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I apologize if this is a repeat, but I sometimes forget where I've posted what questions, social butterfly that I am.
About 40 years ago I purchased a Browning BLR rifle in .243 Winchester caliber, and loved it. It was a high quality machine, accurate far beyond my ability to do it justice, and more than adequate for hunting deer, should I ever feel inclined to do so. Nineteen years ago I was forced by homelessness to move here and put most of my worldly possessions into storage, including all of my tools, guns, and college textbooks. The storage company screwed up when they moved from a paper accounting system to a new computer system, and apparently applied my payments to someone else's account, thereby generating a public sale of my unit without my knowledge. All of my belongings were gone, and there was no way for me to prove that they had caused the error, no any inventory of the contents that I could have taken to a court and demanded compensation for. Alas, the fruits of a lifetime of labor - what the ex wife didn't steal, that is - gone with no recourse.
Lately I have been considering replacing my beloved BLR, only to find that Browning no longer makes it in that chambering. So I'm searching the webs for a replacement and I'm at a loss what to buy in its stead. The Browning BAR is available in .243 Winchester, but I fear the low recoil might not allow the action to cycle reliably, and the cost is outrageous! Marlin used to make a decent lever action, but it seems that they no longer offer the .243 caliber. The local gun shops all recommend going to a bolt action rifle, as they are not only available in this caliber, but much cheaper than the semi-automatics available. I'm wondering now if I might be better off moving to a slightly different, more popular caliber, in order to increase the available selections, but I don't have a clue which way to go. We have a few shooters here - probably more than anyone suspects, as we tend to be a circumspect lot - and I'd appreciate some recommendations. Some points to consider:
1. I weigh all of 140 lbs (10 stone, for the handicapped), and the recoil of the .243 is just about right. I have my Dad's old 30-30 Winchester Model 94, and it can put a hurtin' on my shoulder in about 4 rounds.
2. I'm not a hunter, but I do enjoy varmint shooting, and if I did hunt, it would be for deer or elk, most likely mule deer in this part of the country.
3. My lady has a nice .243 that belonged to her uncle, but she hasn't fired in years, and since I plan to get into reloading, it would be nice to get the same caliber, or at least the same general size so that we can use the same reloading equipment with no more than a die change.
4. I don't have a need for an assault rifle, or an elephant gun. Pachyderms are rare in the Mojave Desert, and I already have a couple of nice, lethal assault weapons (according to a misinformed or malicious media) in the form of semi - automatic versions of the AK-47 and SKS. I don't need more, as I can't reliably shoot more than two guns at once. No need to suggest such silly toys.
My primary game would be coyotes, rabbits, squirrels, and the occasional door-to-door salesman; telemarketers rarely wander into range. For reference, I have looked at the .270 and 6mm offerings, and would consider either, but I don't know enough to make an informed choice. If it came down to a choice among relative equals, the deciding factor would probably be the cost of ammunition, since shooting odd calibers tends to be much more costly than firing popular rounds, and regular target practice is a moral requirement of owning a gun, to my mind. If one is going to keep a potentially lethal tool around, it comes with a duty to be proficient in its safe and accurate use, IMHO.
Suggestions, please?
Will Rogers never met me.
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You should fire off an e-mail to JSOP!![Rose | [Rose]](/script/Forums/Images/rose.gif)
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What would be the point in that? John may be the most vocal gun ownership advocate in this Forum, but he is by no means the only one, and it's very possible that he is not the most knowledgeable. I am most certainly an advocate of personal freedom and the right to bear arms in order to defend that freedom against an oppressive government - in that arena, John and I have much in common. But he tends to favor large-caliber handguns - not a bad thing - whereas I'm looking for a more mundane varmint rifle. John may well have no interest in this arena, but I'm sure that a goodly number of our members will have some useful advice to offer me. Our group has always held enough of a diverse population to support questions of an amazing range of topics, and that's what I'm depending upon. When that ceases to be true, I will no longer be here at all.
Will Rogers never met me.
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Like hand tools, there is a gun for every purpose. If you want to do varmint stuff, the Ruger Mini-14 is the go-to weapon of choice. If you insist on a .243 chambering, your options are few even if spread out between bolt-action and semi-autos. Unfortunately, the current political climate, combined with the buying frenzy that's underway is not conducive to a "good deal" being found. I could probably sell one of my ARs with optics and 1000 rounds of ammo for upwards of $4k.
And truth be told, I favor a medium range rifle with decent optics. But for close-in work, nothing beats a 1911. 
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote: I could probably sell one of my ARs with optics and 1000 rounds of ammo for upwards of $4k.
Minus the ammo, what are they going for? Someone I know has a Sig716 and says they can get $4k for it.
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wizardzz wrote: Minus the ammo, what are they going for?
I have no idea. I'm not in the market for guns - or ammo.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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I'm not looking either (well not rifles), I was just seeing if they were full of it.
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John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote: But for close-in work, nothing beats a 1911.
Very true!
Unfortunately, I have trouble controlling a .45 - too heavy and too much recoil for me. But my Browning Hi-Power 9mm is a decent compromise, I think.
I've thought seriously about the Mini-14 and its many cousins, but the recent frenzy about Obama banning weapons drove the prices far beyond anything I'd consider fair value. That's not likely to change anytime soon, so I'll just have to wait until I find one at an estate sale or swap meet where I might find a seller who's ignorant of current prices.
Will Rogers never met me.
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Roger Wright wrote: But my Browning Hi-Power 9mm is a decent compromise, I think
Most armies think so too. And whether you believe it or not, they're mostly professionals.
People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.
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I used to be quite good with this one.[^]Great effective range, 1000 - 1300 rpm, what do you want more?
Even the stormtroopers[^] use it, but are sill not able to shoot a barn at ten steps.
Edit: It also was used against acid-blooded xenomorphs.[^]
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