Need your guys' help.

[Djbuttolph]

Hey guys, I've been a long time lurker and finally registered to get some input from you. I recently purchased a used Browning A-Bolt Medallion in .243 WSSM. I took the gun to the range, and it was all over the paper. I noticed the scope was quite dinged up so I'm hoping it's just that. I ordered a Vortex Viper 6.5-20x44 and will slap that on as soon as it gets here. In the off chance it still won't ground I'm thinking I'll likely sell the gun. I'm torn between what kind of gun, and what caliber to get though. I've been thinking about Remington 700's, or a Savage of some sort. I'd ideally like to buy a gun that I can modify to my liking (stock, barrel, trigger, etc.) I will be using the gun for deer hunting (out to 400 yards mostly), occasional p-dog trip, and paper out to 1000 hopefully. I've somewhat narrowed it down to two calibers, .243 Winchester or 6.5-284. I'm a whole 140 pounds so recoil is bothersome to me, and if I had a 6.5-284 I'd obviously have a muzzle brake. What would you guys suggest?

Thanks

 

[cornchuck]

Both calibers are great. I have a 243 that I've had since 1998 and it still shoot great. I have also been thinking about the 6.5x284. Flat shooting gun. Capable of easily going to 1000 yard mark. But the 6.5x284 isn't that easy on barrels. If you keep the barrel clean and don't let it get too hot while shooting, you could get more rounds down the tube. A fellow was shooting a 6.5x284 this past weekend and said he should've gotten 1100 rounds out of his barrel but has over 1200. Hope this helps in your decision.

Jason

 

[angus-5024]

for your needs I would get a .260 Rem.
More energy than the .243, and you get to use those slippery 6.5mm bullets.
If your really recoil sensitive the .243win is a great choice, you just gotta be VERY picky when shooting game at Long range.

 

[backwoods83]

If your looking for a factory rifle to get to 1k you should look at the savage model 12 lrp in 260rem, 26" 8 twist heavy fluted barrel, target action modified for dbm, hs precision pro series stock, weighs right at 10#s with no optics, will push 130 bergers about 2950 and 140s a little over 2800, will do all your looking for and recoil about like a sporter weight 22-250, or a savage 111 lrh in 6.5x284 which comes with a break. A 243 is very 1k capable but I am not aware of any company offering it in the 8 twist it really needs for the heavy bullets needed for that distance unless you use the custom shop at one of the major manufacturers.

 

[JackinSD]

For praire dogs, big game to 400 and paper punching to 1000, I sure like my .243. If you are looking to do the gunsmithing yourself, Savage seems the way to go.

Backwoods is correct about nobody offering an 8 twist. The nice thing about a Savage is you can change the barrel yourself. That's what I did. Put a Criterion 28" Varmint with a 1 in 8 twist on to stabalize the 105's and 107's. Not enough twist for the 115's. 1 in 7.5 twist for those.

Having said that, many people are having luck with 1 in 9.25 twists and the 105 or 107's. But, that is a roll of the dice.

Nice thing about the Savage, if it doesn't work, you can change the barrel yourself.

Let's all just hope it was your scope and all is well without any other worries. Good luck.

 

[WildRose]

Hey guys, I've been a long time lurker and finally registered to get some input from you. I recently purchased a used Browning A-Bolt Medallion in .243 WSSM. I took the gun to the range, and it was all over the paper. I noticed the scope was quite dinged up so I'm hoping it's just that. I ordered a Vortex Viper 6.5-20x44 and will slap that on as soon as it gets here. In the off chance it still won't ground I'm thinking I'll likely sell the gun. I'm torn between what kind of gun, and what caliber to get though. I've been thinking about Remington 700's, or a Savage of some sort. I'd ideally like to buy a gun that I can modify to my liking (stock, barrel, trigger, etc.) I will be using the gun for deer hunting (out to 400 yards mostly), occasional p-dog trip, and paper out to 1000 hopefully. I've somewhat narrowed it down to two calibers, .243 Winchester or 6.5-284. I'm a whole 140 pounds so recoil is bothersome to me, and if I had a 6.5-284 I'd obviously have a muzzle brake. What would you guys suggest?

Thanks

The .260 Rem is made to order for your criteria.

Before you give up on what you have though take it to a competent gunsmith and let them do a good float and bed on it and see if it doesn't help.

If you can't get it to shoot well enough to suit you, then come back and we'll talk options.

One question... . Have you shot better than 1 MOA groups with anything before?

How new are you to rifle shooting in general?

More often than not when a gun is literally all over the paper at 100 yards the problem is user related more than anything else.

Remember the best precision rig ever built will still be all over the paper if the shooter isn't doing their part.

 

[Djbuttolph]

The .260 Rem is made to order for your criteria.

Before you give up on what you have though take it to a competent gunsmith and let them do a good float and bed on it and see if it doesn't help.

If you can't get it to shoot well enough to suit you, then come back and we'll talk options.

One question... . Have you shot better than 1 MOA groups with anything before?

How new are you to rifle shooting in general?

