21 years ago, my parents sent me to a local friend of theirs to help me build my first rifle. It was a Howa 1500 243 win, with a tiger striped cherry wood stock, epoxy bedded, pillars added, and a Burris 3-9x40 scope. It was my 8th grade graduation present, and my first ever high power rifle. Since then the rifle has changed a lot, but it has never stopped killing deer. Other than some old guns that my granddads gave me after they passed away, I love that gun more than any of my more expensive guns in the safe. It's never been a tack driver, but it's a solid moa rifle all day every day, with the occasional sub moa group (when I flinch just right, hehe). Between my two brothers, my two sisters, my dad, and myself, that rifle has killed a LOT of mule deer and whitetail. It will be on my back this year too, as I try and take my first coues buck ever. She isn't the purdiest gun ever, or the most expensive gun ever, but it sure kills deer.
Howa 1500 243 Win (original bolt, action, and barrel)
Hogue Full Bed Block Stock that has had the recoil lug bedded
Timney #609 1.5lb Trigger
Warne 30mm Rings
Voretex Viper HS LR 4-16x44
95gr Berger Classic Hunter
41gr Hodgdons H4350
Norma Brass
WLR Primer
Right at 3025 fps