New 243..Ruger American Pred or Savage 11 Pred

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ghilliedup

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Im wanting to get another 243 for coyote season & general range days out to 750 yds. I cant decide between these two, both have a DBM, free float barrel, 22" Heavier barrel & accutrigger. The Ruger is $200 less but the Savage includes a Nikon 3-9 (that would go nicely on my 17hmr) so they are really the same price in my opinion. I do like the Savages mossy oak brush camo stock better than the plain green ruger stock. The Ruger has a nice picatinny type scope rail that looks decent. Twist rates are similar at 1/9 ruger and 1/9.25 for the savage.
**Im asking about the Ruger American Predator,

Anyone have any thoughts to sway me towards one or the other? Or maybe a similar priced 243 from another manufacture that also has a med/heavy barrel?

Thanks
 
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I should note: If Tikka had a faster twist than 1:10 that would be my pick, followed by a Thompson Center BUT they both have 1:10 barrels and from all my research and experience with a 1:10 marlin its no guarantee that they will work well with a Hornady 105gr match HP which is what I intend to shoot (unless for some reason it doesn't work well on the dogs).
I guess I could stick with a 87gr Vmax and a 1:10 (at 3200fps its no slouch!!) but I would really like to be able to shoot the longer/heavier match bullets if they will do the job on the critters

FWIW the T/C ventures with the 5R rifling has made a believer out of me, ive shot a personal best .12" for 3 shots at 100yds with one in a 204.Ive backed this up with multiple .2x's and this was all off a single sandbag so I think its probably still capable of better! Its just too bad the T/C & Tikka 243 has the 10 twist
 
I'd be tempted to try the RAR as cheap as they are and as good reviews as they're getting.

I recently bought a Tikka 243, haven't shot it yet but if it's like the other 2 T3's I had, it should shoot pretty well. I will run 95 NBT's mostly in it for an all purpose hunting round. I've also heard the 10 twist won't handle 105's
 
I have both of these rifles. Savage predator in the 22-250 and Ruger predator in .204.
Advantages of the savage over ruger:
- Shoots better
- Oversized bolt handle is pretty cool.
Advantages of the ruger over the savage:
- Stainless matte finish, rust resistant as well as easier to clean.
- The mauser action is far better and feeds every time.
- weighs less.

Although I have both rifles I would not trade or sell either. The Savage is a lights out shooter but heavy and noticably front heavy. The Ruger shoots well but excels in other areas. The only complaint I have about the Ruger is the stock checkering on the forearm area is really rough and I use shooting sticks and they really chew on my sticks.
 
Originally Posted By: lonerezzieI have both of these rifles. Savage predator in the 22-250 and Ruger predator in .204.
Advantages of the savage over ruger:
- Shoots better
- Oversized bolt handle is pretty cool.
Advantages of the ruger over the savage:
- Stainless matte finish, rust resistant as well as easier to clean.
- The mauser action is far better and feeds every time.
- weighs less.

Although I have both rifles I would not trade or sell either. The Savage is a lights out shooter but heavy and noticably front heavy. The Ruger shoots well but excels in other areas. The only complaint I have about the Ruger is the stock checkering on the forearm area is really rough and I use shooting sticks and they really chew on my sticks.

He's talking about the Ruger American predator I believe, not the M77 Predator, and he means the savage 11 predator package gun, which I haven't handled. I have had the savage predator max 1, and still have the m77 haweye predator, which sounds like the guns you're talking about. They are both nice but in a different price range than the OP is talking about if I'm understanding correctly.

Bottom line is, both Ruger and savage have named too many different rifles "predator" and it's a little confusing.
 
yes, im talking about the "new" Ruger American Predator, its the one will the synthetic olive green stock. The Savage 11 predator is also a newer configuration, its more or less a standard model 11 with a med/heavy barrel & camo stock

The biggest drawback on the Ruger is aftermarket stocks should I ever decided to put a nice laminate stock on it, I don't think anyone makes one for the American rifles where the Savage 11 has lots of goodies avail

thanks
 
Originally Posted By: Anton Chigurh

He's talking about the Ruger American predator I believe, not the M77 Predator, and he means the savage 11 predator package gun, which I haven't handled. I have had the savage predator max 1, and still have the m77 haweye predator, which sounds like the guns you're talking about. They are both nice but in a different price range than the OP is talking about if I'm understanding correctly.

Bottom line is, both Ruger and savage have named too many different rifles "predator" and it's a little confusing.

Speaking of the predator MAX, what did you think of it? I spotted a used one in 260Rem that looked like it would be a great long range setup with a nice 6-18x scoped sitting on top of it. Weight wise is it noticeably heavier to pack around for calling?..If the 243 wasn't such an outstanding multi use round I would really like a 260 for the cool factor.
 
oops. yep, i was talking bout different rifles all together. Seeing how the stainless option is out I would go with the SAVAGE. All my Savage rifles are good shots, even the dreaded BMAG I bought on one of last years blackfriday deals. Savage model 12FV, Savage model 10 predator, and Savage Bmag will out shoot all of my Rugers, but I am still a Ruger fan.
 
I had a predator 10 max in 243. Cool looking gun, camo stock and fluted barrel, as mentioned above they are nose heavy. Most people who have them say they shoot lights out, mine didn't really. Around moa with the better loads I tried. I built another 243 semi custom and also wanted a tikka T3 in 243 for a truck gun, so I sold the savage to my brother.
 
Ya I have read some reviews on the predator max & it seems like some people weren't all that impressed considering they are quite a bit more expensive than other savages, most of what I read did report good accuracy buts that's about it.
 
Originally Posted By: TheshedhunterSavage 11 is a nicer rifle than the American IMO.

The Savage 11 is a pretty nice rifle for the price considering for $540 it comes with a $160 Nikon scope included, having the option of upgrading stocks or even barrels/calibers in the future is a big plus for it too...Ive never shot a Ruger American but ive heard nothing but great things from them and at $350 its hard to pass up...I have worked the bolt in both guns and the Ruger was the better of the two for what its worth. Neither of them compare to my T/C Ventures bolt though, in fact the Tikka T3's bolt wasn't any better than my T/C which really surprised me
 
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Ive never shot the savage, but I have the ruger american in .243. I picked it up at wal mart for $360 and for the price i cannot believe how accurate it is. I really like it. Plus, you just cant go wrong with a ruger.
 
Well, since I am left handed I am left out on both. I am really liking the Ruger American Predator and if they make a left hand model as rumor says, I will have one in 6.5 Creedmoor. I do have several left hand Savages and love them all. I am not too happy with some of the Savage Tupperware stocks though.
 
Originally Posted By: K-22hornet.SO, why not get the TC?

I have the Icon in 243 and it does shoot very well.

Plus, TC has a $75 rebate on the Venture.

It has a 1:10 twist barrel, id like the option of shooting 105's & some 1:10 will shoot them, some wont. With my luck I would be in the wont category lol The 1:9 twist seem to handle the 105's better...probably silly b/c the 87Vmax would do what I want but I would like to try the heavy match bullets too

Plus its near impossible to find the 87's or 80gr NBT for the last year anyway, the 105 Hornday's seem to always be in stock
 


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