seeking advice on bolt actions in .243 win

[kmrcstintn]

I want to redo my rifle collection and the first order of business is a good quality bolt action in .243 Winchester; I'm not the best rifle shooter and I want: 1) a low recoil caliber; 2) a traditional caliber (ammo availability & I do not reload yet); 3) a dual purpose caliber (varmint to medium game); {the first 3 criteria are met with .243 winchester} 4) a good quality & accurate bolt action rifle; 5) my budget for rifle & scope will be @ $750

what do I get and why?

 

[Colt46]

I've got a couple good choices for you

Stevens 200
A no frills Savage without the Accutrigger. Known to be quite accurate and a lot of rifle for your money.

Savage
Still under your budget and people rave about how good the Accutrigger is.

Howa 1500
Made by the same company in Japan that produces weatherby. Very good weatherby clone(sort of) for a good price.

 

[Radagast]

Another vote for the Howa. I've a fair bit of experience with the .223 variants, I plan to by a .243 this year.

 

[OK-gobbler]

I would say Savage w/accu-trigger. You choose the model.
12 for a heavier varmint gun
10 for standard weight
16 comes in a syn/stainless I think

These will be $425-500 depending on model. That leaves you with $200-300 for optics. Maybe a burris FFII 4.5-14x42. They can about $289 at natchezss.com

 

[Hokkmike]

I like the .243 but I would go a little bigger for medium (deer?) game. Not that it is not adequate but just that it is not ideal. A .260 or 7mm .08 would do you better.

But, you should have no troubke getting a great bolt for your price! Personally, I would go for a used SAKO.

 

[Smitty in CT]

Mossberg 100ATR in Walnut, great guns, based on the Howa Action. You can get the gun for less than $300 and then spend the rest on a nice scope.

 

[MinScout]

I'm looking for a .243 this year, as well. Something light and handy with iron sights. Possibly a Remington Model 7 or Ruger 77 International. I have never used a sub .30 cal for deer hunting and I want to see for myself if the little pills are up to the task.

 

[kieran]

I'm looking for a .243 this year, as well. Something light and handy with iron sights. Possibly a Remington Model 7 or Ruger 77 International. I have never used a sub .30 cal for deer hunting and I want to see for myself if the little pills are up to the task.

243Win has enough knockdown power in the right loadings. its a versatile chambering.

 

[Sniper X]

I have had a Savage model 110CL, left handed bolt gun in .243 and loved it. I only sold it to build a PSS or SWS in 7.62mm Nato. I really miss the rifle, it was super accurate, and stone reliable.

 

[mustanger98]

I recommend a Savage Model 11G which has the AccuTrigger. I have the 11GL in .243Winchester and it shoots quite well. Mine has sights on the barrel... soon as I can, and I've been talking about this for quite a while, I intend to mount the Williams Foolproof on it because I just generally like apertures better than scopes. Last I knew, to get the rifle was only a few dollars over $400. While the Foolproof with target knobs isn't that much more money, you can add whatever price for the scope, bases, and rings... that can run higher than the cost of the rifle.

 

[ZeSpectre]

My understanding is the Savage 11G is supposed to be good. In .243 Winchester my all time favorite is a Remington 760 (or now 7600) but that's a pump not a lever.

 

[MrDig]

I would recommend the Savage Rifles the 10 or 11 series, I think the 110 or 111 are Long Action Calibers.
Weatherby Vangaurd /Howa Lightenings 1500's (basicly the same rifle) are good rifles in your Price range too.
Not a Fan of the Remingtons but lots of people shoot 700's stay away from 710's

 

[kmrcstintn]

thanks all...found my choice

Winchester 70 Coyote .243 Winchester w/ stainless heavy barrel & heavy bench brown laminated stock; added Leupold bases and rings; transferred a Nikon Buckmasters 3 - 9 x 40 scope from another rifle I used to have (I'll invest in a good quality high magnification scope later on after my skill level allows me to go beyond 100 yards); I traded off a Beretta 92 that was redundant to my revolvers and a Remington 7600 in .30-06 that ended up being my least favorite rifle of all time (kept the Sightron SI 3 - 9 x 40 scope for a project later on)

asking on the rifle was $679.99; rings and bases were @ $42; base trade in quote was $665 + tax credit; I only shelled over $67 above trade-in and tax credit; bought some Federal Fusion 95 gr .243 Winchester ammo to get started; I have in-store credit at 2 other shops that I'll use tomorrow to obtain more ammo (hopefully more Fusion; if not, I'll just get Federal power Shok 100 grain for blasting stuff while I do research into reloading data so I can get dies, bullets, powder, and primers for my friends bench and make a nice spitzer or ballistic tip load)

later in the year, I'm turning back the clock a bit and ordering a basic Marlin 336A in .30-30 like I had before selling it to get money for a move; I'll use the Marlin for my thumpin' in the woods rifle to fill the gap between the .243 Win and the 12 ga slug barrel that I have for my Remington 870

 

[bluedsteel]

Congrats on your .243 purchase. The Winchester 70 is a fine rifle. Just note that .243's can be finicky with ammo. I know, I have had three of them.

Be sure you try a variety of ammo before you throw in the towel. The Fed Fusion ammo worked well in my latest .243, as did the lower priced WW 100 gr. Power Point, and the Federal Supreme 100 gr. BTSP.

I had poor luck with all my rifles with Rem. Core-Lokt, in all weights. The least finicky of my .243 was my Ruger 77 Varmint. My Sako and my Steyr are very choosy.

Great caliber, overall.


bluedsteel

 

[Sniper X]

I worked up some handloads that were in the 1/2~3/4moa in average conditions. Tht with a 20in cut and crowned barrel.

 

[nyresq]

a remington model seven with a leupold vx2 or vx3 depending on the type of scope you want... accurate, dependable, light enough to carry all day, and parts available everywhere.

the 700 sps is another option if you want a heavier action, but the model 7 is tried and true.