I am wanting to buy a higher end rifle with a synthetic stock and stainless barrel. I already have a 270,243 and 7 mag. I definently don't want another 270 because everything I've shot with the one I've got ran forever. I have only killed one deer with the 7 mag and was very impressed with the performance of it. Don't know what it is about the 243 but everything I've ever shot with it either was DRT or didn't go far. I found a used tikka 7 mag with a vortex diamondback scope for $550 but just not sure if I'll like all the plastic on it. The other gun I'm looking at is the weatherby vanguard S2 stainless in either 7 mag,308 or 243. If I had my choice and I got the vanguard I'd really like to have the vanguard in a 25-06 but unfortunately they don't make the stainless version in a 25-06. I'm kinda leaning more toward the vanguard in either 243 or 308 since I've found out that I'll be having a little boy in April and those two calibers are something that he could start out shooting and be able to handle. In my opinion the vanguard seems like more of a well built rifle but would like some advice on caliber and which rifle is the best for the money.

I vote 308. Can be downloaded with 125/130 gr Barnes TTSX bullets for very little recoil. Great for kids and very deadly

Well....based on your logic you should buy a 223 and then they won't run at all.

A 270 won't kill a deer quick but a 243 will, so you really want a 25-06. That makes perfect sense.....I really don' t think you'll be able to tell the difference in any of them.

Weatherby, 308

hate to say this, but 270 and deer running off is probably due to premium bullets that are too stout for Southern whitetails. Had a kid who had the same problem few years ago, and was going to buy even heavier constructed/more expensive premium loads. Said everything he had shot had run off. Suggested he buy a box of Remington CorLokts. He did. 3-4 yrs later - says nothing has run off. I think with the 270 a lot of the loads/bullets are designed for elk and such and shoot thru the smaller deer here. Lighter constructed bullet, ala the 6.5mm bullets (for 6.5 Swede and 260 Rem) would do a LOT better on Southern whitetails, imo.

And for the record, I am not a 270, but then you probably deduced that...

If you don't buy the tikka 7 mag pm me I want to look at it

I've owned both guns and both are great guns. To me I would look at the 7-08. Just thought I would make it harder on you lol. I would lean more towards to weatherby tho. Only thing to me about weatherby is weight of the gun and no clip. Tikka is a good woods gun being light and 20" barrel. Good luck. Not sure there is a bad choice

Tikka 243....

Weatherby has recently come out with a light weight gun. It would be worth looking into.

X2
7-08 Weatherby. I have the Tikka in .308 and it's very handy and accurate, but I think I'd like the Wby708 even better...

I have the Tikka 308 and love it great accurate shooting gun .

As crazy as it sounds and as much as it doesn't make sense that was my experience with a 270 and 243. It doesn't make sense to me either. The particular bullets I was shooting in the 270 in my opinion were not premium ammo. One was 130 powerpoints and 130 federal fusions. My step dad told me to try 150's but I assumed that if 130's weren't expanding a 150 definitely wouldn't but he shot nothing but 150 round nose core lokts and said he hardly ever had one run and if they did they didn't go far.

On running deer, it all depends on where you hit them and on the particular deer. Most of the time they will be DRT if you break shoulders or the neck spine. I shoot for shoulders because it makes for a bigger target. Knock out their running gear and they won't go anywhere. Lung shot deer sometimes go a ways no matter what they are shot with.

I wouldn't really call a Tikka or a Weatherby S2 high end. For high end take a look at a Cooper Excalibur.

Have you looked at the Remington xcr rifles. I really like mine.

I have looked at some on armslist and really like them. Did the XCR models have the same trigger recall as some of the regular model 700's? I have been kinda staying away from the 700's due to the trigger recall unless it's one of the older ones because I really don't know what years pertain to the recall or how to tell if they don't.

i love my tikka 270 any cup and core bullet is best on deer imo. get the vanguard s2 in 257 weatherby

My son and I have had no problems with Fusion ammo on deer or hogs.

I think that my main problem is that I was shooting all of them right behind the shoulder so I didn't mess up the shoulders and I just wasn't hitting anything hard to make the bullet expand.

They usually all run a ways when lung shot.

I own a tikka .270 and it is extremely accurate with cheap rem core lokts, 130 gr. I was never crazy about the stock and recently upgraded to a bell & carlson. Gave the rifle a better feel....really like this setup.