Howa's exhibit some similarities to Sako's in construction.
.243 Choices choices what to do. Adv
- Thread starter Taff1977
- Start date
Hales Smut
Well-Known Member
Second hand Tikka, Browning A-bolt or Howa. My preference would be T3 lite or A-bolt II . Brownings are very underrated. Stay away from varmints. To heavy.
I bought a S/H Sako 75 in .243 last year. Lovely rifle, its absolutely mint but it wasn't cheap - £1000 with Opitlocks.
Also got a Tikka M595 in .308. They are equally fine but can be found cheaper than the 75. Personally, I'd have either over the current Sako/Tikka equivalents, or a Howa.
I bought my 75 from Neil Sutherland in Kilmarnock. He had a several in at the time which weren't all on his website. Might be worth a try. A gent to deal with too. First class service.
Also got a Tikka M595 in .308. They are equally fine but can be found cheaper than the 75. Personally, I'd have either over the current Sako/Tikka equivalents, or a Howa.
I bought my 75 from Neil Sutherland in Kilmarnock. He had a several in at the time which weren't all on his website. Might be worth a try. A gent to deal with too. First class service.
I was thinking in the exact same way when I got my licence, it just so happened that a sako 75 became available locally including ASE sl5 mod, optilocs and a leupold vx3 all in for £900... I think if it hadn't I would have gotten a howa. And I'm sure I would of been just as happy with it. But as it goes, I'm hooked on sako now! And would absolutely recommend it to anyone thinking about it. My 75 puts 5 shots into a ragged hole at 100 yards and has taken rabbits and crows further than I'd ever shoot a deer. And if I ever did sell it (not likely), it'll give me back what I paid!!
Roro
Well-Known Member
I had a mid-sixties made, sako l597 in .308. That rifle, despite being 50 years old was an absolute tack driver. Like a fool i sold it.
If you need to cover scope, mounts, etc., in your budget, those Howa packages look excellent value.
Though a good plan is just to go to a gunshop you trust and tell them your budget.
They'll offer you whatever they'd recommend at that price, and you should just choose the one that fits best.
That's how I ended up with my first Tikka. It nestled into my shoulder as soon as i picked it up.
Though a good plan is just to go to a gunshop you trust and tell them your budget.
They'll offer you whatever they'd recommend at that price, and you should just choose the one that fits best.
That's how I ended up with my first Tikka. It nestled into my shoulder as soon as i picked it up.
JamieDenny
Well-Known Member
I havent read all of the other posts here but my thoughts.
I picked up a slightly used howa 1500 varmint with a bell and Carlson stock on here for £450.
Adjustable trigger, excellent rifle and I can punch a cloverleaf hole with four shots at 100 yards. Admittedly that is with home loads but factory ammunition is almost as good.
All of your options look good, my advice would be to look at synthetic but we'll built stocks.
Some other suggestions:-
Remmington 700- well known in the long range / prs circuit for its accuracy and build.
I have a savage in. 223 and it is fantastic. They do a great trigger and a good stock in the model 10.
If you want to bash foxes your scope will have a lot to do with it.
I picked up a slightly used howa 1500 varmint with a bell and Carlson stock on here for £450.
Adjustable trigger, excellent rifle and I can punch a cloverleaf hole with four shots at 100 yards. Admittedly that is with home loads but factory ammunition is almost as good.
All of your options look good, my advice would be to look at synthetic but we'll built stocks.
Some other suggestions:-
Remmington 700- well known in the long range / prs circuit for its accuracy and build.
I have a savage in. 223 and it is fantastic. They do a great trigger and a good stock in the model 10.
If you want to bash foxes your scope will have a lot to do with it.
JamieDenny
Well-Known Member
Looks like howa are getting the love on here.
Onelesscharlie
Well-Known Member
Thought I would throw this into the pot.... I have purchased three parker Hales in the last few months one 243, one 270 and one 308. All shoot well within the requirements of the general foxing or stalking user.
The most expensive was 200 the cheapest was 75. All came with scopes and two came with moderators.
The most expensive was 200 the cheapest was 75. All came with scopes and two came with moderators.
