How light can one of these types of guns be made? I'd rather give up some distance that haul 14 pounds over hill and dale.
Bob, I think the point of those guns is so you don't have to hike with it. Link your scope to the satellite....download the GPS and National Weather Service data....fire.....go get animal.

I had a buddy bring a 30+lb .50 BMG cougar hunting this year....after the first river crossing and mountain climb in the Queets rainforest he was cursing his choice of rifle. But as the weight drops, the recoil will increase. And it appears they are firing some cartridges that pack a bang, so they've probably found a tolerable weight for both packing and recoil.