My wife just doesn't like the recoil on my .270, and since she's gonna have her own stand this year I'm gonna go ahead and get her a .243. What' sour favorite model and why?

Get a savage, have several models including the lady Hunter. Amazing accuracy out of the box and extremely reliable. Price is pretty hard to beat as well.

Budget?
Youth model or full size stock?
Synthetic? Wood?
Blued? Stainless?
Heavy barrel or sporter?

Tikka T-3, then Savage

Both shoot equally small.

The low end Tikka stock is better than the low end Savage stock. .

The Tikka has a superior extractor, ejector, and bolt movement. In the long term the Savage will need ejector and possibly extractor work. The Tikka has not shown me any sign of needing that attention. Several thousand rounds I have put through each, and I pick Tikka.

Between rifle and optics I'd like to keep it below $1000. She's fine with full size but wouldn't be opposed to the right youth model if one came along. Prefer synthetic stock, no preference on barrel.

Hard to argue w/ Fireman's choice..

Savage in general or a specific model?

While I don't disagree with anything you said, it nearly a zero percent chance that his wife's hunting rifle will be shot so much that they wear out an extractor or ejector.

Get a savage 11 with the accustock and accutrigger, and the gun will need nothing its entire life.

I get where you are coming from. However, it does not only take high volume shooting to weaken a Savage ejector spring. A hot load will weaken the spring. If the OP finds a blend of factory ammo that shoots well, but may be a little hot (not showing signs of pressure) it will wear out a Savage ejector spring. I have several occasions of replacing Savage ejector springs that had been under my hand loads that were not super hot. It is the major weak link in a Savage bolt. The other is the extractor design. The Savage is a drilled hole holding a spring, with a detent ball sitting atop the spring and under the extractor. THEY CAN COME OUT UNEXPECTEDLY. The Tikka ejector is larger and not prone to wear as badly. And the Tikka extractor is a hinged piece riding on a spring. One of the best extractors I have seen, and the best I have ever owned.

I'm just trying to point the OP to the most long term, reliable, truble free design.

I was a huge Savage fan, and they are notoriously accurate, but they have left me repairing them more times than I am happy with.

Thanks for the input all. Looks like I've got a little mulling over to do....

I own lots of hunting rifles, no one in .243, just not my caliber, too many options on either side, but if I were to get one it would be in one of the Savage 10/110 series or something along that line, but Ruger m77 or Savage would be the road for me.

Word. This exactly.

Pretty good deal on the Tikka T3 and solid reviews: http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/80562/Tikka+T3+Lite+.243

If you are not in a hurry, another option would be a good used Remmy 788. I have one in 6mm with a Meopta 4-12 and a Timney trigger---sweet shooter that will eventually be in the hands of youngest grandson.

I would look at the weatherby vanguards. I find them to be a tad bit heavier than most comparable rifles which helps out with the recoil. I have a wood sporter stock and the stock fits me very well. I bought a savage 243 last year and I like it and it shoots good, but the stock is a poor fit for me. Seems too short and needs a cheek piece.

I've been recommending this exact package to many folks as a great starter.
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/78124

My tiny 5'2" wife shoots this as her regular hunting rifle. The only modification I did was by Talley one piece rings. It's not fancy but it's sufficient for what she uses it for, which is basically the same thing it sounds like your wife will use it for. She shot this exact set up at the little rifle hunter challenge earlier this year ans she out shot half the field, me included.

Will this rifle likely have some problems that Fireman said? From my experiences with shooting my other Savage a bunch then I would say probably yes.
Do we really shoot this specific one often enough that it gives me concern? No, hasn't had one problem with it yet.

A savage axis with a accutrigger.
I love my cz-550 American also this my be out of your price range.

There's a SS Ruger American .243 in the classifieds above that would make a great rifle for her. I have one in 7-08 and it's a shooter even with factory ammo.

Kind of hard to add anything to the recommendations made above.

I will note however that the Browning X-Bolt Micro-Midas fits your budget and is beautiful as well as having a good reputation for accuracy.

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?fid=023B&cid=035&tid=248



Bud's has them for $699.00 and you can "Make an Offer" if you are ready to buy - if your offer is accepted. - I've tried this and am here to say that it works.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/72222

Why settle for tupperware when you can have walnut? The Browning is a definite cut above either the Tikka or the Savage, and the price ain't bad, either.

That's just me, though.

Tikka!

My wife loves her tikka 7-08 and 4-12 VXR. If you get a tikka consider a limbsaver recoil pad as part of the original purchase. Their factor pads suck for such a lite weight gun.

My brother just bought a Savage Predator in 6.5 Creedmoor based on my recommendation. The out of the box accuracy was the best I have ever seen. Took it out of the box, fired 10-20 rounds to get it sighted in and shoot fouling loads. It was doing 1/2 inch groups while my brother was shooting it. I got behind the rifle and shot a 1/4 inch group at 100 yards, it maybe has 30 rounds through it and its shooting like that!

I love Savages and recommended my brother to get one because he did not want to do anything but put a scope on the rifle. In my opinion, a Savage rifle with the accustock and accutrigger is the best out of the box rifle on the market because of how accurate it is. This is just my opinion, I have not shot every rifle brand new, never shot a Tikka either.

My recommendation in your price range:

Savage Model 11 in .243 (Cost: $550-$600)
Accutrigger and Accustock
Glass, best you can afford. I am buying the SWFA SS 10x42 Mil/Mil fixed power scope for $300. I have not used it but it has good reviews.

If your wife ever wants a bigger caliber, simply swap the barrel to a 6.5 CM or .308. It is very easy, I changed a Savage from .308 to 6.5 Creedmoor.

The Savage and SWFA SS will put you right around $1,000 and it will be one heck of a rig!

Anything but savage

Why is that?

Because he woke this morning and drank himself a giant glass of Hatorade.

That's awesome!