Thanks to everyone for their advice.  I decided to stick with my Springfield Garrison and have it tuned up. 

I am finding it to be more difficult to carry my rifle in the correct and safe manner while walking to and from the shooting area. Would it be acceptable to install a sling on the rifle so as to carry it on my back, but still pointed up with the action open? Naturally the sling would be removed when actually shooting.

I'm a fairly frequent reader and could offer a lot of advice, but I'm still convinced that finding books on your own is an important part of the process. But I have a counter question for you. Why are there so few pictures in books (Especially by modern writers). I recently read a book about musicians 2000 . Not a single picture. Not one. Even though the book was written in 2013 or something. Is it hard to get even free images ?

Elk antler is so porus it is quite a challenge . I make knife handles from deer and stag antler and made some grips for a rem 1858 from stag. They were small enough and thin enough as two slabs to be similar to knife handles.
I have never done anything as big as a one piece SAA grip or a S&W  N frame target grip. My bigest knife handle grips were all blind stick tang drilled into the antler so movement has not been an issue.

I have heard that some folks “heat and flatten” in order to get a large piece. But Once you cut a slab from an antler you open yourself up to movement.

A lot of folks make a rough slan then stabalize it with a lot of superglue, resin or epoxy. There is a new one ingrediant expoxy that is cured by UV lamps, this holds some interesting promise since you can give it time to soak in before curing it.

When i cut, sand or polish any horn or antler I use bentilation (it stinks) and ALWAYS wear a quality respirator like this

https://www.lowes.com/pd/3M-Reusable-Sanding-Valved-Safety-Mask/1000244145

An N-95 mask is not enough.

I usually polish on an 8 inch cloth wheel on a grinder, using red rouge and mild pressure. You can burn the antler so be carefull.

Oh, and if you work it after stabalizing, the glue will emit vapors also.

Hope this helps

Prof marvel

I don't remember seeing this the first time through.  Yeah, kind of a head scratcher - I'd like to know the outcome, too!