New rifle - need advice

[00Scot]

I am looking to pick up anew rifle in 243. This will be a multi purpose rifle for coyote, bobcat, boar, and deer. Range will be out to 500. Most of the use for this rifle will be predator hunting. I would say almost 90% would be for predators. Nothing special and no plans for changing anything on the rifle once I buy it other then adding or changing the optics.

So I am looking at 2 different rifles and I would like your opinions on which one would be a better rifle for me to buy. The cost between them is less then $100 so that is not part of the equation. Here are the 2 rifles I am looking at.

1. Howa Ranchland with a 20inch #1 contour.

Now this thing has the hogue stock which I have fell in love with. It just feel right in my hands. That is a huge part of why I like this rifle. My main concern with this one is the pencil thin #1 contour brl. I can get this one in King's Desert Shadow Camo which I like. I can also get a Howa with a 20 inch #6 brl with the Hogue stock which is what I really want. But I could only get that one in green or black. So that is also a consideration. BUt I would prefer the camo. I could live with the green if there was a good reason to go with that over the #1 contour in camo. My main fear is that I have Never owned a rifle with such a thin brl. ALL of my rifles have always been a heavy brl of some sort. So the thin brl worries me. I could be worried for nothing. If that is the case please let me know since I have no experience with a thin contour brl.

2. Savage Model: 10 XP Predator Hunter Package Brush.

This one is a 22 inch #2 contour. The thing that I really like about this rifle is the camo pattern in the new Mossy Oak Brush camo which will be great for the hunting i do in CA,AZ,NV,NM and so on. The part that bothers me is the handgrip portion of this stock. It feels thin and the stock feel too much like plastic. Instead of fiberglass. This model comes with the Accutrigger, but not the accustock. I like the idea of the accutrigger but I'm not sold on the accustock so that is no reall loss to me. (If someone has the accustock and has a good reason as to why it would be a good idea for me to get a Savage with the accustock I would love to hear the reason)

Both of these rifles come in a camo pattern that I like. Which is a plus. But not mandatory. Both come with a crappy scope that I will end up replacing. Yes I can get both with out the scope but those are harder to find and going to be a special order for me. Not really a problem but will add some delivery time to get me up and running. With both of them coming with a crappy scope I would be able to take them out hunting right away and start getting to know them. Then I could work up a load and change out the optics at my leisure when money allows.

Both actions are known for being pretty accurate.

Please let me know what you think about each rifle and why you would recommend one over the other. I am really torn between them and can honestly go wither way. Now if the savage came in the hogue stock with that same brush camo pattern it would be a done deal and a no brainer. But such is not the case.....

any and all opinions and ideas are welcome and will be much appreciated!


UPDATED AND MODIFIED OP

3. I am adding the Remington 700VTR. This has the triangular brl and comes in camo. I like the idea behind the tri brl. I just don't know if it works like they say it should. It basically acts as a heavy brl because of the extra regidity without the extra weight like a normal heavy brl would have.

 

[00Scot]

Howa
http://www.legacysports.com/products/howa_ranchland.html

Savage
http://www.gunsamerica.com/974773454/Guns/Rifles/Savage-Rifles/Accutrigger-Models/Savage_10_Predator_Hunter_DBM_CAMO_243_Win_NE.htm
http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/model/10+PREDATOR+BRUSH

Here are the links so you can see which rifles I'm talking about. The savage above also comes with a scope. The picture doesn't show it but it comes with a cheap simmons in matching camo. The howa comes with a nikko-sterling who I have never heard of until I found this combo.

 

[sdneil]

Buy the savage--go shoot

 

[bozo699]

Buy a Tikka, costs less than a Remington shoots like a High dollar custom
Wayne.

 

[00Scot]

For some reason I just don't care for the Tikka's. No idea why. Just not a rifle I would want to own. Not that there is anything wrong with them. They just don't do it for me.

 

[bozo699]

For some reason I just don't care for the Tikka's. No idea why. Just not a rifle I would want to own. Not that there is anything wrong with them. They just don't do it for me.

I understand totally, accuracy isn't always on the top of the list for some. I think Howa guarantee's 1" at 100 yards and Savage will usually do a little better then that if you get a good one, the Tikka's will do better then that of course but as I stated accuracy isn't always the most important criteria
I have followed all your threads for the last ten days, since you joined
all 85 posts worth and have thoroughly enjoyed them, I do not own a howa,.. not true I have a Weatherby van guard, it shoots fine, other than that I don't have much experience with them,..the Savage on the other hand I have several Savages and other then they have ultra cheesy stocks, stamped tin ultra,..ultra,..ultra cheesy triggers, a ugly ugly bolt and a barrel that the rifling's looks like the center line on I 5, the chambers usually look like they have been cut with a chisel instead of a quality reamer, usually shoot fairly well, I keep buying them anyways
Wayne.

