When it comes to weight, I'm torn. I have a 10lb 308 that certainly sits rock solid at the shot. But carrying it in the mountains is not a joy. On the other side is my 5lb 13oz 84M. Carries great, shoots well at typical ranges, but not as stable. Although I'm not convinced the difference has a functional impact on big game hunting performance. I want to look into moving weight around. Weight near the center of mass does little to contribute to stability, while weight away from the center is helpful for stabilizing. Think of adding a pound to the magazine; will that stabilize it much? No. Add that same 1lb weight to the end of the barrel. It would be very stable! What I want is to remove as much weight as possible from the center of my 84M (scope, rings, bolt, trigger guard, magazine, etc.) and add it to the end of the barrel. Not sure how yet, but that's my thinking. I want the best of both worlds.
