Best budget .243

[Steel4sam]

My daughter is 11, I’m looking for a great .243 for her, I’d like threaded and compact. Looking between ruger American gen II and the savage axis pro. Does anyone have any experience?

 

[rabbithuntr]

If you’re looking for a great 243 I’d look at Tikka I think all of their rifles are going to be threaded going forward. The tikka is a much better rifle than the axis, I haven’t been around the ruger American to much.

 

[Lionheart]

This^^^

 

[ktm450]

My Mauser M18 outshoots my Tikka (both in .243) and was very inexpensive.

Eurooptics deals on the Sauer 100 has gotten fantastic reviews as well

 

[WormSportsman]

Nothing wrong with a Ruger American gen II. The few I have been around have all shot very well. The stock isn’t the best but in that price range none really are great anyways.

 

[SuperDUECE22]

https://palmettostatearmory.com/weatherby-vanguard-synthetic-compact-243-winchester-bolt-action-rifle-reliable-accuracy-in-a-compact-black-vyt243nr0t.html

 

[AndrewMT34]

Most Ruger American’s I’ve been around shoot great. I would still choose a Tikka, mostly because all my other hunting rifles are tikka’s and I’m used to the form factor.

 

[robtattoo]

It's almost like we don't even have a dedicated firearms forum......

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Tikka T3X or Sauer 100.

 

[AZ_Hunter]

The Ruger Gen 2 would probably be the better solution for an 11 year old because of the spacer than can be removed from the stock to shorten LOP.

However, a Tikka compact would be nicer if you can increase the budget.

You can get a Ruger in 6mm ARC, have you thought about that? Less recoil and totally effective for the range an 11 year old will be shooting (for most hunters actually). Has cheaper practice ammo too. A 16” with a compact suppressor would be a great set up for a new shooter, no blast or recoil to fear.