I bought a new bar in 308 a couple months back. It shoots good, fits me well and has a pretty decent trigger. I like the looks of the older ones/Safaris better, but like the weight savings the mk3 offers. I don't know if the long action weighs any more than the short action. I just looked at the specs like you did.

It might be lonely at the top, but it's a bitch at the bottom.