Gnome of the Woods Posted September 17, 2011 Report Share Posted September 17, 2011 Heads starting to hurt now! Looking for a .243 setup to get me started but cannot stretch to Tikka or above prices. Any recommendations or tones to steer well clear of? All advice appreciated, Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamie g Posted September 17, 2011 Report Share Posted September 17, 2011 what sort of money are you looking to spend. i know where there is a m595 tikka for the right money. low shot count and very accurate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norrie Posted September 17, 2011 Report Share Posted September 17, 2011 Hiya, just sent you a PM..Hope it helps.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 (edited) Paul.. scope guntrader out for Parker Hale rifles in that calibre. You won't find a better built more accurate rifle for similiar (and sometimes more!) money Providing it hasn't been shot out (243 can run a bit warm) then something like this 1200 Super would be ideal - http://www.guntrader.co.uk/GunsForSale/110326130109000 Here is what my £300 Parker hale in .308 does Edited September 18, 2011 by garyb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 It does seem the odd Parker Hale turns up as cheap as chips, they are ok, pal of mine has one .243 and it performs perfectly well enough for field use. Accuracy/consistancy/reliability are the important issues, people get very anal about field accuracy, if we are totally honest does 0.5 inch, 1 inch or 1.5 inches really matter in the VAST majority of situations in the field with a .243? ATB! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnome of the Woods Posted September 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 Thanks for the replies chaps, as usual very helpful. Hopefully I can get a morning travelling the local shops to see what's about, I have also put some feelers out to see what turns up. Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colster Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 What sort of budget? You can buy Browning A-Bolt's or Howa 1500's for under £500. Stick a half decent second hand fixed 6 scope on it (should be able to find something for under £150), second hand Warne rings would be about £25 (I have some here if you're interested), shoot it unmoderated and that's a reasonably cheap package which includes a new rifle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnome of the Woods Posted September 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 Budget wise up to about £500 for the package! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnome of the Woods Posted September 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 Can stretch if the right one comes up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foggy11 Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 Theres a howa ( RWS mod 89) in Diamond shooting services, East Sussex 01435 863295. It comes with ASE Mod, 6x scope and is pillar and galss bedded. £630 would get it i should think. Prob only fired about 300 rounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highseas Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 their is a gun sale comeing up in cockermouth on the 16th or act their is always some very very cheap guns their ie parkerhale 243 sold for £45!! 308 parker hale £ 32 stuff like that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 Have just got rid of a Remi' 700 in .243WIN which cost only 350 quid.Extremely accurate with 100 grainers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtaylor Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 I bought a Sabatti .243 of a keeper mate of mine. He hadn't used it much as he favoured his 22.250. Paid £100 for it and another £60 for a half decent scope to keep me going to I get a better one. It isn't screw cut or moderated but as I only really do woodland stalking I still haven't needed a second shot. Lovely rifle to shoot and plenty accurate with 100 grains. So yes you can buy a .243 on a budget, you just need to find the right one at the right price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaun4860 Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 their is a gun sale comeing up in cockermouth on the 16th or act their is always some very very cheap guns their ie parkerhale 243 sold for £45!! 308 parker hale £ 32 stuff like that Can you put up some more details? I might have a pop up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 .243 is a very popular calibre. I should think you could easily get something for £500 inc scope. I'd look towards a CZ 550, maybe an old Parker Hale. To be honest the most important thing is barrel condition. Try to get it borescoped unless you're buying from a source you trust. .243 isn't all that barrel friendly - but then you could buy a used Blaser for £1k and it could just as easily be shot out as a £200 Parker Hale. If you can find a rifle that's been used just for stalking it doesn't matter if the gun is 20 years old. A year on the range will do much more damage to a barrel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highseas Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 (edited) Can you put up some more details? I might have a pop up give me 10 mins http://www.mitchellsantiques.co.uk/index.php/auction-services/sporting-goods/ http://www.mitchellsantiques.co.uk/index.php/view-catalogues/current-catalogue/?saleref=0321 the last link is the prices and lots in the last sale for refrence! some very very good cheap gear their Edited September 18, 2011 by highseas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted September 19, 2011 Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 simple answer is get yourself onto guntrader and have a look, stuteleys have got a CZ with a churchill scope on for £195 but I'd want to get it bore scoped or at least an agreement it could go back if it won't shoot. The only issue with non screwcut ones is getting them cut as it does add to the cost. One things for sure round here you ideally do want a modded one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted September 19, 2011 Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 Buy the 7x50 meopta scope Mungler is flogging on here (£200 odd), and then put the other £300 toward a PH That would be my choice. Don't forget mod / screwcutting will set you back further as Al4x rightly points out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted September 19, 2011 Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 there is a PH in Northampton for similar money with rings, if it doesn't shoot they are useful for knocking in fence posts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnome of the Woods Posted September 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 The meopta has gone. I have been looking about to get an idea of prices, there are some cheap ones about just need to go and look at a couple. Hopefully Saturday ! I could always use it to poke things out of bushes if its no good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted September 19, 2011 Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 its definitely buyer beware some sell them as they can't get them to shoot but it is a caliber people think they need something larger so bargains do crop up. Keep a look on here and the stalking directory and you may get lucky. Very cheap guns can effectively be scrap if they need rebarreling so definitley buy on condition and if possible history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bewsher500 Posted September 20, 2011 Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 +1 for Parker Hale £90 rifle (already had scope, use my HMR mod and bipod) it shoots OK! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnome of the Woods Posted September 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 After looking about I have seen a couple of nearly new ones. Howa stainless with rings and mod + bits for £500 Browing A bolt comp stalker with rings bit no mod £400 I have a bipod and can put my burris on top for the moment. Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted September 20, 2011 Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 Is the Browning used? I ask because I just paid £450 for a new A-Bolt .223. Will you be home loading or using factory? I don't think my 18" CZ .243 has sold yet and that's a very tidy rifle with low round count, screwcut etc. Only downer to it is I had it cut so I could use it from the truck - that's not everyones cup of tea with a .243 as you generally need to work a home load to make it run at Deer legal energy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colster Posted September 20, 2011 Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 After looking about I have seen a couple of nearly new ones. Howa stainless with rings and mod + bits for £500 Browing A bolt comp stalker with rings bit no mod £400 I have a bipod and can put my burris on top for the moment. Any thoughts? I paid £488 for my .243 A-Bolt brand new with 2 box mags, I'd pay the extra for a new .243 over £400 for second hand, quite happy to put second hand rings, bases and scope on it but there's no little surprises with a new rifle (none that aren't at least covered by a warranty anyway). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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