I just downsized from 7mag (keeping that gun) to a 25-06.

A little more than your specified budget though with the scope.

.243 is great.

Just wanted to throw a little heavier grain down range if need be. And I have two 6MMs..
And a .270........its a good sickness, or that's what I tell my wife..

My .243 was the first rifle I ever bought. Remington 700ADL from Walmart. It now has a Pentax Pioneer 3-9x40 on top of it and the trigger has been tuned down to about 2lbs. It has taken many deer and hogs with a 100 grain Core Lokt and 95 grain WInchester Ballistic Silvertip (wolfkillers)

Since my arsenal has increased, I have turned this thing into a little screamer. I am now running a 55gr ballistic tip at 4000ish fps through it, and it dang near cloverleafs them. It makes pink mist upon impact/exit.

Buy a .243. Use it. Love it. Remington SPS or good Winchester model 70 should be in your price range.

My favorite .243 of all time is my ruger m77 with a manlicher
Had several 243's by other makers But This one will stay n the family.

SanAntoneAg said:

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Eskimo is a .243 homer like me. Love seeing his references to dad popping Alaskan caribou with a round that had been relegated to kids in Texas, but will kill damn near anything in Texas.

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Only native animal to TX that i can think of that might give a 243 trouble is Bison

Killed my first deer with an old Savage 110 .243
Good little gun

My dad has a Savage 110 in .243 with a Leupold vari-x II on top. That gun is a tack driver at 100 yards with factory Remington core-lokt ammo, and for head shots on does at 100 yards, he rarely misses. When you can't cover the groups with a quarter, it's time to clean it. I'd get one too, but the bolt in it is rough as hell, making second shots a little cumbersome.

Ok bringing this thread back up for opinion. My buddy who adement that the 7 MM is a better option then the 243. This gun is in my budget and does not have a trailing so-so scope tagging along which I do not want it also offers wood stock which I prefer

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/mossberg-patriot-walnut-7mm-08-remington-bolt-action-rifle

Thoughts?

Mossberg is by any means my favorite brand bolt gun. I had a Patriot in 30-06 and it was ok for a starter gun, but with other brands in the same price range, I would not own another. Ruger and Savage just have a far better action and barrel.

Thanks I'll search those options

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/savage-arms-axis-series-axis-ii-xp-hardwood-7mm-08-remington-bolt-action-rifle#repChildCatid=4983792

And if you can live with synthetic, I have nothing but good things to say about my Ruger American. You can always get a Boyds stock.

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/ruger-american-7mm-08-remington-bolt-action-rifle#repChildCatid=4856068

How much for the wood stock? Best guess? Seems I would have 40 bucks to play with buying synthetic and no scope

$150-250 depending on material. I have both Ruger and Savage rifles and are both equally great shooters. I just have a preference for the Ruger American since I paid under $600 for it and over $1800 for my Savage (optics included).

Another 7mm-08 vote

Good deal on a ruger american. $259

https://grabagun.com/ruger-american-rif-243win-bl-sy-22.html