More often than not when a gun is literally all over the paper at 100 yards the problem is user related more than anything else.

Remember the best precision rig ever built will still be all over the paper if the shooter isn't doing their part.

I have been shooting rifles since i was about 10. I can shoot .25 to .5 MOA out to 500 yards pretty easily with my .204 and .25-06. I thought it could have been me shooting at first, but had a friend that shot it and couldn't get it any better than my groups.

 

[liltank]

Savage gets my vote. .243, 260, 6.5 Creedmore, 6.5x47 Lapua, 6XC, get my vote. If you are going to smith it yourself, go this route. If you really want to do the trigger, buy an older Savage or a Stevens rifle ($200-300 for a complete used gun and if you want a repeater). Buy a Rifle Basix competition trigger that adjust from 6oz. to 3#. Set it at 12oz to 1.5#, what ever your comfortable with. Sell the parts you don't plan to use. Order a PT&G bolt head and bolt body. Order a Stockade lift kit, bolt handle, and take a look at their stocks. They have a very good product for Savage. Buy a head spacing go-gauge for your chosen caliber, nut wrench and an action wrench. Buy the SSS or Stockade .25" or bigger recoil lug. Chose a good barrel manufacturer. I am a fan of Lothar Walther, but I've heard good things about Criterion, and McGowen for Savage pre-fit. I can't complain about the sub .3MOA groups I have shot with my Lothar out to 800yds. I like EGW bases. I just recently purchased their HD base and it is quite impressive. Made from 7071 aluminum that is air craft grade. Light and tough. The rings and scope of your choice. If you don't care if it is a single shot, then the Savage Target action is the way to go. They do offer the LRP, so you might be able to score an action from the factory that will give you a target trigger and a DBM. Hope this helps.

Tank

 

[WildRose]

I have been shooting rifles since i was about 10. I can shoot .25 to .5 MOA out to 500 yards pretty easily with my .204 and .25-06. I thought it could have been me shooting at first, but had a friend that shot it and couldn't get it any better than my groups.

That bit of info is a big help!

I'll fall back to my previous position then. Get it floated, bedded etc.

What kind of glass has it currently got mounted on it?

 

[Djbuttolph]

That bit of info is a big help!

I'll fall back to my previous position then. Get it floated, bedded etc.

What kind of glass has it currently got mounted on it?

It's got an older Simmons 2.5-10x50. The scope itself is quite beat up, leading me to think it may be the scope. I'm really like the looks of the Savage 12 LRP though, I love my other model 12 I have.

 

[WildRose]

It's got an older Simmons 2.5-10x50. The scope itself is quite beat up, leading me to think it may be the scope. I'm really like the looks of the Savage 12 LRP though, I love my other model 12 I have.

That's a very low end scope and if it's dinged up at all the odds something is wrong inside are very high.

I'd stick another scope on it, float/bed and shoot it and see if that makes any difference.

Of course if you are intent on just getting something else just do so and save the time and extra money, but for myself I'd try to make this one shoot since it's already the "bird in the hand" so to speak and there's no guarantee whatever you replace it with is going to shoot any better without doing the same work or more.

 

[Djbuttolph]

That's a very low end scope and if it's dinged up at all the odds something is wrong inside are very high.

I'd stick another scope on it, float/bed and shoot it and see if that makes any difference.

Of course if you are intent on just getting something else just do so and save the time and extra money, but for myself I'd try to make this one shoot since it's already the "bird in the hand" so to speak and there's no guarantee whatever you replace it with is going to shoot any better without doing the same work or more.

Yeah, I figure a new gun would be a great birthday present for me next week!

 

[backwoods83]

To the OP, there are two other problems you could consider, I don't know the round count or bullet weight your using but, most 243wssm's were 10 twist and horrible throat burners, with that said I doubt you will have any luck with bullets over 90 grains, and if the throat is eat up the 87grn vmax and 80grn NBT are probably the only two decent bullets that may stand up to the distortion initiated at the throat. If it is this, sell it or use it as a donor. And yes most of the 12 series savage 6br and larger will hold <moa to 1k, the target series I know for fact will hold .5-.8moa at 1k, I used a model 12 F Class 6.5x284 as a IBS light gun for a couple months, factory stock right out of the box with an egw 20moa base warne rings and a nightforce.

 

[Djbuttolph]

To the OP, there are two other problems you could consider, I don't know the round count or bullet weight your using but, most 243wssm's were 10 twist and horrible throat burners, with that said I doubt you will have any luck with bullets over 90 grains, and if the throat is eat up the 87grn vmax and 80grn NBT are probably the only two decent bullets that may stand up to the distortion initiated at the throat. If it is this, sell it or use it as a donor. And yes most of the 12 series savage 6br and larger will hold <moa to 1k, the target series I know for fact will hold .5-.8moa at 1k, I used a model 12 F Class 6.5x284 as a IBS light gun for a couple months, factory stock right out of the box with an egw 20moa base warne rings and a nightforce.

I tried some 55 and 85 factory loads and both produced the same results. I figure I'll see what I can get for my A-Bolt this Friday and go from there.