rifle options for .243

[arveyboy 0]

ive sent off for my variation for a slot for 243. assuming all goes well what sort of optons do i have rifle wise?

 

obviously Tikka, sako, remington, howa perhaps. i was looking more at the Tikka range because they are tend to be comparatively cheap to sako. soemthing with a synthetic stock will probably be best for me. should i go heavy or light barrel? i shall be doing a fair bit of range shooting but it will predominantly be a foxing rifle. as far as moderator goes. t8? jet-z? predator 8?

 

help much appreciated, jack

[lgray88 4]

depending if your goin to be doing alot oh shots one after another you wont need a heavy barrel , all it is, is extra weight too carry around have a look on the the tikka website www.tikka.fi something like the tikka t3 lite would suit you good id think one of those laminate jobs look the part too look in to it before you buy go too your dealer have a feel of the guns, as for moderators everyone seems to say the jetz is the best i have a t8 on my .22-250 and it takes the crack away very well.

 

liam

[jimbob 0]

I've got a .243 CZ550 Varmint Synthetic stock with heavy barrel. Advantages are the kevlar stock means its quite light but the heavy barrel weighs a ton. If it's mainly target shooting you're after then I'd go for this one, but its quite lumpy to be lugging around the countryside. On the plus side it's built like a tank so if you drop it or whack it against something it wont be damaged. A lot of people seem to have the impression that CZ make inferior products, take it from one that knows that this is not the case. Happy shopping!!!

[Deker 3,478]

ive sent off for my variation for a slot for 243. assuming all goes well what sort of optons do i have rifle wise?

 

obviously Tikka, sako, remington, howa perhaps. i was looking more at the Tikka range because they are tend to be comparatively cheap to sako. soemthing with a synthetic stock will probably be best for me. should i go heavy or light barrel? i shall be doing a fair bit of range shooting but it will predominantly be a foxing rifle. as far as moderator goes. t8? jet-z? predator 8?

 

help much appreciated, jack

 

 

Tikka is owned by Sako, you will never get a great piece of wood on a Tikka as all the best stuff goes on the Sako, the same can be argued, although is not necessarily correct, about all the metalwork as well. Sako make Tikka barrels! Mr Beretta owns them BOTH as a matter of interest!

 

If you want synthetic, then Tikka T3 Lite (New version with shorter, cut barrel) or Remington 700SPS DM (even though these are now available cut the barrel is still a flagpole, so consider an uncut one and simply cut and chop it) would be my suggestion.

 

ALSO...consider these carefully...an excellent package!!

http://www.remington.com/products/firearms...s/model_770.asp

Not easy to find in the UK I understand...I wonder why??

Edited January 18, 2009 by Deker

[SNAP SHOT 194]

Save extra hard and buy the sako,

[jamiethehunter 0]

I've got a t3 hunter in .243 and it's a lovely gun to shoot i only bought it because i'm left handed and it's the easiest gun to get left handed as they produce large numbers of left handers and there is no waiting to get one. Every other gun i looked at had to be ordered and would have taken too long to get but after having it for a year i am very impressed and now wouldn't change it.

[coldweld 65]

My choice

 

1st Sako

2nd Winchester mod 70 if you can get a new one [if not coyote lite/shadow]

3rd Remminton model 7 XCR [ lighter and shorter than 700]

4th tikka [ only in 4 because of long action and sloppy bolt]

 

Both USA rifles Need a new trigger[jewel]to get the best out of them. All are very close to each other but i had to put some order.

 

I would avoid any of the cheap or less known manufactures as resale values are low.

[Deker 3,478]

My choice

 

1st Sako

2nd Winchester mod 70 if you can get a new one [if not coyote lite/shadow]

3rd Remminton model 7 XCR [ lighter and shorter than 700]

4th tikka [ only in 4 because of long action and sloppy bolt]

 

Both USA rifles Need a new trigger[jewel]to get the best out of them. All are very close to each other but i had to put some order.

 

I would avoid any of the cheap or less known manufactures as resale values are low.

 

 

The Old Model 70 Winchester (with HUNDREDS of variants) was a great gun in almost all it's guises. It was a sad day when it went out of production and I suspect getting a new, "Old" Model 70 will be pretty hard now.

 

The Winchester Model 70 is BACK IN PRODUCTION, with a much more limited range, and I understand, not many good things have been said about the latest production models!

 

So..be mindful when we talk of the Model 70 Winchester!!

[arveyboy 0]

on the remington website it says that the sps tactical doesnt come chambered in .243. the sps varmint however does? whats the verdict on that. personally i'd rather spend an extra 200 quid on a scope than on a rifle unless i can tell the difference significantly. do any fatcory rifles come chambered in .243 with a thumbhole stock or would i need a custom stock because i much prefer thumbhole stocks?

 

cheers

[jamie g 17]

if it was me i would go by how much you want to spend. say i had £800 i would go 500 on the rifle and the rest on the scope. of course there is a mod to buy then. glass is one of the most important things in my book.

 

sako's are cracking rifles but cost abit. so the tikka is a good choice and there very accurate to.

 

if it was me and im not just saying it as i have a winchester. but i would have a mod 70 there very underated

there actions are soild and bolt works lovely. trigger easy to adjust or replace. and make a good action for a semi custom gun so what i have been reading on the usa sites.

