want a 243
 

right off the bat,brownings and remingtons arnt even in the running but am interested in the stevens and howa, but marlin mite do it

Of the choices you listed, I would take the Howa (or Vanguard, which uses the same action). I have one in .243 and it a rugged and accurate rifle.

Pick a rifle that feels right to you make sure the fit is comfortable. Just about every major manufacturer that I can think of chambers for .243 win.

Why no Remington or Browning? Either weapon can be very reliable, and are priced competitively with other manufacturers.
Don't limit your options, since not very many small dealers will have an Howa, Stevens or Marlin on the shelf. The big box stores may not either, for that matter.

I have several Rifles and the Browning Hunter A-bolt .243 I have with the wood stock is a very accurate and well made Rifle,the bolt-action is nice and tight yet smooth when working in and out.It also has the lower detachable shell clip and is one of my most accurate guns that I have shot Deer with and Coyotes too!

A few other Rifles that I would consider buying in a .243 Caliber are the Savage 111 with the wood stock and Accu-trigger,the Stevens Rifles are actually made by Savage and some are the top-loaders and don't have the lower shell clip so You have to eject every shell put in to empty the gun...which I don't really care for safety wise.The CZ-USA Rifles are some nice looking and well made guns,as mentioned the Weatherby Vanguard Rifles are nice and reasonably priced and Ruger makes some really nice Rifles too!Keep Your options open and try several Rifles out..You'd be surprized at some of the good afforadable Rifle on the Market!

Ruger M77 .243, S.S., Lam/Stock

With out question get the Howa.

JD,

My Remington 700 SPS DM (wished they made the SPS stainless w/ a DM) in .243
might be the most accurate rifle I own.

Just shot it at the range using 75 gr. V-max HSM bulk ammo (it's now my predator gun) never hit outside of the bullseye (100 yard lane).



I like Howa (M1500) fine though.

I have the exact same gun. Two of them as a matter of fact, one is a 223, the other a 280., love them both. I also have a Rem. 700SPS 243 that it a absolute tack driver.

Although Weatherby Vangaurd and Howa are both fine firearms, made in Japan. I personally wont own one, or any other foriegn made gun for that matter. There are plenty of great firearms made right here in the good ol U.S.A.. Our nations economy is in enough trouble, I will only buy guns made in America, by Americans who pay taxes and support our Nations economy, not a gun assembled by a foriegner that probably cant even spell firearm. JMO.

I will to provided that the American made product is of equal or greater quality... even if it costs a little more money for the American made rifle. Unfortunately for the American made rifles this isn't the case. The Howa is a better made rifle than Ruger, Remington, Savage, Marlin, Mossberg, etc...

In fact, the only production grade rifle made in America that is of equal or better quality to the Howa's are the FN made Winchester model 70's.

Our economy isn't in trouble simply because of imported goods but that is another topic all together.

I guess that would be your opinion. I personally would rate all the above stated rifles better in quality and craftmanship. How many accuracy titles does Howa own? How many snipers use Howa? How many custom rifle buiders are using Howa Actions for a base platfom for the custom builds? NONE!, that I am aware of, but maybe you could educate me on this. Even Weatherby doesnt use Howa to build there top models, the Mark V is made in America and is twice the gun as the Vangaurd which is built by Howa, The Vangaurd is Weatherby's base line gun, the cheapest thing they build.

I guess you have more to learn about the craftsmanship of rifles.

That has absolutely nothing to do with anything. Snipers use the rifle that the military says they can use. Politics doesn't mean a thing.

No accuracy titles are won with an off the shelf production rifle from any manufacturer. This argument doesn't hold water. By the time a Remington 700 is completed and gets to the firing line it is anything but a Remington 700. That's like buying a car based on the outcome of the Indy 500.