Won't be a bad choice at all, the 1500 actions are based off an old sako action they bought the plans for...or something like that anyway, I can't remember off the top of my head. But solid it will be, I have no doubt!! Let us know how you find it when you get to shooting
Theres some great advice here on the rifle choice which I can only echo - A second hand A-Bolt, X-Bolt or T3 should serve you very well.
Between them I would personally choose the Tikka but only because of the triggers. The Brownings seem to have a shotgun type trigger when you pull them (IE; pretty firm and then suddenly give) whereas the Tikkas have a rifle trigger (IE; a bit lighter and give more gradually) meaning you can squeeze off a shot rather than jerking it.
JMHO and all that, all of them are good, well made and accurate rifles.
Scope wise I would get something like this if budget is a consideration - Its a 56mm lens and 30mm tube which will work well in low light, and has enough magnification for shots out to 200x which lets face it is as far as you're going to be shooting anyway!
Between them I would personally choose the Tikka but only because of the triggers. The Brownings seem to have a shotgun type trigger when you pull them (IE; pretty firm and then suddenly give) whereas the Tikkas have a rifle trigger (IE; a bit lighter and give more gradually) meaning you can squeeze off a shot rather than jerking it.
JMHO and all that, all of them are good, well made and accurate rifles.
Scope wise I would get something like this if budget is a consideration - Its a 56mm lens and 30mm tube which will work well in low light, and has enough magnification for shots out to 200x which lets face it is as far as you're going to be shooting anyway!
tusker
Well-Known Member
My nephew has just bought a Parker Hale in 243. It is prestine I doubt it has more than box of ammo through it. If it dosent shoot 1 and half inch groups I will eat my hat. It is sold with mounts £245.
Tusker
Chasey
Well-Known Member
Chasey
Well-Known Member
God points but Browning brought out the new triger system (feather light or something) and that got rid of all such issues.
Ah cool, I didn't know that! Thanks for the heads up!
I'll be interested to try one if I get my mitts on one hehe!
That is a good choice, I would even say try get a new stainless T3. Rather have a cheaper scope and mounts until you have saved for an upgrade. It is much easier to change scopes than rifles. One must put a bit of effort in a rifle, finding the right ammo, moderator fitting, getting used to the trigger etc. Might take a year until one becomes one with the rifle. Scopes...come and go.
Since I have followed the used rifle market a bit since about 20 years in Ireland and never ever heard of a shot out rifle.....yet tons of ammunition are imported every year I would be very careful with used rifles. I had bought three last year that had "done nothing"..."a box or two went through that one"...bla bla only to be re-barrelled because they were shot out.
but on the other hand I just sold a friends Howa that had been re-barrelled with a Bergara barrel and had guaranteed shot less than 50 shots. I had zeroed his rifle, checked the zero, mostly had it & ammo stored with me and the owner just shot a few deer with it. One can be lucky.
edi
Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
Get a new Howa. Known entity and if it doesn't do as it should then under warranty. It won't be pretty but will be functional. Don't get a heavy barreled varmint as you will soon get fed up carrying it. Stick a good clean 2nd hand s&ab or Swarovski or meopta 7x50 or 8x56 (given foxing as main use) and go hunting. I personally would by go tikka or sako - I would rather spend a little more and go Heym or Shultz and Larsen. Or find a good 2nd hand Heym sr20 which seem to go for c£700 at the moment.
The trouble with Tikka and Sako is they are used by professionals (forestry commission, big estates etc) and there are a lot that look clean but have shot a lot of rounds sitting 2nd on gun dealers shelves - especially be wary of synthetic stainless ones. The Heym, top end Sakos, sauers etc tend to be gentlemen stalker rifles and often shoot half a dozen deer a year and can be real sleepers. But you need to know w what you are looking for.
As I said at the start, go with the new Howa.
The trouble with Tikka and Sako is they are used by professionals (forestry commission, big estates etc) and there are a lot that look clean but have shot a lot of rounds sitting 2nd on gun dealers shelves - especially be wary of synthetic stainless ones. The Heym, top end Sakos, sauers etc tend to be gentlemen stalker rifles and often shoot half a dozen deer a year and can be real sleepers. But you need to know w what you are looking for.
As I said at the start, go with the new Howa.
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