Which .243 ?

[HondaHunter 3]

ok peeps,

 

I am looking for a new .243 and not sure what to go for. When I say new I don't care if it is circa 1970 as long as it has been looked after and has a good rep.

 

my choices are

parkerhale old but cheap as chips I mean under £200 thats cray !

savage arms 110 - cheap and great reviews

browning A bolt - something second hand with scope, bipod and can is around £550

browning x bolt - new one without scope is around £600 i think

remington 700 - new one is around £550 and legendary in 308 cal

 

rifle will really only be used for foxes but I enjoy the odd long range target session. Currently own a CZ and Marlin.

 

any advice or opinions would be great.

 

Thanks

[sussex 5,777]

My thoughts on modern rifles are they are very much the same , they are all engineered to a standard , remy , tika , sako, browning etc , & unless your going for a custom job , something like a callum ferguson or similar they will all perform to that good standard ..What I find is more important is the glass you put on the top ..

[andyf 144]

Parker hale are plentiful and cheap, but 'tractor' trigger, I know someone who owns 4 & swears by them!

Last year I picked up a pre SR-21 Heym in 7x57, now your talking, at £675 I risked the barrel for that money, turned out to be a peach.

But as the previous post say's (as long as the 'prospect rifle' not a nail), the scope makes or breaks the outfit. Get a 'name' centrefire

scope, and you should be good to go.

[HondaHunter 3]

I know what you are saying, the 243 isn't exactly a hot round so i am not so worried about barrel wear and at <£300 you cant expect 10 years service.

 

My next question was going to be about scopes so I will wade straight in. I seem to really be struggling with scopes recently, my eye sight is getting a little worse but it isn't terrible (only use glasses for reading and driving) and i dont usually like to wear glasses when shooting because they get in the way and steam up. I can normally dial this out with the scope focus but over the last 6 months I end up with a blurred reticule after looking through the scope in under a minute with or without my glasses. I have used MTC, Bushnell, Hawke and Falcon scopes all around £300 ish.what is the usual spend for people on scopes. My next stop is swarovski as I think i may be able to wangle a deal.

[charlie caller 3,654]

Weatherby vanguard/Howa 1500, brilliant Jap engineering, and super accurate, mine will print a ragged one hole group with home loads, and with Federal factory ammo shoot a half inch group all day, a good used one wont break the bank, and if you fancy changing the stock, a nice Boyds laminate stock from the states comes in at under a hundred quid, I have said it before and will say it again, they are the best value rifles in the country and as for scopes look no further than the superb Nikon prostaff range, with the bdc reticule, a match made in heaven

Edited October 29, 2014 by charlie caller

[sussex 5,777]

Swarovski ..now that's my choice .I use a 2.5 - 10 x 56 ir ...Have to say it does all I require of a scope , mainly used for deer . I need a scope for low light conditions & this fits the bill , talking of which they ain't cheap but they are worth the money with an after sales service which needs to been seen to believed

[hutchey 147]

Howa 1500 with a laminate stock and topped with Swarovski 8x56 glass

[Deker 3,478]

I know what you are saying, the 243 isn't exactly a hot round so i am not so worried about barrel wear and at <£300 you cant expect 10 years service.

 

My next question was going to be about scopes so I will wade straight in. I seem to really be struggling with scopes recently, my eye sight is getting a little worse but it isn't terrible (only use glasses for reading and driving) and i dont usually like to wear glasses when shooting because they get in the way and steam up. I can normally dial this out with the scope focus but over the last 6 months I end up with a blurred reticule after looking through the scope in under a minute with or without my glasses. I have used MTC, Bushnell, Hawke and Falcon scopes all around £300 ish.what is the usual spend for people on scopes. My next stop is swarovski as I think i may be able to wangle a deal.

 

 

Much of the 55/58g factory ammo is close to 4000ft sec, and can certainly be loaded to above that speed. As a foxing tool (if you need a .243 for foxes) this is the ammo to use in my opinion, so it is pretty hot!

 

Rifles wise, there really isn't much difference in rifle performance these days for field use. You need to be happier about feel, weight, balance, fit etc., and if you can get a good Parker Hale you will be on a winner!

 

[Savage Steve 15]

My .243 is a RWS Titan 6 and I have had this longer than any other rifle it's excellent.

I have just bought a .308 Ruger M77 which is a very sturdy big of kit,these are pretty cheap second hand and well worth a look.

Most of my rifles are topped with Docter 8x56ir scopes I really rate them ,Again these are not too dear they can be found for £400to£500.

Just noticed you list a Savage ,another good buy ,mine is the weather Warrior in 7mm-08 ,don't like the weird set up of the bolt but otherwise a lovely rifle.

 

Steve.

Edited October 30, 2014 by Savage Steve

[charlie caller 3,654]

I used to use 6o grain Sierra hp for foxes loaded up to about 3700 fps, but now my favoured round for the .243 is Sierra grain blitz for foxes and deer, it is a superb bullet, loaded to 3400fps it is very very flat, better in the wind than the lighter stuff, and boy does it pack a punch it drops foxes on the spot and is a very capable deer round too, although it is meant to be a varmint round I find it a little harder than some varmint type rounds and does not over expand on deer and penetrates well.

[HondaHunter 3]

I hadn't really thought about a howa to be honest, just kind of forgot about them but I know they have a good reputation. seems my budget may have been increased a little howa with swarovski glass it will probably be then....now where did I put that plastic card with pretend money.

[charlie caller 3,654]

Excellent choice mate, you wont go wrong with a Howa

[Alsone 789]

Yep and you can always throw a Boyd's stock on it if you can't afford something fancy out of the showroom.

 

Personally, I'd be tempted with that route anyway. Buy the cheapest stocked version then for £99 get a stunning laminate.

Edited November 1, 2014 by Alsone

[celticrusader 78]

I know a guy who's a para reg sniper and his tried and tested gear is a howa 1500 with a Schmidt and bender...in 308 but that's his deer rifle.

I on the other hand bought a .243 ruger american rifle(£450) and put a Zeiss duralyt 3-12 (£599) on which a family friends who's a professional stalker has used so I had confidence in.

Being that the RAR in 243 is a 1:9 twist so it doesn't do to well with the lighter 58 grain rounds.