Need a new rifle

My girls decided they want to try to hunt with the ol man this year so I'm looking for a new rifle. I'm thinking .243. I'm already setup to reload it. If they don't like it, it'll be mine! They're 30 and 34 years old but petite. Well, one is. I'd like to keep it about $800 or less. I'm thinking about a savage or something along that line. Any suggestions? I have pretty much all the other common calibers but not a .243. They'll be hunting deer mainly with a pig or 2 maybe. They saw this and decided it was time to go with pops. These will get pass for a year or 2 but I have others.

Picture missing.
You going to paint the stock pink or maybe pink urban camo to get them more into it?

Nope, no pink. I like wood but savage has a couple of combo's out with the accu-trigger but I don't like the safety on the trigger. You don't see the pic? 2 deer under my feeder.

243, or if you can find one, 6mm. My 22 year old uses it, when she can take it from her 14 year old bro. 260 would be my next choice. Stay with short action. Quicker for the girls on rechamber.

How is the 6mm vs, the 243 as far as ballistics, recoil?

savage 110/111 combo from academy. $599 and it comes with a nikon prostaff BDC 3-9x40. ive got one in .270 and i really like it.

.243 Weatherby! That is what I would get if I were to buy a factory rifle today. I also like savage rifles too because you can upgrade the barrel down by yourself.

Love the .243, I shoot Barnes TTSX 80 gr bullets over IMR 4831 and shot under 1 inch at 200 yards last weekend. Shooting my Remington 700 CDL.

243 would be a good choice. Savage or Tikka would also be a good choice.

Don't buy a combo, the scopes that are part of the combo are chit.

I agree with the exception of the savage 110/111. It's an actual prostaff. Now, you may consider a Nikon prostaff chit, but I'm happy with mine, and it's not a no name Chinese made plastic scope.

Get a 7-08 or .308. Preferably in a Remington 700.

Good luck, I haven't seen a Rem 700 in stores in more than a month or so. Heard they were recalled.


To OP, if I had the choice between a Rem or Savage, I would go Savage. I believe probably a bit more accurate out of the box.

Fireman said it. Tikka Hunter in 243. Already has a 22" barrel so he'll hold off on telling you to cut it down, but he may! Lol

Cut it to 20" and put a 2-7 or 3-9X on it and throw it in the backseat and it'll be the smoothest little truck gun ever made!

What's the difference between the 110 and the 111? from what I can find, it's just the stock wood vs. synthetic.

P.S. I think I fixed the pic in my top post.

Here's a good option link The advantage of the Model 7 is that it hasn't had the trigger problems of the 700. It might push you a little over budget by the time you scope it.

I bought a savage 14 American classic stainless for about 600 bucks a while back. I think its a great looking gun.

Here's a setup that would work very well. Remington Model 7 in 7mm-08 Remington, 20" barrel.

I just drooled a little on my keyboard

These are slick little rigs

Worth every penny

Thanks. Killed a pile of pigs with it, a few deer too. They handle really well and are very accurate. Kids are grown and I use my other '08 so it doesn't get used anymore.

Browning mico and ruger compacts are also very good guns

I like the looks of the Browning Micro. Haven't handled one yet though.

I keep saying if Ruger will come out with the GSR in 7mm-08 I'll buy one.

The micro's are sweet.

I like them a tad bit better than the model 7's when you get the micro medallions

IMO they are a bit more refined rifles than the remmys but you can't go wrong with either

Look at the Savage 6.5 Creedmor. They offer it in the Lady Hunter model.

Winchester featherlight stainless in 7-08

Almost bought my wife that went rebarrel instead

110 is a fixed magazine 111 is a removable box magazine. Both come in wood or synthetic. Mine is the 111 but I believe the combos come in both options, which is why I said 110/111.

Thanks Caribou!

Yep. No problem.

243 and 6mm recoil all but the same in similar rifles. Rem 700 or Ruger 77. 6mm bit more knock down if reloaded. 260 milder recoil than 7mm-08 and especially 308.

If u find a clean 243' go for it. Winchester 70 would be my first look.

Good luck.

If you can find a clean model 88 winny that would be perfect

Sweet model 88!!!!!

I have Mod 100 in 308. Bad to the bone!

243 is the perfect caliber for them. Browning Xbolt - very nice looking rifle, in that price range and fit smaller frame people really well.

I know there have been plenty of deer killed with a .243, but I have seen too many that the bullet didn't pass through. I would take a low-recoil .308 over .243 any day.

Since they are petite, you might look at the Ruger American Compact in either 243 or 7mm-08. About $350.

If they are petite, do you need a youth model for them?

I agree on 243. I bought my Grandson a Weatherby Vanguard about 5 years ago. They are spooky accurate.

Second that... I have one in 7mm-08 and has shoots 1/2 MOA with rem corelok bullets.

I bought the Vanguard in .243. I just got to get the Scope mounted this weekend and see how it shoots. One of my girls(never shot a scoped rifle) got to play with my mini 14 last weekend and shot great. At least once I got her to back off the scope a little!

I'm thinking of getting the Vanguard in 243 (Youth model) for my daughter. Please post pictures and results after you shoot the new gun.

Thompson Center has another $75 Rebate available on all new Venture CF rifles right now. For a New Youth sized Shooter I'd be looking at the Compact that has an adjustable butt stock down to 13" LOP and a 20" barrel for Youth sizes, that the butt's insert can take back out to a normal 13 3/4"s LOP. American made, 1" accuracy Guarantee, Lifetime Warranty, adjustable trigger, weighs about 6 3/4lbs, grooved touch panels so it's not slippery, pillar bedded yadda yadda...and built by Smith & Wesson.

Re read a early Spring '14 Outdoor Life? in the Doc's office last tuesday, waiting on my Cat Scan prep to settle before they loaded me up with Iodine dye, and OL ranked the Venture in the top 4-5 best buys.
Ron