ligonierbill
New member
Fair warning: This ends in a "What should I buy?" (And outrageous rationalization)
So I inherited a Handi Rifle with 4 barrels: .44 Mag, .243, 30-30 and 20 ga. Not worth a lot, and it's family, so keep it and give it a try. Bad news, or good, depending on how you look at it, I didn't load any of those. So, first $ goes to dies, brass, etc. OK, and Ohio now allows rifles in pistol rounds for deer, so the .44 has some use. Needed some decent sights, though, and the HR came with a couple cheap scopes (Barska and Pine Ridge). So, a Weaver long eye relief seemed like the ticket. It is, and I can hit a pie plate at 200 with a 240 XTP. Good, more $, well spent of course.
It's been a long time since I fired a 30-30, and it's kinda fun. But it deserves better than a HR. I once had a Canadian Centennial 1894 (long barrel) and let it slip away. Luckily, those aren't really on collectors' lists, so I got one at a reasonable price. Well, I already had powder and shot, so why not.
Now, the .243. Took it out yesterday with some Sierra 85 Varminters, and it shot OK, 2 1/2" at 150. That's about 1.7" at 100. One string each of Nosler 70's and SGK 100's were both worse. I'm not giving up on it, but I doubt I will ever be posting a target on the Forum. Here's the real stretch on rationale: I have a 22-250 and a 6.5x55 that are very accurate, so I have no need whatsoever for a .243. But it's a great round that is challenging me. So, here it is. Not quite cost no object, but leave money out of it, what would you buy for accuracy? Currently have a Winchester M70, a couple Remington 700's, Savage 116, and I used to own an old Ruger M77. Like them all, no brand loyalty here. I had thought to use this as an excuse to buy a Ruger No. 1, but I think that is paying a premium for looks (they're pretty!). I want to post a picture of the target, not the rifle.
So I inherited a Handi Rifle with 4 barrels: .44 Mag, .243, 30-30 and 20 ga. Not worth a lot, and it's family, so keep it and give it a try. Bad news, or good, depending on how you look at it, I didn't load any of those. So, first $ goes to dies, brass, etc. OK, and Ohio now allows rifles in pistol rounds for deer, so the .44 has some use. Needed some decent sights, though, and the HR came with a couple cheap scopes (Barska and Pine Ridge). So, a Weaver long eye relief seemed like the ticket. It is, and I can hit a pie plate at 200 with a 240 XTP. Good, more $, well spent of course.
It's been a long time since I fired a 30-30, and it's kinda fun. But it deserves better than a HR. I once had a Canadian Centennial 1894 (long barrel) and let it slip away. Luckily, those aren't really on collectors' lists, so I got one at a reasonable price. Well, I already had powder and shot, so why not.
Now, the .243. Took it out yesterday with some Sierra 85 Varminters, and it shot OK, 2 1/2" at 150. That's about 1.7" at 100. One string each of Nosler 70's and SGK 100's were both worse. I'm not giving up on it, but I doubt I will ever be posting a target on the Forum. Here's the real stretch on rationale: I have a 22-250 and a 6.5x55 that are very accurate, so I have no need whatsoever for a .243. But it's a great round that is challenging me. So, here it is. Not quite cost no object, but leave money out of it, what would you buy for accuracy? Currently have a Winchester M70, a couple Remington 700's, Savage 116, and I used to own an old Ruger M77. Like them all, no brand loyalty here. I had thought to use this as an excuse to buy a Ruger No. 1, but I think that is paying a premium for looks (they're pretty!). I want to post a picture of the target, not the rifle.