got a favorite .243?

If I was spending that kind of money, I’d be looking at a Ruger No. 1.

 

If my dog was as ugly as that carved stock, I’d shave his butt and walk him backwards.

 

You guys are picturing some nice looking rifles! I personally don't care for the one in the original post but to each his own. My only ever 243 started life as a Remington 700 VSSF in 308 that I rebarreled with a fast twist Krieger barrel. Its my long range Prairie Dog and White bird rifle. It wears a Nightforce Scope in Badger rings. With a case full of IMR4350 and either a Berger or Sierra Match bullet it will put them in the same hole, shot after shot.

 

I would keep looking as I have had a .243 for 50 + years that was built on an FN Mauser and for 50 tears it's had feeding problems. The action was designed for a longer cartridge.
Soft buttplate and muzzle break on a .243 ?????

 

I HAD my favorite .243; only gun I regret getting rid of - a Ruger #1 RSI with a good looking Mannlicher stock. 85 gr Sierra SPBT into 3/4" groups @ 100 all day long; a great pronghorn gun

 

I'm curious. What are folk saying about the Henry Long Ranger line?

One in .243 sounds like a sweet set-up.

Todd.

 

I have a Remington 660 in .243. My favorite rifle. Very accurate with Barnes TTSX bullets. It has a 20" barrel.

 

Only have one now an old model 110J, stock has been replaced but it still shoots lights out

 

I think 20 is the ideal barrel length. Not too long to carry, not too short to kill velocity. Mine, unfortunately, doesn't play well with copper bullets. Limited experiments with partitions weren't that great either. It also doesn't like anything that isn't seated pretty close or on the rifling so anything lighter than 85 grains is pretty much a no go. It REALLY likes the 87 grain Hornady soft point flat base. My load for that has an SD of 9.

 

The scope is a Redfield 3200 with 20X magnification, (3200 referring to a perfect score in a rimfire prone tournament.). They were quite popular and successful during the 1970's and '80's but went out of style with the advent of shorter high-mag telescopes like Redfield's 6400.) In earlier post I mentioned my other .243's are too ugly to post, but here is a sample so you will understand, which I had built with three stiff target weight barrels and HS aluminum bedded stock to test loads and bullets. Certainly not a glamor queen like Nature Boy's showpiece, which is way above my pay grade..

 

Got to like the xx air gauge stamp on the Douglas barrels.

 

Offhand,
Even your "ugly" rifle has very nice lines. You have good taste.

 

Lets see....

Had a

Ruger 1B
700 BDL
700 ADL synth
700 ADL synth
600
Model 7 stainless w HS
Savage Axis
Ruger 1RSI
Sako Forester

Currently just have the ADL synth, now in an HS stock.

Only other 243s I might consider....
Ruger 1A or B

And maybe a Merkel Helix.

 

My favorite/only .243 is a 1971 Belgium steel receiver BLR.

 

I’m one who does love the full-length stock, even if the 18.5” barrel of my Model 77 RSI creates a bit more bark to the ear and a bit less velocity than a 22” barrel will.



Stay safe.

 

Above: I have a stock T3 Tikka .243 Win that does all that I wish of it. It's very accurate, has a 3-shot detachable magazine, and weighs enough to be steady offhand. It's killed everything I've asked it to, including a deer. The rifle is really solid and doesn't have any rattles, a solid partner! I love to carry this rifle when going on long walks to the blueberry fields down back. (I lend this rifle to my grandkids and they've taken several deer with it. They're fully-grown now and the girl is not as likely to plunk the muzzle in the dirt and lean on the stock anymore.)

Below: A Rem 700 ADL converted to .243 Win that also works. It has a 24" Shilen stainless barrel and is pillar-bedded/barrel floated and has a recoil pad, mostly to extend the stock a bit. It's also extremely accurate, though a bit heavier than the Tikka. I prefer to shoot this one from the bench, or rest, but have carried it a bit also. It has also taken various critters, both around here and in other fields. Trigger is absolutely amazing!!!

 

My tikka T3 stainless hunter is a pretty sweet little rifle. Light, smooth, good trigger, low recoil, and accurate. I love reloading for it, I'm just not sure about how it looks with the latest scope change. I'm a much larger fan of this scope than the last though! I have been eyeing a Sako .243 at the LGS tho....

 

Yeah, that rifle is real nice. Simple and understated. Nothing for show and all for go.

 

I had the same rifle in .308 with a 2x7 Leupold I should have kept it instead of trading for a Ruger #1 inaccurate POS.

 

My favorite is the first center fire rifle I ever bought. Winchester model 70 featherweight wearing a blue Leupold 3x9. Still a sweet shooter and has dropped a few deer antelope coyotes groundhogs etc

 

Yes, my current favorite .243 is a Browning 1885 Low Wall.
Close second is its safe-mate - the Mauser M18.