Looking for a quality .243 rifle

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17 May 2015, 12:01

Brian564

Looking for a quality .243 rifle

Looking for recommendations on a bolt action rifle in .234 win caliber that has a nice walnut stock, smooth bolt cycling, reliable extraction, and as accurate as it gets out of the box without needing a bedding job. Thanks.

17 May 2015, 14:00

Nordic2

Sauer 202,Sako 85, Tikka t3 hunter(mine has a nice stock)

17 May 2015, 15:36

alleyyooper

Remington 700, Ruger 77 and Winchester 70 from the 60's and 70's

17 May 2015, 16:20

KimR

SAKO 579.

17 May 2015, 17:33

snowman

Another vote for the Tikka T-3. I have seen several with nice wood.

17 May 2015, 18:38

tjroberts

The new model 70s are great ! you have to look hard to find good wood. Though , maybe aKimber !...

17 May 2015, 19:22

Brian564

quote:
Originally posted by tjroberts:
The new model 70s are great ! you have to look hard to find good wood. Though , maybe aKimber !...

Anyone knows about the Winchester 70 quality since production moved to Portugal? I'd imagine it would improve but have no idea.

17 May 2015, 20:09

Biebs

Cooper, if you want to spend the money.

17 May 2015, 20:13

Snellstrom

Brian
Winchester M70's are hard to beat. A M70 Featherweight current production in .243 would be a well built nice handling rifle.

17 May 2015, 21:35

Michael Michalski

Brian, I have a .243 Browning "A" bolt custom made for the 2007 shot show. I can send pictures/details to your e-mail address if you have an interest.

17 May 2015, 22:19

carpetman1

Have had a circa 1970 Win mod 70 for many years and many deers, no complaints. Were it not for the backwards safety I'd also suggest a CZ. The backwards safety kills the deal for me.

18 May 2015, 00:32

hivelosity

Savage Arms 11 Trophy Predator Hunter Bolt Action Rifle
Its Not walnut. Out Of the box with my reloads 100gr nosler and imr4350 I could over look that its has a fake stock.
Dave

18 May 2015, 06:27

willieb

Savage

18 May 2015, 07:03

505ED

Some nice ones at all different price points:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Aucti....aspx?Item=483227989

http://www.gunbroker.com/Aucti....aspx?Item=483394946

http://www.gunbroker.com/Aucti....aspx?Item=484162595

http://www.gunsinternational.c...cfm?gun_id=100542089

http://www.gunsinternational.c...cfm?gun_id=100470213

http://www.gunsinternational.c...cfm?gun_id=100559656

Ed

20 May 2015, 08:53

waterrat

Sako Forester hands down,,still haunts me to this day!

21 May 2015, 03:33

wasbeeman

The question does beg to be asked, with the .260 and the 7-08 available, why would anyone opt for a .243?

21 May 2015, 05:03

BoomRM

Maybe around 1,000+ fps if someone is looking to shoot varmints also? That is why I opted for one.....

Forgot to add: I'd recommend a Model 70 Coyote.

21 May 2015, 05:38

olarmy

Another vote for the Model 70 FWT.

21 May 2015, 17:58

richj

I like my 7mau M70 fwt, jury is still out on accuracy. I'd also look at a Savage M14. Steel DBM and beautiful wood, accu trigger.

21 May 2015, 20:12

Big Wonderful Wyoming

Sauer 202, old Sako (not a 75 or 85) or a Sauer 90.

21 May 2015, 20:30

eyeman

If you want to hunt with it get a Savage..If you want to admire it go custom

22 May 2015, 02:54

wasbeeman

quote:
Originally posted by BoomRM:
Maybe around 1,000+ fps if someone is looking to shoot varmints also? That is why I opted for one.....

Forgot to add: I'd recommend a Model 70 Coyote.

Don't know what medicine you're using to gain 1000+ fps but please don't sit next to me at the firing range.

22 May 2015, 04:21

eezridr

quote:
Originally posted by waterrat:
Sako Forester hands down,,still haunts me to this day!

22 May 2015, 07:46

BoomRM

quote:
Originally posted by wasbeeman:
Don't know what medicine you're using to gain 1000+ fps but please don't sit next to me at the firing range.

There is a lot of versatility with the old 243. When dropping her down to a 55 grain bullet, she really makes the 260 and 7-08 look lethargic. Not all of us are wrapped up in high BCs.

p.s. If I'm at a public range, I'll sit at whatever open bench I choose, thank you.....

24 May 2015, 05:29

Snellstrom

I agree with you BoomRM the .243 is quite versatile in that respect.
Getting about 4000 fps out of the 55 grain bullets and 2800 or better out of 100 grain bullets, it does quite well. My sons .243 is shooting 85 grain bullets at 3100 or so and 90 grain bullets at over 3000fps, drops deer like someone turned of the power switch.
Very little recoil, quite a killing machine if you ask me.

28 May 2015, 01:42

custombolt

Or for a bit more, the Super Grade has some decent wood these days.

quote:
Originally posted by Snellstrom:
Brian
Winchester M70's are hard to beat. A M70 Featherweight current production in .243 would be a well built nice handling rifle.

28 May 2015, 03:00

Austin Hunter

FWIW - my best friend got his son a Mossberg ATR 243 package with a scope and it's a great rifle and accurate.

I have a Howa 1500 (24" barrel) for my 243 with an Accurate Innovations stock (Midway used to sell them years ago and got a sale one for $200 or so) along with a Timney trigger and Weaver 2-10x38 scope. Shoots 1/4 MOA with handloads - 100 gr Sierra GameKing at 2.650" with 41.7 gr IMR-4350).

I recently changed the scope mounts from fixed ones to Talley disconnect so I could mount a second scope - a Weaver 4.5-14x40 - to use for Varmint hunting with a different load.

"Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" -- Ronald Reagan

"Ignorance of The People gives strength to totalitarians."

Want to make just about anything work better? Keep the government as far away from it as possible, then step back and behold the wonderment and goodness.

29 May 2015, 07:29

Snellstrom

quote:
100 gr Sierra GameKing at 2.650" with 41.7 gr IMR-4350

Excellent load!
That is what I loaded for my now ex wife for deer and antelope. Dropped nearly everything in its tracks.

29 May 2015, 21:25

Seamaster

quote:
Originally posted by Brian564:
quote:
Originally posted by tjroberts:
The new model 70s are great ! you have to look hard to find good wood. Though , maybe aKimber !...

Anyone knows about the Winchester 70 quality since production moved to Portugal? I'd imagine it would improve but have no idea.

I have a new M70 Featherweight made in Portugal and imported by BACO. The quality seems similar to another one that I own that was made in South Carolina. Apparently they are both well made FN products. The bluing is good but the stock is just the normal no-figure walnut. Nice rifle and priced about right.

30 May 2015, 00:55

citori

Winchester mdoel 70 compact or Ruger M77 RSI International. Both are handy as can be.

31 May 2015, 03:40

DannoBoone

Well, the wood is wrong, but everything else is what you ordered (didn't ask about
weight, but heavy) in a Savage VLP. I have three, one being in .243 and it was a
shooter right out of the box. It's shot several 1/4" groups with its favorite load
of 105A-max propelled by RL17 @ 3035-3045fps. I do prefer laminates anymore, but
nice quality walnut comes in at a close second. If something only comes in plastic,
and I really want the rifle, I go to Boyd's to replace the tupperware! And they do
have some decent walnut, too.

P.S. Whoops, missed this:
"and as accurate as it gets out of the box without needing a bedding job."
I bed about everything prior to shooting it. Think you're expecting a near-miracle,
there.