Recommend a Bolt Action in 243 Win

dak0ta said:

Is there much difference in a short action 700 vs model 7 in 243? What about a venerable Model 600 or Model 788 in 243?

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Here's a good piece on the differences between the Model 7 and a 700 SA. The 7 is shorter yet, perfect for a lightweight hunting rifle in .243.
The Model 600 would also be a classic. Sorry; no personal experience with the 788.

dak0ta said:

I like the Rem 700 action, as that's what my 270 Winchester is.

Is there much difference in a short action 700 vs model 7 in 243? What about a venerable Model 600 or Model 788 in 243? Other one I would be interested is the Browning A-Bolt II.

I should add I prefer walnut and steel and I like vintage rifles. Mauser 98s, Husqvarnas, SAKOs, Winchesters etc.

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I have a Remington model 660 Carbine in .243 Winchester. 1-9 twist, 20" bbl. and is the most accurate rifle I own.

dak0ta said:

I like the Rem 700 action, as that's what my 270 Winchester is.

Is there much difference in a short action 700 vs model 7 in 243? What about a venerable Model 600 or Model 788 in 243? Other one I would be interested is the Browning A-Bolt II.

I should add I prefer walnut and steel and I like vintage rifles. Mauser 98s, Husqvarnas, SAKOs, Winchesters etc.

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I like the M7s and own 3 in .223, .260Rem and a .350Rem mag, they're a little shorter and a little lighter than the M700SA. They make great blind guns as they're shorter then other offerings. I like the fact that the loading port is larger on the M7, but the magazine length is the same. I have .223s in an M7 and 700SA and the M7 is easier to load with the same exact mag box. The Rem 700 has way more aftermarket support as far as stock options although the major makers B&C, H-S Precision, MicMillon and several others will inlet for an M7 action.

My "grail gun" for whitetails would be an M7 in .260AI with a 22" tube and McMillan Hunters Edge stock, Timney Calvin Elite trigger, wearing a Leupold VX3i 2.5-8X CDS with B&C reticle.

Accuracy difference, I don't know, but in theory the M700 is stiffer, but there are smiths building precision rifles using the M7 action as the base, so the potential should be there. For a hunting rifle, what little difference there is would most likely be moot.

Biggest difference you'll find with an factory M7 VS a factory M700SA is the barrel length and diameter. The majority of M7s come with 18.5 or 20" lightweight barrels similar to (exact?) a mountain rifle profile. Which means they heat up pretty quickly and groups often open up on longer shot strings, not what I'd call a target gun. My M7 in .223 however, shoots pretty well for longer strings, probably due to the .223 hole in the same barrel contour as the larger calibers.

There were some runs of M7s in short magnum calibers with 22" barrels and they appear on Gunbroker pretty frequently. There are also M7 Predators available in .243, (also .223 and .22-250) with 22": fluted Magnum profiled barrels that are very reasonable. I haven't bought one yet cause I can't get my head around the &**^% Camo finish. These are often under $500 on line. Also the .223 is a 1-12 twist, great for varmints with lighter bullets, but I like my current 55-69 grain range.

Good article on the differences:

https://rifleshooter.com/2015/05/remington-model-seven-and-700-comparison/

M7 Left, 700SA on right:



Sorry I missed Legionnaire's post, should have figured he'd be all over the M7 question!

dak0ta said:

I like the Rem 700 action, as that's what my 270 Winchester is.

Is there much difference in a short action 700 vs model 7 in 243? What about a venerable Model 600 or Model 788 in 243? Other one I would be interested is the Browning A-Bolt II.

I should add I prefer walnut and steel and I like vintage rifles. Mauser 98s, Husqvarnas, SAKOs, Winchesters etc.

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The 788 was always a budget minded offering with rear locking lugs. A friend of mine that I served with in OR had one in .308 and I did load development for him. It was a surprisingly accurate gun.

I have a .270 but use a .243 for coyotes. I prefer it over a .223 for varmints.

