Getting new predator rifle. . .which caliber--.204 Ruger vs. .243???

[Little John]

Hey, I'm a .243 guy, I've got 2 of them. It started as my wifes deer gun, but I fell in love with it 4 yotes.
Ive got a Tikka T3 in .243 I'm hand loading a 55 gr balistic tip and its doing a little less then 3950 fps. That sounded unbelievable to me, but its doing pretty much the same speed as a 22-250, and I can still deer hunt with it if i want to change loads. I've got a 250$ bushnell on it and it shoots way better then I can shoot it. I got the gun second hand and only have 550$ into the set up. Its light and no recoil. Let me know if you want the reload recipe.  Fun Fun.

[atomicjoe23]

I'm hand loading a 55 gr balistic tip and its doing a little less then 3950 fps. That sounded unbelievable to me, but its doing pretty much the same speed as a 22-250. . .let me know if you want the reload recipe.  Fun Fun.

I wouldn't mind the reload recipe. . .I don't currently handload, but it is something that I'm considering getting into. . .

I've pretty much decided it's gonna be the Savage Model 10 Predator in brush camo and .243 Winchester. . .it's got the 20" barrel I want (very important for where I live. . .can be VERY thick at times) and it's about 2.5 lbs. lighter than the Howa. . .I REALLY like the Howa but I think the Savage will be a more versatile rifle for me. . .I may eventually get the Howa in one of the smaller .20 or .22 calibers, but for now it's gonna be the Savage in .243!!!

[atomicjoe23]

My bad. . .the barrel is 22" not 20". . .not a big difference. . .hopefully I won't even notice it. . .

[atomicjoe23]

Went to buy a Savage Model 10 Predator in .243 today and Sportsman's didn't have one. . .only .204 and the .243 is discontinued in Sportsman's stores. . .still available from Savage just not through Sportsman's. . .doh. . .trying to call around and find one now. . .

[atomicjoe23]

I'm gonna end getting the .204 it looks like. . .nowhere locally that carries Savage regularly gets the .243. . .Sportsman's Warehouse won't ever get another Predator in .243. . .but they have a .204 in stock right now for just under $600. . .

Am I gonna be happy with the .204. . .more than likey. . .am I ever going to use it for anything other than 'yotes and bob's. . .probably not unless it's prairie dogs or crows. . .so I will probably be very happy with the .204. . .I just wanted something that had the possibility of being more flexible and that I could get bullets with higher BC's. . .but I would have to spend a LOT more to get what I want. . .and I'm not in the position to do so at the moment. . .

So the .204 it is!!!

[bobcat]

Can't they order anything you want? If not, try Wal-Mart.

[atomicjoe23]

Ended up getting a Weatherby Vanguard Varmint in .22-250. . .it has a #3 contour heavy barrel, synthetic stock (tan with some design on it. . .not camo though). . .

Not too heavy for a heavy barrel. . .

. . .it was about $200 cheaper than the Savage

. . .it has the same stock as the attached picture but with a regular forend instead of the flat beavertail forend. . .

[ivarhusa]

No varmint hunter ever regretted getting a 22-250.

Now you need to find some glass for it. Look for the gold ring...

[bowhunterforever]

How much did you pay for the weatherby vanguard? Let me know how it shoots?

[270Shooter]

Awesome gun. A 22-250 is a great round.

[demontang]

You will love that gun.

If you need a scope look at the bushnell legend they arent to expensive but they are very nice scopes.

[atomicjoe23]

How much did you pay for the weatherby vanguard? Let me know how it shoots?

Paid $429 for it. . .

. . .yep now I gotta get some good glass so I can start shooting it. . .