Been looking @ the marlin and the savage(on a budget).I've read on gunblast that the marlin is a great "out of the box" riffle.I've also read great thinga about the savage w/ the accutrigger is good too.What do you think?BTW looking @ the 243 for it's versatility (varmint,deer and long range target)
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243?
- Thread starter jcools
- Start date
.300 Weatherby Mag
New member
I would not buy anything attached to Remington Arms Co (Marlin is owned by Remington)... Buy the Savage with the Accu-Trigger in .243 win... Great rifle and cartridge!!!
Buy the Savage with the Accu-Trigger in .243 win... Great rifle and cartridge!!!
Agreed.
bamaranger
New member
ours
Bamaboy and I have Grandad's early Savage 110J in .243 w/ a leupold 3x9x40 on top. Pretty piece of walnut, rifle from the mid 80's I think. Some tweaking got the standard trigger right.
I used to be a .243 basher when younger, but no more. We load it with either Rem factory 100 SP's, or lately, a reload with Nosler 100 Partitions.
The reload is not a screamer, very average velocity, likely 2800 fps or so.
The rifle shoots great, plunking 3 into about 1.25 and often better. We zero it 2" high at 100. Bamaboy has killed two of our 150 lb whitetails with it, one the family long range record at a lasered 260 yds, the other just last season at 175. My kills much closer, but all, near and far, have been clean, about half DRT. We have yet to recover a Partition, but did pick up some REm SP from close range after breaking shoulder bones.
I hear some bad press about Rem these days, believe what you choose. My dealings with Savage, and the 4 of their products I own, is completely positive, save a quirky 5rd MarkII .22 mag.
Bamaboy and I have Grandad's early Savage 110J in .243 w/ a leupold 3x9x40 on top. Pretty piece of walnut, rifle from the mid 80's I think. Some tweaking got the standard trigger right.
I used to be a .243 basher when younger, but no more. We load it with either Rem factory 100 SP's, or lately, a reload with Nosler 100 Partitions.
The reload is not a screamer, very average velocity, likely 2800 fps or so.
The rifle shoots great, plunking 3 into about 1.25 and often better. We zero it 2" high at 100. Bamaboy has killed two of our 150 lb whitetails with it, one the family long range record at a lasered 260 yds, the other just last season at 175. My kills much closer, but all, near and far, have been clean, about half DRT. We have yet to recover a Partition, but did pick up some REm SP from close range after breaking shoulder bones.
I hear some bad press about Rem these days, believe what you choose. My dealings with Savage, and the 4 of their products I own, is completely positive, save a quirky 5rd MarkII .22 mag.
My new Marlin 795? Worst trigger outta box next to a 14-18 lb.-pull Ruger 96/22 I weighed. Remington proper? Seem to be putting their cash into advertising as their guns stagnate or decline.
Savage -- good rep as value-for-money and surprising accuracy that only gets better over the decades. Sold my old, blond, unused .22 Hornet (still had the tag) with factory scope to a collector -- it served him much better than it ever would me (though on old, unused, .22 Mag over 20 ga. combo is on the way now).
.243 for what u want? Can't get any better.
Savage -- good rep as value-for-money and surprising accuracy that only gets better over the decades. Sold my old, blond, unused .22 Hornet (still had the tag) with factory scope to a collector -- it served him much better than it ever would me (though on old, unused, .22 Mag over 20 ga. combo is on the way now).
.243 for what u want? Can't get any better.
BTW looking @ the 243 for it's versatility (varmint,deer and long range target)
What you are looking for is still a couple of different rifles. While the .243 is great dual purpose rifle for hunting and walking varminter, I don't think you will find a factory rifle as versatile as you think for your intended uses. The .243 has a wide range of bullet choices if you are a hand loader but you are pretty limited on factory ammunition.
I've ran the .243 for almost 20 years now, and have found out a few things. Standard twist rate 1:10 barrels will not always stabilize 105 grain spitzers. My 1:10 twist barrel wouldn't shoot 55 grain varmint bullets worth talking about. So now I have three rifles in 6mm caliber, I run a 1:12 twist 6X47 to shoot 75 grain or lighter bullet for varmints, 1:10 .243 Win to shoot 80-100 grain bullets for pronghorn and deer, and a 1:7 twist .243 Win to run 100-115 grain match bullets for long range.
Another thing to consider a target/varmint rifle will be heavier than the two choice you posted aren't, and not fun to carry if you are stalking deer. A hunting weight rifle which you are looking at isn't good for prolonged target/varmint shooting. I'm not trying to discourage you from your purchase just giving you some info to think about.
All the bad press you will ever hear about the 243 and the 6mm Rem as deer rifles come from loading with the wrong bullets!
In the early days most 6mm bullets were made as varmint bullets and a few as deer/Varmint bullets. They were too lightly jacketed to break big bones or penetrate very well.
No more!
If you load bullets that hold together, the good 6mm bullets are all the bullet you could ever need.
Never shoot a deer with a compromise bullet. Use the real thing!
It's fine to shoot a coyote with a deer bullet, but not very good to shoot deer with coyote bullets.
Using the correct bullets for the job, you will never be unhappy with a 243 as a deer rifle.
In the early days most 6mm bullets were made as varmint bullets and a few as deer/Varmint bullets. They were too lightly jacketed to break big bones or penetrate very well.
No more!
If you load bullets that hold together, the good 6mm bullets are all the bullet you could ever need.
Never shoot a deer with a compromise bullet. Use the real thing!
It's fine to shoot a coyote with a deer bullet, but not very good to shoot deer with coyote bullets.
