Eight power scope on a nine pound .243? It's a sixties groundhog rifle. Why mess with it? I believe Wallack wrote for the gun press as well as building rifles. It isn't an Owen rifle, but it is a piece of sixties rifle history and not too ugly. If it shoots into a ragged hole at 100 yards, just enjoy it. Of course, if you insist on the "trapshooter mentality", go ahead and take it apart and build seven other rifles with the parts.