Paul in Idaho
Well-known member
I have an older (late 80's?) Ruger M77 .243 that has been sitting here mostly unused for several years. As far as I know, everything is factory original, including the ridiculously stiff lawyer-proof trigger. It is in very good condition. It has been kept with the intent of using it for shooting practice since its recoil is less than the -06 I use for hunting, and in hopes my wife may want to use it some day. I finally have had opportunity to shoot it some this year, and am now trying to decide whether to keep it or trade it in for a different rifle.
I have been reading some older posts here about .243 usage:
http://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/showthread.php?t=257469
http://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/showthread.php?t=209005
http://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/showthread.php?t=254110
It seems that bullet choice and distance are the main considerations when using this cartridge for hunting. If I were to hunt with it, I'd use a Barnes or similar premium bullet.
My quandary is mostly a financial one. Would it be better to spend money having a gunsmith improve the trigger (and potentially some accurizing), or keep everything original and sell/trade it for a new rifle, that would likely have a good trigger and better accuracy right out of the box?
Which would you do? If you'd get a new rifle, which cartridges would you consider given my reasons for having the .243?
Thanks.
Paul
I have been reading some older posts here about .243 usage:
http://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/showthread.php?t=257469
http://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/showthread.php?t=209005
http://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/showthread.php?t=254110
It seems that bullet choice and distance are the main considerations when using this cartridge for hunting. If I were to hunt with it, I'd use a Barnes or similar premium bullet.
My quandary is mostly a financial one. Would it be better to spend money having a gunsmith improve the trigger (and potentially some accurizing), or keep everything original and sell/trade it for a new rifle, that would likely have a good trigger and better accuracy right out of the box?
Which would you do? If you'd get a new rifle, which cartridges would you consider given my reasons for having the .243?
Thanks.
Paul