New to the forum

[Lkwebb]

Hi all, I'm larry from lubbock texas. I'm just getting started in reloading for my pistols.I am looking for a good rifle to varmit/ target shoot out to 500 yards. I'm thinking of something in .243, I don't want something I have to rebarrel after a 1000 rounds.
I appreciate any opinions on this matter, this will be my first rifle

 

[joshb]

Hi Larry! Welcome! Take a look at the 6br. It's a great, accurate little cartridge. It's an easy to load cartridge. A Savage with the target action would be a good option. If you have the cash, you could buy a nice used custom off the sale board.

Edit: A few guys below mention the .223. This is a nice option, also. I put a custom 7.5 twist barrel on a Tikka action and it shoots very nicely with 75 and 80 grain bullets. I also got lucky and found a lightly used old Tikka 223 with a heavier 8 twist barrel that shoots very well with handloads. Components for the .223 are everywhere and relatively inexpensive. I just wanted to come back and highlight this option. I shoot them at 500 and they do well.

 

[PatMiles]

Howdy Larry,
Welcome to the forums, you'll find a wealth of information here regarding long guns and some on handguns. All you have to do is ask.

 

[Bc'z]

Welcome aboard. Lots of valuable info to gain by some really great shooters here.
Lots to read and gain.

 

[lpreddick]

Welcome. Another vote for a 6mm BR...thousands of rounds of accuracy. The 243 is really a deer gun, a very good deer gun that will last a life time as such. Use it to shoot targets and varmints and you will burn out the barrel. A 12 twist 6 BR will shoot bullets up to 80 gr to the range you mention.

 

[LarryDScott]

For varmints, PDs, ground squirrels, groundhogs and Coyotes.
The 20cal family is your friend. Welcome to the board. LDS

 

[timeout]

Hey Larry. My vote is for the 6 BR also. Consider an 8 twist if you want to shoot heavies.

 

[rebel]

Welcome, 6 br love here, but there are tons of great cartridges out there. If you go 6 BR, as said do an 8 twist and make sure there is enough throat for 105"s.

 

[270WinDude]

If you hang out on the forum long enough, ask questions, and read, you will wind up buying better stuff that you'll be happy with then if you just go out willy nilly and buy something. I doubt I'll spend more then 200 dollars on something again without researching it on this forum. I am very stubborn and rarely if ever take advice, yet I am so much better off equipment wise thanks to this forum. Personally for cartridge choice I think you'd like the 30BR. Also the 22-250 is awesome. A 6PPC is basically like the br version of the ne patriots. A custom 243 might actually be more cool points then a 6mm creed and equally as attractive. 308s will never go out of style. A 223 is cost effective, cool. and the cats pajamas. A 204 is alright, some love them. A 284win is kinda like the golden state warriors but anything WSM is basically like whatever team has Labron, it's in the runnin'. I like the 270win and shoot 110gr vmax very accurately even the bad groups during load development are decent, on the other end of the spectrum I shoot 140gr berger vlds accurate and over 3050fps. Lots of 6mmbr fans and for very good reason, most of the like are very low recoil, very low imo and super accurate. A 7mmrem mag isn't as cool as it once was I don't care what they say. What's your budget? What you thinking? I hate talking about guns so lets get this decision out the way stat. edit: also if you got a 270win you can shoot 90gr varminters or any other bullet manufacturers varmint loads with low recoil and at 22-250 speeds or you can shoot heavies flatter then … some other popular choices intentionally not mentioned. Whatever you do please don't get a barrel shorter then 24 inches whatever your choice.

 

[jds holler]

Welcome Larry. You won't read nearly as much about pistol loading on this forum as rifle, but there are a lot of us who do. Most of us get pretty serious about precision reloading for the rifles, but I love to go back to the relaxing evenings of pistol loading which for me is pretty much about economy, quantity, and simplicity.

There are guys here who really know how to make a rifle shoot, and they are happy to help ya. This forum is a sanctioned chapter of "The Good Guy Club". jd

 

[Lkwebb]

Welcome Larry. You won't read nearly as much about pistol loading on this forum as rifle, but there are a lot of us who do. Most of us get pretty serious about precision reloading for the rifles, but I love to go back to the relaxing evenings of pistol loading which for me is pretty much about economy, quantity, and simplicity.