Using the correct bullets for the job, you will never be unhappy with a 243 as a deer rifle.
NoSecondBest
New member
I just bought my second Savage 243 two months ago. My first one was in the early 1980's. I sold it in the late 80's and wished I hadn't. My new one, a model 10 Predator Hunter Max, is a gem. It shoots several 85g and 87g reloads into five shot .5" groups consistantly. It is rifled at 1 in 9 1/4 and will stabilize heavier bullets if you want to hunt deer with it. I've owned several Rems in ADL and BDL and although they shot fair, they couldn't stay with the Savage. You can't go wrong if you're looking for a good, solid shooting hunting rifle by getting the Savage. I don't buy for cosmetics anymore, I buy for accuracy and durability. Savage does both for a very fair price to boot.
I agree with Wyosmith the 243 is a good caliber for deer sized gane and smaller, my wife has shot one for years shoot many deer and all have gone down never had to track nor were any lost. Her longest was 328 yards. She shoots a model 70 ftw. with a 100 gr Hornady sp interlock bullet. It runs out right at 3000 ft per sec. and shoots at 1" to 1-1/4" at 100 yds.
Jcool your choice is very sound best of luck to you.
I do not have a Marlin rifle but do have Savage / Remington / Winchester / Ruger. All are good fire arms if not they don't hang on my gun rack very long.
Jcool your choice is very sound best of luck to you.
I do not have a Marlin rifle but do have Savage / Remington / Winchester / Ruger. All are good fire arms if not they don't hang on my gun rack very long.
The .243 WIN would do just fine for what you want it for(varmint,deer and long range target).
I like the .260 Rem better, but the .243 is better as far as on the shelf at WallyWorld ammo availability.
They are out there, if you look.
I like the .260 Rem better, but the .243 is better as far as on the shelf at WallyWorld ammo availability.
It's your Money , if it were mine I would look for a used Rifle of higher quality
They are out there, if you look.
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
Federal loads the Sierra 85-grain HPBT, which is a great coyote load. Same group size as my handloads; three behind a dime or a nickel, usually. I've used that load for a couple of dozen bucks, but I'm picky about neck shots or cross-body heart shots. No angling shots...
Varmint shooters are loading with 55-grain bullets for coyotes and prairie dogs.
As said above, 95- to 105-grain bullets are common for deer, and they work quite well.
Varmint shooters are loading with 55-grain bullets for coyotes and prairie dogs.
As said above, 95- to 105-grain bullets are common for deer, and they work quite well.
Saltydog235
New member
I bought a Savage Model 10 Predator Brush in 243 over the winter and absolutely love the gun. Tack driver is the best description of it. Because of the way it shoots, I also bought a Precision Carbine in 308 and am equally impressed. Both shoot sub MOA with most groups a ragged hole or .5" depending on me.
Savage makes a very utilitarian accurate gun that doesn't cost an arm and a leg but they won't win any beauty contests. Somehow I don't think deer and other game will notice that part though.
Savage makes a very utilitarian accurate gun that doesn't cost an arm and a leg but they won't win any beauty contests. Somehow I don't think deer and other game will notice that part though.
Factory ammo is getting better. I'm hearing that the Federal Fusion 95 grain load is made specifically for deer-sized game. Rivrdog reports great accuracy from it in his Winchester Model 70.
I did have a bullet failure last year on a smallish buck, but I suspect that the bullet was badly over-driven. I recovered the buck, but the shoulder was badly damaged when the bullet failed. I'm going to work up a load with Nosler Partitions later this summer. I've also heard that Barnes TSX bullets really like speed.
I shoot a Savage 10, and the more I carry the rifle the more character it has. It's accurate, dependable, lightweight and fun to shoot. Like many people, I love good wood, but there's lots to be said for an ugly composite stock.
Buy good bullets if you're hunting deer-sized game.
I did have a bullet failure last year on a smallish buck, but I suspect that the bullet was badly over-driven. I recovered the buck, but the shoulder was badly damaged when the bullet failed. I'm going to work up a load with Nosler Partitions later this summer. I've also heard that Barnes TSX bullets really like speed.
I shoot a Savage 10, and the more I carry the rifle the more character it has. It's accurate, dependable, lightweight and fun to shoot. Like many people, I love good wood, but there's lots to be said for an ugly composite stock.
Buy good bullets if you're hunting deer-sized game.
Clifford L. Hughes
New member
jcools:
The .243 Winchester is a good deer caliber. In wyoming I shot a deer with either the 90 grain Speer or the 100 grain Sierra, I don't remember, at about 100 yards. The deer was running down hill and I hit its right hip bone. The bullet traveled all the way through the dee length wise. It dammaged the right lung and exited the chest to the left of the right shoulder. This was in 1963 when the bullet selection wasn't as good as it is now. I would like to try the Nosler 100 gr. partition.
Semper Fi.
Gunnery sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired
The .243 Winchester is a good deer caliber. In wyoming I shot a deer with either the 90 grain Speer or the 100 grain Sierra, I don't remember, at about 100 yards. The deer was running down hill and I hit its right hip bone. The bullet traveled all the way through the dee length wise. It dammaged the right lung and exited the chest to the left of the right shoulder. This was in 1963 when the bullet selection wasn't as good as it is now. I would like to try the Nosler 100 gr. partition.
Semper Fi.
Gunnery sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired
Thanks for all the replies.I read somewhere that a guy w/ a "savage"won a world championship,for long range shooting.I've also read that the remington 770 is a chinese made piece of junk.You'd think the 700 line would be great as it has for years.What a shame.I did not know that marlin was made by rem.But I heard it's "MADE IN THE USA"