That's a fantastic hunting rifle. Not much to improve on, but here are some ideas for saving even more weight, for not a lot of bucks:
1. I've done a lot of backpack hunting, and I find that I'm happiest using a fixed power scope either 4x or 6x. Several reasons for this - the objective lens on the lower power scopes are smaller and tend to not bang on things as much, less to fiddle with when preparing for a shot, fixed power scopes have a great field of view and are lighter than equal-size variables, and so on. You will save some weight this way, and despite what some people say, you won't give up any functionality or accuracy. My recommendations: get some talley lightweight scope mounts (low), and a leupold 4x or 6x scope. You can find the scope used at a cost of $150-$200 if you keep your eyes open, and MidwayUSA had the talley mounts for $30 last time I looked. You'll save about half a pound this way. A lighter, smaller scope is a great benefit on a backpacking hunt.
2. Consider a different stock. A mountain rifle will drop right into the first generation of Remington Titanium stocks, and these will save you another half pound over a standard wood or injection molded synthetic. The Remington TI stock was (is) built by Bell and Carlson, and is a fiberglass stock. I have one on my mountain rifle and love it. To use the stock, you'll need to find a triggerguard, magazine box, and front triggerguard screw for a remington ADL rifle. These are available new from Brownell's or MidwayUSA, or I bet you could scrounge something up from your local gunsmith (that's where I got my ADL triggerguard when I switched to this stock). You can get the stock new from this source:
http://www.stockysstocks.com/servlet/the-190/Bell-%26-Carlson-Alaskan/DetailYou want the 2951 ADL long action black for $200. That's a great deal.
Anyway, just some thoughts.
