Description
Our Howa Gamepro 2 243 Win is a Gamepro 2 bolt gun in .243 Winchester. It comes with a 22-inch barrel and a black Hogue OverMolded stock. A Nikko Stirling GamePro 3.5-10x44mm scope comes with it. It sells for $676, and it’s in stock. If you want one rifle for deer, pronghorn and varmints, this is a good place to start.
Howa Gamepro 2 243 Win features
The Gamepro 2 is a ready-to-hunt package. It’s a Howa 1500 in a Hogue OverMolded stock with a Nikko Stirling GamePro scope already mounted, so you’re not shopping for glass and rings separately.
The 1500 action is made by Howa Machinery in Japan. It’s a two-lug, push-feed action with a one-piece bolt, and the three-position safety lets you run the bolt on safe so you can unload without firing.
The HACT (Howa Actuator Controlled Trigger) is a two-stage trigger. There’s a light take-up stage, then a crisp break, which makes it easier to shoot well from field positions.
Howa Gamepro 2 243 Win specifications
- Model: Howa Gamepro 2
- Caliber: .243 Winchester
- Barrel length: 22 inches
- Twist rate: 1:10
- Stock: Black Hogue OverMolded stock
- Overall length: 42.25 inches
- Trigger: HACT two-stage
- Safety: three-position
- Optic: Nikko Stirling GamePro 3.5-10x44mm scope included
- Scope mounted on the factory base
- Price: $676
The included scope
This rifle comes with a Nikko Stirling GamePro 3.5-10x44mm scope. 3.5 to 10 power is about right for deer hunting: wide enough at the bottom for close shots and enough magnification for longer ones. Zero it at 100 yards with your hunting load and confirm at the distance you expect to shoot.
What the .243 Winchester is good for
Winchester introduced the .243 in 1955 by necking the .308 case down to 6mm. It’s been a favorite first deer rifle ever since. It covers two jobs well: varmints with light bullets and deer or pronghorn with 90 to 100 grain bullets. Recoil is mild enough for younger and smaller-framed shooters.
Common loads run from 55 grain varmint bullets to 100 grain hunting bullets. A 1:10 twist is the traditional rate and handles that full range of factory ammo. If you want the technical side, the SAAMI centerfire rifle standard covers chamber dimensions and pressure. Here’s the history of the .243 Winchester too.
Is this the right rifle for you?
It’s for the hunter who’d rather buy one box and head to the range than piece a setup together.
Best .243 Winchester loads for this rifle
Every rifle has loads it likes. Buy two or three different factory loads, shoot groups with each at 100 yards and stick with the one that groups best. For game, choose a bonded or controlled-expansion bullet. Practice ammo is fine for paper but not for animals.
Hunting rules are set state by state. Start at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hunting page for federal lands, then check your state agency for seasons and caliber limits.
Your first range trip
Set up at 25 yards first so your first shots land on paper. Then move back to 100 yards and adjust in small steps, firing three-shot groups and letting the barrel cool between them. Once you’re zeroed, shoot from sitting and kneeling too, since that’s how most field shots happen.
Howa Gamepro 2 243 Win vs similar Howa rifles
Not sure this is the exact setup you want? These are the closest matches in our Howa lineup:
- Howa Gamepro 2 22-250: chambered in .22-250 Remington, $676
- Howa Gamepro 2 22-250 Green: chambered in .22-250 Remington and a green stock, $676
- Howa Gamepro 2 308 Win Threaded: chambered in .308 Winchester, a green stock and a threaded muzzle, $676
- Howa Gamepro 2 308 Win: chambered in .308 Winchester and a brown stock, $676
You can also browse all Howa Gamepro 2 Rifle Packages, Howa Rifles With Scope and Howa 243 Win Rifles, or see every Howa bolt action rifle we stock.
Care and storage
Keep the Howa Gamepro 2 243 Win unloaded and stored somewhere dry. Don’t leave it in a soft case after a wet hunt; let it dry out, oil the metal lightly and check the action screws now and then.
Ordering and FFL transfer
Rifles can’t ship straight to your door. When you order the Howa Gamepro 2 243 Win, we ship it to a federally licensed (FFL) dealer near you. You fill out ATF Form 4473 there, pass the background check and take it home. The ATF questions and answers page covers federal transfer rules. Some states and cities add waiting periods or other limits.
Howa Gamepro 2 243 Win FAQ
What caliber is the Howa Gamepro 2 243 Win?
It’s chambered in .243 Winchester with a 1:10 twist.
Does it come with a scope?
Yes. It ships with a Nikko Stirling GamePro 3.5-10x44mm scope.
Is the barrel threaded?
No, this version has a plain muzzle. Look at our threaded options if you plan to run a suppressor.
What is the Howa Gamepro 2 243 Win good for?
It’s at its best on deer, pronghorn and varmints.
Get the Howa Gamepro 2 243 Win while it’s in stock
The Howa Gamepro 2 243 Win is in stock at $676. Add it to your cart, choose your FFL dealer at checkout and we’ll get it moving. Questions about fit, caliber or ammo? Contact us and we’ll help you pick.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.