Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Which .243?

kimber and tikka are among the better ones. I would get a sako.

My older (90's era) Ruger M77 MK II stainless .243 has a 1:9 twist.

Berger even makes their classic 95 grain specifically for 1:10 twist. That gets you a .427 BC.

I have 243s in Winchester, Remington, and Ruger 77 Mk2...

only the Winchester is 1 in 10... which will shoot the 105 BTHP just fine as also the old Speer 105 grain SP...

Picking up another, I'd just on the Marlin for $250 first, followed by the Howa from Whittaker Guns for $330.

the older I get the more I appreciate the cartridge...

WHICH 100 gr bullets are you wanting to shoot? A lot of the problems you read about with a 10 twist and the 100-105 range of bullets, are usually the long target bullets like the AMAX, Lapua and Bergers. That there, is a whole different bag of nuts. Standard hunting bullets will be much shorter and should work just fine.

When I was recently looking for a 243 (had hundreds of brass, 500 bullets, dies, etc....but no gun) I was REAL temped on the RAR. Should have picked up the used one for 299 at BPS, but I passed in the end because I found a sale on a 1:8 bbl for my Encore. I don't think you'd go wrong with the RAR or the Marlin. Way under your budget, so that will allow some more cash for the glass!

If you're gonna connect many dots you'll need 105's and a fast twist. Or so I've read. I use Federal blue box 100's.

1Nut - +1. Purchased a New Haven Marlin XS7C (camo synthetic stock), in .243W, before Marlin left NH to become part of Remington's new 'empire' - fit and finish great. It shots MOA or better with 100gr factory ammo. On par with a newer .243W RAR Predator that has a slightly heavier barrel. Actually feeds better (blind mag) then the RAR from its newer rotary DBM's.
The XS7C replaced a way older M700 BDL dating to the 70's that was sold. Love the cartridge. Homesteader

Don't want to be 'that' guy but what about just getting a 6mm Rem? 1-9 twist. Mine shoots 85 and 105's that shoot both to same tight poi with IMR 4350. Just an idea.

Good luck finding a new 6mm..... or ammo, or brass. Always wanted one, but finally sucked it up and went .243. 1-10 is fine for 100gr NPs, Sierra PHs, 95gr BTs, etc. Unless you're shooting across a fiord (hint), it'll work.

I haven't had any problems finding anything for mine but I neck size and can reuse brass time and time again. I haven't heard anyone with problems shooting 100 grainers out of a 243. I have a batch of 105 grains gifted to me (thank you EFW) that work fine in the 6mm. A non issue but wonder how they would work in a 243. I have found twist rates are a guide but not an absolute.