A "new" modified Savage, with a new barrel for $1000 I'd pass...
What about the feed and magazine? BR's are much shorter and I believe the mag and follower would need to be modified, too.
I think you could have a superb custom 22br, 22ppc, 6br or 6ppc built for that price or maybe just a little more.
I have a limited production factory Ruger(1992-1993only) in 22PPC that is sweet to shoot(cost me $350 in 1996... still new in box). It's a heavy gun as are all Ruger VT's with the laminated beaver tail forend stock. I shoot 50 and 55 V-Max at 3600-3750fps, very accurate.
I have shot many 22 and 6br's and they were just as pleasant and nearly as accurate, some even more accurate. Big benefit to BR and PPC rounds is they use less powder so are cheaper to load. PPC uses small primers and if memory serves me correct the BR's use large primers.
DAA gave you good advice on the 22BR and PPC chamberings and their affectiveness as varmint rounds! Bang...SPLAT!!!! From zero to 300yds absolutely deadly, 300-500 still super. Beyond that the 6's are a better choice.
Just my opinion... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
