Bug,

Thanks for the post. The heavy part is an issue sometimes. The first deer I took with mine was opening morning just at the crack of dawn-windy and spittin' snow. When the deer passed my ladder stand about 60 yards out it was too dark to see him, so I let him walk. When he made it out to about 175, he raised his head and turned it so that I could make out a nice rack against the horizon. What could have been an easy shot off the rail of my stand turned into a difficult off-hand shot turning to my right. Everything turned out fine, and I bagged a nice 10 pointer, but I don't want to make any more off-hand shots with the 9 pound plus rifle. But I'm not bored with mine yet, just starting to have fun.

Take care, TJ