Ok gentle men I am going to trim down my rifles and get just one to use for some long range shooting, coyote and deer hunting. Thinking about something like a Christensen arms. I am have been a savage man for over 35 years. Really want to stay with the 243 so please give some ideas thanks in advance.

Christensen has a bad reputation around here. No personal experience. People will want to know what you have to work with currently, your budget, and why you want to stay with .243 to be able to answer your questions.

Have one built or, better yet, have a barreled action done and do the rest yourself. You’ll end up with a more accurate gun than most, save several hundred $ and have pride in your weapon.

I’d go with a NULA, mostly because I just want one. Seem to be impossible to find though, so maybe I’d get one custom built. If I was going for a pretty wood stock, maybe a Sako.

The tightwad in me, would just keep one of the rifles that I already have.

I've personally stopped even considering anything but a Tikka. Just not worth my time to deal with the issues when Tikka doesn't have any and the cost difference is so little.

For a do-all rifle, the short-barreled Tikka CTR is a good option. Will hold up better than a lite barrel to strings of long-range shooting, but won't weigh near as much as a varmint barrel.

It’s not just here that Christensen has a bad reputation. They’re having chamber issues and from what I’m understanding they are all over it from a customer service standpoint, but that doesn’t help when you buy a new gun and have to send it back.

Tikka CTR but you’re not going to get a .243

Do you reload? A .243 long range is for handloaders only.


Zermatt Origin and a prefit barrel is where I would spend my money. Add one of many quality stocks and you’re good to go. You’re looking at $2500 going this route, except you get what you want and it will likely outshoot a the c word.

If you’re serious about long range and don’t reload look at the 6mm Creedmoor. Same .243 bullet at close to same velocity, but with much more factory support regarding long range ammo.

Impact/Lone Peak and a prefit, Zermatt Origin and a prefit, or Aero Solus and a prefit(look at pva).

Yes I am a reloaded, thought about other calibers but have all the 243 stuff.

I'll just say i think there are far better choices at the price of a Christensen arms and you can include me as a Tikka fanboy. Btw I love my savages, but let's face it they're not exactly works of art.

The caliber is where I'd reconsider. I'm with wp, based on all that you're trying to do with one rifle I would definitely pick the more modern cartridge, 6 or 6.5 Creedmoor. i don't own either but shot enough to know why they are so popular. Seriously though, I'd do 308 if only one rifle for all that but I know that is probably a minority opinion.

.243 is great then since you load.

Can you get the Christensen or others in .243 with the right twist to shoot the 108-110 bullets? That something else to think about. Lighter 6mm bullets play hell in the wind long range. Even at 500 yards.

Plus plus plus

If you go with a custom action and a prefit you can then buy barrels in any short action caliber with that bolt face. Change barrels- different rifle.

22 Creedmoor
.243
6 Creedmoor
.260
6.5 Creedmoor
7-08
.308
338 Federal
358 Winchester

Christensen is a P.O.S. I have one still here that I did a load development on. I won in the end but with lots of extra work. Every dang time someone brings me a Christensen for load development, it is a problem. I decided this week that hence forth there will be a Christensen surcharge of 25% extra.

Lots of other good advice given here.

The easiest button is Tikka CTR 20" in 6.5 Creedmoor. Not a hand loader, it works. As a hand loader it works very well, and shoots very tight. It is a whole lot of value for not a whole lot of money.

Put a Night Force NX8 F-1 Mil-C on top and enjoy!

I would buy a Tikka in a heart beat but can't get one in a 8 twist that I can find.

The standard T3X will not hold up to multiple rounds. The barrel is too thin on that excellent hunting rifle. To my knowledge that’s the only way to get a .243 in a Tikka.

I own one Christensen Mesa in .300WM that I've had great success with. 'Just bought a used 6.5X284 off a member on here for a birthday present for my son.

Do not buy a C A

Give Bergara a look, they're hard to beat. I have a B-14 HMR in .308 and it's an outstanding rifle, shoots sub MOA and great to hunt with.

Sako S20 from Eurooptic. They are super slick, super accurate, and this is a killer deal. Yes, they have a 243.

https://www.eurooptic.com/View-All-...Tcy_MQ&o=1&p=1&i=48&d=48

Please no!! That is the most problematic firearm I've ever dealt with. (See my post below). Sorry, but I'm not a fan, at all. I know there are some good CA rifles out there and I have shot some. But CA has their own way of building a rifle.
Tikka CTR (top pick, if they make it in 243?), Ruger RPR, or Tikka T3, all good picks. I
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https://texashuntingforum.com/forum...tensen-arms-28-nosler-rifles#Post8952859

Might look into the 6CM basically a 243 built for bigger bullets

as far as rifle waypoints not a bad option, pre threaded if you want to go braked or suppressed

https://www.sportsmans.com/shooting...ction-rifle-6mm-creedmoor-20in/p/1671885

Don't get me wrong, I totally get this rationale. However, a starting point for me would be to assume that I would get some fresh brass if i were getting a single, do-it-all rifle. So it just gets down buying dies for me. Bullets and powder are all the same.
Just making the devil's case.

Tikka Super Varmint in .243 has a 1:8 twist. Rifle will be heavy but you could have it cut down from 24" to make it a little handier. On sale at Europtic now for $1499

https://www.eurooptic.com/Tikka-T3x...n-PIC-SS-20-MT-5rd-Rifle-JRTXRSV315.aspx

In fact, most Tikkas are now 1:8 for .243. This should be the list, but if not, select .243 and 1:8 in the left-side filters. That RoughTech Ember would be sweet!

https://www.eurooptic.com/Tikka-Vie...BiNzRi&o=1&p=1&i=48&d=48

WOW! I'm staying away from CA. Good to know because I've seen more of them around lately.

I know some guys who work with Best of the West and set up rifles with Huskemaw optics for customers. They routinely shoot out to 1000 yards. One of the guys has told me that out of many dozens of rifles he has fired, one of the most accurate was a Christiansen Arms Ridgeline. BUT, he added, it was really an outlier and many of them don't shoot worth chit.

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