Mossberg 100 ATR in .243 Win.

[alien319]

Just bought a new Mossberg 100 ATR chambered in .243 Win. It's a decent little rifle. I haven't shot it yet but it has a damn fine trigger. It has the new Lighting trigger. Very good break. The bolt throw is also fairly smooth. I mean it isn't like a Model 70 or Remington 700 or T/C Icon but it is a decent rifle for the price. $299. I hope it shoots decent. I'm not looking for 1/4" groups, I'm looking for anywhere between 3/4" to 1.5" groups. I think it will at least hold an inch at 100 yards. Also picked up some new slugs to see how they shoot out of my Mossberg slug gun. Right now it is sighted in with Hornady SST's in 300 grain, 2 and 3/4" load. I Purchased some more of those but also some Winchester Partition Gold's in 385 grain, 3 inch magnum load. The Winchester load shoots the 385 grain slug at 2000 FPS. The Hornady shoots 300 grain slugs at 2000 FPS. We'll see how the new slugs group!

[angeluscorpion]

I'm a huge fan of my 100 ATR. I had it out yesterday shooting and with just regular Remington Core-Lockt ammo I was hitting a half inch to an inch groups at 100 yards shooting in the prone with just my bipods.

[SongDoghunter]

I had one I picked up on a trade in 30.06. It shot just fine but was a bit on the light side. I'm used to the heavier guns like the 700's etc. For the money, probably one of the best values on the market. I saw Dick's had them on sale for around 300.00 yesterday. If you were getting that type of grouping at 100yards, I'd hang on to that rifle!. That's equal to or better than the Remingtons and TC Icons. They guarantee MOA accuracy right out of the box which is a one inch group at 100 yards.

[alien319]

Sweet, yeah my Remmy 700 is wonderful but it is a little heavy! Like 14 Pounds due to the stock, scope, bipod.

[RenegadeRN]

Have you gotten it out yet? I KNOW...it's been raining...ALOT the last two days. No time on the weekend when it rains. But if the Mossberg rifles are like their shotguns...then you got a great, sturdy firearm that should shoot fine. So it doesn't shoot 1/4 inch? Unless you wanna spend lots more to get that extra 3/4 inch you not only don't need it...but in most areas I have hunted in eastern NC you aren't gonna get much more than a 100 hard shot. Minute of deer is fine!

Don't ask me why...coz I ain't even sure most of us need a reason to buy...but have been thinking of getting me a .243...or maybe a .260. Do you ever just get this overwhelming feeling you gotta have something new even though the old works wonderful? I've shot and owned most everything on the .30-06 case line (except .338-06) from .270 up to .35 Whelen. (OT, but if you ain't shot anything bigger? .35 and up will put a hurtin' on you! LOL!)

I liked 'em coz there's not much to necking the brass up or down to fit the bill if you reload. And lots of times the powder for one can be used for the other. Seems like the same is the case for the .308. So what made you pick the .243? More for predator hunting, but can still take larger game?

[SongDoghunter]

I'm always game for another rifle. But you know what? I'm just not into all these multiple calibers. I have several guns in about 4 calibers that I'm perfectly happy with. .270, 30.06, .308 for deer hunting are about all I can ask for. Recoil is not an issue for me with any of those three and as Renegade mentioned, 400 yard shots just are not there for me. I have .204 and .223 AI for coyote hunting and that about takes care of that. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with these new rounds like the 30 TC(I own one), but for me, I just don't have the time or money to invest in multiple caliber rifles that have no specific purpose not already filled by one of these mentioned. Multiple dies, powders, brass etc. adds up in a hurry. I shoot a lot with my deer guns and coyote guns, but have never really enjoyed just shooting a bunch of handgun or rifle rounds at a range. When I do shoot, I shoot long range for top accuracy and consitency.

30 years ago, I never went deer hunting while the guys were running dogs without my shotgun. Now, I never put it in the truck unless I'm dove hunting. I just have a couple of rifles that I am comfortable with and am confident in my ability to shoot them consistently and accurately that I'd rather carry them than a shotgun. I've lost count of the deer I've killed out of my stand that rogue dogs ran by me. But as mentioned earlier, it's just nice to have a new gun around to admire if nothing else!

[alien319]

I agree, I love getting new firearms. Renegade, I actually picked the .243 for my wife. She likes to shoot my .308, but it is sitting in a McM A4 stock and weighs about 14-15 pounds with all the goodies. So that soaks up a lot of the recoil. I was worried that the .308 in another hunting weight rifle would be too much. I like the .243's versatility. I can predator hunt and I can big game hunt with it. Although I would like to get a .204 Ruger or a .223 for that. We;ll see!

[RenegadeRN]

At one time I had my fatherz/grandfatherz hand me down and up until a couple years ago I hunted with it and that's all I had. After 'gradyatin' college I got me a 'gradyatin' presento...new rifle. Everyone I talked with recommended the .270. I folded and have never been happier. It doesn't have much recoil compared to others I have shot and that was a plus. And it is accurate. So when the time came last year and I was wanting a semi-custom (don't have thousands for a custom) I looked at the .30-06 case and saw a necked up .30-06 to .35cal was the .35 Whelen. After researching I found out that it can and does take anything on the NA continent to include big bears, buffalo, moose, etc. (Not that there are moose in NC) I'm not recoil sensitive either...but you knew you shot something!!! LOL!

I'm with Doghunter...Ifn you got a couple cals? Then you got all that's needed for most big game...specially in eastern NC. Plus with the myriad bullets out there in all weights? You can tailor the load. I didn't want a lot of dies, powder, extras lying around just to have. I liked the fact that .30-06 brass could be necked up or down as the case may be. The big thing I see, Doghunter is right, is that you get proficient with a couple rifles. Proficiency is the key to all shooting.

Alien...you hang on to that Missus...especially if she likes to shoot and hunt. Mine hated just about everything I liked to do in the outdoors. That's OK. She cooks and likes what I bring home. Let us know how that rifle did.