Here is the dilemma, my dad left me 2 .243's that are the Remington ADL model. Neither have been fired and I really don't need 2 rifles that are identical. What would you guys do? I don't want to sell or trade them as my father left them for me. I don't mind modifying them though

I also have a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight XTR in .270. I shot this gun a bunch growing up and killed a pile of whitetails with it. The wood is in great shape but I'm thinking about putting a synthetic stock on it so I don't trash the wood. Thoughts? Which stock would you recommend?

I have also had the itch to buy a 25.06 or a 6.5x284. I think it would be better to just spend the money on what I already have.

Drummond

I'd rebarrel one of the .243s to .308. A Remington .308 take-off barrel would be the best and cheapest way to go.

It would be better just to spend the money on what you have.

I'd probably leave one just as is and turn the other one into a dedicated long range varminter.

Maybe do an AI, stock it in a Mcmillan A5 or piss off the nay sayers and put it in a Greybull

24 inch heavy for caliber contoured barrel and a 4x12 or 4.5x14.

Coyotes nightmare.

I'd keep the two ADLs, but rebarrel one to a .260 or 7-08 and restock it in a Mickey of some sort (probably an EDGE Mountain Rifle). I'd probably leave the other alone until/if I got the urge for something else. I'd probably have PacNor put the new tube on the one I was modifying, having them duplicate an MR contour.

Do you like the shape of the FWT fore end? If so, there's your answer... McMillan FWT. If not, then I'm sure there's other sporterish patterns available, I just don't know the Winchester inlets all that well.

My opinion, for what its worth, (not much)...
rebarrel one of the 243 Remingtons to any of the 308 based rounds,
like Swampman said, a 308 but I think maybe something another step larger,,338 Federal, or even 358 Winchester.

As far as the replacement stock for the Model 70...I have been putting McMillan (sp) on three of my rifles, they are super, ok I know the price is high,,but you get what you pay for.

I'd shoot one of the .243's until the barrel was shot out and then rebarrel to whatever caliber is of interest at that time. The other could sit in the safe until then and you could start all over with a new, unfired rifle.

I'm curious about protecting the wood on your .270 by restocking at this time. You grew up with it, hunted it alot, and the stock is still in great shape. Are you suddenly going to abuse this rifle? If you restock, what are you planning to do with the wood stock? Once you bed a new synthetic stock to the rifle, you probably won't switch back and forth. If the rifle shoots well, I'd leave it alone and replace the stock if and when it becomes necessary. Just one opinion.

Growing up I just hunted my family's ranch in Texas. It wasn't rough terrain and the weather typically wasn't an issue. Now that I live in CO and hunt rougher country with inclement weather that can arise at any time I've thought about going to a synthetic stock. The wood on it now is in great shape and I don't want to screw it up. I will also take it with me on hunts to have as a back up rifle for my hunters if they need it. I may keep the wood on it, I just don't know yet, I'm just kind of thinking out loud here on the forum

Drummond

On one of the 243's I'd take and restock it with a Ti take off. Cut and recrown to 21", add Talley's and a 6x36 Leo with dotz.

Build a load around the 55 NBT if you care to be fur friendly from time to time and then a load around a 85 TSX and rock on. Go forth and fill up some arks...

Dober

Thanks for the suggestions guys! I really appreciate them! I'm going to take the stock off of one of the 243's on Wednesday, paint it camo and get it scoped. I'll leave it as a 243 and let me nephews pile stuff up with it, I'll probably give it to one of them one day anyway.

The other 243 is gonna get modified, not exactly sure what I'm going to do yet but I'll make it useful and fun

As for the 270, I'll probably just keep the wood stock on it for now, it's just a beautiful rifle that I have a lot of great memories with, when I look at it I remember the good times I had with it with my dad. Those are priceless to me

So, basically I have one 243 to tinker with. Keep the ideas coming

Drummond

Light/walking varminter in .243AI, per Dober's suggestions.

Chunk, long-range varminter in .243AI, throated for 105s, 26" tube, A3/A5...

Win, win.

Seems to me that a 358 would be a useful addition.

Dale

Seeing as you already have the .270 and will probably still have 'access' to the .243 I would go medium bore on the left over .243. I'm not a small bore guy so I would definitely go noticeably above the .270 cal. JMO, but if I was in your situation I, too, would be awfully tempted by the .338 Fed or .358 Win.

Can't hardly go wrong with whatever you choose. Good luck!

I'd leave one 243 as is. The other I'd dress up, Swirly or Ti takeoff stock,rebarrel to 7-08 or 308 (or not), if not a swirly maybe rattle can camo.

For the 270, if you like the stock design, I wouldn't replace it just to keep it nice, then you'll have a nice stock in the closet. If you don't like the design (I hated the monte carlo on my ADL), then by all means. I've got a kimber with decent wood, the battle scars are just memories to me.

just re-tube one of the 243's to 6.5x284 and drop in a ti stock... done

Leave the 270 alone since you like the wood. Rebarrel one of the 243s to 7-08 with a light contour barrel and put it in a light synthetic stock to make a mountain rifle for the rugged stuff you don't want to bang your 270 around in.

You have heard alot of good ideas. I'll just throw in my 2 cts worth. get a set of Weaver bases and rings,setup a 6x36 Leupold or other. wring out both guns with what you would use for a deer- antelope load. one will probably shoot better than the other, use the same scope and rings both guns. Keep the better shooting one as is for the stock 243 hunting rifle. My old 700 BDL 243 is not a MOA outfit, but it sure has piled up the carcasses in its time and still doing so because I have never endeavored to shoot the throat out of it with HOT 70 gr bullet loads. Take the 2nd one that don't shoot as well then go to it with your ideas you have collected up. Like good beer,fine wine,and smooth whiskey everbody needs a tuned 243 when you wanna keep it simple and just knock them dead. You did ask and that's my 2 cts worth for free. Magnum Man....

I painted the stock on one of the 243's today. Pretty happy with the way it turned out. I'll post pictures tomorrow.

Drummond

Here are some pics of the camo job I put on it yesrerday. Its not great BUT i really like it!

Here are the pictures








So far so good, just need to rebarrel it and work up some loada. It should be a shooter

Drummond

Looks good!