George,

That really sucks - these look like a good idea. We'll see how this one does. So far it's gone "bang" in the bucket... I'm sure it will get a couple hundred rounds of 22 and a box of 20 gauge run through it this weekend.

I was really close to getting him a bolt action 22 single shot until I saw this. A Savage with a nice peep on the receiver was looking good... I was a little disappointed that the Marlin 15Y was up 50% in price from the last time I bought one, as that was what I first set out to get. I have no intention of getting him a centerfire rifle for a few years - probably not until he graduates from high school. He may borrow one of ours in the meantime.

If it was me, I'd put make these in 6mm BR with 1:10 twist for the youth market instead of 243. My wife's heavy barrel 1:10 Hart barreled 6mm BR is phenomenally accurate, nada for recoil, and handles 100 gr bullets fine. She doesn't care to have the chamber deepened to 243...

I'll post how the Rossi does.

Tom