Crosshairs, you are exactly right! I recently lost 10# to get down to 5'-10"/182#. I can go up & down the mountains in Montana fine w/ a pack & w/o the rifle. Add 10# in your hands, side hilling, a bit of snow & it gets real old real fast. I like my little 7 1/4# M70 in .280. I shoot it quite well & it's easy to carry all day. My 9# .338 isn't so fun.

Well, I have to differ, when I lose weight I can pack more, do more and I still don't mind a 10 lb. rifle and I have never used a sling much...Guess thats a matter of opinnion and I'm not 50, I'm 69 and running...fortunatly I just lost about 25 lbs and it sure helped on my recent snow bound Bison hunt...I packed my 416 with scope, no sling.