243 suggestions for son

[TNRAMBLINGMAN]

I am considering getting my son a 243 before hunting season. I was thinking a 700 or a Tikka T3. Any other ideas?

I would also consider a used version - 243 or maybe a 25/06, if anyone here has one for sale.

I want a 22" or longer fairly heavy gun, not a youth model.

My son is 11 and has decided that his youth model 308 model 700 kicks too much.

 

[Kimberman]

A Browning Micro would fit the bill well. The Tikka is always a good choice. I would look at a .260 if recoil is a concern. Another option is to download the .308 until he gets bigger and can handle the recoil. A 125 gr Ballistic Tip around 2600 FPS would work well. If you dont handload Remington and Federal make reduced recoil loads.

 

[Tikkabuck]

Stick with the Tikka,IMHO and he'll have a rifle to be proud of,my boys are.In hind sight after rasing 3 boys that all hunt and this is their opinion as well,the 7mm-08 is what I should have started them with and they swear they will use that caliber for their youngin's when they start hunting.

 

[Sako]

Tikka....

 

[Plateau Hunter]

I wholeheartedly agree with Kimberman. If you have a youth .308 you have a great rifle already. My 12 yo son has killed 6 deer over the last 2 seasons with his youth .308 Model 7. I do load the rounds just like Kimberman said-125g NBT at about 26-2700 fps. They are great fast killers and my son is not afraid of recoil at all-cause it is very mild. Thus he shoots it well.

If I were buying a new rifle for him(always a good thing) I would get a .260 over a .243 too. Good luck. Plateau Hunter

 

[Hogbear]

I have a Ruger 77 with a 24" heavy barrel and it basically has no recoil when compared to my .30-06 A-bolt and is very quiet for a centerfire rifle too. It's a workout totin' it through the hills though.

 

[Cull Buck Hunter]

Have you tried an aftermarket recoil pad, they work wonders, Simms makes a quality product. That might save you some money and solve the recoil problem.

I am considering getting my son a 243 before hunting season. I was thinking a 700 or a Tikka T3. Any other ideas?

I would also consider a used version - 243 or maybe a 25/06, if anyone here has one for sale.

I want a 22" or longer fairly heavy gun, not a youth model.

My son is 11 and has decided that his youth model 308 model 700 kicks too much.

 

[big 8s in Weakley county]

A Browning Micro would fit the bill well. The Tikka is always a good choice. I would look at a .260 if recoil is a concern. Another option is to download the .308 until he gets bigger and can handle the recoil. A 125 gr Ballistic Tip around 2600 FPS would work well. If you dont handload Remington and Federal make reduced recoil loads.

ditto

 

[Gravey]

I love my Encore .243. Very little kick and it's small size fits me perfect. Another option is to try the reduced recoil .308 loads and keep what you've got.

 

[Tiny]

Dittios to Kimbermans,Plateau Hunter & CBH

 

[mike243]

savage mike243

 

[BigCountry71]

I got my son a .243 last year to hunt with ( 11 yr old). It did the job. Dropped her in her tracks.

There some things i just dont like about the round. Im gonna put him in a 7mm-08 this year.

 

[Buck Assassin]

I got a savage in a 243 and it is a good gun.

 

[Hogbear]

I got my son a .243 last year to hunt with ( 11 yr old). It did the job. Dropped her in her tracks.

There some things i just dont like about the round. Im gonna put him in a 7mm-08 this year.

Just curious what it is you don't like about the round that doesn't kick and drops deer in their tracks? I can't think of any caliber I would rather use than .243 for southern whitetails out to 300 yards.

 

[stik]

PLEASE get him something with a little more lead than a 243.

 

[Model70Man]

PLEASE get him something with a little more lead than a 243.

A 243 is plenty to drop any deer. Many people use a 243 for elk. A 100 grain 243 can kill a deer just as good as a 25-06 shooting a 100 grain bullet. The difference of .007 of an inch won't make much of a difference if any at all.

I've shot and killed several deer with a 243 with a 95 grain bullet with less than ideal shooting angles and they have all dropped DRT as if they were hit with THOR's Hammer.

I wouldn't hesitate for one second to take my 243 on a trophy hog hunt as it will do the job.

 

[Thunderroost]

can't go wrong with a 700....

i liked the looks of the Tikkas at first, but couldn't get past the plastic magazine

 

[tiecampdeerslayer]

Buy a Tikka T3 Laminated Stock/Stainless Steel and you'll never look at another rifle. Perfect balance, feel, look, and accurate as everything.

Take a look at an article the Whitetail Journal mag. A few writers are trying out a new load from a German manufacturer and to test its accuracy they use the Tikka T3.....

 

[Tikkabuck]

Just wanted to chime in one this one more time. Theres nothing wrong with a .243 in the hands of a good rifleman that can pipe the bullet right where it belongs. I have a nephew out west thats hunts with a Savage model 99 in .243 with a cheap Bushnell Sportsman 3x9x38,has for years. He shoots Elk,Mulies you name it and we never had to track anything very far. So what do we have a country boy that lives on a ranch where he shoots all year round,hes an excellent shot and he shoots a .243 with store bought ammo.

I still don't like the round,especially in the hands of a novist that don't have lots of pratice under their belt. Still it's a fine round I'd just rather have something bigger. 7mm-08 may not float your boat but for me it's the perfect all around caliber.

 

[TRHC]

I love my Encore .243. Very little kick and it's small size fits me perfect. Another option is to try the reduced recoil .308 loads and keep what you've got.

My son shoots Remington Managed Recoil loads in his .308 Encore. I shortened the stock and added a Sims pad. He loves it. He killed two with it last year. He's seven (was only six when he killed the first one). TRHC.