I built my daughter a Faux Alpine from one of those Sportsman's Warehouse $399 rifles. If you can find a used or new Howa Alpine stock and use Talley Mounts your rifle should come in right at 7 lbs scoped with your Leupold (I used a VariXIII 2.5-8X36). You can usually pick up used Alpine stocks for around $200, and they are worth every penny.

2019 Pronghorn
[Linked Image from live.staticflickr.com]2019 season by taylorce1, on [bleep]

2018 Mule Deer
[Linked Image from live.staticflickr.com]0f1e09c5-7622-472a-82d9-1a6d12e1ee6a-original by taylorce1, on [bleep]

2018 Whitetail
[Linked Image from live.staticflickr.com]64aa1b75-1aa7-43aa-b613-bb70b2780682-original by taylorce1/url], on [bleep]

Hogue & Alpine Stock
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2hvSUCg][Linked Image from live.staticflickr.com]
RfP2PHd by taylorce1, on [bleep]

Without Butler Creek Caps
[Linked Image from live.staticflickr.com]UQkWIsU by taylorce1, on [bleep]

With Butler Creek Caps
[Linked Image from live.staticflickr.com]YH4KIm1 by taylorce1, on [bleep]