Never had a problem using a rifle with a barrel longer than 26". Few run around the woods with shotguns with 26 or shorter barrels.
It's the hunters that get weak kneed when the pick up a rifle that weighs in between 12 and 15 pounds. It's all mental block. the same hunters will put on a pack with a elk quarter on it and pack it while supporting a big grin.
I'll grin with the elk. But a 12-15 pound rifle will not work at all well for virtually any of the western and northern hunting I've done.
Matter of fact, I am certain that some of my biggest and best animals would never have been killed if I had been hampered by a rifle like that.YMMV.
