The trick to get a very light handy in 243 was to buy the youth model. The barrel was shorter and had a rapid taper. Super sweet. That would also require a stock swap. The choat plastic stock was lighter and provided an adult LOP. That could be ordered after market or from H&R. Most customers never did the home work. The locals knew all the tricks. You could walk right in the front door in Gardner Mass. No BS, paranoid security.When I was a kid, forgot about these, I had a .223 and the next year a .243. I remember them being heavy compared to the .30-30 lever I had before them. But as an adult I’ve got a thick walled .45-70 NEF and it’s light compared to most rifles.
I had forgot about the CVA guns.
The Henry, all Henries for that matter, are built like a tank. I dont think that company is run by gun people or hunters. I wonder about CVA. I believe they have a scout II with specs that read good.