the funny thing is all the guys wanting light rifles are generally from states without the ruff terrain common to the west, if you hunt terrain that is nasty enough to need a light rifle chances are you are gonna need to be able to make a long shot, a heavier gun will shoot better in field conditions. I have a 270 win with a #5 krieger barrel, its a little over 8#'s without scope, I used a lightweight firing pin and shroud, as well as talley lightweights that cut at least 6oz off the gun, to allow more in the barrel. I could loose another few if I went with factory bottom metal instead of williams. The gun carries just fine, if you can't carry a 9#+rifle with scope all up, you need to work out or something, I have no problem and I hunt where there are real mountains
