I appreciate the replies! Long story short, I don't think I'm going to trim as much weight off this rifle as I'd like just by lopping 4 inches off the barrel. I have purchased a factory sporter barrel and I'm replacing my old scope with one that weighs 10 oz. less. This should get me closer to the runnin' & gunnin' coyote gun that I envision. I'm kind of slow but I have learned that a 12 pound, 45" oal rifle is not what I want to drag around all day.