Choices choices.....

[Chappo]

Ok, I didn’t want to start another “what should I buy” thread but I’ve filled my head with too many stats over the last couple of months and annoyed too many gun shop owners with too many questions and I’m Getting further from a decision

I wanna do more walking / stalking and not just driving around so I’m after a light rifle and I’m thinking either 22-250 or 243. I’ll be hunting roos and foxes mostly in open country 150-300yd shots with factory ammo.

I know you’re all gonna say tikka and I agree it’s probaby the best option but my mate bought one so I wanted something different.

Prefer timber / blued but will consider cerekoted
Light as possible, 3kg or less?
Threaded barrel
New or second hand
$1,500 ( but cheaper would be better)

New I’ve looked at the browning x bolt, Tikka T3, Howa, la102 etc

Second hand I’ve considered old sako’s, and the win m70 featherweight (favourite so far) and I’m not saying I’m ruling any of these out but does anyone have any other ideas? Or experience with?

[bigpete]

Win 70 featherweight in 243 for the win. Still not ridiculously light. Another option,which I feel is equal or better is the Remington model 7.

[JSS]

I know you said you know we're going to say it......so i'm going to say it.....Tikka, for the money they're hard to beat. I just ordered another one in 300wm the other day.
Or maybe a nice second hand Sako if you can find a good one in your budget.
While you're looking around don't get too hung up if the gun you want doesn't have a threaded barrel, you can get it done with a cap for usually about $100-150.
Happy hunting!!

[Dossa456]

What about 22-250 cal I have a ruger american predator doing nothing I have been contemplating selling for a while now since I got my 222. Have a fair bit of ammo I think - haven’t done a stock take for a while!

[Chappo]

Yep I reckon having some work done like threading a barrel will be on the cards so I guess I’m looking for the closest thing and then customising.

Big Pete, Thanks for the suggestion about the model 7, I’ll do some research. I don’t know much about the remingtons. There seems to be plenty of 700’s for sale. Where they any good?

[JimTom]

Tikka T3x in .243 mate. Value for money is spot on.

[Dossa456]

Forgot to mention the ruger American predator is lightweight and has a threaded barrel.

[Chappo]

What about 22-250 cal I have a ruger american predator doing nothing I have been contemplating selling for a while now since I got my 222. Have a fair bit of ammo I think - haven’t done a stock take for a while!

Thanks doos
Aren’t they synthetic?
I see the practical side of synthetics and I don’t hate them I’m just a bit of a traditionalist.
Doesn’t bother me if it’s fancy and new or scratched up, I’m just after quality built, a pleasure to use and no plastic bits.

[Dossa456]

Yea mate- some of the reasons why I don’t really shoot it anymore. Lol good luck with the decisions. Be sure to let us know what you end up with

[SCJ429]

Sako 75 in 22/250 , almost a Tikka with no lightweight plastic bits.

[Bruiser64]

The 22-250 should shoot flatter with 55 grain pills than a 243 with 65 grainers. Either will kill Roos and foxes very emphatically. Just remember to comply with the roo shooting laws you have to head shoot only and keep the range at 200 metres or below. What about a Sauer? They do a wood stocked rifle in your preferred calibre in your price range. There is also a Mauser in your price range but it has a synthetic stock.

[Stix]

Well for what you describe you need it for, a 22-250 is more than plenty of gun...

As for brand & model, im not much help because i hav a T3 with a fluted sporter barrel in 22-250...
I have a decent weight scope on it & its still light as...

Sako would be nice...ability to top load would be nice...

[AZZA'S HJ47]

Id go for a tikka super lite in 308 or a howa 1500 love my tikkas and have fallen in love with my howa also. Love the ability to top feed the howa but the refinment on the tikka is hard to go past. The cost difference in the howa wond enable you to cerakote the rifle also. My howa shoots great it took a little bit of tinkering to make it that way but its great shooter dead rabbits @200. Topped it off with a 4-12. You have some thinking to do. You could go for a sako 85 love mine to death accurate but dear as poison.

[bigpete]

Yep I reckon having some work done like threading a barrel will be on the cards so I guess I’m looking for the closest thing and then customising.

Big Pete, Thanks for the suggestion about the model 7, I’ll do some research. I don’t know much about the remingtons. There seems to be plenty of 700’s for sale. Where they any good?