Within your budget my preferences from most to least would be:
Winchester M70
Bergara
Tikka
Weatherby Vanguard

I prefer a 24” barrel though a 22” would do.

dak0ta said:

What do you guys think of the current Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 in 243 Win? It has a 24" barrel with 1-10" twist for stabilizing those 85-100gr bullets

Specs:
Weight: 7.5
Overall Length: 44"
Barrel Length & Contour: 24" #2
Action / Barrel OAL: RH 24"
Twist Rate: 1-10"
Mag Capacity: 5+1
Length of Pull: 13 1/2"
Monte Carlo: 1/2"
Drop @ Comb: 3/4"
Drop @ Heel: 1 1/4"

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I’ve had a Vanguard S2 Sporter .243 for five years, I like it.

dak0ta said:

What do you guys think of the current Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 in 243 Win? It has a 24" barrel with 1-10" twist for stabilizing those 85-100gr bullets

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I can't speak of the .243, but this winter I bought the .223 Vanguard S2 heavy barrel. Haven't gotten out to shoot it yet with the 'rona social distancing and all (normally shoot at the in-laws), but I will say it is by far the smoothest action I've ever had the pleasure of operating. I replaced the stock on mine with a Hogue Overmold w/ full aluminum bedding because it doesn't free float (and because I got a screaming deal on the Hogue), though they say that is by design especially with the lighter profile barrels as they claim the pressure point helps with accuracy. That being said, the stock is probably the nicest OEM polymer stock I've seen, stiffer than either of my Savage stocks (which isn't saying alot) and the Marlin I recently sold off. The trigger is pretty nice, I don't like it QUITE as much as Savage's Accutrigger, but its pretty darn close.

All that to say, I wouldn't hesitate to pick one up especially if the price is right.

I would choose a 700. The 7 is a very nice rifle but there is simply more aftermarket support for the 700. It has been my experience that the tolerances newer 700 actions are slightly better than the older models but some fellows like the bluing on the older ones better. A new stainless 700 rifle may be the best of all of them.

All of the manufacturers have their fans, and their naysayers, so just pick something that feels right to you.

Seamaster31 said:

All of the manufacturers have their fans, and their naysayers, so just pick something that feels right to you

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Whoa.....that there is dangerous territory. Makes WAAAAY too much sense.

I happen to really like my Ruger American in .243--does not hurt that I bought it used for a song.

I used to have a Savage 110T in .223 which was a great varmint piece, even with its slightly shorter barrel.

Varmints are going to vary based on where and what. After all, 25-06 is fun as all get out, if a tad much on prairie poodles; but good medicine on chucks, 'yotes, and the like. But, .25-06 is not excactly a recipe for light and handy, either. (More bipods and bags, but that's a personal bias/preference.)

Seamaster31 said:

I would choose a 700. The 7 is a very nice rifle but there is simply more aftermarket support for the 700. It has been my experience that the tolerances newer 700 actions are slightly better than the older models but some fellows like the bluing on the older ones better. A new stainless 700 rifle may be the best of all of them.

All of the manufacturers have their fans, and their naysayers, so just pick something that feels right to you.

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I agree....not the 700 Vs 7 part, but that the last couple REM 700s and 7s I've bought have actually shot very well. Way better than the internet forums would have me believe they're capable of.

dak0ta said:

What do you guys think of the current Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 in 243 Win? It has a 24" barrel with 1-10" twist for stabilizing those 85-100gr bullets

Specs:
Weight: 7.5
Overall Length: 44"
Barrel Length & Contour: 24" #2
Action / Barrel OAL: RH 24"
Twist Rate: 1-10"
Mag Capacity: 5+1
Length of Pull: 13 1/2"
Monte Carlo: 1/2"
Drop @ Comb: 3/4"
Drop @ Heel: 1 1/4"

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If you're leaning toward the Weatherby, buy the Howa; it's the same gun, less expensive. Both good guns for the money, though.

entropy said:

If you're leaning toward the Weatherby, buy the Howa; it's the same gun, less expensive. Both good guns for the money, though.

