So my hunting buddy finally let some moths out of his wallet and bought a new deer rifle.
Ok, it's just a bargain basement Rem 783 Compact chambered in 243 Win (he is short so the 12 1/2" LOP fit him perfectly (has three spacers to customize LOP) and with only a 20" barrel the overall weight is down compared to many models), so he only let out a few moths - but he is "cheap" and wanted a cheap rifle.
Anyhow, I hooked him up with the Rem 783 with factory scope in 243 Win. I convinced him to ditch the factory glass - no indication from Rem where they got it from or who made it but it looks very much like my circa 1980 Bushnell Sportview.
We bolted on a Bushnell Trophy XLT 4-12X40 DOA 600 (which was on sale for about 170 bucks).
With a couple boxes of 100 grain soft point Federal blue box ammo and a hard case he was out about $675, taxes in.
I bore sighted it for him and we took it out to break it in.
After getting it on the bull at 25 yards we moved to the 100 yard target.
His first three shots @ 100, shooting front supported in the prone position, left three shots that could be covered by a quarter - I was more than surprised. His next three shot groups were all sub-moa (and he doesn't shoot all that much, so even lacking some technique this rifle just plain shot uber-accurate with the "cheapest" ammo on the shelf)
Unlike many 243's which come in a 1:10 twist this model has the 1:9.125 (9 1/8 for the decimally challenged
) which is why I suggested the 100 grain shells instead of the 85/87's that I shoot in my 1:10 Wby VGII/243 Win. Figured, the faster twist would stabilize the heavier shells fine - it certainly had no issues on it's first outing.
Now, the fit and finish leaves something to be desired. The bolt is sloppy (if I'm being kind) and the plastic mag takes a bit of fiddling to get it in and out. But the trigger itself, the Rem version of the accu-trigger, is actually not bad (and is like a dream compared to the Axis, non-XP models which come at a similar price point).
All in all, for a scoped rifle that would have come all in somewhere just over the mid 400 buck range, without the scope upgrade, if someone is just looking for a "hunting rifle" to spend at week at camp with the boys, you do far worse for more money.
Not something I would own myself, but if funds are tight and you want a "shooter", it's worth a look.
Ok, it's just a bargain basement Rem 783 Compact chambered in 243 Win (he is short so the 12 1/2" LOP fit him perfectly (has three spacers to customize LOP) and with only a 20" barrel the overall weight is down compared to many models), so he only let out a few moths - but he is "cheap" and wanted a cheap rifle.
Anyhow, I hooked him up with the Rem 783 with factory scope in 243 Win. I convinced him to ditch the factory glass - no indication from Rem where they got it from or who made it but it looks very much like my circa 1980 Bushnell Sportview.
We bolted on a Bushnell Trophy XLT 4-12X40 DOA 600 (which was on sale for about 170 bucks).
With a couple boxes of 100 grain soft point Federal blue box ammo and a hard case he was out about $675, taxes in.
I bore sighted it for him and we took it out to break it in.
After getting it on the bull at 25 yards we moved to the 100 yard target.
His first three shots @ 100, shooting front supported in the prone position, left three shots that could be covered by a quarter - I was more than surprised. His next three shot groups were all sub-moa (and he doesn't shoot all that much, so even lacking some technique this rifle just plain shot uber-accurate with the "cheapest" ammo on the shelf)
Unlike many 243's which come in a 1:10 twist this model has the 1:9.125 (9 1/8 for the decimally challenged
) which is why I suggested the 100 grain shells instead of the 85/87's that I shoot in my 1:10 Wby VGII/243 Win. Figured, the faster twist would stabilize the heavier shells fine - it certainly had no issues on it's first outing. Now, the fit and finish leaves something to be desired. The bolt is sloppy (if I'm being kind) and the plastic mag takes a bit of fiddling to get it in and out. But the trigger itself, the Rem version of the accu-trigger, is actually not bad (and is like a dream compared to the Axis, non-XP models which come at a similar price point).
All in all, for a scoped rifle that would have come all in somewhere just over the mid 400 buck range, without the scope upgrade, if someone is just looking for a "hunting rifle" to spend at week at camp with the boys, you do far worse for more money.
Not something I would own myself, but if funds are tight and you want a "shooter", it's worth a look.
Last edited:
