why set back and re-chamber the .243? take up reloading, and produce ammo with the same ballistics/recoil as the 6mmx45. a round-nose 100-grain bullet at 2,450/2,500 fps would be very light recoiling. swap in a pachmayr decellerator pad, drill out the butt stock a bit, and add some lead. if you get the weight of the rig up to 8.5 pounds, the recoil with a 100-grain bullet at 2,500 fps should be about 7 foot pounds. the load should be deer capable on out to 150 yards or better.

If weight is an issue too, then the very best option, I think, is a 6x45 in a small action gun. As I mentioned, I have two of these. One of them I built for my daughter to learn to shoot. It is an Interarms Mini MarkX. I made a special laminated stock from really light curly maple, used an 18" Douglas No. 1 barrel and a Burris compact scope. The entire gun only weighs 5-51/2#. It has essentially no felt recoil when used with 75 - 85 gr bullets. With a premium bullet in that weight range, or a 95 nosler partition loaded down a little, I don't believe there is a lighter recoiling, lighter weight adequate deer rifle available.

I also have a 6x45mm, a Savage 24V that was rebored. In 1994 or so, it cost $135 to get the work done. You might consider getting an NEF Handi-Rifle rebored 6mm, leaving the .223 chamber in place.

Tom

TomP
Who did the rebore job for you? A few years ago I investigated having it done, and the costs approached a new barrel.

In 1975 I sent an 03/A3 barrel to Atkinson (I think. He was once in business with Marquartte) and had it rebored to 338/06. It is accurate and I think it only cost about what you paid for your rebore job. I sorta think Atkinson is dead now.

Sometimes a good rebore job is the answer. It removes the requirements for rebedding the stock or buying a new one, and the blue job, and other things associated with a new barrel.

After reading the posts, I think the 223 class of cartridges is the best route when handloaded with a good big game bullet. Be sure to check the twist so that it will handle heavy big game bullets. The next best seems to me to try to load down the .243 to about the level of the 223 or similar 6MMs. That would be the cheapest route.

Jerry

[ 03-01-2003, 07:13: Message edited by: JerryM ]

If you're going to go the .223 route (and there isn't anything wrong with that). I'd suggest getting a couple of the NEF rifles. Weight isn't excessive but enough to further cut down on recoil and they have a reputation for good accuracy despite some other faults.

http://www.hodgdon.com/data/youth/index.php

Take a look at the youth loads listed on the Hodgdon website. Like others have suggested, using reduced loads should be the best alternative. That way they wouldn't have to learn to shoot a new/unfamiliar rifle. Those reduced loads look pretty good. They have reduced loads listed for the 30-30 and .243 that you mentioned (as well as most other cartridges).