AberFowl Posted December 15, 2017 Report Share Posted December 15, 2017 (edited) After a good while swaying between what calibre to apply for, I finally decided to go .243 This has been granted to me for fox and deer... Now..I don't know which gun to buy, looking at new cheaper guns on guntrader Ruger, savage arms, Remington 770, browning A bolt, howa 1500... Do I buy one of these or is their better quality guns I could get second hand at the same price that are better?? I am not needing anything fancy to please the eye or anything like that, just a gun that works and will keep working for a few years! Budget of £700 max The less gone on the gun goes towards better scope! Edited December 15, 2017 by AberFowl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennett Posted December 15, 2017 Report Share Posted December 15, 2017 I have a howa 1500 in 223, with laminate stock and half decent scope it is an absolute tack driver with Norma factory ammo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matone Posted December 15, 2017 Report Share Posted December 15, 2017 Wood stocked Sako pre model 75 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted December 15, 2017 Report Share Posted December 15, 2017 Even a howa with a moderator is more than £700 now. I love my pair of howas .223-.243 and can’t find anything wrong with them at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted December 15, 2017 Report Share Posted December 15, 2017 My .243 is a Tikka T3 Lite, but I have a Howa 1500 in .204 calibre. This is an excellent, accurate gun and I recommend it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshMike Posted December 15, 2017 Report Share Posted December 15, 2017 I have a Howa 1500 (laminate, varmint, stainless) and a browning x bolt hunter eclipse in .243, cant fault either of them ...well..the Howa is a bit heavy for me as i am skinny and do a lot of my fox shooting on foot. The rifle shoots too well for me to consider swapping the NV over to the browning though. Good choice of calibre by the way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AberFowl Posted December 15, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2017 11 hours ago, team tractor said: Even a howa with a moderator is more than £700 now. I love my pair of howas .223-.243 and can’t find anything wrong with them at all. £700 budget for gun. Have a separate wad of cash for moderator and scope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sako751sg Posted December 15, 2017 Report Share Posted December 15, 2017 Give Gordon Smith at Colpy a bell,hes usually got a good few second hand lying about.I sold my old Sako 75 Varmint with T8 mod to him for £520ish but not sure if he still has it as its a while back. Excellent rifle and pill on pill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benthejockey Posted December 15, 2017 Report Share Posted December 15, 2017 Try a howa package they make them pretty much how you like them along with a scope and mod. I think my uncle paid £1200 for his package including a hard gun case and magazine floor plate conversion. All brand new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkey monkey Posted December 15, 2017 Report Share Posted December 15, 2017 Have a look at the begara rifle, they look excelent for the money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bang bang birdy Posted December 15, 2017 Report Share Posted December 15, 2017 I have a tika t3 and love it. Accurate out of the box and it just feels like quality when in the shoulder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham M Posted December 16, 2017 Report Share Posted December 16, 2017 Tikka T3 Hunter. Shoots like a dream and the trigger was great out of the box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sako7mm Posted December 16, 2017 Report Share Posted December 16, 2017 Frankly, I would be looking for a good Tikka 595 stainless synthetic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazza9t9 Posted December 16, 2017 Report Share Posted December 16, 2017 I’m in the exact same boat. Just been granted a 243. im looking at the Howa 1500 or a Remmy 700. Currently just researching both. I do have a soft spot for the Remmy, I love all the after market bits and how customisable they are. there does seem to be 2 camps. The Howa and the remmy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted December 16, 2017 Report Share Posted December 16, 2017 3 hours ago, Dazza9t9 said: I’m in the exact same boat. Just been granted a 243. im looking at the Howa 1500 or a Remmy 700. Currently just researching both. I do have a soft spot for the Remmy, I love all the after market bits and how customisable they are. there does seem to be 2 camps. The Howa and the remmy. I don’t personally know anyone in the UK with a Remington, although I’m sure some have them. When starting out I was tempted by one as well, but now think, why buy a gun your going to change? Just buy one that’s brilliant to begin with. The Tikka and Sako name is strong over here, Howa are earning a good reputation too. CZ centrefires are quality guns and worth a look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esca Posted December 16, 2017 Report Share Posted December 16, 2017 Have a look at the savage accurifle. My lad has just bought one. Good value for money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted December 16, 2017 Report Share Posted December 16, 2017 1 hour ago, Lloyd90 said: I don’t personally know anyone in the UK with a Remington, although I’m sure some have them. When starting out I was tempted by one as well, but now think, why buy a gun your going to change? Just buy one that’s brilliant to begin with. The Tikka and Sako name is strong over here, Howa are earning a good reputation too. CZ centrefires are quality guns and worth a look. You know me I've too many remi 700s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted December 17, 2017 Report Share Posted December 17, 2017 10 hours ago, welshwarrior said: You know me I've too many remi 700s You didn’t show me any ?? I preferred those old Sako actions you’d make anyways Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitester Posted December 17, 2017 Report Share Posted December 17, 2017 I went with a tikka t3 lite in 243 with a synthetic stock. it was accurate out of the box with a nice action and a good trigger. The only bad thing is that the stock is too low in the Combe with high mounts so I'll be raising the comb or getting a custom stock. i haven't tried any others but I know a good rifle from a bad one so my advice would be to spend good money on something that you won't need to upgrade. Theres a reason why tikka are popular. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesj Posted December 17, 2017 Report Share Posted December 17, 2017 Have a look on holts auction, loads on there for far less that you are looking at spending. I got a near new cz 550 with scope a few years ago for less than £300 including commotion tax and transfer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazza9t9 Posted December 17, 2017 Report Share Posted December 17, 2017 3 hours ago, bluesj said: Have a look on holts auction, loads on there for far less that you are looking at spending. I got a near new cz 550 with scope a few years ago for less than £300 including commotion tax and transfer. Never bought from an auction, just had a look and there is an auction coming up with a couple of rifles I could be interested in. could you tell me a little more how it works etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted December 17, 2017 Report Share Posted December 17, 2017 5 hours ago, Whitester said: Theres a reason why tikka are popular. Advertising there are a fair rifle that are better and cheaper but GMK have cornered the market with advertising Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesj Posted December 17, 2017 Report Share Posted December 17, 2017 22 minutes ago, Dazza9t9 said: Never bought from an auction, just had a look and there is an auction coming up with a couple of rifles I could be interested in. could you tell me a little more how it works etc For the one running at the moment you have to register with holts to be able to bid. once registered just decide how much you are willing to pay for your chosen lot taking in to account buyers premium, vat and transfer costs (think transfer was£40 last time) enter a bid and wait. if your bid is the highest at the end its yours. Its worth going to the auction in London if you get the chance just to have a look, you can view the sealed bid auction lots there as well. Its a bit like a taliban jumble sale but you get a chance to check out dozens of rifles and shotguns etc. But don't forget your SGC or FAC or you won't get in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham M Posted December 18, 2017 Report Share Posted December 18, 2017 Be very careful buying without seeing. There are some horror stories at auctions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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