Hi,

New member from Sacramento, CA.
My interests are rodents, diggers and prairie dog towns. As a kid, I used to crawl the Idaho deserts with my falling block .22 Short... nowadays, too old and too much lard for crawling.

After a whole lot of research, my Winchester is going to be the Model 70 Coyote Light in .243 chambering. Other than the blued receiver, it has everything on my list of "wants".

Bad news: Winchester and everybody else, has nothing in stock. I called Rick at customer service today. He was most helpful, but said the next shipment is April 2016, which I probably wont be one, so most likely July 2016.

If anybody knows where to steer me.. please let me know.

Not familiar with rifle. Reno show is happening in two weeks. I would bet you could locate one there.

A.223 would be my choice for varmints.

44

Hello bg......welcome to the Winchester place.

Welcome to the Winchester Owners Forum bgavin !!

Thanks!

After much ballistics research. the 243 is the one that consistently come up the winner.
Second place for me is the 22-250, with the 223 coming in 3rd.

I'm stuck in San Diego for the next couple of months, so the Reno show is out of the question. I also do not know the legal requirements about buying a rifle out of state, bringing it to CA, etc.

I assume this is done the same as mail-order, FFL to FFL.
My local shop wants $100 + full CA sales tax on new guns shipped to them.
The tax is a nit... just another CA annoyance.

I'm concerned about not finding a Coyote Light in 243 at all.
According to Winchester, July is the earliest shipment I could order a new one.
I'd be willing to take a used one in mint condition if I can find one.

Ok Brother, I'll keep my eye open for some info while I'm there.

Perhaps I can report seeing one 'yesterday at high twelve'.
44
Siskiyou 297

XLIV wrote:Perhaps I can report seeing one 'yesterday at high twelve'.
Siskiyou 297

Yep.

Unfortunately, I had to go with a Savage Model 12 Varminter Low Profile.
After speaking to a number of dealers, and Winchester customer service, it became obvious I would be waiting a year or more. Not acceptable.

The combination of heavy stainless varmint barrel + stainless action in 243 is scarce.
Howa 1500 was close, until a call to Legacy Sports confirmed they are no longer "stainless" but "Cerakote". A deal breaker for me. Even the barreled actions are now Cerakote.

I found a dealer in Phoenix who had 4 in stock. Ordered and paid for, now waiting to do the FFL Two-Step when it arrives in a week. They sure have their hands in your wallet here in CA.