such thing as a budget target gun ?

[cjmac]

hello , so im wanting to semi build a good target gun in 243. im on a budget but have been looking at the rem 700 varmint . reason is it comes with a heaver barrel and 700s are easy to build on. im not a savage fan because i can never get the stock i want for them. tikka is a great rifle i have one in 308 , but cant get one with a heavy barrel in 243 . can only get the sporter model. and the barrel heats up fast . id love to build on a tikka but might be out of my price range {or would take forever } ... how heavy of a barrel could a sporter style stock on a tikka handle?... the rem varmint i could just restock and do a trigger job ...just would like some pointers thanks

 

[Lapua40X]

With no intention of sounding trite, to "build" a "budget" gun depends on the budget and how much building you want to venture into.
If you have a .243 (6mm) Remington 700 that has a good barrel and a sound action I'd suggest you focus on truing the action and finding a trigger that serves your purposes, then look into a stock. There are many composite and moulded synthetic stocks on the market that can be had at very reasonable prices and you can accessorize (bipod, scope etc.) from there as future funding materializes.

 

[MK 19]

Have you considered looking at a used rifle that has everything you may want already installed?

 

[Off_road_10]

With respect to Lapua40X, I agree as I am in the process of doing this but, I bought the stock first (after the reloading gear).

Started with Rem 700P .223 with bipod and Leupold 8.5 - 25x. As i suffer from "ducks disease" the factory stock LOP was a tad to long, instead of fitting me I had to try and fit it. Purchased a Accuracy international AX stock as it offer the most adjustment and required no bedding. Looked at MDT, APO, KRG WHISKEY 3, Manners and McMillan.

For me having a stock that fits has increased my accuracy and sight alignment with scope. I'll shoot this barrel out and then replace with quality barrel and at the same time have action trued and install a better trigger.

Here in Australia:
MDT chassis $875, Butt stock $400 = $1275
APO SABER rifle chassis $1440 - $1740 (at the time they had not arrived in Aust)
KRG WHISKEY 3 good but too heavy,
Manners could not lessen the LOP 13.5 = useless for me,
McMillan could reduce LOP to 12.5 but would have to be a saddle check piece but then required bedding $1250 plus bedding
Accuracy international AX $1350 landed at my door + Mag 10 round $80

In Aust:
New barrel fitted $900
Action trued $400
CG X-treme Mod 22 Trigger For Rem 700 With Safety And Bolt Release $400

 

[jonbearman]

900.00 to fit a barrel,you must be making good money I hope.

 

[ReedG]

CJ, there are so many "bunny trails" to your question, that there really isn't any viable answer. "Target rifle" is a category that covers from 100-yd. paper-punching to 1,000-yd. metal, and many disciplines in between. Almost no type of "target rifle" is inexpensive. The very concept of shooting a "target rifle" indicates one intends to shoot competitively, either against his buddies, the gang at the range, or in serious competition.

If you want an accurate rifle, that shoots well, and gives you satisfaction to shoot, there are quite a few options. If you want an after-market barrel, trued or custom action, top level stock and finishing, then you have left the world of "budget". Also, I'm not a big fan of .243 WCF as a "target" caliber, but I'm sure it can be made to shoot very well.

A top-quality factory rifle from Remington, Ruger, Savage, etc., that you can expect to get any kind of "target" accuracy out of, will cost you $1,200 or more. If you have the action blueprinted, add an after-market trigger, you will add about $600. A good barrel chambered and installed will go $400 up.

If "target" accuracy is what you really want, my suggestion would be to go directly to Shooters Corner, look down their "list", call the White's and make a deal. A good, used-but-still-useable custom rifle will run $1,500 to $2,000 and save you lots of frustration and money. A good solid chassis (stock, action, trigger) can be rebarreled many times with no loss of integrity.

If you are wed to the .243 WCF and looking more for a good varmint rifle that shoots good, the Ruger (http://www.gunsamerica.com/932380432/RUGER_M77_MK_II_TARGET_LAMINATE_SS_243_WIN.htm) is a good place to start. It is not a rifle to "build up" into a target rifle and most factory guns aren't. But it will easily shoot 1/2 MOA, hold its own at an egg shoot, etc., and give you some experience to decide which way you want to go.

I've been the "affordable" route through several Savage's, several Ruger's, etc. and had lots of fun, learned a lot about shooting and equipment and handloading. But if you want "target accuracy" take the advice of "spend once, cry once" and get a piece of equipment built from the ground up to have consistent accuracy. There are hundreds of guns out there with Shilen, Hall, Hart, Nesika, etc., actions that are not at the top of the current state-of-the-art competition game but still have the capability of being in the game. Good place to start and then learn what direction to go.

Good luck and shoot small ...

 

[cjmac]

iv looked at the ruger MK2 target in 6.5 creedmoor .

 

[articmp]

I have an IBS Light 1000 yard rifle put together for less than $1000 minus glass. It is a Savage PTA sitting in a modified Kelby's M700 stock. It won two score relays this year. Normally shoots sub-MOA at 1k.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

No. I've been trying to shoot better since 2004 on a budget and it's been a painful and expensive experience.

Have a read of this book before you spend any more money.
http://www.ballisticstudies.com/shop/The+Long+Range+Hunting+Series/The+Practical+Guide+to+Long+Range+Hunting+Rifles+Ebook++Paperback+Version.html
Have fun.

