ATR , what type of barrel and stock would you recommend? I wont be sad to see that plastic stock go. It would be nice to have a real flat shooting rifle but , still capable of carrying it.
Possible to keep rifle under 8 pounds with diff stock, and barrel?
Unless you have a high round count out of it, I would not rebarrel it until it shows signs of troubles.
A McMillan stock would help it alot as a decent stock with proper bedding and some trigger work will likely make the rifle shoot better than most guys are capable of. No offense meant at your skill, as obviously I have no clue how well you can shoot, but typically unless you either want to dump a pile of cash or need an ultra precise rifle to enhance your skill, you won't see as much improvement as many like to think.
Under 8 lbs in a relatively heavy recoiling caliber won't help your shooting, and also means some trade offs, ie light contour barrel or light weight options in the stock, or both.
There is no magic rig, either it is a mid to lightweight hunter or a precision rifle, seldom do the 2 completely coincide.
With a stock and some work on it I would expect it could shoot well under 1/2 moa with decent homegrown ammo and trigger time.
If given a choice of barrels Rock Creek , Krieger, Lilja, Pacnor, RKS would be where I would steer you. All are great barrel makers, there are others, but those are my favorites to work with.
I would think hard on the thumbhole stock, some of them can be not too forgiving in some situations, Ie prone, with gloves on etc.
