Phoneman, All is not lost! Consider using the next year to build a lightweight,long range, big- bore. Screw a light contour barrel(maybe in an AI) on your action,and drop it into a good light synthetic stock. Now you've got a easy to carry, long range(easily a 500yrd.rifle),big bore. It may become your go to, all purpose hunting rifle. Though some may consider it "boring" to be a "one rifle" hunter! wink memtb

PS: Sorry to hear that you did not draw, "goats" can be fun to hunt!

Last edited by memtb; 07/15/16.
You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel

“I’d like to be a good rifleman…..but, I prefer to be a good hunter”! memtb 2024