Budget 243

[andym79]

Hi guys, I am looking to buy a budget 243, of this list which would be the best bet?

Browning A bolt
CVA Hunter
Howa 1500
Mossberg Patriot
Ruger American

[Col]

FWIW Howa are producing accurate well priced guns. They do a fluted 243. Worth a look.

I have a Howa 1500 223 which shoots the Buffalo River ammo like a lazer. Brilliantly accurate.

Col

[marksman]

howa 1500 IMHO

[bladeracer]

Hi guys, I am looking to buy a budget 243, of this list which would be the best bet?

Browning A bolt
CVA Hunter
Howa 1500
Mossberg Patriot
Ruger American

Ruger American Predator.

[SCJ429]

A Tikka T3 Varmint will outshoot any other factory rifle. You need to put it on your list.

[andym79]

Don't Tikka cost double what those on my list do?

[snag]

If I were you I'd be looking at the Howa first but you'd have to comfortable with the weird rubbery stock. You could look around for a Weatherby Vangard S2 - which is the Howa metalwork in a really good synthetic stock, but will cost a bit more. Owen Guns in Queensland has them cheap at the moment.

[Stix]

Don't Tikka cost double what those on my list do?

There abouts.

Howa from what ive heard from people...but thats not based on my having owned one...

[duncan61]

My Howa 1500 .243 shoots straight and cost $700 brand new with scope

[duncan61]

My Howa 1500 .243 shoots straight and cost $700 brand new with scope

[deye243]

I have had HOWA in 223x2 243varmint and 7mmremmag want all of them shot well under the inch at 100y

[SCJ429]

Don't Tikka cost double what those on my list do?

Perhaps but well worth the extra money. Still a budget rifle and will shoot right out of the box. By the time you go back and forth from your gunsmith with the others on your list trying to get them to shoot, the Tikka will end up cheaper.

The only thing on the list that could be recommended with confidence is a Howa, but keep saving and get the Tikka Varmint. You will be glad you did.

[Bill]

I picked up a new 243 Browning bolt 3 for $600 recently for a mate and it's a cracka

[Oldbloke]

Hi guys, I am looking to buy a budget 243, of this list which would be the best bet?

Browning A bolt
CVA Hunter
Howa 1500
Mossberg Patriot
Ruger American

New or used?

[southwest shooter]

Howa 1500 , do it .

[TassieTiger]

I’m testing a sauer 100 later today - similar budget. Will post results later today.

[Cooper]

Howa. But I'm a bit of a Howa fan. I have 5 of them. (Ones a Weatherby (technically a Howa) I think it would be the safest bet.

[deye243]

Don't Tikka cost double what those on my list do?

Perhaps but well worth the extra money. Still a budget rifle and will shoot right out of the box. By the time you go back and forth from your gunsmith with the others on your list trying to get them to shoot, the Tikka will end up cheaper.

The only thing on the list that could be recommended with confidence is a Howa, but keep saving and get the Tikka Varmint. You will be glad you did.

Never had to take mine to a gunsmith .

[Bent Arrow]

Is second hand an option that you would consider. Not nine, just saw it and thought......

Screenshot_20190227-135140.png (474.21 KiB) Viewed 5034 times

[bladeracer]

Perhaps but well worth the extra money. Still a budget rifle and will shoot right out of the box. By the time you go back and forth from your gunsmith with the others on your list trying to get them to shoot, the Tikka will end up cheaper.

You haven't owned a Ruger american I'm guessing? No gunsmith required, MoA or better straight out of their boxes. $10 rings, $300 scope and a lifetime of outstanding shooting.

[TassieTiger]

I’d say you can get a dud in any brand, at any price point - I most certainly did with a steyr...so the Q is what gives you the best chance of getting a shooter? Get an accuracy guarantee regardless of brand you choose.

[SCJ429]

Perhaps but well worth the extra money. Still a budget rifle and will shoot right out of the box. By the time you go back and forth from your gunsmith with the others on your list trying to get them to shoot, the Tikka will end up cheaper.