The one I had was absolutely beautiful. And fairly accurate,more than accurate enough for a hunting rifle. I was getting slightly over 1" groups for 5 shots with most of the ammo I shot through it. Seemed to favour 110gn v max handloads (308)

[PaddyT]

Tikka M55- my neighbour has one in 22-250- bought from govt auction years ago- ex police and SAS urban sniper rifle-its very nice to say the least- there is one on OZ Gun Sales for $750

[Kumaabear]

I second the M70 Featherweight in .243W

Absolutely beautiful rifles, with a traditional style milled square receiver with integral recoil lug and controlled round feed.

A Tikka is nice but when you see all the admittedly very clever cost cutting measures in the design of the receiver / recoil lug system I find it hard to justify the price of the timber versions ~$1500 over the current production FN built M70 at about the same price.

[Daddybang]

I'm with BigPete and Kumabear
My mod 70 featherweight classic in .243 is my favorite rifle and has never let me down.
I won't try to say it's "better" than the other suggestions but it IS a proven reliable performer that's light enough to carry all day in the heat and humidity of the tropics.

[marksman]

and again the win 243 in featherweight

[bigrich]

I got two model 70’s , I love them. The most accurate, light weight, capable rifle I had was a A7 sako in 308 . Paid $1300 for it second hand. I don’t have much use for a 308, 6.5x55 Winchester does well for me. There’s a lot of good choices in the second hand market, it can be a gamble that you’re not buying someone else’s problem though. Example, tassie tigers 30-06 steyr. It’ll probably end up being sold as a shop soiled demo to someone

[TassieTiger]

Yes - Id personally stay away from the STEYR pro hunter light weight range(any caliber)...for a number of reasons.

[Chappo]

The one I had was absolutely beautiful. And fairly accurate,more than accurate enough for a hunting rifle. I was getting slightly over 1" groups for 5 shots with most of the ammo I shot through it. Seemed to favour 110gn v max handloads (308)

Beautiful looking bit of kit!
Did a bit of reading today though and it seems they were not very accurate with factory ammo.
Shame cause they are very nice to look at!!

[Chappo]

https://m.usedguns.com.au/Product_Desc.aspx?Pid=141102

I’m tempted to ring this bloke and ask him why he considers this a “farm gun or project rifle”
For the right price it may be ok if it didn’t need much work.

[TassieTiger]

I know you said you know we're going to say it......so i'm going to say it.....Tikka, for the money they're hard to beat. I just ordered another one in 300wm the other day.
Or maybe a nice second hand Sako if you can find a good one in your budget.
While you're looking around don't get too hung up if the gun you want doesn't have a threaded barrel, you can get it done with a cap for usually about $100-150.
Happy hunting!!

What barrel weight are you getting in the 300 wm and how’s the accuracy for that weight barrel??

[bigrich]

Yes - Id personally stay away from the STEYR pro hunter light weight range(any caliber)...for a number of reasons.

Geez, taz. Speak of the devil..... . After the way they treated you I’m not to keen on getting a steyr . Just goes to show but, no garuntee of a good shooter even on new stuff . Hope you’re circumstances have improved tas

[bigrich]

https://m.usedguns.com.au/Product_Desc.aspx?Pid=141102

I’m tempted to ring this bloke and ask him why he considers this a “farm gun or project rifle”
For the right price it may be ok if it didn’t need much work.

Looks like a good one. Might be worth a phone call

[Chappo]

Put a deposit on a new rifle today......


Drum roll..............,,



Winchester m70 featherweight 22-250

Couldn’t go past a $1800 dollar quote from my lgs.
And considering the tikka’s have recently gone up to about 15-1600 it was more easily justified.
Apparently I’m buying one of the last 250’s before they’re discontinued.
It’ll be a month or more on laybuy once I pay for it and a scope, mounts etc but I’m excited!
Thanks for all the feedback

[JSS]

Congrats mate, it's always fun when a new toy's on it's way.

[JimTom]

Nice one mate. Let us know how it goes.

[Daddybang]

Good choice chappo looking forward to seeing how she shoots for ya!!!!

[Stix]

Put a deposit on a new rifle today......


Drum roll..............,,



Winchester m70 featherweight 22-250

Couldn’t go past a $1800 dollar quote from my lgs.
And considering the tikka’s have recently gone up to about 15-1600 it was more easily justified.
Apparently I’m buying one of the last 250’s before they’re discontinued.
It’ll be a month or more on laybuy once I pay for it and a scope, mounts etc but I’m excited!
Thanks for all the feedback

Ah, the anxiety shift...!!

For the time you deliberate on rifle & cartridge, the anxiety builds, & you look forward to making a decision so the anxiety ends...

Then when you finally make the decision the anxiety doesnt end...it shifts up another gear cos you just want to shoot it...!!!

Congratulations Chappo...