[Deker 3,478]

on the remington website it says that the sps tactical doesnt come chambered in .243. the sps varmint however does? whats the verdict on that. personally i'd rather spend an extra 200 quid on a scope than on a rifle unless i can tell the difference significantly. do any fatcory rifles come chambered in .243 with a thumbhole stock or would i need a custom stock because i much prefer thumbhole stocks?

 

cheers

 

 

I think you need to slow down and decide what you really do want and what you can afford, and what the FEO may allow you!! What have you already got on FAC?????? The original implication was that money was an issue, now we are talking custom thumbhole stocks!!

 

I'm getting lost, do you know Wingshooter or Guevara?

[arveyboy 0]

deker i apologize if my last post was confusing. ill try and put everything into perspective.

 

with regards to thumbhole stocks i have always preferred using them and was enquiring as to whether any factory rifles are chambered in .243 with a thumbhole stock. yes budget is an issue so i wouldn't be having a custom stock made i was hoping somebody may know a factory made rifle with a thumbhole stock.

 

anyway, i have .17 hmr on my FAC and am applying for a variation because my permission has a large fox problem due to a lack of shooters on it. most fox control was carried out by our keeper but he no longer shoots as much as he used to because his lamping partner stopped shooting. this coupled with the hunting ban has meant we have a silly number of foxs' on the farm which quite seriously affected this seasons driven shooting days. need for a dedicated foxing rifle is therefore quite high and my keeper has said he will come out shooting with me once i get a dedicated rifle.

 

my budget wont be hugely high either. im looking to get rifle, scope, mod and bipod for under £1,250.

 

i hope thats cleared things up a bit,

 

jack

[Mr_Logic 5]

You'll do it for that money if you're careful.

 

Regarding T/H stocked rifles, yes, Howa - 1500 laminate thumbhole, can be had with light or heavy barrel.

 

Are you shooting from a vehicle? That's very important here, because -

 

1. Varmint barrels are a b*****d to carry around all night (take it from one who did, and suffered lots the next day!)

2. Varmint barrels from a vehicle can be unwieldy, but chop them to 20" or so and they're OK (a la SPS tactical, which sadly Remington don't do in 243)

 

Tikka T3 Varmint would be a good choice as they're 20 inch barrel and relatively lightweight considering... But, I think you're better off just buying a fox rifle and then occasionally using it at the range.

 

So...

 

my choice with your budget would be this:

 

CZ550 American or Standard £500

Screwcut £100 (generous, I would expect this to be less)

Predator 8 Compact moderator £200

Leupold 30mm CZ mounts £50

Meopta Meostar 3-10x50 scope (personally with a #4 ret) £430

Haggle and get your 12-25 inch Harris thrown in for free!

 

If you absolutely need to be spot on budget, substitute the CZ with a Howa, that way you can forget the screwcut costs. (Although, Andrew Banner of Wildcat fame has a 243 CZ right now for £650 complete with moderator, so that will be cut already, so saves you £££ and gets you in budget nicely)

 

I have 2 CZ CFs, both have been reliable and accurate. They're well made, not built to a price - metal is where metal should be. Many rifles now are built very cheaply and while they may be accurate, I have little faith in their longevity. CZs will work well for a long while if looked after.

[arveyboy 0]

You'll do it for that money if you're careful.

 

Regarding T/H stocked rifles, yes, Howa - 1500 laminate thumbhole, can be had with light or heavy barrel.

 

Are you shooting from a vehicle? That's very important here, because -

 

1. Varmint barrels are a b*****d to carry around all night (take it from one who did, and suffered lots the next day!)

2. Varmint barrels from a vehicle can be unwieldy, but chop them to 20" or so and they're OK (a la SPS tactical, which sadly Remington don't do in 243)

 

Tikka T3 Varmint would be a good choice as they're 20 inch barrel and relatively lightweight considering... But, I think you're better off just buying a fox rifle and then occasionally using it at the range.

 

So...

 

my choice with your budget would be this:

 

CZ550 American or Standard £500

Screwcut £100 (generous, I would expect this to be less)

Predator 8 Compact moderator £200

Leupold 30mm CZ mounts £50

Meopta Meostar 3-10x50 scope (personally with a #4 ret) £430

Haggle and get your 12-25 inch Harris thrown in for free!

 

If you absolutely need to be spot on budget, substitute the CZ with a Howa, that way you can forget the screwcut costs. (Although, Andrew Banner of Wildcat fame has a 243 CZ right now for £650 complete with moderator, so that will be cut already, so saves you £££ and gets you in budget nicely)

 

I have 2 CZ CFs, both have been reliable and accurate. They're well made, not built to a price - metal is where metal should be. Many rifles now are built very cheaply and while they may be accurate, I have little faith in their longevity. CZs will work well for a long while if looked after.

 

Mr Logic thanks for the help. my shooting will depend on circumstance and what i feel, after some experience is the most efficient way. lamping rabbits will almost definitely be done from a car, however foxing will probably be done walkabout so about half and half. i do like the look of the Howa and for that price it looks like a winner. originally i was going to go for a tikka t3 lite but that is going to put me a fair bit over budget with the combination you've suggested. how easy is it to find a Howa 1500? i might go to my dealers this afternoon to ask whether he has any or can stock any.

 

thanks again, jack

[Mr_Logic 5]

A quick butcher's on Guntrader reveals a 243 Howa, not thumbhole, complete with P8 mod for £620, in Northants too. Looks promising