Howa 6.5 CM lightweight or standard barrel/action?

[khafen74]

I'm looking at getting a Howa Hogue rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor. I'm leaning towards the lightweight barrel/action, because I like the idea of packing less weight around and this will primarily be a hunting rifle. Are there any drawbacks to getting the lightweight over the standard barrel/action that I should consider?

 

[std7mag]

Eh, a 22 is a 22...
But why carry extra weight if you don't have to?

 

[Caseknife]

The lighter the rifle, the more disciplined you have to be in your shooting technique. That being said, I have the Howa Alpine in 6.5 Creedmoor and it is great rifle and a breeze to carry. None of my rifles have slings and are always in my hand so the lighter the rifle the less fatiguing it is to carry. The lighter profile barrels will tend to heat quicker during range sessions, but shouldn't pose a problem in hunting situations. Too bad the Alpine has been discontinued.

 

[Fire_9]

If it were me, I’d opt to carry the extra 13 ounces. If the barrel lengths were the same it’d be a no brainer to go heavier but I’d still lean towards the standard weight.