"precision" .243 varmint rifle on the cheap?

.22LRGUY

.22LRGUY

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Hey guys...with "cheap" being a relative term...I figure this forum would be the best one to ask this question in. Seems most of the folks building custom guns, upgrading triggers/barrels are here...but if there is a better place to ask, please don't be afraid to say so.

So...here is what I think I'm after; A Tikka CTR in .243. Since that rifle doesn't exist, nor will Stoeger bring-in the Super Varmint of 20" Barreled Varmints..it has me thinking about alternatives. I shoot a Savage Precision 10 in .223, and if that gun (with a less ugly stock :) ) was available in .243, I'd probably just get one of those. I'd even bed a Savage "Hog Hunter" if it was in that caliber, but probably take an angle grinder to those sights. :) So, I want a 20", heavy barrel, 1:10"...probably Savage...and a bare-bones, simple stock. I think I'd even be OK with a used action, synthetic stock (accustock or non+bedded). Barrel~maybe a new, cut-dow/re-crown Savage 1:10", but maybe something snazzier in a match-grade. Preference to satin black/non-showy...but satin stainless as an alternative.

Not a shred of the inspiration comes from wanting to impress anyone with the appearance of this rifle, I simply want to develop some loads for it, then spend every spring/summer weekend hunting groundhogs with it. Considering a 24" Tikka Varmint is awfully close to what I'm after...at about $1,200 before tax...I think the ceiling for what I'd like to get/have made might be $800-$1,000. I do feel that a Savage barrel would serve me fine (6-12 shots a day)...but cut to 20".

So...am I totally clueless, or is something like this doable?
 
Why do you want a 20" long 1:10" twist barrel?

If your worried about weight look at a tikka lite. If not look at a tikka varmint or savage 12 lrp.
 
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K0na_stinky said:
Why do you want a 20" long 1:10" twist barrel?

If your worried about weight look at a tikka lite. If not look at a tikka varmint or savage 12 lrp.
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I like 20" barrels, and heavy guns for shooting prone/varmints. Tikka make a 20" (510mm) barreled varmint, they just don't sell them into Canada. Same goes for the super varmint. The T3 lite/compact is a contender, but I find for longer-range shooting..lighter guns are harder to settle-down. Maybe I'm the weak link in the equation. :) Whatever the case, I've shot heavy AND standard barrels in .243, .204, .223 and a standard-weight in .270~all in the last few years. I shoot the heavy guns better, as much as they suck to lug around in hot weather.
 
Its very hard to beat a Tikka they shoot as well as most custom jobs for a fraction of the price, and as shawn_338 mentioned you could always have the bbl cut and recrowned. Personally Id keep the 22" or 24" bbl for added velocity,,I know its not much but any helps in long distance shooting and splatter effect on varmint.

Cheers!!
 
Weatherby Vanguard II Carbine.

Under 700 bucks, has a 20" barrel, two stage trigger, Howa action, comes in at 7 lbs and guaranteed to shoot sub-moa out of the box. And you don't need to "swap the stock" for something better.

I have that model with the 24" barrel. It shoots 1/2" groups with 80 grain Federal blue box softpoints - can't ask for anything more for the price...
 
Tikka T3 doesn't have the right twist for the heavier bullets (1/10) on a 243. A 1/8 twist would be better imo.
 
Kosmic said:
Tikka T3 doesn't have the right twist for the heavier bullets (1/10) on a 243. A 1/8 twist would be better imo.
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"Better?" How so? The ability to lob heavier stuff super long-range would be less useful than the (relatively) light, varmint-busting stuff for my application...no? With .204R and .223 Rem., I've had great success with Hornady V-Max, or Sierra BlitzKings. Accuracy and authority. :) .243 V-Max, the bullet weight range is 58-87grs., but isn't that upper weight in the varmint stuff about the bottom range for longer range, precision shooting? (87-115grs) Wouldn't 1:8" favor the heavier stuff, 1:10" the lighter?

Again, open to opinions. Interested in everybody's! :)
 
Yes, .243 1/10 twist will stabilize up to 90gr bullets as per Berger bullets site. 1/8 will stabilize heavier stuff, up to 108gr for long range target shooting.
 
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