Jeff you and Dober are nibbling around a key issue for me...this rifle weight/recoil balance thing.
Yes you can go up in powder capacity, likely beat it in velocity.But in a rifle of 7.5-8 pounds the Mashburn stays pleasant enough to shoot...not suggesting it does not recoil of course. It does, but the powder charges and bullet weights at Mashburn velocities are just below that threshold where it becomes "excessive".
My rifle weighs 7 pounds 14 ounces scoped. Not a fleaweight,but light enough to lug, even in mountains.Running the numbers it should kick more than it does;but that Echols stock makes it behave like a pussy cat at that weight, even with full house 175 gr loads.
