Hey to Steve!
I figured you had made that move final to Houston Co., so you still spend some of your time in Eads?
Can you still use that range near your house? It was one handy set-up.
I bought the model 70 in .243 WSSM as a antelope rig, I even had a new Stainless/Black Synthetic Browning A-bolt in 25.06 in my hands the same day! There was a $500.00 difference in the out-the-door price though, and as it turned out I think the A-bolt would have been hard pressed to shoot better with factory ammo than the .243 WSSM...
Bummer about the scope mounts - it's harder and harder to find things locally in Memphis.
Check this out. I saw something the day I bought the model 70, and went back and bought it the next payday. I bought a new-in-box T/C Blue/Synthetic .50 cal New Englander...! It had been sitting on the dealers shelf for 3+ years. I've got both a Huntsman and Sidekick inlines, but missed the feel of an old sidelock muzzleloader. I can't wait to smell the sulfer!
- perklo