.243 advice

[jmcgiff0104]

Hi

Looking to buy a .243 as my first rifle, ideally would like it to accept copper bullets for longevity, budget of 1500, can anyone help a beginner out with some recommendations?

 

[VSS]

New or 2nd hand?
There's no shortage of good 2nd hand 243s to be had for a mere fraction of your budget.

 

[wytonpjs]

New or 2nd hand?
There's no shortage of good 2nd hand 243s to be had for a mere fraction of your budget.

Gold standard IMHO is the Sako 75 - find one of those in a synthetic stock and it'll serve you very well. I've had mine 30 years and, despite having the barrel shortened to 20", shoots 80gr TTSX copper like a dream!

 

[Bowland blades]

Gold standard IMHO is the Sako 75 - find one of those in a synthetic stock and it'll serve you very well. I've had mine 30 years and, despite having the barrel shortened to 20", shoots 80gr TTSX copper like a dream!

Wow is it that long ago the 75 was launched ? I still have an early one , although the barrel has been changed out .
I have a good mate who shoots the Sako blade factory with 243 in Scotland i think its 85 grain min there now for anything but Roe ??
looking at re-adding another 243 or 6mm creed myself with the slot added at a very recent renewal

 

[wytonpjs]

Wow is it that long ago the 75 was launched ? I still have an early one , although the barrel has been changed out .
I have a good mate who shoots the Sako blade factory with 243 in Scotland i think its 85 grain min there now for anything but Roe ??
looking at re-adding another 243 or 6mm creed myself with the slot added at a very recent renewal

Yup, bought mine in 1995 The .243 blade is 80gr too - same as TTSX (but annoying is slimmer in diameter so my neck tension is different). The Scottish changes were:

Deer authorisations

Find out about the general authorisation that can be used to control deer in the closed season and about the specific authorisations that you must apply for.

www.nature.scot

 

[bumpy22]

Stretch to the sauer 404 in sales absolute steal at 2k

 

[Bowland blades]

Stretch to the sauer 404 in sales absolute steal at 2k

A like it or Loath it rifle . I liked the look of the first i set eyes on it but loathed it in use , i know a few folks who like them but compared to sako (if we forget that horrid plastic one ) A lot of that was the fit and its muzzle rise under mild recoil , perhaps its the fit doesn't suit

 

[bumpy22]

A like it or Loath it rifle . I liked the look of the first i set eyes on it but loathed it in use , i know a few folks who like them but compared to sako (if we forget that horrid plastic one ) A lot of that was the fit and its muzzle rise under mild recoil , perhaps its the fit doesn't suit

I have both but definitely a fan of 404. Different tool for me 75 dedicated nv rifle where as my sauer 404 is for stalking.
2 great rifles imo

 

[Bowland blades]

I have both but definitely a fan of 404. Different tool for me 75 dedicated nv rifle where as my sauer 404 is for stalking.
2 great rifles imo

I think the Sako 75 hunter that i prefer ( i have a couple ) is a poor NV choice . looking for a suited dedicated NV rifle at the moment actually. They will come though soon i think

 

[LeftHandGuy]

...budget of 1500, can anyone help a beginner out with some recommendations?

I realize that this is taking your request for recommendations and willfully misconstruing it, but stick with me!

Visit RFDs. Handle as many different centrefires as you can - even ones that aren't 243, because the chances are that if you find a 308, 6.5 Creedmore etc that fits you well and that is comfortable to manipulate, you'll be able to track down the same thing in 243 anyway. If there are opportunities to shoot different styles and makes, take them.

The brand or make of rifle is a useful guide but no real guarantee of anything very much. There are lots of very well made rifles that are very inexpensive because they are unfashionable or out of production. 1500 is a huge budget for a first deer rifle and should see you set up with a rifle, sling, slip, scope, mod and decent quantity of ammo so long as you aren't too susceptible to marketing BS and brand snobbery.

I'm not saying that you shouldn't buy nice things, but there are definitely points of diminishing return - a Tikka T3 is absolutely a "better" rifle a Savage Axis, but it's not necessarily more reliable, and probably isn't any more accurate. Lot's of people slag-off Howa rifles, which is pretty dumb as it's basically a reverse engineered Sako built with the same industrial philosophy that produced the Toyota Hilux.

I would look for mid-tier brands and items and try and husband as much of the budget as possible into opportunities to stalk and opportunities to practice your shooting - you don't need a German rifle with Austrian glass, Swedish ammo and a titanium moderator to shoot accurately and kill deer, because I promise you can do it all with an American rifle, Japanese glass and Serbian ammo - and there's a decent chance you'll shoot smaller groups and kill more deer too.

 

[ASl sniper.177]

You don't have to spend £1500 on a first rifle to get great accuracy. Having owned several full custom rifles that have shot tiny groups when hand loading. I've recently bought a Bergara B14 hunter in 6.5 Creedmoor,and with factory ammunition,it's produced some fantastic groups at 100 yards. I've reloaded for several factory rifles over the Years,and most of them produced really good groups at 100 yards. .3 MOA or less.

 

[hendrix's rifle]

Is that 1500 for a full set up or the rifle only?

