Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire starting over... need a new rifle.

I know that Howa sells their rifles with injection molded plastic, black textured paint wood stocks, or the Hogue pillar bedded rubber covered stocks. The Hogue stocked rifles are probably the best value. Looks like the one listed on GB is the Hogue version.

I have not seen a short action Hogue stocked Howa or Vanguard at the local Academy recently, but they sell for about $450 on GB new.

Someone was a lucky youth.

I'm thinking about getting a Weatherby Vanguard .243 (24" barrel) for my grandsons to hunt with. Cabellas and Academy both have them for $399.99. I can get about $200 off at Cabellas by using a $75 coupon they sent me and $125 of my Cabelas Visa points. Academy will match Cabelas coupon so I will probably go to Academy (it's closer) and get $175 off by using the $100 gift certificate I got for Christmas. I'll load 85gr Barnes for my Grandsons and 100 gr NP's for me.

that remi model 7 cdl in .260 looks pretty interesting... their mannlicher stock would be nice but their price is f***in NUTS. i've owned a couple vanguards, they shot well but really heavy for the size. if the cz wasn't so heavy i'd go find one of those too. not a big fan of that bavarian style stock however on their MS!

There is a BIG difference between the performance capability of the .243 Win and the more versatile 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser. If you really want the 6.5 and really want to keep it inexpensive, spend a little time looking for a used 6.5 Swedish Carbine (It may have been made in both the M94 and M96 - not certain). Most of these were in excellent condition as imported.

That barrel is a nice length for kids (and adults who like scout rifles) and you either can use the original carbine stock cut down or get an inexpensive fiber stock (like Ramline) and cut to suit. Then, someday, get a nicer adult stock.

Although nowhere near as fancy as some of the other options suggested above (you did show caution about $$), these rifles are great shooters and they are substantially well made.