I prefer wood stock but don’t mind plastic any recommendations on models also twist and barrel length. We’re in the swamp so 50 yard average and 150 yard max shots.might as well throw in Ammo recommendation as well.factory don’t have the equipment to hand load

…. I got Henry long ranger in 243 … accurate gun

…. It’s the one on the left

Tikka or Sako, 1:8 or 1:10 depending on projectile weight. I prefer Barnes 80 ttsx or 85 tsx….they both shoot well for me. Lots of other good options out there as well…

Whats your price range and action preference?

OP, if you're in a swamp, you might want to go with plastic.

Me and dad both have .243's I have a Mossberg patriot he has a youth model Ruger American because it's smaller and handier bolts are
a lil sloppy on the patriots compared to the Ruger but they both shot pretty good with about any factory ammo. 1"-1.5" all day at 100yd
Dad Took this one with a 85gr serria game king. Don't know if you can get that factory loaded though and he couldn't find a exit wound so might not be very helpful for you. You can get them in wood stocks too for a bit more . The plastic ones ain't too bad especially if you did what I did and spend $20 on a lil adjustable cheek riser off Amazon. Dad said it made it a lot nicer to shoot. The those guys in here will probably have some better recommendations though.

Under 1k with optics’s and action lookin for something to be passed down for years to come

I guess the question is FOR WHAT?
what game are you hunting with it.

if deer and hogs are the answer at 200yards and in
I would use the original 243 we call it 308win , it is the parent case of 243

I run my reload 180gr ammo with a Speer 180gr btsp at 2625fps and deer fall , I hate tracking.

not to say 243 won't make a deer fall , but there is no question with the 308 that I am getting 2 holes

Tika or browning then probably if you want heirloom quality

Just looking around if your wanting brand new and under 1 k look like this would be a good choice, never hear anyone complain about brownings and I've seen them as pass down all the time . Would still have enough to get a decent enough scope for out to 150yd


Past that seme you past 1k for the nicer ones and thysy before optics
I mean if you wanna spend a lil more in the way of $1200-1500 with optics you have some more options



The vanguards are some nice lil guns all around . My wife's.270 vanguard is smooth as silk , points well, just don't like the barrel getting too hot but you hunting not shooting groups
All that being said I've also seen some.of the lower prices stuff like the axis, and Rugers being passed down ... In a lil quickee succession but .

At 150 yds and in about any gun is accurate enough. I think the weatherby vanguard/howa is best bag for the buck. The used gun market is pretty cheap right now. I just bought a 1966 Remington 700 7mm stainless barrel in new condition for $460. Weve killed a good number of deer with remington core lokts without any problems but have switched to the barnes ttx.

That was before they realized the mistake in the original design and corrected it with a 7mm bullet naming it a 7mm-08.

My wife shoots an older model 700 Remington. Sweet shooting gun. Shoots Federal Premium 100 grain boat tails soft point.

Never had any problems making two holes with 243 and monoliths....

Deer and hogs are target species

… I done steered you in the right direction straight out the gate

… get yourself a long ranger and be done with it

My wifes 243 is an old Remington 700 I bout used at a gun shop in TN when passing through on my way to FL. Its been at least 15 years ago but I got it for $265 bought it for the action to build a 260 on. Then I shot it and decided to keep it as it was. Its killed a pile of deer now between the kids and I using hornady north American whitetail .

There are a lot of great suggestions above on new guns. But dont over look the used rack.

There ia a lot to picking out a rifle. We all have our preference but up from years of experience. Favorites . Cal rifles ect.

Light field gun or long heavy barrel. So short you are cutting down on ballistic and threaded so you can have a handy package suppresed or even unsupresed.

Leaver action, bolt action, single shot, AR 10? So many options and thats before optics. Up close like you are talking my favorite 0 to 200 is a vx2 2×7× 32 shotgun scope short light handy and clear.

243 is great and puts them down. Its what I was looking for in a youth left handed 700 Remington or for my daughter when she was 9. The only left handed youth gun I found within 200 miles was in a 7mm-08. It was not what I wanted but I bought it becuse its what I could find as close to what I wanted. Turns out it became my favorite deer caliber after shooting myself and watching a lot of deer shot by the kids. Later I got my wifes 243.

They put deer down about the same just the 7mm-08 has a little more behind it. Its only 50 fps slower and has 39 gr more weight an 1mm larger diameter. Doesn't sound like much on paper and I will grab either gun to hut with with no reservation but I do have a preference for the 7mm-08 over the 243. Larger wound tracks and mor likely to get an exit having a little more weight. But I have recovered 2 bullets that have not passed through both under off side skin after hitting a lot of bone.


That said my next gun will be a 308. Not because I like the cal but becuse I want an M14 and that's what they come in. Hopefully will fill my desire for an m1 grand and it will be easier for me to shoot since its easier to put optics on an m 14. Than a grand.

There are so many options out there to explore. Rifles are person and not static. My favorite rifle 15 years ago has not been shot in the last 10. I went from preferring long range accuracy to light, short handy and accurate enough. Yes I can shoot crazy accuracy with my semi custom 260 rem. But it is long and heavy not fun to pack around. I would rather hunt with my wifes light thin barrel 243 or my daughters 7mm-08. They are just more enjoyable to carry. And I dont need .28" accuracy to shoot deer under 200 yards.

Heck for what your describing my boys both have a cva single shot 350 legend i have been very impressed with. They are short being single shot and not having the extra length like other actions so are really handy and short even with the suppresors they have on them. Mild recoil and quiet. Put deer down pretty hard and fast out of the 15 or so the kids have killed with those guns so far.

Probably available in a 243 if your set on that cal.

Love my Henry’s but banging around a boat in rain and 100% humidity seems like blasphemy

… get a cheap plastic Remington one then

If your gonna be treating it like that then I'd go synthetic and lower priced. Don't see the point in getting something really nice and not wanting to treat it a lil rough. The compact would probably be better for you in the same too . Short barrel and all... Mabye get a nicer scope but the vort x cross fires have a really good rep so

Glenfield model A hands down. Its a ruger american gen 1 gun. Threaded from the factory. Will shoot sub moa all day.