 

[big ears]

I think the Sako 75 hunter that i prefer ( i have a couple ) is a poor NV choice . looking for a suited dedicated NV rifle at the moment actually. They will come though soon i think

What a load of cobblers.
The sako 75 will take a NV perfectly well.
As others have said if you can track one down then get it.
Unless you are left handed then that’s a problem as clearly swedes are all right handed.

 

[Everlong]

Tikka T3X and a decent scope - mine shoots 1/2” groups at 100y if I do my part with Sako 100g gameheads

 

[Roedeer 1962]

I’ve got a Sako L579 Forester 1959 basically a Sako 75 it had a new barrel fitted by Trevor Procter never lets me down Sako workmanship is very good , you won’t go wrong with a 75 or 85 in .243 ……..

 

[Bowland blades]

What a load of cobblers.
The sako 75 will take a NV perfectly well.
As others have said if you can track one down then get it.
Unless you are left handed then that’s a problem as clearly swedes are all right handed.

I think you need to look at other more modern designs ( as much as i like my own pair of 75 models ) . Built in picatinny rails ( rather than relying on a few grub screws etc ) , adjustable cheek pieces and other attachments that simply did not exist when the 75 was launched ( when NV meant a mate using the lamp or resting your forend on your wrist while also trying to make a clean shot ). No totally cannot agree but i am not going to be so rude as reply " cobblers " I am going to further explain , maybe debate .

 

[scotch_egg]

Realistically the OP should go for a modern rifle that has spare parts readily available. Keep it simple with a Tikka T3x, Mauser M12, Howa or evan a Bergara.

All this talk of getting an old rifle rebarreled is All good and well. What can the OP do when he needs a new stock for a Sako 75 or any other old action. There are members looking for springs for a Browning A-Bolt. If would be frivolous IMHO not to got for a production rifle.

The OP asks for a recommendation for a rifle with a budget of £1500 and hasn’t been back. No doubt all the information has baffled him.

A .243 is adequate for all U.K. species. All.new rifles are going if to group 1 MOA out the box.

@jmcgiff0104 you will struggle to get any agreement on what rifle. But also consider a silencer/moderator; DPT/Hauksen/Ase Utra SL5i or anything lightweight Not a Wildcat they weight a Ton and are old hat now days.

Get the best scope you can afford preferably with German Glass. Budget dependent a Schmidt and Bender 8X56 can be had from £300 secondhand on here. Fold will profess the exploits of xyz. But IMHO nothing comes close to German glass at first or last light when it counts.

Get some quad sticks, no need for a bipod now days. You don’t need to lay belly down in the mud and you obtain a safer angle shooting stood up.

Don’t forget a sling. You need hands free for looking for the deer with your hands on binoculars. Again go for the best you can afford. Preferably German Glass. Secondhand if budget doesn’t allow new.

Read this forum and understand there are more than two opinions to every scenario/question.

 

[big ears]

I think you need to look at other more modern designs ( as much as i like my own pair of 75 models ) . Built in picatinny rails ( rather than relying on a few grub screws etc ) , adjustable cheek pieces and other attachments that simply did not exist when the 75 was launched ( when NV meant a mate using the lamp or resting your forend on your wrist while also trying to make a clean shot ). No totally cannot agree but i am not going to be so rude as reply " cobblers " I am going to further explain , maybe debate .

Well I can do without all of that extra weight you demand.
My old tikka works perfectly well as a NV unit. Never needed a cheek raiser and I doubt if any nowadays use a lamp and wrist as a rifle support as you say.
I still hold what I said about your original comment.

 

[The Singing Stalker]

There are a lot of options for you out there.
Tika great rifle, adjustable trigger, but they use a long action. 1st world problems, but puts me off.
CZ, again, workhorse rifle, nothing wrong
Howa, apparently offering a new rifle about £1200. Don’t know a lot about them though.
There is loads more. Second hand opens out even more. You will need a scope and moderator as well I guess. Make sure it is threaded.

Here is what I would be looking at.
Adjustable trigger. If it is too heavy, then you will/could mess up and wobble. Too light and you are looking at accidental discharge. I like 2lb weight.
Pica-tinny rail. I have this so I can move scopes between all my rifles, not an issue if you only have one rifle. Saves having different types of rings.
Most rifles lop is 14 and 1/4 inches. If you are skinny with long arms like me it might not suit. I need 16 and 1/4 inch lop. Try as many rifles as you can in a shop. Close your eye, put your head in position and open your eyes, you are looking for your eye to line up with the crosshairs and not be moving about. The scope can be moved forward and back a bit. But up and down is a bit more difficult. There are plenty on here who can assist.

You will want a sling, so make sure it I has the studs in.

Pop over to Edinburgh rifles and have a play. He should have plenty in stock and be able to advise.
We are all different and you will get more answers the rifles as you will see from the comments here.

 

[Uncas]

Yup, bought mine in 1995 The .243 blade is 80gr too - same as TTSX (but annoying is slimmer in diameter so my neck tension is different). The Scottish changes were:

View attachment 368506

Deer authorisations

Find out about the general authorisation that can be used to control deer in the closed season and about the specific authorisations that you must apply for.

www.nature.scot

Totally barmy any bullet less than 120gr for Red/Sika/big Fallow stags.