You haven't owned a Ruger american I'm guessing? No gunsmith required, MoA or better straight out of their boxes. $10 rings, $300 scope and a lifetime of outstanding shooting.

Yes I have heard that guys are getting good results from Ruger but I have not seen this personally. I love my Rugers, not that I have an American, but I load for five Tikka T3 of different calibers which all shoot 1/4 inch or better. I have not seen other factory rifles that will do that.

[bigfellascott]

Don't Tikka cost double what those on my list do?

Perhaps but well worth the extra money. Still a budget rifle and will shoot right out of the box. By the time you go back and forth from your gunsmith with the others on your list trying to get them to shoot, the Tikka will end up cheaper.

The only thing on the list that could be recommended with confidence is a Howa, but keep saving and get the Tikka Varmint. You will be glad you did.

Never had to take mine to a gunsmith .

Same here mate, all my Howa's have been real shooters out of the box even with crap factory ammo, as for my Tikka, well that's a story similar to Tassies when it comes to being accurate I won't give up on it though, I will try other projectile weights etc and I'm sure it will shoot fine (bloody hope so) or it will be out the door like it's more fancied Father the Sako I had and was also lacking in it's ability to shoot straight

So far the cheapies have been great shooters and the more expensive stuff has been very lack lustre to say the least

[Dossa456]

Probably not helpful but- I have both a Howa and ruger American predator.
If I were to buy another budget gun I’d go the Howa. My Howa was tinkered before I bought it and if you buy 2nd hand you can usually get one with an okay scope on it ect for same price as a new ruger American. Nothing wrong with the ruger Americans though it is just personal preference. My ruger American in 22-250 shoots MOA out the box with factory federal 55grainers once I put a half decent scope on it.

[Stix]

Perhaps but well worth the extra money. Still a budget rifle and will shoot right out of the box. By the time you go back and forth from your gunsmith with the others on your list trying to get them to shoot, the Tikka will end up cheaper.

You haven't owned a Ruger american I'm guessing? No gunsmith required, MoA or better straight out of their boxes. $10 rings, $300 scope and a lifetime of outstanding shooting.

Yes I have heard that guys are getting good results from Ruger but I have not seen this personally. I love my Rugers, not that I have an American, but I load for five Tikka T3 of different calibers which all shoot 1/4 inch or better. I have not seen other factory rifles that will do that.

I have a few...can i send them to you for some sorting out...??

[deye243]

I’d say you can get a dud in any brand, at any price point - I most certainly did with a steyr...so the Q is what gives you the best chance of getting a shooter? Get an accuracy guarantee regardless of brand you choose.

Get a dona and build one with a match barrel .

[Bruiser64]

I have a Tikka T3x Lite stainless and it cost about $1200 from memory. A Howa can be had for about $659. Given most people seem very happy with their Howas, I would suggest they would be very hard to go past. Having said that, I have no regrets spending the extra on my Tikka. You pays your money and takes your chances.

[Diamond Jim]

Value for money? I have no hesitation backing the Howa 1500. I don't own one but my brother does - in .223 and it/he combined outshoots my CZ .223 that cost almost triple what he paid. The trigger might take some wearing in or maybe need some work but "bang for your buck" and potential accuracy I think they are hard to beat.

[SCJ429]

I have a few...can i send them to you for some sorting out...??

Happy to Stix, I never met a Tikka I didn't like. The varmint barrelled models are a bargain, Sako is showing the other manufactures how it is done. Secondhand Super Varmints are for sale for $1,000, every boy should get himself a couple.

[andym79]

I’d say you can get a dud in any brand, at any price point - I most certainly did with a steyr...so the Q is what gives you the best chance of getting a shooter? Get an accuracy guarantee regardless of brand you choose.

Get a dona and build one with a match barrel .

By dona are you saying get a cheaper donor rifle a re barrel with something like a Krieger?

My local gun shop has the following that may be suitable for a re barrel a Parker Hale 1200 in 243, a Mauser 95 in 308 and a Ruger 77 in 243 what is the potential of these actions for accuracy? The Ruger isn't much cheaper than a brand new Howa from a big Brisbane gun shop though!