Looking for advice on project rifle (1885)

[PeterF.]

I've taken a notion to try to build/assemble a rifle ... essentially like a current Browning/Winchester 1885 LoWall, except I want it to be a HI-Wall (I just like the looks of the Hi-Wall action better) ... the end-product being a rifle that LOOKS like a standard HiWall, just more "petite", like the LoWall.  Probably going to go with either .22 LR or .223.  Anybody out there got an idea as to the best way to approach this (without getting too much into "Why the heck would you want to do that?)?  In particular, what might be an appropriate action to start with? TIA. PeterF.

[marlinman93]

That's a tough choice! A Hi Wall action is going to be hard to find at a reasonable price, so you've really restricted your chances of building a budget gun right off.
 I search quite often for these, and have only come across a few over the years that were usable as is to build up a gun.
 As for calibers and barrels. I'd suggest either buying a Green Mountain barrel, or looking for an original takeoff barrel. The .22 Hornet would be an excellent choice, if small bores are what you're interested in. The GM barrels go for just over $100, so they're reasonable, and delivery time is fast!
 If you were to consider a Low Wall, it would not only be more reasonable, but actions are much more common to find. I see complete "sporterized" rifles in my area a few times a year, in the $250-$300 range. The few Hi Wall actions I've seen were all over $600, and they were only actions needing work.
 Hope this helps.

[PeterF.]

Thanks, Marlinman; just the sort of advice I was looking for.  Do you happen to know if some HiWall type actions were particularly smaller sized than others?  For instance, I know that Falling Block Works made several different sizes; and that original Winchesters included both "thick walls" and "thin walls" (but I don't know if the "thins" were otherwise smaller).  If I was willing to go with a LoWall, I'd just get a modern Browning/Winchester .22 LR, Hornet, or .223 (actually I had one of those); but I really prefer the HiWall.  This is a long-term project, so I'm willing to wait & look for the right thing (if it's out there).  Thanks, again.