Bighorn, yep I don't doubt it. Too much recoil for balsa wood, plain and simple.

Doc,
As much moose meat as I've put away with a .358 winchester, It's hard to beat Ruger's 338 rcm carbine. It already does what you're looking for: a short action "micro-express" rifle.

6.5 lbs with open sights, 7.5 lbs scoped. Holds 4 in the magazine with a simple flip of the mag follower.

Scope is sighted to 225 grain boat tail bullets at 2650.

Open sights are sighted to 275 grain swift A-frames at 2300 fps.

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