Of the 5 goats I've shot, 3 were with a 7-08 and 2 with a 358STA. The STA was certainly more impressive in the wound channel, but all goats went about the same distance regardless of rifle used. The heaviest rifle I have goat hunted with weighed around 9lbs full up. I only used it one year.
I prefer to keep my goat rifle under 7.5lbs with scope, sling, and ammo. No way would I choose to carry an 11lb rifle up a mountain. I'd use it if it was all I had, but I'd curse it non stop.
