E, I really liked Jim F... do you see him anymore? If so, give him my regards. IIRC he was managing a backpack shop around Truckee?
My idea of a great, all-around rifle weight is 7.25 - to no more than 8lbs all-up.
At least 15 years ago when gunsmith Dave Gentry was still with us, he and I were discussing rifle weight in his shop. He's one of the progenitor's of the lightweight rifle from "back in the day." He told me he took one of his sub 7lb wonders on a sheep hunt and hated how it didn't settle down well for the kill shot. He subsequently went to a 7.75lb all-up rifle.
I'll stay with a sub 7 lb rifle for a sheep hunt, but I do know exactly what he was talking about.