JCS

 

[GSPV]

First pointer: drop the 243 Win. Great hunting cartridge. Poor target cartridge. I love the 243, I just love it for what it's good at. You will find the 6 BR to be a much more accurate and easy to load cartridge.

Second pointer: the least expensive route in the long run is to buy a used rig. You can get embarrassingly good deals if you shop around. I paid $1,600 for mine with dies, without glass, put on a Weaver T-36 and went shooting.

If you don't go the used route, suggest that you get a Savage LRPV in 6 BR. There are two models, one in 8 twist, one in 12 twist. If you want to shoot to 300 yards or so, choose the 12, else the 8.

There is a chap here that makes wood stocks at a good price. I bought a gorgeous walnut stock inletted and ready to be finished for $275 US. If you are interested, drop me a line.

Greg J

 

[PALarson]

NO

 

[vtmarmot]

I'm with Reed and GSPV. If you want short range bench rest, go to Shooter's Corner. You can get something for $1200 or so such as a sleeved Remington that will be way ahead of anything you can "build" from a new factory gun for that price. If you want long range bench rest or F-class go with a new Savage. For around $1300 you'll be way ahead of your "build".

I had a Remington Varmint Synthetic that I liked a lot, but I seldom shot it so I had it trued and rebarreled and turned into an F-class rifle. If I had taken that money and bought a Savage F-class rig I would still have the Remington too. In hindsight, it was not a smart move.

I have come to believe that you are always better off to buy the "real thing" even if it's used. At least then, you'll have some residual value, but your idea of a custom rifle might not. That being said, I've done a couple of weird builds that actually turned out OK. There is some satisfaction in that. In the end though, target shooting is an expensive game, so get over it and get out the check book.

 

[GSPV]

The classifieds here and on benchrest.com are both good..

Depending on what you mean by "target rifle" the Savage Benchrest might be an option. Be aware that if you are looking at 100-200 yard benchrest, the Savage Benchrest won't make weight.

 

[Cody Richardson]

First pointer: drop the 243 Win. Great hunting cartridge. Poor target cartridge. I love the 243, I just love it for what it's good at. You will find the 6 BR to be a much more accurate and easy to load cartridge.

No disrespect meant, but tell John Whidden the 243 is a poor target cartridge, he's won 3 National Long Range championships with a 243. I had one, shot great but barrel life was awful, have since switched to the 6 Creedmoor! But I completely agree the 6BR for 600 yards and in can't be beat.

 

[fm1947]

You can't get any cheaper then a savage , you can get an action from Northland for $350, a Barrel from him for $329, and a Stock from Stocky's for $200, that's $880 Action come with accutrigger

http://northlandshooterssupply.com/

http://www.stockysstocks.com/servlet/the-614/*NEW%21*-Bobby-Hart-Long/Detail

 

[Shynloco]

Chk ur PM's.

 

[Shynloco]

You can't get any cheaper then a savage , you can get an action from Northland for $350, a Barrel from him for $329, and a Stock from Stocky's for $200, that's $880 Action come with accutrigger

http://northlandshooterssupply.com/

http://www.stockysstocks.com/servlet/the-614/*NEW%21*-Bobby-Hart-Long/Detail

Great suggestion! Something I haven't seen is a response in terms of defining what he meant by "Target Rifle." Does that mean he wants an accurate shooter for target shooting or does he want to build a Target Rifle for competition shooting? Those are worlds and fat bank accounts apart. I've gone the canabilizing route with two Rugers (.308 & 6.5, formerly a 22-250) and turned them into Benchguns. Both shoot extremely tight groups with Match grade barrels, Benchrest stocks and Timney triggers. With the work done by an experienced Gunsmith, I have right at $1,000 (that's above the basic cost of each stock rifle which was around $700 in the .308 and $1200 in the 22-250) in each rifle WITHOUT the Weaver T36. As well as both rifles shoot (consistent dime/nickel sized 5 shot groups at 100 yds), ain't no way in hell I'd want to compete against the "basic" custom competition rigs that start at $3,600+ and go on into infinity with the expense factor. Might be fun trying, but I seriously doubt I'd win anything.

So bottom line might be in what cjmac has in mind in terms of a "Target Rifle." Just my thoughts.

Alex

 

[rjtfroggy]

I built a bull barreled 26" Criterion 243 1:8 twist, with a Savage PTA, Shehane stock, Kelby base& rings and a Weaver T36. .
Budget build it isn't but was still cheaper than full out custom.
Action and barrel from Northland Shooter Supply with recoil lug-$882
Stock-almost $900
Base & rings-$190
T36- $449
add in the finishing for the stock, the trigger guard and some misc. stuff and it comes to $2500.

 

[escopeta]

A few months ago I purchased a used light benchrest rifle for $1400 in 6PPC .262 neck
Rem 40x receiver, custom cone bolt with Sako style extractor, McMillan stock, Jewell trigger, and glued in. Don"t know who made barrel but it is first class. It came with all the custom tools to form .220 Russian brass, re size bushing neck and base die, Wilson seater die, 200 Bruno bullets, and over 100 pieces of new and fired Lapua brass.
I have got the little gun shooting in the 1's and had a couple of 0's. As i am a casual shooter and maybe varmint, this rig fills the bill for short range. This is the best shooting cheapest rig I have ever had. There are good low cost rifles out there, just got to look for them.