.243 ?'s

[Matt Brummette]

I bought a cheap little Rossi in .243 a while back. My buddy and I took it this weekend to try and get it sighted in for some yote hunting this year. We can not get this thing to shoot a good group. I've tried all kinds of ammo different grains. I read about o rings on the sling stud and tried that, nothing is working. Our groups are 5-6 inches at 100, I would think I should be able to shoot around 200 pretty easily. I do shoot a lot and we had a rest. I cant figure it out. I'm about ready to trade this thing in for a .223 any recommendations of a fair priced gun that can shoot good groups at 200 in .223? Or how to fix the one I got?:mad:

[TheBigEasy]

Its not the caliber. So trading for another rossi may not fix it. It could be the gun. A .243 with the right ammo on a shooting rest can very easily achieve clover size groups at 100yards. Mine on a bipod and shouldering,like in a hunting situation, shoots about a half inch. I am shooting a remington 700 sps in almost stock form, you may want to check them out, not too pricy for an extremely accurate out-of-the-box gun.

Another thing to check would be the scope, the reticle might be toast.

[Cobra]

Rossi's are cheap POS, have known a few that owned them but not any longer. NEF's will shoot circles around them in an inexpensive single shot. Friend has a Savage package .243, paid ~$400 and you won't find a better deal. Did 3/4" with factory loads and now does < 1/2" with reloads. Would also add to stay away from the big name, bargain basement priced bolts on the market, crap shoot if you'll get a good one.

[TheBigEasy]

Would also add to stay away from the big name, bargain basement priced bolts on the market, crap shoot if you'll get a good one.

Very True, stay away from remington 710's and 770's. Not too fond of the Weatherby Vanguard either.
A Remington 700 SPS is only a little more cash for a lot more gun.

[fishinglink]

i have a remington 710 in .243 and had the same problem until i met hornady. it loves 58gr. vmax and 95 gr sst i handload all my ammunition and get 3 shots in a half dollar at 200 and a quarter at 100. all accuracy depends on your barrel twist. if you have a 1 in 9 or a 1 in 9.5 twist shoot 100 grs or heavier. if you have a 1 in 10 (which is what i have) 95 grs or less that is what i have been told by everyone when it comes to reloads and .243. also stay away from pointed soft point ammo i can't get a good group with that in any gun i own. and yes to remington 700 sps it's a good gun. but with a $399 price tag on the gun and a $19.99 price a box of ammo and aan hour at the range i had a hell of a tack driver and it has only gotten better since i loaded my own now.

p.s. if you paint it with custom camo either mask off or vaseline the bolt it'll save you a lot of headaches.

[Matt Brummette]

I went to the gun shop today and checked out that 700SPS and it looks like the ticket. It was up in the air from that or the New England but I think I'll spend the extra cash for that gun. Any recommendations on what ammo I should start off with? Some one said it was $400.00 but the gun shop I was at, it was $560 were can I get if for $400?:D

[Burksee]

If your looking for an in-expensive rifle that throws outstanding groups out the box I'd be looking at a Savage 110/111. Or, another thought would be to start looking around some guns shops for an older used Remington 700 ADL/BDL. ;)

[TheBigEasy]

I went to the gun shop today and checked out that 700SPS and it looks like the ticket. It was up in the air from that or the New England but I think I'll spend the extra cash for that gun. Any recommendations on what ammo I should start off with? Some one said it was $400.00 but the gun shop I was at, it was $560 were can I get if for $400?:D
Dont know about 400, but you should be able to find it for 500. Like Burksee said, see if you can find a used 700 ADL/BDL, it will be a bit nicer than the sps with a jeweled bolt and other goodies, and possibly with a scope on it.

[Cobra]

Not so much where it could be found in the $400+ range, it's more of when. Have found over the years that the best time to buy is Jan - March or so. AKA - the off season. Great time to get barely fired used guns as well, people having trouble paying off Christmas bills, taxes, job loss etc. & need cash.

[crittergetter]

Matt, I bought a Savage .243 this past Feb. at Cabela's in Dundee. There was some haggling involved, especially when they tried to charge me a special order fee. I ended up getting the package deal, model 10, for $399 plus tax. (normally $459 plus tax) I will tell you though, that Franks in Linwood, has(or had)a model 110 in .243 for about $375, that is just the gun though, no scope or anything else. I really didn't want the simmons scope, but it shoots a very tight group.

CG

[TheBigEasy]

K. I got a price for you. $499.99 from a new Sportsmans store opening in Allen Park. A 700 sps with a heavy bull barrel matte, and syn stock. Not a bad price at all.:coolgleam

[Matt Brummette]

I bought one Thursday, heavy barrel O.D. green stock, in 223. It also came with a 4x12x40 scope on it I'm sure its not the best scope but it will do until I can afford a nice one. Took it to the range on Friday just to shoot a bit and I am very pleased!!!!!! I got it pretty close to zeroed in but just wanted to check on the grouping and I cant ask for much better out of the box. At 100 it was shooting 1/2" groups and at 200 they were about 1". :xzicon_sm:xzicon_sm Cant wait till Sunday when I can get out and do a bunch more shooting, I might have to take up reloading to save some cash on bullets, but its a blast. Thanks for all the help.

[Matt Brummette]

Oh yeah I got it for 550 plus Remington has a 30.00 mail in rebate. :cool:

[Rupestris]

K. I got a price for you. $499.99 from a new Sportsmans store opening in Allen Park. A 700 sps with a heavy bull barrel matte, and syn stock. Not a bad price at all.:coolgleam

TBE,
A little more info on this store in AP would be appreciated. Thanks.
Chris

[TheBigEasy]

Sounds like a nice gun. Reloading will tighten up your groups too.

[jsmith2232]

I had the same thing happen with a rossi .243 I bought, I had it into ganders gunsmiths a couple times and never did get it to shoot right, I returned it for an h&r with a bull barrel and now she's a tack driver.

[bigsablemike]

ive got one of those rossi combos.the 243 barrel stays about the size of a quarter at 100yds,the muzzle loader stays about 3inches at 100yds.this is with a leupold 3x9 scope.