I can not decide on caliber. Right now my requirements are as follows:

-Need to be able to use my Suppressor (30 cal)
-Would like cheap reloadable components if possible
-Able to use for hunting out to 500 yards. (Most shots will be within 0-300)
-Occasional long range shooting. Max range 690 yards
-Needs to be under $1000 from the get go. I will eventually put on a new stock, etc...
-Would like to use IMR 4895. I have an 8lb jug of it that needs a caliber
- Honestly don't want to go with 308 but I may do so anyway.
-I kind of want to go with something in a 16"-18" barrel as well (Again 308 may be my best bet but idk...)

I really would like to buy a 243 but I can't find any decent factory threaded options to go with and I want to shoot suppressed from the get go. I may not be able to afford an aftermarket barrel for another couple of months. I like the idea of starting on a Savage 11 action. But I am no expert to the precision rifle game.

What say the experts?

Tikka CTR in 308 or 260. Not sure about powder

or Remington 5r 308.

- Buy this receiver from Brownells for $219:
http://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/rec...-prod77801.aspx
- Buy a Bartlein or Kreiger or Brux 8 twist 6mm in Remington Varmint Contour.
- Buy a Timney 510
- Save a few months
- Buy an XLR Element Chassis
- Save another month or two, and then send everything in a box with a nice note to Aaron Roberts at www.rprifles.com telling him you want a 6x45.

OR:

Buy a Tikka T3 in .223, since Tikka is the company that is smart enough to put an 8 twist on their guns, and buy an XLR element chassis to pop it in. Send it to Aaron Roberts to thread for your can.

Please don't buy a Salvage. You can thank me later.

Buy a Zastava M85 in 7.62X39 for <$400 and replace the barrel with a 6.5 Grendel.

Savage 11VT is on sale at Dick's for $449. I think they offer it in 4 calibers - 308, 243, 223 and something else...

It's not threaded, not light enough for hunting, and I have no idea what twist the 243 is. But my 308 11VT just made its debut at the range a couple weeks ago and I was really impressed with the ammo and even the factory stock isn't too bad. It has a good recoil pad, is fully floated around the barrel and has dual front sling studs. Way under budget.

Tikka 7mm-08

Work up a good load and it'll shoot sub MOA out to 500 yards, easy.

I've had that very rifle and did just as I described. Only thing I did was chop the barrel down to 18", and it pointed like a wand.

The factory Tikka stock was stiff enough to afford using a bipod and shooting from various supports with the rifle resting just ahead of the mag well.

Plenty of aftermarket parts for it, and a way better action than a Savage. Ran those for years, now I'm getting out of the Savage business and into the Tikka business.

I really have been thinking 7mm-08. But the availability of reloading components is making me want a 243 or 308.

what cant you find for the 7mm08? If not the .308 built a 7mm-08 very accurate and forgiving

Can you find 243 brass?

I have over a hundred pieces of brass that are head stamped 243, but are resized into 7mm-08.

Lots of 7mm bullets to pick from, and while the 243, and 308 are fine cartridges, I put the 7mm-08 slightly ahead of them in performance when talking a dual target and hunting rifle. That's why my rental rifle is a 7mm-08, it is versitile, has a really good BC, decent MV, and a good barrel life. Better barrel life than the 243, not as good as the 308. More energy delivery down range than both, depending on how its loaded.

I do the the same thing with 308 brass, resize them to 7mm08.

I am not going to lie, I didn't even think about that. I really think 7mm-08 will be the way to go then. That's kind of what I have wanted anyway. A good BC but a bullet just a bit bigger than a .243. Thank y'all!

You have about talked me into building one of these for a suppressor host, do you happen to have any pictures you could post? Any issues with this setup?

Onlu modification done to it was cutting the barrel down to 18". On a hand load it shot about 3/4 MOA. One of my students shot it for the class and his hits at 800 had a vertical spread of only 2". No problems what so ever, but it has had a serious dose of steroids since this pic.

I would go 243. But then again I love mine. 105 gr berger hybrid is some bad medicine.

Walter

.308-- better selection of bullets, and longer barrel life. No forming, brass is plentiful. When lead is outlawed there will still be more selection of bullets in .308