Wanting a 243 for my boy
10-30-2013, 08:01 PM
#21
Fork Horn
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Wisconsn
Posts: 406
I'm very surprised that nobody mentioned the 25-06. IMO better than either the 243 or 7mm-08. More energy that the first, quite a bit less recoil than the 2nd. Still good for varmints like 'yotes, but can move up to mulies, black bear. Able to crack bone and keep going better than the 243.
It's one of my favorite calibers...and I don't even own one
Check it out, I'm guessing your boy would be very happy with it . Good luck.
It's one of my favorite calibers...and I don't even own one
Check it out, I'm guessing your boy would be very happy with it . Good luck.
10-31-2013, 02:41 AM
#22
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 538
Since he's 14 and currently uses a 20 gauge with no problems, all of the mentioned cartridges will be fine for deer and antelope. As for the Savage Axis, I have a couple friends that own them, 1 in youth 243, 1 in 30'06. Both are plenty accurate (1-1.5 moa with factory ammo), both have heavy triggers. I'd avoid combo packages as the scopes are normally brandless chinese junk.
10-31-2013, 03:37 AM
#23
Typical Buck
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 749
I agree the scopes that usualy come on combo packages are shaky not the best. I won a remington 770 a couple of years ago in 300 win and it had a low price Bushnell banner scope. Nothing wrong with Bushnell higher priced scopes got a couple.
10-31-2013, 04:34 AM
#24
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: MICHIGAN
Posts: 2,568
I am a fan of the 243 also but I hand load 85gr.HPBT sierra game king bullets pushed by IMR 4350 powder and if I could only have one rifle it would be my Remington 700 in 243. It is a great rifle on coyotes, crows, chucks, coons, possums, deer and even a bear.
My brothers is a Winchester Model 70 in 243, My dads was a Ruger 77 tang safety in 243 and one of my hunting partners it is a Savage in 243. That is how well our family likes the 243.
My brother in Law bought a Remington Model 7 in 260. Great light recoil round and sure to clean your pockets of every thing including lint when buying ammo ARL today.
Another hunting partner has a 25-06. Does a great job and barks loud enough to let the whole world you fired it. I hunt a blind a mile and a half from his and I know when he shoots and wait for him to call for help dragging the deer across the cranberry bog.
Go with the 243 in about any rifle that you can get to fit your son. He will love it and may even come to like it so well he will not want any thing else. And as a gift from you it will be even more special.
I still have the deer rifle my dad bought for me in 1964 a model 94 30-30 It holds so many memorys I could write a short story about the hunts we went on together.
Al
My brothers is a Winchester Model 70 in 243, My dads was a Ruger 77 tang safety in 243 and one of my hunting partners it is a Savage in 243. That is how well our family likes the 243.
My brother in Law bought a Remington Model 7 in 260. Great light recoil round and sure to clean your pockets of every thing including lint when buying ammo ARL today.
Another hunting partner has a 25-06. Does a great job and barks loud enough to let the whole world you fired it. I hunt a blind a mile and a half from his and I know when he shoots and wait for him to call for help dragging the deer across the cranberry bog.
Go with the 243 in about any rifle that you can get to fit your son. He will love it and may even come to like it so well he will not want any thing else. And as a gift from you it will be even more special.
I still have the deer rifle my dad bought for me in 1964 a model 94 30-30 It holds so many memorys I could write a short story about the hunts we went on together.
Al
10-31-2013, 05:45 AM
#25
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Virginia / West Virginia
Posts: 4,906
He doesn't need anything more than a .243.
Since he's 14, I'd get a std stock - not a youth stock. He'll be able to handle it just fine, and you won't need to change it out later. (some guns do come with both, so that could be an option too)
Re: the Axis, they are ok...but certainly not a top notch rifle. If it was me, I would honestly look at something a little better. But it will certainly do the trick. I don't know your budget.
Rem Model 7 and Ruger 77 Compact would be my two first choices. Smaller, lighter, more compact rifles. Perfect for .243 imo.
Also, HOWA makes some nice .243's that won't break the bank.
Since he's 14, I'd get a std stock - not a youth stock. He'll be able to handle it just fine, and you won't need to change it out later. (some guns do come with both, so that could be an option too)
Re: the Axis, they are ok...but certainly not a top notch rifle. If it was me, I would honestly look at something a little better. But it will certainly do the trick. I don't know your budget.
Rem Model 7 and Ruger 77 Compact would be my two first choices. Smaller, lighter, more compact rifles. Perfect for .243 imo.
Also, HOWA makes some nice .243's that won't break the bank.
10-31-2013, 09:22 AM
#28
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: ****ifornia
Posts: 5,052
10-31-2013, 10:42 AM
#29
Typical Buck
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 749
Howa' s are also Good rifles got a old weatherby vanguard that according to weatherby is the 688 one made in 243 win. It is set up just for varmits with 70 grain ballistic tips. And another vanguard in 300 wby, a howa in 338 win, and a smith and wesson in 7mm rem all made by howa. Might want to look at the marlin x7.