Need help recommending a rifle

[acmax95]

My cousin recently purchased some land (18 acres) that has both forest and fields on it. He told me he wants to get a rifle to thin out some of the coyotes he has seen on it.

He's not set on whether it is a semi or a bolt action. I think the budget is probably around $500 for rifle and optics, maybe more.

Initially I was thinking Marlin XS7 in .243. I have the XL7 .30-06 (I got mine when they first came out) and he seemed to like my rifle. But after hearing all the complaints of the new Marlins I am weary of recommending that rifle.

What do you guys think? Is the .243 a good choice? He doesn't hunt but he might want want to take a deer off of his property during season, that is why I passed over the .22 cal rifles.

 

[cowpoke]

The 243 will do a good job . I have killed many deer an hogs with it , an dixie song dogs.

 

[BrocLuno]

Used 243 - they are all over the place in used gun racks. Will do a very good job on his place

 

[greyling22]

how about this http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_62_974/products_id/70944

a savage axis in 243. axis gets pretty good reviews. top it off with a prostaff for redfield 2-7x or 3-9x and you've got a very accurate rifle for less than 500.


or you could get a marlin 30/30 complete with scope for less than 400.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Chuck Hawks has a very good article on CPX1,2,3 rifle calibers. To make a long story short, he liked the 243. Works well for CPX1 and can be used for CPX2.