I have two fairly light rifles; a Browning X-Bolt Stainless Stalker in 300 Win Mag and a Tikka T3 7mm-08. Both are easy to carry, whether chasing elk in CO or deer hunting in SD or elsewhere. One of the most balanced rifles I own, is a heavier Ruger All Weather M77 short action 358 Win.
Just my opinion, but a good balanced rifle, sometimes trumps a lighter rifle, especially when strapped to a backpack. I use a Crooked Horn Gun Commander on my packs for carrying my rifles. The ability to quickly adjust it's position on my pack's shoulder strap makes a huge difference in comfort, regardless of which pack I use. By the way, I'm an older hunter (soon will be 66 yrs old) with a bad back, nerve damage in one leg and an arthritic knee on the other. Getting old sucks, but it sure makes one creative in finding comfortable ways to hunt.