 

[harry.hacking@kiewit.com]

Tikka's are great rifles one of the most accurate out the box rifle I own, but if you don't like tikka's the weatherby vanguards are a howa built with a little more quality control to carry the weatherby name. I have never heard anything bad about a savage and agree completely with what bozo699 said about them another plus for a savage is the aftermarket parts and how easy they are to customize and change calibers.

 

[TheSnake]

I agree with above Scot. I would and have gone with Savage. My 6.5X47 is a Savage and a quick barrel change can make it several others. Add a bolt head change to that and the options open up from there.

 

[bozo699]

Tikka's are great rifles one of the most accurate out the box rifle I own, but if you don't like tikka's the weatherby vanguards are a howa built with a little more quality control to carry the weatherby name. I have never heard anything bad about a savage and agree completely with what bozo699 said about them another plus for a savage is the aftermarket parts and how easy they are to customize and change calibers.

Hack,
Thanks I forgot that part, my boy has a model 12 that has been fully customized, chambered in 6brx, it's literally a tack driver, and when Jewell or Kelby's start making quality triggers for the Savage his rifle will be complete.
Wayne.

 

[00Scot]

For some reason I just don't care for the Tikka's. No idea why. Just not a rifle I would want to own. Not that there is anything wrong with them. They just don't do it for me.

I understand totally, accuracy isn't always on the top of the list for some. I think Howa guarantee's 1" at 100 yards and Savage will usually do a little better then that if you get a good one, the Tikka's will do better then that of course but as I stated accuracy isn't always the most important criteria
I have followed all your threads for the last ten days, since you joined
all 85 posts worth and have thoroughly enjoyed them, I do not own a howa,.. not true I have a Weatherby van guard, it shoots fine, other than that I don't have much experience with them,..the Savage on the other hand I have several Savages and other then they have ultra cheesy stocks, stamped tin ultra,..ultra,..ultra cheesy triggers, a ugly ugly bolt and a barrel that the rifling's looks like the center line on I 5, the chambers usually look like they have been cut with a chisel instead of a quality reamer, usually shoot fairly well, I keep buying them anyways
Wayne.

Thanks bozo699,

I totally agree on the Savages. They are not perdy rifles by any stretch of the imagination. But they shoot. And that is why I am looking at them. Nothing on the Savage is attractive! But they are accurate. Thankfully so, otherwise they would never sell


I actually have to correct something that I said above. I said I have never owned a rifle with a thin contour brl before and that is not true. I forgot about my old Savage in 30-06. That had a #1 or maybe a #2 contour at best. But that was one of the best shooting rifles I've ever had. Bought it used with the scope mounted for a buck and a quarter. And that thing shot like a house a fire! I ran in to some money trouble and traded it to pay off a debt. Still regret that to this day! Let me offer a word of advice to everyone out there. Never, ever, ever, never sell a single gun from your collection! No matter what. You may not regret it right away. But you will regret it someday. And every day after that. I have sold or traded off 5 guns over the years and I still to this day regret getting rid of every single one of them.

 

[00Scot]

I didn't think about customizing the Savage. Since I do not currently own one I have never really looked at the aftermarket offerings for them. Now I did see that I can get the Hogue overmoulded stock for them. So that way I would have the rifle with the accuracy that I want and could add the hogue stock that I really really like from the Howa. Then I would have exactly what I want other then the camo paint scheme. I suppose I could just paint it myself or have someone duracoat it for me. That would add cost to the rifle. But.....I would have the exact perfect rifle that I want.

I could buy the Savage and hunt one season with it as is. Then spend the hot summer months getting her where I want her to be with the customizations. Such as changing the stock, scope and rings. Then paint her.

Sounds like a plan! But I still would like to hear more information from each side. I would like to hear more about the brl contours in a hunting rifle. Since I don't have much experience with the thinner contours I worry that the thin brl will be a disadvantage. I'm used to hbars so the thin brls worry me.

For you savage owners with the Accustock...... is there any reason I should choose a Savage with the accustock over one without?

