I’m looking for a 243 for my wife. That’s the caliber we are going with so not looking for caliber options. I’m looking for a really accurate light weight gun that’s going to be under $700, preferably $500 but will look at spending a little more. Already have a vx5hd in the safe ready for it. I’ve been looking at the kimber and the model seven but haven’t personally shot either one. Looking for a 18-22” barrel. May go pick up a 700 adl and put a little extra money in it but just looking for options to look into as well.

aLight weight an accurate look at the Tikka options.

X2. Checks all your boxes plus many others. Great trigger, smooth easy operation, etc. I don’t think anything in that price range comes close.

Lots of good options out there nowadays. Tikka, Ruger American, some Savages, Weatherby, Browning, Bergara. I’d be patient and find a used Sako A7 if it was my wife. Of course she’d want something “prettier” and costs 3 times as much.

I have checked into the browning but have overlooked the tikka! I forgot all bout them. Hey she had a chance to claim my Christensen Mesa long range but she didn’t like how heavy it was and it’s not “blacked” out as she would say.

Howa 1500 compact if your looking for a bargain.

Weatherby Camilla if you want to spend just a tad more. I think I got my wife’s for $689. Very unique look and it’s a shooter. Weatherby hit a home run with that one

Go with a classy name. You can a new "blacked out" Mauser M18 for $399 from Europtic.

https://www.eurooptic.com/Mauser-M18-243-Win-22-Synthetic-5rd-Mag-Bolt-Action-Rifle-M180243.aspx

Savage Lady Hunter, maybe?

X 2

Buy her a great looking rifle that shows how much she means to you. Nothing more respected in the deer woods than a Weatherby.

The Vanguard Camilla Rifle—“designed by women, built by Weatherby”—incorporates a high comb, along with a number of other features that make this rifle superbly comfortable to shoot. The buttstock is angled away from the body, which is a better fit for the female anatomy and nestles easily into the shoulder. The slim pistol grip has a shorter grip-to-trigger reach, ideal for slightly smaller hands, and the 13-inch length of pull (LOP) and slender fore-end reduce overall weight and length without compromising feel and balance. A combination that makes this a super-fast-handling rifle that is also easy to carry.

Weatherby Vanguard Camilla

The Tikka Or the Weatherby Vanguard Camilla would be the two choices I would recommend for my wife.

I shoot a Sako A7 Tecomate and love it, it is a 300wsm though.
243 is a great deer caliber but I would go with a 7mm-08, she could hunt many other animals with it.
Yes a 243 will take elk but should it ?

Have you considered a Winchester featherweight ?

I have a Ruger M77 .243 tang safety which is a Safe Queen I purchased new in 1983, yes 1983. It's a shooter in NEW CONDITION Gun has a Leupold 3X9 scope if interested. I don't know value but will look up.
PM me if interested.

Ruger American Predator.

Bought an A Bolt Medallion for my son and it is a sweet shooting and looking gun.

look at the Browning XBolt Micro Midas in .243 or 7mm08, short LOP, fits daughter perfect. She shoots the 7mm08 Hornady Custom Light ammo. It kills fine

All were great recommendations but she went with the tikka. She liked how light it was and fit her fairly decent. Thanks everyone