Howa,

Skip the ruger.

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… click on the link boys

…. You understand me?

Looks like wolfdog has your answer. My son and wife both had .243s, and both hunted with plain vanilla Remington 100 gr. Cor-Loc. And that combo was excellent.

Most accurate rifle out of the box is the savage axis. Had one I bought for my son. Came with a Simmons 3+9 that was junk. Put a vortex crossfire ll on it. Zeroed it in. Let set for 15 minutes for the barrel to cool.
Fired 3 shot group. Looked at it and thought something was bad wrong. At 100 yards with front and back sand bags I could only see one bullet hole. Walked up to it and all three shots were into the same hole. Looked like a 30 caliber single shot. I got a 270 I hunt with now if I’m trying to kill a above average buck. It won’t put 3 in same hole but 1/2 group at 100 yard with federal factory 130 grain
But if you are hunting thick swamp areas big knock on 243 is hardly any blood trail. Neck shoot deer. That set up will hit it. Ear shoot hogs. For your description get a marlin or Henry 30-30. Pass it down

Forgot ammo was Remington 100 gr core lok. But Walmart now has 80 grain as well

I would say , you need to up your budget a bit if you want a pass it down rifle

it also sounds like you will be hard on said rifle

then I would say a Ruger Hawkeye Hunter stainless with threaded barrel in 308 when you bump your budget up

you can get this closer to 1K with optic
Tikka T3x Lite Stainless Synthetic 308 Win 20 Bbl 1:10 5/8in x 24tpi Synthetic/Stainless JRTXB31620MT


Swamp hunting inside 150 in LA I am thinking stainless I am also thinking I hate tracking.
I would be looking at 45-70 Marlin 1895 trapper SS as well , more money but you have a very solid gun that makes stuff fall I am over budget again

Ruger American Gen 2 solid user good features , go hunt and not worry about knocking it around some in the swamp.
https://ruger.com/products/americanRifleRanchGenII/specSheets/46929.html

Tikka T3 in SS would be tough to do better. I'd advise staying away from the lighter bullets, they tend to be grenades on impact. I load all my ammo except rimfires, but would buy a factory ammo with a 100 grain bullet for hogs or deer.

I would go Browning and no plastic for me in guns. I have a lever action Browning that is about 70 years old. A solid rifle and has been great. A gun that I will pass down.

If you can find a Savage 110 trailhunter they are really good rifles for the money. That said I bought a Ruger American at the great walmart clearance sale years ago and it isnt anything fancy but it shoots well. We put a magpul stock on it and a Leupold Varix3 3.5x10x50mm on it and it has been a nice rifle for hunting

Mine is a Winchester Featherweight

This Was my first Muley and deer age 12


Browning lever walnut... My dad sold it

BLR .243

My .243 now is my
Mohawk 600 Carbine...

As jaybird
knows, thank you.Jay bird for a box of shells a couple years ago


Its barrel prefers the Low end Blue box Federal 100 gr.

Very accurate Rifle... I've taken antelope out 2 325 yds prone using my harris h by pod

I've also shot animals within 10 yd with the same bullet. Because it's all about putting the bullet where it needs to go, which for me almost always is the upper scapula.... The deer falled like a dove

Tikka T3x Lite Stainless Synthetic - at least hold it and work the action before you buy anything else. Well worth the cost.

I have a Howa 1500 with a synthetic stock. Same gun as the Weatherby Vanguard. A real tack driver !!

I remember you mentioning that before. Great Picture!!!! That Browning was a good rifle for all around use. Thanks for sharing that photo.

RUGER gen 2...
Nuff said...

You are welcome !
covid made it hard to find stuff for a while

Thanks for the recommendations guys probably going the tiger route and then put a Boyd’s walnut stock and glass bed it when it’s time to turn over to the next person

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