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What gun to purchase.......

birdhunter88
I have been contiplating getting a new rifle. Just got a couple new shotguns so what the hell. I want to get a new rifle just for target and coyote hunting. Who knows maybe even a travel out west deer, ground hog hunting gun.

After doing some research, I am kinda leaning toward a .243 caliber because of the versatilaty of the caliber. You can shoot anywhere from a 55 gr to 100 gr shell. There is now a new round available such as the .243 WSSM which still gives you the ability to shoot 55gr to 100 gr shells. But these rounds are only available in Winchester and Browning guns.

I really didn't want to spend alot of money on this gun because I really don't plan on using it much other than coyote or target shooting here in Iowa.

What do you think ?

.22-250
.222
.223
.223 WSSM
.25-06
.25 WSSM
.243
.243 WSSM
.308

Ruger
Savage
Browning
Tikka
Winchester
Others

I was orginally leaning toward a Savage .243 (price and reputation for the budget minded shooter) but Scheels didn't have one in stock. (Most of their guns are long action guns with very few short action available). This gives me some more time to contiplate and research before I purchase.

I did get to looking at a Winchester .243 WSSM and a Ruger .243 and liked the feel of both guns. Especially the Ruger fit nice and came with a stainless barrel and scope rings at no extra charge.

What are your thoughts and ideas as the perfect "all around" hunting/target gun ? Even though such a gun probably doesn't exist !

bird


The dog will prove you wrong everytime !
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Comments

13 comments

Date Votes
  • D@D
    25-06 or 308win. Tikka or Remington

    Guns kill people like spoons made Rosie O'Donnell fat
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  • raskil
    Don't forget the 7mm-08, edges out the 308 and very mild recoil. Excellent deer/varmint/target cal. [;)]
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  • chorkie
    The Tikka or Savage in 25-06 or .243 . Either cartridge/brand combo should work well for you.
    Chorkie

    ???
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  • bobski
    winchester ...308.

    former air operations officer SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2. former navy skeet team, former navy rifle/pistol team member. co-owner skeetmaster tubes inc.. owner/operator professional shooting instruction.
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  • kilgoretrout
    Any of the guns mentioned above would do the job for you. I've used a Sako Forester .243 with a 4x12 scope for years and it is a magnificient gun for what you want. It has dropped many a whitetail with the 100g Nosler Partition and is deadly on varmits with the Winchester Supreme Nosler balistic tip 55g. Check out the balistics on the 55g --absolutely unbleavable. If you find yourself out of ammo, you can find 100g and 70g anywhere. If you sight in for the 100g and the 55g you can dial in the difference without sighting in again (if you have a good scope and use the same brand of ammo.) I switched to the .243 for deer over 30 years ago when my hits with a 30-06 were running 100 yards before falling and my hunting buddy was droping them in theie tracks (or very close by) with his .243 and handloaded 100g noslers at about 3,100fps.
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  • drewto
    Hello: 243 or 6mm are giant killers. Incredible ballistics. Remember the 6mm has the edge. Check this site out www.huntingmag.com/guns_loads/6mm_remington/ . It was referred to me by a GunBroker member. Really impressive ballistics, that make the 22-250 look pretty sad. Love the triggers on the Savage. I'm assuming your from north west Iowa. Check out the Shirt & Shooters in LeMars if you want to visit a competitive gun shop.
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  • birdhunter88
    Actually I am from Cedar Falls, Iowa..... I have been doing alot of research today. Went to Scheels in CF and their selection was not impressive at all. But after all the reading and everything I was kinda leaning toward a Tikka T3 Varmint Stainless..........

    6mm........... I haven't looked at that round yet.

    Thanks for the advice. I will have to check it out.

    bird

    The dog will prove you wrong everytime !
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  • hksrule
    I personally would go with the .308 as it will give you the best energy or knock down power and the range is great

    Anybody comes through that door, you put two in the chest and one in the head!
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  • 1armbandit
    Remington 700 ADL, synthetic stock, 243 or 270 caliber. Check Walmart's price.
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  • Snellstrom
    243 would be my choice, not to step on toes but the 6mm has only a negligible advantage, if at all, the shear popularity of the 243 and it's ammo availability will far out weigh the 6mm. Both the 243 and 6mm kill Deer and Antelope size game with authority. Remember no matter what you use shot placement is essential for these incredible one shot kills, the light recoil lends itself to shooting your gun more and becoming a better shot. As far as the rifle itself you'll have to see what you like, what fits. Savage, Ruger, Winchester, Remington all have excellent rifles on the market.
    Good luck! and have fun![;)]
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  • birdhunter88
    Checked out the 6mm and have to say due to lack of availability or production that the 6mm is out.

    I think I have pretty much made up my mind that I will go with the .243

    Now I really want the "New" Tikka T3 Varmint in stainless, but it looks like the only caliber that has been released so far to the U.S. is the 22-250. With plans of U.S. calibers being the .223, 22-250 and the .308

    Their website says that you can special order a .243 in the T3 Varmint and I will have to check that out. May have to think about switching to a .308 caliber if I can't get a .243 in this gun, or....

    I could just go ahead and get a Tikka T3 Lite in a .243 stainless now while they are still available which is probably not a bad idea since is was the Rifle of the year for 2003. But I really like what I have read so far on the Varmint....... furstration is starting to set in !

    Now what scope to put on her ?????? More decisions !

    bird

    The dog will prove you wrong everytime !
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  • Oklahomabound
    I really like "our" Ruger 22-250. I say "our" because my wife uses it, since she is at the house much more than I am. She has "fluffed up" some wild dogs, coyotes, and ground hogs.... her term for killing them.[:)]

    976371019-1.jpg "Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it." Lord Chesterfield
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  • kilgoretrout
    I think that you would be pleased with the light barrel 243. for what you want to do. Believe me, if you can see a real appreciable difference with the heavy barrel for normal shooting situations, you are a better shot than me. Unless you are going to shoot ultra long range varmit or target only, you will appreciate the weight and manuverability or the lighter barrel.
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