I have the .243 bug: what's the cure? AR? Remi 760?

[Col. Plink]

I want a .243

I just saw an ad for a Winchester lever-action .243 for $1000 that seemed like a deal for anything that freakin' cool.

I'm thinking if I ever built an AR-platform gun it would be a .243, to knock out two gaps in my collection at once (and it seems like it would be a great match). Do such things exist? Anybody out there have one?

Did the Reminton 760 ever come in .243? (I'm guessing not, but instead in 6mm).

I'm almost down to buying a breech-loader just to satisfy this .243 jones...

Any thoughts? Thanks!

 

[BushyGuy]

lever action in .243 win?!!!! now thats something new i have heard!

 

[Col. Plink]

I know, I hadn't either and I don't have a lever gun or a .243 and I really wish I could knock those problems out with such a cool piece. I'll see if I can find the url...

http://texasguntrader.com/index.php?a=2&b=54343

Gosh, is it OK to be so enraptured with the looks of a firearm? Gee willikers!

 

[rangerruck]

remmy did the 7400 in 243, and the 742, but i would get the 7400 instead. Now for totall baddassedness; winny did several years ago, a lever and a semi, looked like the same rifle; a mod 88, and I can't remember the other- maybe a 100- in 243. remmy also did some fabulous bolties in 721, 788, and the 600/660/mohawk in 243. dpms does an ar in 243.check out the winny;
you can find these in gunshows, at 1/2 the price...
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=165129324#PIC
here is the semi, mod 100
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=164092923

 

[dakotasin]

there's also the remington r-25 in 243...

when i went on a 243 binge i ended up w/ a couple ruger bolt actions (vt and frontier), and then i went hunting with the frontier. seems to me that shooting a deer w/ the frontier cured me of any further 243 desires...

 

[Onmilo]

Remington Model Seven or Winchester Model 70 Featherweight will reignite your interest.
A friend of mine owns an Armalite AR10 in .243.
Very nice, very accurate, reliable, and somewhat heavy.

 

[stownsend]

The Sako Finnwolf is another lever action 243. My dad had one and it is a beautiful gun, if you can find one. Looks a lot like that Winchester. Such a smooth gun, the lever practically opens itself and you just close it.

 

[W.E.G.]

.243 DPMS or Remington will be a tack driver, and will offer the option of adding uppers in other calibers.

 

[longdayjake]

The cure is to shoot or buy a .25-06 or .260

Just kidding.

I dont see the lever action being very safe for a .243 as the bullets will most likely be pointy.

Never mind I see its mag fed. Kinda small lever isnt it?

 

[Fremmer]

Nah, ya gotta do what I want to do (I don't have the funds, though):

Get a BAR lightweight stalker in .243. Put a fixed 4x on it, used as deer gun in the timber/brush. Fast, accurate follow up shots as needed in a very light package!

 

[Legionnaire]

Remington definitely made the newer 7600 in .243 ... not sure about the 760. I'm a bolt action guy, so I get my fix from a heavy varmint barrel 700 BDL and a Model Seven carbine that serves as my walkaround rifle.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

What about...

The Browning BLR *Take-down* lever-action rifle in .243 is now made - That'd be interesting.

An AR10 type would be awesome, as you mention.

A lot of makers are now offering what is marketed as "Coyote" or "Predator" versions of their turnbolts - these are semi-lightweight and handy rifles, but with a bit thicker barrel, usually already camo'ed up, if you like that, and usually accurized to the extent possible under their price point.

Get a BAR lightweight stalker in .243. Put a fixed 4x on it, used as deer gun in the timber/brush. Fast, accurate follow up shots as needed in a very light package!

Also not a half bad little plan.

A pump would work too, though not my choice.

As for me, the only .243 I have left is a T/C Icon "Original Medium Action" - I'd be in heaven if it had a fixed mag on it instead of a detachable. Its 24" bbl wrings out the performance from the .243 Win.

 

[millertyme]

check out the conversions on www.accuracysystemsinc.com to get some ideas of what's out there.

 

[Abel]

Savage 99 came in 243. That or the 760 pump would cure the itch fer sure.

Savage 99:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=164358308

Here is that Winny 88:

 

[Col. Plink]

Sounds like I already have an addiction support group out there waiting!

I think I'd like to go with the Remi 760/7600. The stainless match-grade barrel with the laminate stock on that website is gorgeous!

 

[Cajun]

You sure it was a winchester lever action they haven't made lever actions for quite some time and they never made one in .243 that I know of!!!

 

[Abel]

You sure it was a winchester lever action they haven't made lever actions for quite some time and they never made one in .243 that I know of!!!

The 308 was more common in the Winchester Model 88, but it did come in a 243.

http://www.gunsandammo.com/content/winchester-model-88

Here is a real live 88 in 243 cal.:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=165186830

 

[Cajun]

Thank you Abel for clearing that up for me I did not know that..... learn something new everyday!!!

 

[NG VI]

I'm almost down to buying a breech-loader just to satisfy this .243 jones...

Just curious...

What other type of firearm would you get in .243?

 

[rangerruck]

... I am kinda diggin on Fremmer's idea, though I still like my remmy and winny ideas.

 

[Col. Plink]

Damn this weakling computer of mine!

I meant to say:

I'd go with a lever gun (per the OP and the url I posted), or another Remi760 (becuase I love the idea and sound of a pump rifle). If I could afford a Browning I'd already have one. I think, given the choice, I'd like to have a Winchester in .243Winchester; a lever because I'm missing one.

More likely I'd go with building an AR in .243 considering the cost/benefit analysis...

 

[Fremmer]

I've used a BLR in .243, and it worked very well. Slick action and accurate. Find one used! Or just start with building an AR, you can start with a lower and build up as funds permit. Good luck!

I still want the Browning lightweight stalker, though. Sigh........:banghead:

 

[Toml]

There was a Belgium-made Browning BLR in .243 advertised on one of these forums this week. That would be a rare bird. Newer ones are made for Browning by Miroku in Japan. Also very nice, handy rifles, though I don't care for the epoxy finish on the newer ones.