I'm surprised there are no howa owners chiming in

 

[LRPV]

I respect your choice in not liking the Tikka but I can't for the life of me understand why. The T3 lite is an excellent rifle in my opinion. Points great, smoothest action available in a production rifle, absolutely reliable feeding, and great accuracy right out of the box (you might have to make sure the barrel is floated). I have had problems with feeding with Savage staggered feed (shell would just pop out of the magazine) I can't comment on Howa since I've never been around one much. A buddy has a Howa with a thumbhole stock and varmint barrel and it shot good enough to kill prairie dogs.
Jason

 

[00Scot]

I respect your choice in not liking the Tikka but I can't for the life of me understand why. The T3 lite is an excellent rifle in my opinion. Points great, smoothest action available in a production rifle, absolutely reliable feeding, and great accuracy right out of the box (you might have to make sure the barrel is floated). I have had problems with feeding with Savage staggered feed (shell would just pop out of the magazine) I can't comment on Howa since I've never been around one much. A buddy has a Howa with a thumbhole stock and varmint barrel and it shot good enough to kill prairie dogs.
Jason

I don't think it's the rifle itself that I don't like. I think its the brand that I don't care for. It's not like I have a reason to not like em. I just don't know enough about them nor have I had any experience with them to make me want one. It's just not a rifle/company that makes me drool when I see them in a catalog. That's all.

My old savage was super smooooth. But it was well used and worn in real nice like. No idea what it was like new. And as for the howas, my buddy has one and it is very accurate as well as having one of the smoother actions I have seen. Very nice rifle. It came in the grey striped alder type wood and is a beautiful rifle and coyote killer.

 

[00Scot]

Another rifle I came across that really peaked my interest is the Remington 700VTR. I absolutely love the idea behind the triangular brl. You are basically getting the rigidity of a heavy brl without any of the drawbacks. You get the lighter weight like you would with a thinner hunting contour brl. But you still get the rigidity of a heavy brl which in theory aids in accuracy.

What draws me to this rifle is of coarse the triangular brl. (of coarse I have no experience with this type of brl since it is new to market but I like the idea behind it, if anyone has any experience with this brl already please let me know what you think. I'm dying to know how it performs and if it works as advertised.)
And It comes in camo which I want, and its a Rem700 action. Which we all know and love. Well at least I do. My other 700 action is extremely accurate so I personally have a lot of confidence in this specific action.

Originally I was looking at less expensive options for this rifle so that is why I did not post the Remy as an option in the original post. I think I'm going to change the OP to include this one as well. Money availability has since changed and I upped the budget for this rifle. So now that opens up the Remy 700VTR as an option.

 

[5spd]

I have 4 savage rifles for varminting & the . 243 for bigger game. I built a 6x45 off a FP10 action. Very accurate guns and simple to do upgrades or barrel swaps & cost is a lot better then the others.

 

[00Scot]

I have 4 savage rifles for varminting & the . 243 for bigger game. I built a 6x45 off a FP10 action. Very accurate guns and simple to do upgrades or barrel swaps & cost is a lot better then the others.

Do the different models have different actions? I know that they have the standard long and short actions on the classic rifles. Then they have the target actions. How many different actions do they make? From the website I can only find 2 different action designations.

 

[5spd]

I have 4 savage rifles for varminting & the . 243 for bigger game. I built a 6x45 off a FP10 action. Very accurate guns and simple to do upgrades or barrel swaps & cost is a lot better then the others.

Do the different models have different actions? I know that they have the standard long and short actions on the classic rifles. Then they have the target actions. How many different actions do they make? From the website I can only find 2 different action designations.

Pretty much as you stated long & short actions, they are the same action no matter what line until you get into the target actions. They can be Blued/matte/SS as well. There is also the older flat top rear actions and the new round top actions.

 

[00Scot]

Thank you, that's pretty much what I thought. So I can use any of the non target model Savages as the starting point for a new project and not worry about getting the "low end" action. Good to know.

 

[ChrisNZ]

For some reason I just don't care for the Tikka's. No idea why. Just not a rifle I would want to own. Not that there is anything wrong with them. They just don't do it for me.

I understand totally, accuracy isn't always on the top of the list for some. I think Howa guarantee's 1" at 100 yards ..

Wayne.

My gunsmith's son once got a Howa 7-08 and it shot no better than 1.7" (5 shots@100), despite a range of reloading techniques.

He ended up swapping it for a T3 7-08 and that was sub-inch straight out of the box with the first load we tried.

Chris-NZ

 

[bozo699]

For some reason I just don't care for the Tikka's. No idea why. Just not a rifle I would want to own. Not that there is anything wrong with them. They just don't do it for me.

I understand totally, accuracy isn't always on the top of the list for some. I think Howa guarantee's 1" at 100 yards ..

Wayne.

My gunsmith's son once got a Howa 7-08 and it shot no better than 1.7" (5 shots@100), despite a range of reloading techniques.

He ended up swapping it for a T3 7-08 and that was sub-inch straight out of the box with the first load we tried.

Chris-NZ

Chris,
Same story for me, very very happy, best 600 bucks I ever spent on a factory rifle.
Wayne.