I've 99.9% decided my custom rifle will be built in .300 Win. Mag.

As an info junky, I fully understand that I will get the best velocity out of a 26" barrel.
In trying to keep the rifle from being excessively heavy, I'll be using one of the McMillan EDGE stocks.
Hill Country Rifles, which will be making the rifle, has said that the combo of EDGE lightweight stocks and a 26" barrel makes for an EXTREMEMLY muzzle heavy rifle....i.e. poor balance.

A 24" barrel supposedly balances things out quite well, but I'm obviously not going to get everything I can out of the .300 Winny.

Opinions? Shave and inch or two off of the barrel length or go with a McMillan NON-EDGE stock to add weight to the middle/back of the rifle for balance?