Advice on .243 rifle

[IanB 0]

For a rifle that's accurate and does the job for the right price I'd personally get a Tikka T3 in synthetic or wood. Then put a Zeiss Duralyt scope on it. Good priced kit thats accurate and quality.

[HUnter_zero 58]

I think that I 'm sold on the fixed power scope 8X56. The only thing now is the rifle.

 

I have one on my .243 and to be honest it's excellent. No nonsense, nothing to go wrong. Top notch lamping scope, and superb low light woodland scope that will not break the bank. I've owned all sorts of scope in the past, some very expensive scopes. Variable mag scopes are good, but you end up leaving the scope on on fixed magnification in the end and to my mind, when paying £500+ it's a long term investment. For that reason, I swapped all my scopes to S&B, 6x42 on my .22rf and .308. 8x56 on my .243 which is a dual purpose fox and deer rifle.

 

A rifle is a very personal thing, but I would urge you to look at the 700's.

 

John

[jodi87 0]

Just been down to the gun shop and had a look, I like the browning x-bolt and the dealer recommends it. I also had a look at the scopes and I was set on a S&B 8x56 but he is recommending the Ziess duralyt with or without illumination, about £250 more for illuminated (is it worth it?) The cost soon mounts up when you start to add all the extras.

[HUnter_zero 58]

I like the browning x-bolt and the dealer recommends it. he is recommending the Ziess duralyt with or without illumination, about £250 more for illuminated (is it worth it?).

 

I wouldn't settle on what a "dealer" recommends, he/she will recommend the item with the biggest profit margin, it's a business and as such they want to make as much money as possible.

If you like the X-bolt, buy it but only for that reason. IMHO Ziess optics are not as good as we have seen in the past, and their conquest range a little better than some of the glass we are seeing from Japan. That said, any of the top five scope manufactures will supply a quality product that will hold it's zero. You could also look at Swarovski (the best a man can get), Meopta (very very good optics and mechanisms), Khales (again top class). IMHO optical quality wise, I would rate the top five as follows:

1) Swaovski

2) S&B

3) Khales

4) Zeiss (new scopes/ older models would have been #2)

5) Meopta

 

Interestingly there are also a good few less well known scope manufactures, that are worth a gander, Lisenfeld, Docter, Minox, Pecar just to name a few. We all have our own opinions, likes and dislikes but that's my view. Another view I have over scopes is keep it simple! If it can go wrong, it will go wrong and when it comes to deer, you don't want it to go wrong. There is another view, when you buy in to the top five, you are paying for quality of glass and most importantly the quality of the adjustment mechanism. Things cost what things cost and if you take two scopes selling for £500 each, one a 6x42 and the other an illuminated 3-16x56 target turret, all bells and whisles flash as you like scope, guess which one will break first?

 

John

Edited March 19, 2012 by HUnter_zero

[raynardman 519]

Hi, I'm looking for some advise on buying a .243 rifle. I have applied for my FAC and hopefully if I get it I will be spending some of my hard earned cash. I will be using the rifle mainly for deer stalking and I think that I have narrowed it down to a tikka lite or a browning x-bolt, synthic stocks and stainless barrels. I haven't tried the x-bolt but I am just looking for some advice just now as I am new to this. I have a budget of around £1600 so I was thinking about 800 on the rifle and the same again on the scope. Any advise would be most welcome.

 

Cheers

I've got the Tikka T3 in .243 stainless/synthetic, had the trigger reset from new but also had to have it threaded, got a stainless pess moderator on it, its a bit front heavy but got an harris bipod on it but also carry stix when out, an old mate bought the x-bolt and that was already threaded, never got to shoot it but as you say a nice looking gun.

Don't know where your based but your more than welcome to come and have a crack with it aslong as you pay for the ammo PM me if interested

[jodi87 0]

I've got the Tikka T3 in .243 stainless/synthetic, had the trigger reset from new but also had to have it threaded, got a stainless pess moderator on it, its a bit front heavy but got an harris bipod on it but also carry stix when out, an old mate bought the x-bolt and that was already threaded, never got to shoot it but as you say a nice looking gun.

Don't know where your based but your more than welcome to come and have a crack with it aslong as you pay for the ammo PM me if interested

 

Thanks a lot for the offer but I'm on the west coast of scotland so a bit far to travel. It would be good to try a couple out though, everyone has different opinions so I guess trying things out is the best way if possible.

[charlie caller 3,654]

Thanks for the advice, I'll have a look at the Parker Hale. I never really thought about the moderator. Is there any advice on what is best to get and what sort of price range a decent model would cost. I hadn't considered a bipod either, thought about using sticks. I have a gun safe for shotguns so that should be fine.

Dont know where you are in the country but if you fancy a Parker Hale I know where there is an absolutely mint one in derbyshire with a scope ,sling ect for 275 quid,pm me if you want any info.