Which .243 ?
 

I am about to buy my first .243 . I will use it for varmints, target shooting and deer hunting. I have narrowed it down to the Remington 700 CDL and the Winchester 70 Featherweight. Both of these are comparably priced and i want to know which is better, more accurate. I am also open to suggestions for other models.
thanks

RE: Which .243 ?
 

i personally like the winchester

RE: Which .243 ?
 

i own the winchest featherweight classic and love it. however both are great guns

RE: Which .243 ?
 

I love browings but whichesters are their sister company so i guess second best in my books.

RE: Which .243 ?
 

Go with the chester

RE: Which .243 ?
 

Ive always liked Ruger Model 77's.

RE: Which .243 ?
 

I have a Rem 700 BDL .243 matte barrel w/ custom grey& black laminated stock.

I love it more than Strawberry Cheesecake !!

RE: Which .243 ?
 

I would go with the Remington but I would pick the 25-06 rather than the 243. Much better deer rifle.

RE: Which .243 ?
 

I have a push feed Featherweight .243 that is a delightful little rifle. It did not shoot well out of the box, however; I had to free float the barrel and adjust the trigger pull. Fortunately these were both easy tasks and now it groups under an inch with handloads, but I need to let the barrel cool between shots to do so. The Winchester trigger is the easiest around to adjust yourself.

I am now also very fond of Remington 700s, having bought two this year. I love them both. I must say that it is hard to beat Big Green for out-of-box accuracy, but the Winchester Featherweight has a better trigger, a better safety, and best of all, a Mauser claw extractor with controlled feed.

I suspect that you'd be happy with either choice; shoulder them both and go with the one that fits you best.

RE: Which .243 ?
 

As previously suggested,
The Remingotn and the Winchester are both excellent rifles. I tend to like the looks of the Winchester Featherweight a little more than the Remington, but both are fine.
The Winchester trigger is easier to adjust, and the bolt strips down for cleaning easier.
I guess I'd go for the Winchester.
Or, maybe a Ruger, or a Sako [:-]

RE: Which .243 ?
 

I would go for a T/C. I have a Rem. 700 VLS in .243 but it just too heavy to tote around. Its really a bench gun. But it is awsome. I'm looking into a T/C though i think thats gonna be my next rifle. Probably start off with it in 22 hornet then get the .243 barrell.

RE: Which .243 ?
 

I have the Winchester Featherweight in .243 and like it very well. I think I bought mine because I found it more attractive than the Remington. I have taken a pronghorn antelope and a whitetail deer with it since I purchased it in 2003. Of course, I'm not saying that the Remington wouldn't be just as good a shooter or better.

I also have a .25-06 (not a Winchester, a custom built rifle based on a Springfield action with a medium weight barrel), however, and like it better for both deer and pronghorn. I bought the .243 so my son could use it while I used my .25-06, but my son prefers the .25-06 because it kicks him less (my .25-06 is a substantially heavier rifle and it has a recoil pad while the .243 has just a thin butt plate with no give that I can discern) so I end up shooting the .243! It is light and pretty and gets the job done.

RE: Which .243 ?
 

I have a .243 in the Remington 700 BDL. Remington barrels are heavier than most other brands and in the smaller calibers that extra girth really helps out. I adjusted my trigger and almost every load I've worked up shoots 3/4-1 inch. A few even better than that. But the featherweight is delightful just to hold..soooo it's up to you.

Hold both rifles and see which feels the best. I'm partial to closed grips like found on Browning and Remington's. You just have to figure out what you like both perform admirably.

RE: Which .243 ?
 

get the one YOU feel most comfortable w/ when you're holding it.

RE: Which .243 ?
 

I had a featherlite, it was a good looking gun. It shot very good groups. However, I had no need for a light rifle so I sold it. I have a 700 BDL and a Savage 16 in .243. Other than apperance I would take the savage anyday. It is ugly but boy is it a shooter. The amazing thing is it shots all ammo very well. My Remington, in a varmint bullet, will only shot good groups with Win 55 Gr ballistic silvertips. All other ammo will not shot that well. Also I saved almost 300 Bucks with the Savage. I would always buy a Savage and spend the extra 300 on the scope. Just my theory. All the guns mentioned are good guns that should last a life time. Buy the one you like.