any suggestions for a .243 for my daughter's first deer hunting rifle
I'm wanting to keep the price under $400
might go up to $450 if worth the extra money

Looks like Ruger, Remington, and Savage all have models in this price range.

Looks like the weight of the guns range from 6 lbs up to 8 lbs.

Any suggestions appreciated.

I think any of those brans are fine, just would recommend not to buy an axis, 710, 770 etc. The cheap guns are just that cheap.

Buy a 77, 700 or model 10 savage or something similar.

Thanks for the feedback.

Looks like most of the recommended models are out of my price range.


I see that the Remington 700 ADL is in my price range.
Any thoughts on the Remington 700 ADL cost around $450

I have two they were $350 at academy bought .243 and then 7/08 for daughter if I had to do it again would have started with 7/08 and 120gr bullets my .02 both have been great rifles

If the 400 includes a scope, you may be stuck with an axis or a 770. If that price doesn't include a scope. The savage model 110 with a Nikon 3-9x40 is available at academy for $499

with a recall of all model 700

Anyone know anything about the Ruger American .243

go buy a Remington 700 ADL for $379

In all honesty the savage axis and rem 770 and mosberg rifles etc will all shoot and kill deer.

Just go into it knowing that you are buying a product that in production corners have been cut, how badly im not sure and you probably wont be either until the handle comes off the bolt etc.

I have a Rem 700 ADL synthetic in .243 and it is a tack driver.

supposed to be a good gun with solid reviews.


but then again gun writers gave solid reviews to all the bargin basement guns. I'm a ruger fan (own two 77's) and I can't stand the American. feels not like a rifle but like a toy


I woudlnt' hesitate to buy another 700. those are great guns for the money...imo much better than a savage or Mossberg

Just called the store
all Rem 700 have been recalled and no word when they will have them back.
Daughters Birthday is in a few days.
I wonder if she would be happy with just a picture of a gun and an IOU
or try another model.
Planning on getting black synth stock and putting a pink gun sling on it to make it "Girly"

what I would do if I was in your situation.


Go find a ruger M77, or a savage 110 and buy it. Or, try and find a browning micro even. that would be better than them all

Heck, there was a pretty little model 7 in the classifieds for $650 I think....that's a hell of a gun.

don't let a few hundred dollars sway a lifetime investment

You could try and find something in the classifieds here, or texasguntrader.com, or armslist.com.

I was in the same boat a few months ago. Had $500 to spend. I checked out all the bargain models, And by far the most solid feeling rifle in my hands was the savage 110/111. The axis,770, and ruger American all felt cheap in my hands. The savage was solid. I ended up finding a used 111 in .270 with a Nikon prostaff 4-12x40 with a sling and 67 rounds of fusion ammo for $500 even. I would spend a couple days looking In the classifieds before I ran out and bought a gun just because it fits the budget. Like txtrophy said, you may even be able I find a little bit older nicer model that will be even better than the entry level stuff.

Two different 7-08's in classifeds section

Go online and look at a Thompson Center Venture. $75 Rebate until the end of April. Lots of them on GB being sold at under $400 net right now with the Rebate.

I just bought one in 308 Win to hunt the nasty muddy Hog bottoms around here with - got it last Monday, 2 days ago, in a Weathershield & Mossy Oak camo stock and while I haven't shot it yet, I am way more impressed with it than I am with a Ruger American or anything else in this price range I've seen....and was built to sell at the middle/low $500's to the middle/high $500's in the Weather Shield. I have no idea what the Camo stock option cost extra as it is disc'd.

Here's why;
Lifetime Warranty to the Original Owner
6 3/4 lb in SA calibers & 7lbs in LA calibers & Mags
Adjustable trigger
Drop box magazine - 3 round capacity & flush mounted
All composite stock with non slip Hogue grip pads
3 Shots in factory ammo has a 1" group Guarantee
Youth/Carbine adjustable LOP stock model 13 1/2 to 14 1/2 LOP in 223, 243, 7-08 & 308 in a 20" carbine length barrels at same price as the standard Venture in matte blue/black composite.
Barrel is floated
Pillar bedded
Weather Shield is a SS looking spray on finish with higher corrosion resistance than SS, and under the Warranty
Nice thick recoil pad
Made In USA, and T/C is now owned by Smith & Wesson.

Just Sayin' this a H$%# of a deal IMO.
Ron

For some reason, .243 ammo is very hard to find right now.

Does it use the same shell casing as .223 or some other round with higher demand and/or profit margin?

parent case is a .308 I believe

I went to 2 different stores today and couldn't even find 30-30 ammo.

plenty of everything else though

Yeah 243 has been hit or miss. My uncle bought one a month or so ago and asked if I'd pick him up a box as I was headed to cabelas, They didn't have a single 243 bullet of any kind in the store.

Hopefully I will be able to find components!

Dave, functionally the Rem 700 ADL or Ruger should serve her very well. The Rem 700 is a little long for my liking for a gun for kids, but it's not a huge deal. What I do see as being a pretty big deal is that it isn't a youth gun, which means that the length of pull is probably going to be too long. Yes you might be able to find a youth stock or similar, but that's just another expense. I did find some Ruger American youth models for ~400 on Gunbroker, so you might check that out. Otherwise all of the Remington youth models I came across were from their "value" lines. Not that they wont work, just depends on your preference I suppose.

7mm-08 components are hard to come by as well. Having said that if you really want a 243 for her (i agree for a girl) you may be in the same boat as far as ammo is concerned so stick with the original plan.

Savage builds good rifles without a large expense. I have three, but am starting to lean more toward Tikka. But they're out of your mentioned budget.

Ordered 4 boxes of vortex 80 gr ttsx from midway yesterday for my dad

Get her an AR-15. The Winchester 64 grain has plenty of knock down power for a deer. Plus the stocks are adjustable so it would fit her no matter what and the recoil is not bad at all.

Let me know where I can pick up an AR for under $400.

Behind the local 7-11 after 11:00PM next to the trash bin.