7 1/2 lbs is a heavy 7600.thats what remington prints but ive weighed all of mine and have only one, (in 243) that weighs 7.7 lbs my whelen carbine only weighs 6.66 lbs perhaps if you load it up w/ a scope and rings it would push the 8.5 lb mark but the weights will vary depending on the bore size and rifle or carbine and stock work. dont go gettin all humped up over it. you carry your crow bars and ill carry mine. and if your all amped up after runnin up a mountain or doin jumpin jacks or whatever it is you do theni doubt a few ounces are gonna make bit of differance