Should I get a Mossberg .243 Whitetail Lightning?

[reloader-1]

Heres the situation:

I have a .308 Savage Euro Classic, and am picking up a .223 Weatherby Vanguard Sporter.

I'd like to have a .243 "beater" for small game and to see if I would like to buy .243 Savage Euro Classic (about $800 or so). However, my budget doesn't allow me to buy that at this time.

I have about $400-450, and I saw a .243 Mossberg ATR Whitetail Lightning at Dick's - $349. It has a nice Monte Carlo comb wood stock (big plus for me) and feels "right." I know the claims that ATRs have had bolt problems, but have never seen any proof.

That being said, should I or should I not buy it?

 

[ms6852]

I never settle for anything. I always buy exactly what I want. If I don't have the money than I wait and save. Seems to me that you already have a very good deer and elk rifle in the 308. Why not continue to build up on the $400 or $450 that you have and buy the .243 Savage Euro Classic. Does not make sense to me that you would want to buy a low budget rifle in a .243 just to see if that is the rifle you want for small game when you already have a 223. The 243 advantage is that it's a straight shooter can and will definitely bring down small game further away than your 223. The .243 is an excellent deer rifle as well as a long range rifle to 1000 yards. Just make sure you have the correct rifle twist which is 1/7.5 to 1/8 which will stabilize the heavy 115 grain DTAC's.
The draw back is the rifle barrel life is like 2000 rounds it is very short.

 

[Abel]

If you want a beater, get a Savage Edge or Stevens 200.

 

[natman]

The Stevens 200 or the Marlin XS7 would be a better bet in that price range.

 

[reloader-1]

I went back to Dicks...

and gave in to the pressure. The price was only $319, and it has a very nice wood stock and the action feels great. Has the "LBA" trigger which feels like my Savage. I'll take it out to the range and let you know how it feels.

My logic is the $400 or so saved on this can be plunked down for a custom Savage Euro Classic in .223, so I win both ways!

 

[rangerruck]

I like the newer model atr's, no mention of probs, and that trigger is supposed to be pretty schwing...

 

[Art Eatman]

Issue is settled.