So a buddy ask if I could help him choose a new longer range target shooting rifle . I said sure and met with him at his house to do some research . Now I shoot with him often as well as shop at LGS and gun show . I have a pretty good Idea as to how he shoots ( kind of a blaster , He will start to shoot slow and calm but often just keeps shooting mag after mag ) ,the ammo he is willing to pay for ( he does not buy high dollar stuff but will sometimes but not much ) , ability to shoot as well as knowing how recoil sensitive he is ( VERY ) . Knowing all of this I had done a little of my own research before going to his house and had a rig in mind ( Savage long range precision in 260 Rem with Vortex scope $1800 total ) I had/have others to suggest but that's the one I will recommend first .
First thing I ask him is what's your budget ? Turns out much less then I thought . 6 or 7 hundred (Rifle only) and he plans to use an OK Bushnell optic he already owns . Well I go ahead and tell him about the Savage but that does not go over well and he wants nothing to do with the 260 Rem . He says the 243 Win is what he has been looking at . I say no problem thinking it's a good cartridge and good ammo is every where . ( just the type of thing he needs ) .
So we start looking online and in that price range and caliber all we really find is Remington 700 heavy barrel in 243 . I kept telling him that he will want a heavy barrel and maybe even a muzzle brake if we can find it . ( VERY recoil sensitive ) He thinks his 357 lever gun with heavy octagon barrel kicks to much . He even complained shooting one of my ARs once . Which is fine I just have to make sure I steer him in the right direction taking all his factors into account . Ok he does not like plastic/synthetic stocks but he says the Rem 700 with synthetic stock will work .
Next day we meet at a LGS and start asking questions about the type of rifle he wants to the owner . We talk about the range he plans to shoot this TARGET shooting rifle ( 300 to 900 yards ) and explain most shooting will be done from a bench or mat prone . I ask the owner if he has a heavy barreled 700 in 243 in stock ? He says no but we have others in 243 .I then asked him to show us any 700 with heavy barrel in a synthetic stock . IH e brings over a Rem 70 ( forget the model ) but for the most part it was what we had been looking at the day before on line . I was thining this will give my buddy a good idea as to what he would get if he were to order one in 243 . First thing my buddy says is I really like wood stocks more . I explain that most Target rifles in his price range will come with a synthetic stock of some type . I also say you can upgrade later if you like .
The gun store owner then asked why 243 and heavy barrel . I mention ammo cost and availability and then I said heavy barrel for accuracy ( oops ) but at the time thought nothing of it . Really at the time I was not remembering everything my buddy and I talked about the day before just knew what we were looking for . First thing out of the owners mouth was you don't need a heavy barrel to shoot accurately and anyone who says so is wrong .
ya ya I know . He then says I would not go with a 243 but rather a 260 Rem 
. He then goes over and brings back one of the most beautiful rifles I've ever seen that just so happen to be right at the price range my buddy told the owner his buget was .
What rifle do you think he suggested my buddy use for long range target shooting from a bench or prone ??? Teka T3 in 260 Rem with beautiful wood stock light thin sporter barrel
Really ! but before I could say anything my buddy grabs it and almost immediately says I'll take it 
No but wait I say you likely will have a harder time finding ammo for this ( at this point I can't really think of all the reasons why this is the wrong gun for the task ). The gun shop owner says no problem I sell more 260 ammo then any other . I always have tons of it . I then look at my friend and he is just sitting there with a HUGE smile on his face . 
well Ok if this is what you want go for it .
So who should I be upset with The LGS owner for seeing what my buddy would likely buy rather then what he was really asking for . Or my buddy for completely disregarding ALL we talked about the day before and just impulse buying the rifle . I feel it's no different then asking to see some good bear rifles and the store owners says well this 500 S&W revolver will take down a bear and I have tons of ammo for it .
The funny thing is the gun cost $759 and my buddy asked what kinda a deal can you give me ? The store owner with out blinking says I can do $759 . Hmm grumble ok I'll take it lets do some paper work . The the store owner then states there is a new law in CA that requires my buddy passes a gun safety test before buying . It will be an extra cost of $30 . My buddy says I'm not going to spend another 30 bucks as well . What does the store owner do ? shrugs and says OK and puts the rifle back on the shelf . WOW he gave up a $800 sale for $30 . I get charging $30 if that's all the customer wants to do . I get that it will take time for him to do but My buddy can take the test while the owner does the other paper work ( here in CA that's a lot )
Anyways , Should I be upset at all with either ?
