What barrel contours are you running?

The longer the barrel the more diameter you need. I'd go no less that sendero or Remington varmint.

I think I'd actually lean towards at Palma or light Palma as the taper is better on them for the length you're looking at.

Harmonics are a bear at that length.
 
The Bartlein Carbon #4 Bull Sporter makes a really nice profile, in my opinion, for a good-shooting pack-and-carry hunting rifle. The one in the attached photo is 26".
 

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FWIW, going too heavy on barrel contour often relegates a rifle to a lifetime in the safe.
Fun to shoot off the bench, hell to carry day after day hunting..

A Bart #3 or 3B is as heavy as I go and the 3B gets heavy.
Just like any adventure, you need to train to be able to do these things…rifle weight is just another variable.
If you go too light, then the rifle will kick more and you may not get the accuracy required.
It's a compromise and you need to weigh up what you want. Accuracy or lug ability.
I agree with you, a 12lb or heavier gun gets heavier as the days go on, but if you've trained for it, with pack weight thrown in, it should not be so hard.

Cheers.
 
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