Fanuke,
Balance is fairly subjective. What is right for one person, may be fairly wrong for someone else. The only thing that matters is what is right for
YOU !
For myself, since I carry my rifles far more than I shoot them, I like tham fairly light.
Seems I read once that Remington has stanardized contours. The original M-600, M-Seven, and Mtn rifle share the same contour (Or darn close, at least...) The M-600 Mohawk, M-660 and standard M-700 share the same. And then there is the Magnum contour. I'm sure there are exceptions, but that's close.
A few years ago, I purchased a M-Seven in .300 RSAUM, pulled the barrel and replaced with a M-700 bbl in 7mm RSAUM. I carried it opening day of deer season, shot a nice buck, and have not fired it since.
I'm thinking of putting in back to .300 Saum...
GH