This depends entirely on your preferences and your sensitivity to weight. I am a big guy and even on long hunts, I always preferred a bit heavier rifle, because, for me, they tended to be more stable at the point of shooting, especially after hiking long distances or shooting immediately after moving (stalking). Also, a heavier rifle will have less felt recoil. This is a consideration if shooting a long-range, high-velocity round, with lots of recoil. So, in point of fact, there is NO "ideal" weight for such a rifle. For most people, probably 7.5 to 9 lbs is good. I prefer the upper end of this. My Elk/ Mule Deer rifle was about 8.5 pounds, loaded. You might prefer a lighter weight rifle. It is up to you.