New Rifle Advice

[jmayton]

I have two needs and I don't think I can get one rifle to meet them.  First, I need a good "loaner" rifle for my friends that I take hog hunting.  I'm thinking a Handi Rifle in 7mm-08 would fit the bill for that.

Second, and this is the tougher decision, I need...well want a good bolt action .243 that I can use for, well for what the .243 was designed for, anything.  I hunt lots of hogs, a few deer, a few coyotes, and I love to shoot paper.  I also have a friend with a Rem VLS in .308 that shoots out to 1000yds.  We shoot together some and I don't have anything comparable.  I have a good .223 and several .30's so I don't really want a 22-250 or a .308.  So I feel like the .243 will be the best especially if I get the 7-08. 

Anyway I know Remington and Savage both make predator rifles in .243 and though I don't like the full camo dip, they are set up more for what I want.  I think the savage might be a bit better with the target accu-trigger and the medium-heavy barrel.  But I'm not sure.  Is there something else I should look at?  your thoughts please.

[DalesCarpentry]

Yea you could solve the problem with one rifle as long as you don't mind loaning to your friends for the hog hunts. Yes the 243 will shoot out to 1,000 yards many do it. I had a tack driving Remington 700 SPS 243 Varmint that has shot groups at 300 yards you could cover with a Quater. I am a big fan of the 308 family and my next rifle will most likely be a 7MM-08 Remington 700. Dale

[jmayton]

I will say i really like the VTR but I don't really need the available calibers.  'course i said the same thing about the Savage predator and then they chambered it in .243.  hmmm....maybe a VTR in 260?  if only Remington would listen...

[DalesCarpentry]

I have to agree there for sure. Their cheapest 260 is about $900.00. If remington would come out with a SPS 260 that would be the rifle for me. I have been saying that for more than a year now. Before they came out with their 2008 catalog that was one rifle I was wishing for. They are not listening to me. Maybe they will listen to you. Dale

[kyelkhunter3006]

The Savage Predator would be a good choice for your .243 and from what I've read about the guns, they are shooting extremely well with that stout 22" barrel.

Remington also has similar gun in the Model Seven series.  It's a 20" fluted magnum contour (a bit heavier than the regular contour of the Remington 700 barrel, but not as thick as the Savage).

Like you, I could care less about the camo dipped finishes on both of these.  I think that both are close to perfect for predator hunting though.

As for your friends, are they experienced hunters, or do that just do it once in a while?  I think that for hog hunting with someone who's not used to doing it, I'd get a bolt action for them, instead of a single shot.  Hogs can hurt you when if you piss them off with a bad shot, so having a couple of back-up shots readily available may be a good idea.  If they flubb the shot and haven't had much practice reloading a single on the fly, it might be ugly. 

If you shop the net a bit, you can get a Mossberg ATR or a Stevens 200 for just a little more (I've seen them for the same $$ or less as well) than a new Handi.

[Swampman]

Have you considered the Remington 770?

[jmayton]

kyelk, if i loan a gun to someone, they are not experienced hunters.  the only one i ever loan a gun to that is experienced is my brother in law and he just likes my guns better than his, so he doesn't bring his.  but the handi rifle is simple for someone not familiar with a gun to operate and if i take someone inexperienced hog hunting i'm right there with them in case things get a little hairy.

Swampman, no i haven't considered the Rem 770.  are you suggesting that for the loaner or for the predator/all purpose?

[Swampman]

I think it would work for either.  They are accurate and inexpensive.  The API camo version looks fantastic IMO.  If they made it in .223, I'd have already bought one.

[jmayton]

Swampman, I'd seen the 770 in some stores and never really paid that much attention to it.  The camo definitely looks better.  My opinion is that they're kinda ugly with that big trigger guard and all...but I think a Savage looks good...so it's all up to the beholder.  I guess if I went with a standard weight barrel in a 243 my first pick would be a SPS and then maybe a Savage.  It's definitely something to think about though.