There are several. They aren't that hard to find. Here are a few.
Bill Wiseman is the best known.
Colorado School of Trades uses them in their gunsmithing school.
http://westtexordnance.com/custom_rifles
http://www.roedaleprecision.com/epages/semicustom.htm
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubb...Number=1765083

I wouldn't give you a nickel for a MK-IV and any one that knows rifles wouldn't either. They are a joke of a rifle. Very seldom do they live up to their price tag. Learn a few things about what makes a solid and strong rifle and you will see that the Mark IV is anything but. The vanguard may be less expensive than the Mark-IV but it certainly isn't the cheapest.

Take some time to actually look at a Howa with open eyes and you will see that they are a better built rifle. Their receivers are machined from forgings and are one of the strongest made, the bolt is one solid piece of steel from front to back including the handle, The extractor is M16 style which is one of the strongest around next to a Mauser style, The bolt body is vented... in the event of case rupture gases are directed away from the shooter, they use a 3 position safety and the trigger is fully adjustable, The receiver bottom is flat and the tapered recoil lug is integrated into the receiver.

Maybe you need to read this about the Mark V, it has the strongest action available. Check this site. www.chuckhawks.com/wby_mkV_rifles.htm
www.chuckhawks.com/wby_vangaurd_rifles.htm

The vangaurd is a wannabe Mark V, a cheap Japanese made version.
I dont doubt Colorado school of gunsmithing uses them, they are cheap.
And yes, the Vangaurd is Weatherby's cheapest rifle.

i decided on either the savage or howa,i shot a friends howa 22-250,its nice.i just dont care for the newer remingtons,i have a 721 in 30-06.wish the quality was still the same.i can only afford the savage or howa.merry christmas everyone

What is the reason for your choices of manufacturer? Why throw out the Remingtons, but keep Stevens in the mix? Makes no sense whatsoever... I've got 4 Remington 700's and a Remington Seven, and am extremely happy with all of them.

+1. I have several Remingtons and Brownings they are all great guns.

The vanguard is made nothing like a Mark-IV. Come on. You aren't that ignorant on the subject are you?

And if you are going to quote a web site you gotta do better than Chuck Hawks.

I suppose you know more about guns than Chuck Hawks. What gun publications have you wrote for?

Really??????? I thought you wouldn't own a foreign made gun???? Unless all you own from Browning is the buckmark cause that's the only US made browning.
What's up with that.

Yeah, the Brownings I own are Belgium made Brownings that were passed down from my father, I wouldnt own a Japanese made Browning either.

i still use a 1929 browning A5 lite 12ga.best scattergun ive ever had

the perfect 243 for me wood be a remington 722 rebarreled,but im married with 2 teenage daughters so im poor.the howa really suprised me.i like savage cause i can do barrel swaps and such.im not sure why,i just dont like the feel of the remingtons.or rebarrel my 22-250 to a 1-9 twist

JD,

I have this Savage in .204 and love it !

Both accu-trigger & accu-stock..........


http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/model/16FCSS

... Have you looked around for a good used 700? I mean one made back in the '70's.... a well taken care of BDL in .243? They're out there, but a little on the scarce side.. get grabbed up by the custom builders, particularly the short actions. I managed to pick one up for my wife a few years ago with some great glass on it for just about $500, if I remember right. Shoots great. Gunshows are a place to check, and haggling ability is expected....

sorry you wont consider a remington. most of my rifles are remington and would not hesitate to buy one. just got a 06 remington SPS this year and am very pleased with it. shoots well. at least its made here in the USA.

decided on the savage,it has a faster twist.and is light but wood really like a howa.as usual im ona budget.if it shoots even close to my old 22-250 i;ll be a happy camper.thanks eveyone for imput,each weapon does have alot of good features but for what i want out of the box savage wins.most all 243s ive looked at has a 1-10 twist.

Tika t3.Best coyote and deer gun ever.VERY versital and lite

just spent 2 days shooting a ruger all weather 243.move over savage,its just a good comfortable rifle.so.........as usual when i get the living room done i get my new rifle.i hate a woman that knows how to bargain!

Check out the savage axis, good entry level gun.

I got a Rem. 700 in 243 about 3 years ago its a tackdriver. Ive killed slot of deer and coyotes with it. Topped with a Nikon Prostaff 3x9x40. so id look into a Remington 700.