Going lighter to compensate for lot's of miles helps for me due to a few too many neck injuries from the years. I did find going too light was a problem on the whippy side, having to come back to the bird and the gun bouncing all over. But keeping in the 6 1.2lb. range (give or take a few oz.) seems to work for me. But for the waterfowling, laying about on the Missouri River, I like going up to the 7 1/2 lb. range for the 12 ga. Only having to carry it from the boat to the bank is still possible. At least that's how is feels this year!
