Ruger American in 6.5 Grendel

[Rosecrans1]

The thing that makes the Grendel RAP heavier is the AR mag stuffed with ammo

The biggest "thing" that makes the RAP heavy is the long varmint barrel. I have 5 rounds loaded while hunting. With a Viper PST scope, the AR mag and 5 rounds and a sling, it is indeed heavier than "most" deer rifles that several camp full of hunters I shared seasons with in Pennsylvania use or have used in the past. I'm not knocking or bashing the RAP. I own one in Grendel and one in 223. The price verses accuracy point is the best value in the 6.5 Grendel and a few other calibers I'm sure. But a 24" heavy barreled rifle is NOT a mountainous-forested region big game gun for covering large distances. The Greatest Generation GI carried an M1 Garand everywhere with close to 100 lbs of pack & ammo in WWII and Korea. I'm amazed at how the GI's of old did it.
I'm a Boomer! When I hunt our mountains and ridges, either walking or driving for deer/bear, I go lite! If I stand hunt, the RAP or my 7mm08 heavy barreled 700 is with me.