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They're pretty close online, depending on what specifics you're looking for in barrel length, etc.. I think the cheapest Howa was about $20 cheaper, though that is a 22" barrel versus a 24" barrel on the cheapest Weatherby.

Weatherby

Howa

Newtosavage said:

Keep in mind that Savage short action rifles don't have to be heavy. In the plastic factory stock, with a lightweight scope, I've had several that were just a hair over 7 lbs. That makes for a nice weight in a .243. Savage factory recoil pads are very nice too.

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And plastic is such an attractive stock----

Ok sorry for the sarcastic remark but he said he likes wood and blue!

dak0ta said:

22 vs 24" in 243 Win, how much more performance in the extra 2" with 100 grain bullets?

Also, in other action types like a Savage 99, Browning BLR Pre-81, or Remington 7600 in 243 Win, what do you guys think?

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The 1:10 twists will stabilize average 85-100 gr bullets but you MIGHT notice issues under adverse conditions with longer bullets it's not weight it's length per weight, i.e. an accubond or etip is harder to keep stable in freezing weather than a prohunter or hpbt gameking. A Savage 99 is always on the ok table when handled properly, love them.
As to the extra 2" figure an average of 25fps/inch.

dak0ta said:

What do you guys think of the current Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 in 243 Win? It has a 24" barrel with 1-10" twist for stabilizing those 85-100gr bullets

Specs:
Weight: 7.5
Overall Length: 44"
Barrel Length & Contour: 24" #2
Action / Barrel OAL: RH 24"
Twist Rate: 1-10"
Mag Capacity: 5+1
Length of Pull: 13 1/2"
Monte Carlo: 1/2"
Drop @ Comb: 3/4"
Drop @ Heel: 1 1/4"

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Can't go wrong there. I'm a big fan of those rifles of you don't mind the little extra weight.

I just looked at the synrhetic stainless Tikka in 243 Win and that would have to be my first choice (grey laminate and fluted superlite models are also extremely nice.)
And if money were more of a factor then it would be a TC Compass, Vanguard, or 700 SPS.

redneck2 said:

If I were buying, it would be a Browning X-Bolt or CZ, as I’ve had experience with them and I’m very highly pleased with both.

There are probably a lot of good answers and few bad ones. We live in a time when accurate rifles and great scopes are relatively quite inexpensive. When I was growing up, a 1” rifle was rare as unicorns and a scope that didn’t fog was rarer. Today it’s common place

In the end, it’s personal preference as much as anything

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For me Savage jumped the shark awhile back with the whole bottom bolt release and centerfeed action (blechh!)

I have no idea why the bottom bolt release on the Savage bothers some folks so much. I thought the top bolt release was very ugly. My first Savage was a BBR so I guess it's all in what you're used to and how resistant to change a person is. My BBR Savages all shot as well as any rifles I've owned.

I think the person who said find one you like and get it, is right. So many production rifles today are sub-MOA right out of the box (or with a little breaking in and load development). Ruger Americans, Savage, Tikka and Howa/Weatherby Vanguard all have a reputation for shooting extremely well with no modifications. Find the one that strikes your fancy and go for it.

Regarding the Weatherby, I'd never own a hunting rifle with a 24" barrel. They sound good and look good when you check velocity charts, but in the field, 24" barrels are a royal pain in the butt. All my hunting rifles have 20" barrels, and I haven't seen a bullet bounce off yet.

Vanguard’s at first glance seem to have better fit and finish than Howa’s to me, but the last time I groped a Howa was five years ago.

If I expect/hope to see coyotes when going down back, I take a .243...usually the Tikka because it's light to carry. If not, the .223 will do the job on other varmints quite well, even eastern coyotes at reasonable ranges. I don't own a centerfire that won't shoot sub MOA, so accuracy isn't a consideration, but with wind and longer distances as considerations, the .243s tend to do most everything smaller than big deer at longer ranges.