The extra work in the gym theory sounds good but somehow it doesn't work out in practise. I humped a 22 pound M-60 and 30 pounds of belted ammo ( along with a pack full of supplies) in the highlands of Vietnam for six months but now that I am old enough to receive Social Security and still hiking the wilderness of Alaska I prefer a lighter rifle. In my opinion the short, light little Ruger Alaskan in either 416 or 375 is the best wilderness rifle anyone has ever offered.