Ok, I didn't come up with the extra money to buy a superlight 7-08 barrel, shame on me. But I did come by a great shooting 7-08 barrel through a trade. I had a friend over lately and I was showing him my Topper 30-30 (which I just LOVE because of it's lighter weight barrel), then I handed him my 7-08 (with a lamanated stock) and his first remark was 'That's a pretty heavy rifle isn't it.' Which was my inital reaction also, but I guess I had gotten used to it. Now I know what a synthetic stock will do for it, but can I turn down the barrel to a lighter wt profile? I have a gunsmith friend with a lathe that has done work for me before and he owes me a favor. I would imagine that Quick has done something like this, but what has been tried and how has it turned out? I'd like to end up with something that feels like that great old Topper. 44 Man