There are guys here who really know how to make a rifle shoot, and they are happy to help ya. This forum is a sanctioned chapter of "The Good Guy Club". jd

I have another forum I use for my pistol reloading questions so I won't bother with it here.
I figured I would prolly spend between 600 to 1200 on my first rifle. I don't want to spend 2k since I'm just beginning.
Also since I'm just in the novice stage of reloading I'm looking for a cartridge with simplicity, if there is such a thing...

 

[270WinDude]

I have another forum I use for my pistol reloading questions so I won't bother with it here.
I figured I would prolly spend between 600 to 1200 on my first rifle. I don't want to spend 2k since I'm just beginning.
Also since I'm just in the novice stage of reloading I'm looking for a cartridge with simplicity, if there is such a thing...

I had the same budget. I wanted a longer barrel. If I were to do it again to learn before buying a real BR gun I'd get a savage FV in 223 and hope to pay 250-350, I'd buy a weaver t36 on the classifieds here on the forum, and buy a bald eagle front rest and edgewood rear bags. A 22-250 could be my favorite 224 but they just dont make the ones I want from factory. I'd get a rcbs press, lee dies, and limit myself to load development for 1 bullet at a time instead of what I did initially, tons of bullets and powders all at once. Or I'd get a Walmart rem700 in 270. I paid 750 for a bergara b14 thinking it'd be more accurate then the savages of equal or less price, but I'm finding that either a lot of people lie about their groups or I'd have been better off buying a cheaper savage or used tikka. Arbitrary brand loyalty keeps me from making the best decision at time, so I have that working for me too. If you're buying it all at once, as a reference, I'm in about 3k between gun, scope, reloading equipment, bullets and powder, etc, and I was "budget shopping". FWIW

 

[Liven The Dream]

Welcome. You will find this a Great Place to hang out.
On your .243 if you Hot Rod it ? barrel life is short..
BR is lot better !

Spend once and enjoy..

 

[JBT47]

Welcome to the forum.

6 BR.

 

[GSPV]

Go ahead and get an 8 twist 6BR or similar. The 1:8 will handle the lighter bullets OK, but will give you the option to shoot the 105 class of boat tails. Those long, pointy bullets will be easier to deal with at the maximum range that you mentioned.

Get some good optics. It can be be hard to see your bullet holes at 500. There are quite a few NF 12-42 BRs out there for good prices these days.

The 6 BR is stupid easy to load for. I wouldn’t use a Lee die if you gave it to me. Redding Type S bushing FL die. I also have RCBS Gold that work well. I have one of the new Wilson threaded FL dies that I’m evaluating and seems good so far.

 

[Terry_M]

Welcome to the forum! You'll find all the information you ever wanted here. Been here for years and find something new to read and learn every day.

With your stated goal of 500yds and varmints I would strongly recommend getting a 223 for your first gun you're going to load for. Widest selection of bullets and it's hard to find one that doesn't shoot well. Remington 700's are the easiest to work with because there are more aftermarket parts everywhere for them than any other rifle. Savage, Tikka, Mossberg (yes Mossberg) and many others make good 223's, but for your first that you're going to be learning and experimenting with might as well go with one that has aftermarket parts readily available. Look for a 9 twist of faster. Save up if you have to and buy nice used stuff out of the forums. The gun is the cheapest part of the equation when it comes to shooting. Might as well get as much mileage from your money as you can and the 223 is going to be the easiest cartridge to do that.

 

[Tommie]

OP: As you can see there are many options and opinions.

Like everything else in life, choosing a cartridge is a matter of trade-offs and compromises. External ballistics, terminal ballistics, recoil, barrel life and component cost/availability are just a few considerations involved in the decision. Determine what is most important to you, what’s least important and where the other variables fall into the priority list. At that point you will be more prepared to make an educated choice.

 

[moondog]

I have another forum I use for my pistol reloading questions so I won't bother with it here.
I figured I would prolly spend between 600 to 1200 on my first rifle. I don't want to spend 2k since I'm just beginning.
Also since I'm just in the novice stage of reloading I'm looking for a cartridge with simplicity, if there is such a thing...

6BR is VERY easy to get to shoot very well.
Great barrel life. Not thirsty for powder.
When you want to reach out further, and you will, it'll do it. The 223 is the 22lr of center fire
choices. Great barrel life, ammo at at the gas station if you need it. As far as your price point, it's a rabbit hole. Buy once, Cry once is
B.S.! Once you start, you'll need to get a second job.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Welcome to the forum Larry.

 

[Lkwebb]

Welcome to the forum Larry.

Thank you