the 7/08. Never owned one but that will be my sons first rifle. We are going to get matching Thompson Centers engraved. Cant wait hes got another couple of years b4 we get em. But as of late I've been strictly bowhunting. 243 is an awesome rifle and accurate as they get, but as others have stated it just a lil on the light side for my tastes.

 

[Mannlicher]

the .243 and the 7mm/08 are both necked down .308 Winchesters. Both kill anything from small game to large animals. Ability to hit your target is more important than any other consideration between these two.