Weight, when lugging a rifle afield is one thing. Weight, when shooting off-hand on the range is another. I agree with Rollinb about a short length of pull making a heavy rifle easier to hold. That lets you tuck in your arms so that you're not reaching out and upsetting your balance even further. I built my Hawken, for targets, to fit me, with a 13" LOP, and it weighs 11 1/4 lbs! I'll have to admit, though, that after too many years of cranking machines and splitting wood, my shoulders are wrecked, and it's too damn heavy now! :cry:
I once took it hunting...only once! :roll:
BTW, Rollingb, people WERE smaller back then. We have their skeletons to prove it! :wink: If I were living in the 18 th century, I would be of average height! :cry: :cry: :wink: