.243 rifle recommendations?

[KRASHED]

My dad is looking to buy a varmit rifle to take care of some of the pests around the new house and those damn coyotes that are trying to eat my dog. Any recommendations?

 

[Curt]

Is he OK with a varmint weight rifle or would he prefer a 'walking' varminter? Savage has a heavy barreled rifle for reasonable money, but too heavy to me for packing around. There are some others as well. I like the Ruger 1-V, for a walker. A .243 for me would get double duty. Coyote and deer. The coyote shooting is usually not sustained, so the heavy barrel option is not necessary and not wanted for walking the woods and fields.

 

[kimberman]

I have a Kimber 84m select grade .243, and I love it. It's light and handy, shoots pretty good and looks nice. It likes the heavier bullets, I use 95gr sst's, you might want lighter bullets for the 'yotes.

Sako L579 forester's are nice old guns, and they're pretty resonable too. Usually find them around $800-900.

 

[BC Bigbore]

I picked up a used Model Seven in .243 (18.5" bbl) and installed a Leupold Compact 3x9 in Leupold mounts. I worked up a couple loads with 70gr & 80gr soft points for my wife to use for coyotes here on the farm. It's such a handy little package that I find myself "borrowing" her rifle from time to time

 

[Mad_Mikee]

I like the SPS Varmint in 243. Heavy barrel. Low end finish that you dont have to worry about scratching up and a plastic stock.

Keeping my eye open for the same thing.

 

[Mudpherson]

I've seen a Ruger Mark II stainless/Laminate and a Kimber classic stainless in 243 in the EE. Both are nice but the Ruger is half the price and looks really nice!

 

[oh_j0ker]

I use a Weatherby Vangard Synthetic/Stainless .243 with a timney trigger. It is not that heavy and it shoots very straight. Bottom line... anything will make holes.

 

[kimberman]

There's a pretty nice pre '64 winchester on the ee right now. If I didn't have and love my kimber I would go for it!

 

[sunray]

How much money does he want to spend?

 

[a j cave]

I got a very cheep 700 sps varmit 243. It does 1/2 in groups. I have been shooting a Ruger 77 in 243 for over 20 yrs. It havs a pencil barell and shoots well. Practice at the ranges he will shoot is more important than the make of rifle.

 

[Robmcleod82]

I got a remington model 7 predator hunter in 243 it works really well for me in the predator hunting role

 

[Sako223]

I would prefer a Remington stainless SPS or a model seven predator if you want something that is compact and can put up with the camo finish.

 

[NAA]

I always wanted to play with something in .243 without breaking the bank. Familiar with the out of the box accuracy of the Stevens 200 I mail-ordered one from SIR [now Cabelas] Winnipeg.

Still waiting to work up some loads for it, though.....

NAA.