I am looking to buy a .223 rifle for woodchuck hunting. I walk & stalk rather than set up in one location so overall weight is a major consideration. When looking at Remington, Savage, Tikka, CZ & Howa rifles I see overall weight between 6.2 to 10.5 lbs. I can't lug a ten pounder around but would try a heavier rifle if a couple of extra pounds made a siginificant difference in accuracy. I have read that a barrel doesn't have to be 26" long to be accurate and that 22.5" is more ideal. A long barrel is less noisy than a short one. A heavy weight barrel helps to dissapate heat when firing multiple shots but I seldom fire more than two in a row and often go an hour or two between shots. I know that a wide heavy stock is more stable off a bench and is able to be bedded better than a thinner fiberglass stock and that overall weight reduces felt recoil. I am shooting off a bi-pod or natural rest so a bench type stock isn't an advantage.
To summerize:
A CZ American 22" barrel @ 6.2 lbs. vs a Savage 12BVSS 26" barrel @ 10.5 lbs.
One shot out of a cold barrel.
How much actual difference in accuracy?

The little CZ seems to be a very good compromise. I'm told it is quite accurate in all the varmint calibers. I share your feelings about the Savage and also the Remington varmint rifles. They are terrific from the bench but not to lug around the fields. On a hot day the weight gets to you pretty quickly. Most of my rifles are better suited to the bench, but I keep a couple walking varminters. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

Heavy rifles are great from fixed positions. My walking varminter/woods loafer (.222 Remington) goes about 7.5# with a 2-7X scope.

Lugging around a 9-10# rifle is not my idea of fun, and is not necessary for my type of varmint hunting.

All the CZ rifles seem to be great shooters and extremely good values.