First off Ive shot CAS for 15 or so years off and on and I'm having a rough time making a decision and hope ya'll can help me out with it. I just recently decided to get back into CAS and decided to get set up again with a Uberti 73 sporting rifle instead of a 24in Yellow Boy. Around these parts 73's are not something you see at funshops very often, but I did run across a beautifully engraved 73 Uberti carbine for a heck of a price and couldn't let it go. The rifle has been hand engraved by a well know local engraver(we think) and I'm going to take it to him when he gets back to make sure its his or engraving job or atleast see if he could tell me who did it.
Anyway my problem is I really like the gun, but I cannot get over it being a carbine and really want a sporting rifle. First off regardless on what the end decision I make I really doubt Ill sell the rifle, but I just don't think the carbine will grow to be my favorite match rifle which means I really doubt Ill shoot it much. As I see it now I'm really leaning towards buying another 73 Sporting rifle and having the stock, lever and front ends swapped around which would give me a awesome engraved 73 sporting rifle and a 73 carbine that I could keep for a back up or sell and recoup some cost from the swap.
Ive been looking around a lot and have run across several 66's in my price range that have a octagon barrel. I've also been looking at the Chaparral 73 which are cheap and I think might be a good donor for the parts I need since a smith would have them both apart and could look over the Chaparral before putting it back together. Neither the 66 or 73 would have the pistol grip stock, but its not a deal breaker to me. I know what I want is to buy another 66/73 and put together my dream gun and really guess what I'm wanting is someone to say that's what they would do in my situation, but I also would like to know if I'm crazy and should just leave well enough alone.
If I do go ahead and do the swap itll set me back from my goal alittle, but I always end up with two sets of cowboys guns in the end anyway. I'm also waiting for my youngen to get alittle older where hes ready to start the game so if I ended up with a nice carbine Id be alttle above the power curve there. I know I could pick up a barrel, mag tube and forend and put them on, but from what I've seen that's going to put me real close or atleast in the ballpark of what another used rifle is going to cost.
So what do you guys think? Am I crazy or am I on to something here?