Thread: So I was perusing/window shopping for a "lightweight" .243 when.... (Grail gun?)

just go whole hog whanahuia and get a 458 magnum then you could fire shot thru it as well for ducks ahh

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

have a look at the new Wetherby models could give Sako and Tikka a run for the money the titanium models are expensive but if you want light and Fierce look the business

Had a wee play with one of the new weatherbys the other day, certainly very light and look well made, action feels nice etc, But... typical mk5 action is a fat ugly thing, they actually feel kind of strange because you've got this nice light and trim rifle but it is noticeably super wide all the way through the wrist and action area, I couldn't live with it.

Originally Posted by Zedrex

VERY reasonable why do you think so many bespoke builds get sold? Is it because the honeymoon doesn't last or because what people THINK they want v's what they NEED can be quite different in reality? Or do they get the spec wrong right from the get go?

To be honest (and some of this is from personal experience..) I think that there's some darker forces at play here when you boil it right down, maybe something to do with ADHD or similar..? I think a lot of it has to do with the mindset of the person who's willing to go out and spend silly money on an inanimate object like a rifle, it feels like the right thing do do at the time but there's an insatiable thirst for something newer, better etc that eventually takes the shine off anything new and the mindset changes from one of convincing yourself that "this is what I need/want" to one of being able to criticize your new toy and convince yourself that its not quite what you want/need and there's something better out there

So kind of like millionaire with women then???

Originally Posted by Rgatfield

What 243 would you like? i have been looking for a 243 lately, online, in store and second hand. Many options, what way are you leaning? The Howa 1500 has a good platform and cheap enough, good enough quality? Probably for most. T3x seems to be the go to.
What's your 243 you'd like? Im looking at options.

So there's heaps of options out there for the calibre, what I'm looking for is rugged, light and a tack driver, sub MOA at 100M which I pretty much have in the Franchi Horizon. Synthetic stock, blued barrel and so far it's been dragged around a lot of rough country without shitting itself, recoil is on the low side so you can shoot it all day long without feeling it or developing a flinch, everything I've aimed at I've killed probably it's ONE limitation might be it's twist rate, there's a reason most new 243's are dropping down to a 1:8 twist, from what I understand it's to stabilise big for calibre projectiles. That being said, the Franchi will reliably knock over fallow/goat at 300 metres, I've yet to try it on a red or anything more grunty but it will apparently do so, hope to confirm that for myself in the not too distant future. Getting back to the "things to like" it's a shade over 3kg, holds 3+1 without a mag (less shit to catch on vegetation) nice adjustable single stage trigger 22" barrel that comes pre threaded and it's just a really nice rifle to shoot. Bolt action is good with a 60 degree throw so there's the ability to mount the scope lower/have a bigger scope.

Not so good is the integral swivel at the forend as it's useless for mounting a bipod but it's easy enough to place one just in front. LOP and comb height were issues for me but nothing that a couple of add-ons couldn't resolve. Dovetail rail does limit the amount of adjustability for eye relief and that's something I'll address when it gets the new scope on it.

Side note: I have not had exposure to a wide range of rifles, being fairly new to hunting so there are many more on here whose knowledge far exceeds my own.
My future goal is to push a .243 as far as possible without sacrificing accuracy or consistency and if I can make it lighter and sexy then that's a bonus.....but I also want a UTAS 516 straight pull in 5-56 NATO with the 22LR drop in conversion....and something in .270

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

again if I suddenly came into fistfuls of spending money a Shultz and Larsen Victory in .270 or a Winchester Super grade in .270 - why the S and L build quality and accuracy - to me Sako are now way overpriced for what they really are and now some question marks around stock quality on some models - and whanahuia those sauer 505 are very nice - and a Styre Zephyr for a .22

These are names I am not familiar with, I shall return from google in due course!

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

So kind of like millionaire with women then???

How do you make a small fortune? Start with a big fortune then marry the girl with the biggest tits!

Originally Posted by Stocky

I wish I had brought a field craft to be fair. I'd buy the new version by NULA if they weren't so spendy. The 223 mini action looks nice.

The spec list looks good eh but yeah, getting up there on the $$

Originally Posted by whanahuia

It would have to be wood. Maybe in 223, but just as likely in 9.3x62 or 300win mag

Yeah I had you figured for a wood guy, they have some beauty stocks for sure

Originally Posted by Zedrex

Thats a fair suggestion tbf BUT precision platforms LOP with BOTH spacers is half an inch short........hmmm

Can you not stack more. All the MDT HNT26 I've seen have heaps stacked up.

Originally Posted by Zedrex

These are names I am not familiar with, I shall return from google in due course!

Shultz and Larsen are around not many come in absolute rolls royce hand lapped barrels the actions make most others feel clunky heavier yes but last time I checked my arms worked just fine one new one in reloaders but in bloody 6.5 creedmore and that calibre not coming thru my door no matter how great its made out to be - the Winchester super grade is a modern pre 64 action very nice

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

To be honest (and some of this is from personal experience..) I think that there's some darker forces at play here when you boil it right down, maybe something to do with ADHD or similar..? I think a lot of it has to do with the mindset of the person who's willing to go out and spend silly money on an inanimate object like a rifle, it feels like the right thing do do at the time but there's an insatiable thirst for something newer, better etc that eventually takes the shine off anything new and the mindset changes from one of convincing yourself that "this is what I need/want" to one of being able to criticize your new toy and convince yourself that its not quite what you want/need and there's something better out there

Yeah so "retail therapy" for hunters, I get that, like people who buy the newest biggest TV...then replace it a year later, the whole honeymoon thing and I'm pretty immune to it. I very much spend money on what I need rather than shiney gew gaws......cough cough accept maybe hunting n shooting stuff but even then I limit myself to needs over wants

Originally Posted by Stocky

Can you not stack more. All the MDT HNT26 I've seen have heaps stacked up.

Possibly, although the website seems to indicate that that's the max...and to be honest, do I really want a spendy chassis with 3" of rubber glued onto the end of it?

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

Shultz and Larsen are around not many come in absolute rolls royce hand lapped barrels the actions make most others feel clunky heavier yes but last time I checked my arms worked just fine one new one in reloaders but in bloody 6.5 creedmore and that calibre not coming thru my door no matter how great its made out to be - the Winchester super grade is a modern pre 64 action very nice

I have returned from Google, they are beaut looking rifles, all hand made and considering that, not overly priced, be a whole lot of man hours go into those

to be admired thats for sure for what they are not to bad at around $4500 hell the new Titanium Wetherby is I understand up around $8000