Best bang for the buck .243

[CanusLatransSnpr]

Mattri

Correction! Savage in the Model 12 only offers the .243 Win in the VLP option so they don't offer a Model 12 .243 in a synthetic stock. Just wanted to correct myself on that mistake. I am going to purchase the Rem 700 SPS Varmint in .243 for myself very soon! Also, when i shoot the barrel out I will have a good 700 action to build on in the future. Just seems to be alot more stuff out there for Rem 700's than anything else. I am not partial to any one rifle maker. I am with rifles like I am with women. If they perform and look good, I will have it. I don't care if its a blonde, brunette, or a red head! Thats just me though!

Mike

 

[Rust]

If you plan on having a flexible factory rifle, Savage. You can get all three bolt heads, a barrel wrench and go from a .223 to a 6mm BR to a .300 short mag in a few minutes. Try that with a 700 for the same amount of money.

 

[Erik Cortina]

Life is too short to own a Savage and to drink cheap beer...

-Erik

 

[ba_50]

Northland Shooters is supplying barrel nuts for Rem 700's just like the Savage uses for $35. The barrel nut idea is now moot vs. Remington.

 

[OKIE2]

ba-50
You should have added that the standard remington barrel will not work with the barrel nut the barrel has to have the threads cut longer to use the nut but Northlander is selling the barrels to go with the nut.
but my choice is still with Savage because of the bolt head you can also change.
For out of the box accuracy the Savage Team just took almost all of the metals in England shooting matchs this year

 

[jo191145]

Northland Shooters is supplying barrel nuts for Rem 700's just like the Savage uses for $35. The barrel nut idea is now moot vs. Remington.

Yep, it is now possible to convert a Remmington to Savage technology.
Standard factory tubes need smithing as Okie pointed out. Not only lengthen the threads but cut down and recontour the shoulder. Hardly worth the trouble for a factory tube. Might not be considered factory for some comps :-\

If I'm not mistaken Jim is offering or considering converting Remy bolts to accept a Savage floating bolt head so conversions are possible with one bolt. No idea how much $$$.

Theres still the unpinned recoil lug. That should be really cheap to fix or it can be left unpinned if so desired. There are jigs to align them.

Or all these things come standard on a Savage. Moot point??

 

[ba_50]

Maybe not. I must have missed something in the posts because it sounded simple enough. Thanks for pointing that out.

 

[Snowwolfe]

Thanks to all who posted in earlier threads.

To recap looking for a rifle to shoot targets/varmints out to 600 yards, with most being within 300-400.

Not looking for a dedicated br gun but would like to be able to enter local/informal matches from time to time.

Also not looking for a hunting rifle, this won't be used for deer.

Grew up shooting Remingtons and still own one. I dont consider myself rich but have some disposable income and am fortunate enough to own some really sweet firearms ranging from high end Coopers to a 450 Nitro double rifle. Only mentioning this so you realize my decision was not just based on a tight budget.
Like you, it was time to find a really accurate long range rifle. Mainly wanted it for paper punching but it might find use down the road for a coyote or wolf population shrinker as well. My dealer ordered me Savage LRPV repeater in 6mm Norma BR and the delivered price was just over $900. Still waiting for the scope mount to come in and warmer weather before I shoot it but the rifle is very impressive. Well built, bolt is smooth, stock fits well, in short, a well thought out and designed rifle with a massive barrel. Time will tell if it is a shooter but everyone I known that owns one has said they are capable of .25 groups at 100 yards if the shooter does their part. Sold my Remington SPS.
Maybe in the long run a Rem would be more accurate. But I feel confident to say it wouldnt be without a much larger cash donation on my part. The only other Savage I own is a SS lightweight .223 with a light barrel and it is the only rifle I've ever owned to this point that will shoot under .5 on a regular basis.

 

[normmatzen]

Q.E.D! ;D

 

[cliffy]

Duh, color me stupid, but never color me out. : .243 Winchester loads color me savy, with more horsepower than required to dust any deer on this planet. I've created .243 loads that will level any 300 pound critter on the planet, and within "SAMMI" standards. So long as 300 yards REMAINS the maximum sane load dispersal toward any deer-sized creature, my occasional load recommendations hold true. I'm still having mental problems with this recent 600 yard B.S. regarding "hunting" Cliffy

 

[mwood]

If you are not hunting....(deer for example), why are you stuck with a 243.
Why not a 6BR which is available for the above rifles. With a 243, be prepared to clean the barrel every 25 shots with Montana...to maintain accuracy. The 6Br is not
"Overbore" like the 243 and does not require the same amount of cleaning. much
less recoil......40% less powder, 80% of the velocity (or better). I had a 243 I tryed to use for target, and quickly learned why the 6Br was better (as infered on this web site). I am not trying to be a smart ass....just trying to same you some time and money

 

[cliffy]

Hi Michael, my .243 Winchester Remington 700 receives a thorough cleaning after ever session of 35 to 50 rounds. I find no accuracy lose within fifty pops. I favor H4350 powder and RL-22 powder. Both work well within their given bullet weight ranges. I use RL-22 exclusively with 100 to 105 grain premium bullets, whilst H4350 is my 90 to 95 grain powder. RL-15 is my 62 grain Varmint powder and H414 works well with 70 to 85 grain fare. I do not use one powder for every circumstance. Cleaning before fifty rounds are fired on a given day seems unnecessary, accuracywise, but cleaning after every outing is essential according to me. If anything appeared to hamper my rifle's accuracy at any time, I'd be the first to swab. Cliffy

 

[cliffy]

Furthermore, I use a 6mm because it is a proven killer, yet I rarely use it for deer hunting. My son holds the deer honors with my .243 rifle. I'm more interested in quelling coyote that have become bold enough to attack human children. A 62 grain .243 caliber Barnes Varmint Grenade creates new respect within the coyote populations. Soon as Gray Wolf Hybrids are sensibly placed upon the "HIT" list, I'll visit The UPPER PENINSULA of Michigan with 85 grain Barnes TSX fare. To date, 100 grain .243 Speer Grand Slammers are solid deer fare. Cliffy

 

[mattri]

First of all want to thank everyone who posted for all the great information.

We were down in Denver yesterday and happened to stop in at a Gander Mtn, they had a Stevens 200 for $259.00 and I just couldn't say no.

This isn't the rifle I intended to buy, but I am looking forward to seeing how well it can shoot and adding a better barrel, stock and trigger down the road. Thanks again, Matt.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Congrats on your wise purchase. This rifle with a 105 amax loaded with Retumbo will do the job out to 600 yards. You will be very pleased.

 

[mattri]

Thanks, glad to hear it. I know it isn't a 700 or even a model 12 but I'm really looking forward to getting it dialed in.