First thing I ask him is what's your budget ? Turns out much less then I thought . 6 or 7 hundred (Rifle only) and he plans to use an OK Bushnell optic he already owns . Well I go ahead and tell him about the Savage but that does not go over well and he wants nothing to do with the 260 Rem . He says the 243 Win is what he has been looking at . I say no problem thinking it's a good cartridge and good ammo is every where . ( just the type of thing he needs ) .
So we start looking online and in that price range and caliber all we really find is Remington 700 heavy barrel in 243 . I kept telling him that he will want a heavy barrel and maybe even a muzzle brake if we can find it . ( VERY recoil sensitive ) He thinks his 357 lever gun with heavy octagon barrel kicks to much . He even complained shooting one of my ARs once . Which is fine I just have to make sure I steer him in the right direction taking all his factors into account . Ok he does not like plastic/synthetic stocks but he says the Rem 700 with synthetic stock will work .
Next day we meet at a LGS and start asking questions about the type of rifle he wants to the owner . We talk about the range he plans to shoot this TARGET shooting rifle ( 300 to 900 yards ) and explain most shooting will be done from a bench or mat prone . I ask the owner if he has a heavy barreled 700 in 243 in stock ? He says no but we have others in 243 .I then asked him to show us any 700 with heavy barrel in a synthetic stock . IH e brings over a Rem 70 ( forget the model ) but for the most part it was what we had been looking at the day before on line . I was thining this will give my buddy a good idea as to what he would get if he were to order one in 243 . First thing my buddy says is I really like wood stocks more . I explain that most Target rifles in his price range will come with a synthetic stock of some type . I also say you can upgrade later if you like .
The gun store owner then asked why 243 and heavy barrel . I mention ammo cost and availability and then I said heavy barrel for accuracy ( oops ) but at the time thought nothing of it . Really at the time I was not remembering everything my buddy and I talked about the day before just knew what we were looking for . First thing out of the owners mouth was you don't need a heavy barrel to shoot accurately and anyone who says so is wrong .
ya ya I know . He then says I would not go with a 243 but rather a 260 Rem . He then goes over and brings back one of the most beautiful rifles I've ever seen that just so happen to be right at the price range my buddy told the owner his buget was . What rifle do you think he suggested my buddy use for long range target shooting from a bench or prone ??? Teka T3 in 260 Rem with beautiful wood stock light thin sporter barrel
Really ! but before I could say anything my buddy grabs it and almost immediately says I'll take it No but wait I say you likely will have a harder time finding ammo for this ( at this point I can't really think of all the reasons why this is the wrong gun for the task ). The gun shop owner says no problem I sell more 260 ammo then any other . I always have tons of it . I then look at my friend and he is just sitting there with a HUGE smile on his face . well Ok if this is what you want go for it . So who should I be upset with The LGS owner for seeing what my buddy would likely buy rather then what he was really asking for . Or my buddy for completely disregarding ALL we talked about the day before and just impulse buying the rifle . I feel it's no different then asking to see some good bear rifles and the store owners says well this 500 S&W revolver will take down a bear and I have tons of ammo for it .
The funny thing is the gun cost $759 and my buddy asked what kinda a deal can you give me ? The store owner with out blinking says I can do $759 . Hmm grumble ok I'll take it lets do some paper work . The the store owner then states there is a new law in CA that requires my buddy passes a gun safety test before buying . It will be an extra cost of $30 . My buddy says I'm not going to spend another 30 bucks as well . What does the store owner do ? shrugs and says OK and puts the rifle back on the shelf . WOW he gave up a $800 sale for $30 . I get charging $30 if that's all the customer wants to do . I get that it will take time for him to do but My buddy can take the test while the owner does the other paper work ( here in CA that's a lot )
Anyways , Should I be upset at all with either ?
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. You tried your hardest to steer him right and thats all you can do. I can not say that I am not a impulse buyer, but never when it comes to a big investment like a rifle. The tika( if it is a lite) is going to be a bad one for recoil. He has a 223, On a nice day ( as you already know ) the 223 is real sweet out to 600 yards or more. I think you said his was a 1-12. Well, maybe he can still get up to a 60gn or more to work for him..