Looking to purchase. 243 Help Needed.!!

[BE Precision]

If you're set on a factory rifle i would get a new Tikka T3 which will be adequate for killing deer/foxes at normal ranges, or alternatively have a semi custom built with a match grade barrel within your budget-thats what i would do and if you are interested in best accuracy and someday reaching out a little further, that would be my reccomendation. I would do that on a remmy or tikka.

 

[3.5mag]

Plus one for the T3x.
I've the varmint in .243, & stainless laminate sporter in .223.
Both dependable & very accurate.
A lighter trigger spring is easily obtained & fitted if that's your preference...mine both break at a crisp consistent safe 1 1/4 lb.
As has been mentioned many custom parts/stocks are available for them.
My .223 is currently in a MDT oryx stock as I do a lot of static foxing & it allows me to fit an arca plate which makes mounting it in my tripod more effective.
Whilst the stock is heavy it's still easily managed as a walk about.

Cheers
Mike

 

[Brighty3006]

Sako

 

[Mac78]

The world is your oyster with that kind of budget!
You could get a 2nd hand 243 for a 10th of that price, and spend the rest on good glass and some stalking.

100%
I recently purchased a nearly new T3 lite, stuck an Alpex A50 on it, all for under a grand.
Some amazing deals to be had on nearly new .243's.

 

[angusb1]

Most people will recommend what they have/like.

Try as many different rifles as you can, even better if you can test fire them. If it doesn’t feel right it will never be right.

Try Steve at Ivythorne sporting, he’s not to far you.

^^ This is very good advice

 

[harry243]

Tekka

 

[HandB]

I have had good luck with preowned rifles from common makers like BSA, Parker Hale, Tikka etc. There are lots in reasonable condition that are gathering dust on the shelves of local gunshops. I suggest browse around gunshops in your area, find one that mounts up well for you and has a nice trigger for your tastes. It should cost somewhere between £200 and £600, then spend the rest of the money on glass and ammo.

 

[Dickie]

I say this regularly on this subject get yourself to one or several local gunshops and handle and get the feel and fit of what they have new or S/H in your budget even better if they have a range you can try them at, whichever is the most comfortable to shoot well with is your answer.

 

[The Singing Stalker]

A generic g
Question will get you generic answers. Your question is, how long is a piece of string.
So, whilst there is lots of good advice here, what are you intending to use it for? How many rounds do you think you will shoot a year, how far will you be shooting, are you a sensitive soul with dainty fingers or have you got sausages? Trigger weight. Are you average build? Or are you super skinny with long arms? Do you like macho rifles or do you value function over form?

Lots of good rifles, but fit, smoothness of the bolt, spare magazines, safety.
If you want an m12, buy an m12, but you should try lots of others as well to see the difference.

 

[Dickie]

https://www.guntrader.uk/dealers/street/ivythorn-sporting/guns?calibre=243&type=rifle

Plenty to choose from here and you'll be looked after by one of the best in the trade.

 

[Dsmith]

Hi all, thought I would update the post with my purchase, after going through the options seeing and holding and using the actions within my budget I settled for this little beauty, not going to be to everyone’s taste but I think the set up is pretty solid. Sauer 101 GTi, vortex viper scope, dpt Mod.

 

[Stalker-of-the-deer]

The sauer 101 is a lovely rifle, I hope you get the enjoyment out of it!

 

[bob_lee_swagger]

Lovely

 

[bwganbrain]

Tikka T3 lite, had mine 10 years. no issuse

 

[Heym SR20]

The 243 has had a rum reputation for a while. Supposedly it’s standard 1 in 10” twist means it is completely outdated. It cannot shoot foot long very high BC bullets so you can pick off flies at 1,000m.

And the 1 in 10” also means you cannot shoot 100gn Copper Bullets so they are completely obsolete.

Now that in Scotland min bullet weight is 80gn, there is no reason not to go with the 243.

There are plenty of good loads for deer sized animals in the 80 to 100gn range. Many of the older 90 ish grain partition type bullets were much better than typical 100gn flat based soft points we had to use in the past.

But now the law has been changed we can get the full value out of a 243. An 80gn bullet going at 3,200 fps has more energy than a 100gn at 2,800 to 2,900. And with a monolithic you have a bullet that will punch right the way through most deer.

There does seem to be a fashion for very short barrels. Inevitably these will reduce velocity from standard loads. You may have to use a faster powder to minimise velocity loss. But not really an issue if you keep barrels at 20” plus.

A 243 is a very nice rifle to use. Minimal recoil, flat shooting so easy to use and no real need to worry about drops on most deer sized animals at normal ranges. It is also very good on foxes etc.

Would I recommend one if you were only shooting large red and sika stags. Probably not - something shooting a bigger bullet probably better. Will it work on big deer - of course it will.

Beauty of the 243 is that it is widely used. Good new and second hand rifles readily available. And ammo is everywhere - perhaps not your preferred brand, but the little gunshop in back end of nowhere will have a box or two and they will shoot well enough to do most jobs.