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Browning Safari medium Heavy barrel .243

Sako Collectors Club Discussion Forum

adirondacks

Well-Known Member
More info:
I have a Browning 243 heavy barrel sako action rifle I acquired several years ago. I used to shot prairie dogs with it when I lived in Utah. It was wicked on those dogs. Used to vaporize them 2 -3 hundred yards out, no problem. Also was a great coyote gun, made some unbelievable shots on them a few times too. I scoped it with a 4 -12x Nikon AO. I never thought much about how good a gun it really is. I traded a guy two Ruger 10/22's for it (Mannlicher stocked, old collector ones) but still thought I got the better deal. I think it is made in 1969, first digits in serial number. I've had it out of the stock and see no evidence of salt issues. What is the years to worry about salt wood. I've seen Browning's that are rusty and pitted right on the stock line from this problem, but have never had any on my 243. If anyone has expertise on these Sako / Brownings I'd like to learn more etc. Thanks for your input.
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ADK's
I
 
I have one identical to yours which I believe is a 1968 model. Like yours, it vaporizes prairie dogs. Just last Sunday I was shooting with some friends at informal long range targets. I used the Browning .243 HB to "kill" a 2-liter soda bottle at 825 yards (the wind was blowing and it required nearly ten feet of windage!)
If it doesn't show salt, then regardless of the year of its production, it's fine. Some wood went through the salt curing process and, for whatever reason, didn't absorb problematic amouts of salt (maybe the blanks were in the middle of the pile or something?)
 
Have any of you that have shot HB 243's in both the Browning and the Sako that showed one or the other to be inherently more accurate than the other? I've been tempted on several occasions to buy a Browning, but that Stepped Barrel contour always worried me that the Browning would generally be less accurate than the pure L579.
 
Bill:

I have a Browning HB in .243 and it's plenty accurate. As compared to its Sako counterpart, the Browning barrel is not quite as heavy and is 24" vs. 23" on the Sako. However, I have no problem getting half-inch groups from it. I have a friend who has the Browning HB in .22-250 and his gun is also fully as accurate as my Sako .22-250 HB. The Browning is a classy rifle that is roughly equivalent in grade to a Sako Deluxe. I woundn't hesitate to buy one if you get the chance.
 
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