I have a very nice ruger #3 in .223 sitting in the safe and like the gun the way it is but I was wondering...

I'd like to have a smaller/short stock 243 and have been playing with the idea of getting a NEF, or maybe one day a ruger #1 but then it occured to me, maybe I could get the #3 I have re-bored to 243. Is this possible? a good thing to do to this #3? and can any gunsmith do this? has anyone done this before? and can you rec a good gunsmith to do this?

thanks

Dave

I believe the 223 caliber in a #3 is somewhat desirable. I think you could pocket a few $$ if you take your time to find the right buyer and then look for a 243 priced right

Keep or sell the # 3 as a collectable it is worth some money as there were not as many made in that caliber changing the caliber will cost you more in resale value than a H&R rifle will cost you if you do some serious price searching. Go for the H&R and leave the Ruger # 3 as is. Its too sweet a gun to be messed with. Plus with the H&R you can have extra barrels fitted to it at a later date in different calibers so you can try out almost any decent caliber for about $100 for new barrel and fitting. Its well worth it. Not as easy or simple as an encore rifle but somewhat cheaper and just as good a rifle and as accurate.
Jim L

Keep or sell the #3 - it would be a shame to rebore it.