I have been using my mother in laws Model 7 243 for the last couple of years deer hunting. I have decided to get my own. I am leaning with either a Tikka Lite or TC Venture. I like the Venture because they offer the Weathershield model vs. the 7 that does not. Only reason I am thinking about the Weathershield is after the last couple of days hunting in the rain. This will be my big purchase for next year in the offseason. Any suggestions budget wise I am probably looking around $1500 with gun and scope. I like the Leupold VX3 that is on my mother in laws a lot and will probably look for that. I am also just going to be sticking to factory ammo so do not want suggestions for other calibers.

Tikka or Savage. Leupold VX3 is good glass. I might suggest looking at the 6.5 creedmoor Predator Hunter from Savage. Absolute tack driver and you will have a better/ more versatile round.

Tell us more about your mother-in-law....

I like the tikkas but not as much as the new m70 featherweight a in 243.

I've hunted with a .243 for over 40 years. The last 5 years I've mixed it up with several other calibers from .223 to .338 win mag. I'm always reading up on other calibers and researching ammo. If I had it to do over, I would have started with a 7-08. That caliber has a little more oomph to it. I've been happy with the .243 but really like the little extra the 7-08 offers. Just saying, you might check it out before buying. You'll do fine in Texas either way.

Take a look at the Browning x-bolt.

243 will kill any whitetail in Texas , I prefer 270

While a $1500 budget for rifle/rings & scope will buy you a very nice hunting rifle, you can get either of the 2 shooters you mentioned at substanlially less bux than that.

Most folks here on THF seem to be unaware of the TC Venture and it's FAB (Features Advanatges & Benefits) that are on par quality, accuracy & performance wise with rifles that cost lots more bux....then I'd remind everyone that the Tikka T3 went thru the exact same lack of recognition not so very long ago.

As far a choice between these 2 rifles IMO it'd be a You Pick'em, with the edge going to a T3, of which I've owned 3 so far, along with a TC Venture that I allowed someone else to own for a reasonable profit to me, and am setting up a 2nd one as we speak. My only gritch about the Venture is the magazine feels a little cheesy to me now that I've gotten used to the T3's slightly more substantial feeling all polymer magazine. A SAKO A7 would be a nice $2-$300 upgrade here, using the same barrel as the Tikka T3 & coming off the same production line.

With that big a budget, I'd consider upgrading the rifle into something closer to the $750/$1000 net purchase range...as the Venture can be bought in a Weathershield for around $450-$500+ net after the current $75 rebate is applied & the T3 SS Lite is at around $650 at Bud's in Paris Ky, with higher priced grades available that'll push $1,000. Other brands may be offering Santa Claus Rebates at this time of year also, as Browning and/or Weatherby I think it was did last year at $100.

Fit & Feel are the most paramount issues to look for after the ??'s concerning confidence in the accuracy/reliability of a brand or model is satisfied. Long term hard use is the only way to determine if that confidence was misplaced or confirmed.

Both of the guns you've mentioned will net out total weight with a 16-20 oz scope & 3-5 oz rings at about 7 1/2 to under 8 lb's...with the edge going to the lighter standard grade T3 with 'its composit carbon fiber stock vs the Venture's Hougue "tupperware" style non slip stock.

Just some thoughts here, but since you've been using a family member's Remmy Model 7 long enough now, you've become aware of features that have value for you...you need to keep up the "gotta feel how everything thing on the market feels to you" before you make a buying decision, and shop widely. Be aware of Peer Pressure to buy the same thing they bought from family & friends that may or may not satify your percieved needs / wants / desires. PTL we are all made different, 'cause how boring would it be to be just like everyone else.

As far as scopes go, scopes & models within a scope line are even more acutely dependent on how a particular brand/model/grade of glass & coatings performs for YOUR Eyes and do not be concerned about how someone else's eyes see thru a particular scope. Stick with name brands that have a reputation for a No Fault Lifetime Warranty, that Leupold was the 1st I believe to offer many years ago, way before I used to be a distributor for them and other lines.

