Looking to pick up a quality .243 in the $650-750 range for predator hunting and some target shooting.

The contenders at this point are:

Remington Model 7 XCR Camo - $750

Savage Predator Max1 Camo - $700

Sako A7 Stainless - $650

I really like features of all of them, but want to choose the best gun in this price range.

So what does everyone think? Which would you buy? Any other choices that you would consider?

I've had both the XCR and Sako.
Sako: very accurate, very smooth action, outstanding rifle.
XCR: Not a bad rifle but certainly not in the same league as the Sako especially when you compare the accuracy of the two.

I dunno about that. My Seven XCR shoots pretty darn good.

By the way, here's my Model Seven XCR in .243 that I dropped in a McMillan Hunter's Edge stock. Deadnutz mounts with a Vortex Viper 2-7.

"Had"?

Did you have the A7 or another Sako?

Also why did you get rid of them?

Beautiful gun and it sure does shoot good. How much did the stock set you back?

Whatever Rick charges. I think it was slightly less than $500 at the time.

Accuracy isn't everything. How rugged are these rifles when banged around and dropped? What does it take to crack the stock?

I have an A7

stmcelroy,
Did your XCR shoot like that out of the box, before the stock?
I would venture to say no. My A7 will cut holes like that all day.
BTW.... I have both a Sako 85 Finnlight and a Sako A7. They shhot the same.......on top of one another. i'm not the only who have had these type results from Sako's.

Which is true, but i'm not looking for a dangerous game rifle so not such a big deal. If it was that definitely puts the Savage on top with it's metal trigger guard, magazine and aluminum bedded stock. I will agree that the A7's stock is somewhat of a turn off.

I'll address this question since it's my rifle. Yes it did shoot like that with the factory tupperware. All I did was was adjust the trigger.

I haven't actually shot groups with it since I stuck it in the McMillan, just verified zero.

Edited to add... That was with a probably 20 year old 2-7 Leupold as well.

That slim and trim Model 7 sure does look nice, wish it came with a detachable magazine then it would be a slam dunk.

Whichever I buy will be a compromise.

The Sako has a 22" barrel, and I would prefer a 20".

The Savage is a couple of pounds heavier.

The Remington doesn't have a detachable magazine.

I like my A7.
The stock ain't much but it works.

Sako made a floorplate kit for a detachable magazine for the military. This goes back to the L579, the Beretta 501, and Sako 75 which were sporting rifles in .308 Winchester and in synthetic/Parkerized versions for lightweight sniper rifles used by the Italian Army. They probably still have a magazine well, floorplate and magazines for the 501/502, the Model 75, and the 85.

You guy's are killing me with all this A7 talk!!! I'm on the verge of breaking down and buying one!!!....Grin..........547.

I would take the model 7, They are great little rifles!

You NEED one Craig....Just trying to help...(grin)

Thanks a lot Sam ...........547.

Lee24 , no you can't get magazines for the 501/502 these days.

How do you like the new S-20 line ?

I see a large time gap here!

Any day pf the week, and all day long. I've a couple of Model 7's in 243, and both shot very good right out of the box.

LOL… first hint was a post by Lee24…14 year old zombie thread

I thought it was the $750 xcr!