Decisions decisions....

[duckaholic]

Selling afew pistols to buy a varmint rifle have it down to the model 700 varmint in either .243 or .308 just trying to decide which I'm going to go with for shooting coyotes bobcats and fox as well. Also for some long range plinking and the occasional day Id rather carry it after whitetail as opposeto my .300RUM or incase the rum suffers catastrophic scope failure. Really looking for input from guys who have shot coyotes with both?

 

[WildRose]

Selling afew pistols to buy a varmint rifle have it down to the model 700 varmint in either .243 or .308 just trying to decide which I'm going to go with for shooting coyotes bobcats and fox as well. Also for some long range plinking and the occasional day Id rather carry it after whitetail as opposeto my .300RUM or incase the rum suffers catastrophic scope failure. Really looking for input from guys who have shot coyotes with both?

I was in the same boat a couple of years back so I'll share with you my line of thinking.

.308 is too slow to be what I consider a good varmint round. It can definitely deliver precision, but it is certainly not a flat shooting round.

.243 is a very good varmint round but on the edge for deer sized game energy wise.

I settled on the .260 Rem because I wanted a flat shooting varmint round, a round that can deliver real precision at long range, and a round that has ample energy for deer sized game at med-long range that also has the penetration necessary for hogs which can be notoriously tough due to their armor plate in the chest/shoulder area.

I also went with the AR platform for a number of reasons not the least of which being that sometimes we have multiple targets with groups of coyotes and herds of hogs.

Between the .243 and .308 though for an all around varmint/deer rifle I'd go with the .243 or .243 AI if you are going to reload.

 

[duckaholic]

Well no other rifle can touch this price new and that's my caliber choices in this model. The chances of me actually deer hunting with it will be very very slim. And if I'm planning on shooting deer at range my rum will be in my hands.

 

[WildRose]

Well no other rifle can touch this price new and that's my caliber choices in this model. The chances of me actually deer hunting with it will be very very slim. And if I'm planning on shooting deer at range my rum will be in my hands.

Then it sounds like .243 time... .gun)

 

[Sully2]

If you reload at all....for the usage that you have outlined here....without a doubt Id go for the .243 caliber. I know I did....

I also had custom built the same gun in .260 caliber. Brux barrel and such...Rem 700 action and I bought the VLS stock from Remmie direct because I like the fit and feel of them. I finally got that critter sighted in today...1.6 hi at 100 ( puts me dead on at 200) and the 6-18X Zeiss I have on it really shines....

You'll love the 243 though....with handloads from 55gr to 105 grain....lets you have whitetails and antelope down to prairie dogs. Get one TODAY....*S*

( Next week my 243 heavy barrel gets run thru the wringer)

 

[duckaholic]

We do load for almost all calibers we shoot. Butttttt to stir the pot I found a decent deal on a savage 12bvss 480$ OTD but that eliminates possible back up deer/lope gun. I am leaning towards the .243 as of yet but we already have .308 dies haha But I must admit there is some allure to being able to load for over 4,000fps

 

[liltank]

$480 for a BVSS is pretty good. I would snatch that up regardless of caliber. I am a bit a of a Savage Snob. I like to build off of them. I have a 308, and I have no regrets. Neither does the groundhog I hit with it in the melon at 632yds. The steel was pretty easy to ping at 810yds. So you take your pick, but I like the 308. With that said, I am leaning toward the 6XC or 6.5x47 Lapua for the next go round that is non-magnum. Also considering the 223AI. If you go .243, load the 87grn A-max and there is nothing you won't kill with in 600yds. Varmints you can go as far as you feel comfortable.

Tank

 

[duckaholic]

I'm not sure if it's had the trigger changes or if it pre accu trigger regardless no accu trigger just bases and gun.

 

[duckaholic]

Well bringing home the varmint in .243 today

 

[Sully2]

What?? That Savage?

 

[duckaholic]

No model 700. If the savage was a bigger caliber I'd get if for sure.

 

[Sully2]

No model 700. If the savage was a bigger caliber I'd get if for sure.

You're making the right choice partner.

 

[duckaholic]

Don't really care for the stock. It's floated until the end of forearm it touches all the way around. I think I may eventually get a stock and add a floor plate or detach mag

 

[duckaholic]

Has anyone floated these stocks?