Some of the medium price products I've bought or shopped hard and missed a Sale Price on recently, I believe to be comparable to or superior in the same price point as the old standby brands are Minox, Meopta and the mid/upper grades of Vortex. The Minox ZA5 HD 2-10x50 I just put on a T3 260 for a do all Texas WTail shooter maybe be the best $300 scope I ever bought...and usually cost's close to double that at retail...so shop hard. You can always come back later and spend lots more $$'s on scopes than your entire 1st Budget is now...but I'd stick to a 50-50, or 60-40 budget allocation split, rifle to scope, on the 1st try, however much money you decide to spend.
Have Fun
Ron

The 243 will push a 100 gr bullet 3000 fps, and that's good enough for anything in Texas. I suppose I could be happy with a 243, though I'd personally rather have a 260. As for the rifle, I have the Tikka T3 Lite Stainless, and love it. And the Leupold VX3 4.5-14 with the Varmint Hunter reticle is on two of my rifles. Excellent scope.

While I'm a fan of the .243 caliber, I've hunted a couple of places that required a larger caliber rifle. As I said, I'm a fan, but it's a factor to take into consideration.

My mother in law is hot but never uses her gun

Fresh out of the safe and onto the scale...Tikka T3 Lite in 243, Leupold VX-IIc scope and Tikka performance rail...tips the scale at 7 lbs 9 oz without ammo in the mag. (Mag is the backside holding rifle upright on the scale.)

What I was trying to say about the OP's initial choice's, is the the TC Venture uses the same patented 5R rifling design as the much better known and constantly touted about on THF Remmy 5R rifle...and is substantially less expensive. PacNor also uses the 5R rifleing design according to their website, and there may be some other aftermarket barrel mfg'ers as well...or Remmy & TC may be using the PacNor barrels. Dunno, but MRC or Ruger out of it's Pine Tree Casting operation is supposed to be making barrels for other rifle company's from what I've heard from guys in Montana.

FWIW the Tikka T3 probably uses the same barrels as the SAKO A7 & SAKO M85's....but I can't guarantee that with personal observation. The older Tikka 595/695 guns made before Beretta took over were the same as regular product line SAKO's.

Total description is TMI for here but I saw SAKO's barrel & manufacturing plant, and it is a cold hammer forged from a billet that has been "seasoned, or cured" outside for 7 years, hand swaged, or "lapped" with a diamond dust impregnated padded rod, cut rifling process, that is shot off of a electric trigger & universal mount for accuracy before the barrel is final finished...or discarded - actually cut in half - if the barrel does not meet accuracy spec's at a 100 meters using SAKO match grade ammo, also made on site.
Ron

Tikka, hands down....

Best rifle with scope I ever had was a Rem .270 with wood stock . Had a sling so weight never bothered me . Had to sell for personal reasons 25 yrs ago . Back then .270, 30.06 , and some .243s' were popular guns outside the 30-30 . Can't stand synthetic stocks even tho they maybe lighter in weight . These new guns introduced these days have me puzzled with the different sizes and all . I'll stay with my 30-30 lever action model 94' and for backup a very old .303 British rifle which really is an overkill for deer . It would make a darn good bear or moose gun .

May also look at the Weatherby Vanguard synthetic. My daughter won one in a raffle and I have been really impressed with it. It has a nice crisp trigger and they guarantee 1 moa. Hers will shoot the Hornady whitetail 100 grain loads very good, can cover 3 shots with a quarter at 100 yards. You can never go wrong putting a Leupold VX3 on top of any gun in my opinion.

Another good choice.

Since you mentioned your MIL's rifle being a Model Seven, does that mean you are interested in a compact rifle with a shorter barrel and length of pull? If so, Browning makes a "Micro" version of their A-bolt that's fairly easy to find. The new Mossberg Patriot Batam has a 12-inch pull, walnut stock, and features you find on more expensive rifles. Not an easy one to find on store shelves however.

http://www.mossberg.com/product/mossberg-patriot-bantam-rifle-27837/

I definitely dont want a shorter length of pull. Shorter barrel I do want but I am 6'4 so definitely do not want shorter LOP

The only time a big guy might want a shorter length of pull is if he will be hunting with layers of thick clothing, and a thick coat etc. on.

That stuff really adds up.

For the record the .243 will kill any whitetail, mule deer or elk with a well constructed bullet put where it's supposed to go. Love the round. Like the 6mm round more but factory ammo for the .243 is available anywhere. As stated though, for your budget, you can get an upgrade rifle wise. Unless you want to add a can . . .

I bought a Browning Micro Medallion for my youngest daughter many years ago and use it often when she is not looking. The lighter weight and shorter barrel makes it very easy to carry and shoulder quickly in cold weather clothing.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/compact_rifles.htm