You could buy a new Barrett Fieldcraft in 7mm08. It has 21" barrel, same Bansner stock, and is fully bedded and will shoot great. At 5.25lbs you'd have plenty of leeway for a 20 oz scope.
If weight is your main concern, I would not build on the Howa unless you swap the bottom metal for their plastic DBM system. Even then, it will be a bit heavier than a standard 700SA BDL. Howa/Vanguards have a lot of extra metal on the action and the bottom metals are steel vs. some 700 aluminum options.
Cartridge wise, the velocity difference between the WSM and SAUM is about 100 fps give or take from the book. Do you know if your bullets will max out your mag length? That could limit powder space in a WSM or SAUM if the bullets are very long. The SAUM is roughly equal to the WSM if it had a 4" longer barrel. WSM with 20" barrel = to SAUM with 24" barrel. 20" barrel is lighter than a 24" barrel. See what I'm stepping in?
Oh yeah I'm up to my ankles in it. Lot's of choices and trade-offs to consider. One reason I'm starting to favor the SAUM or 284 is that COAL issue. Do you know if you get the HOWA barreled action with the 20" #1 barrel, does that come with the lightened bolt and action/dbm found on their Alpine rifle?
atl5029,
I had the bolt face opened up from .473 to .500 to use 9.3X64 Bennecke brass necked down to 6.5mm with the case blown out. It now matches a .264 Win Mag volume. Out near the muzzle the metal weighs less than an ounce per inch so I used a 24" barrel ending with a Terminator T2 brake. With a Swarovski z5 5-25X52 in Talley rings the rifle weighted 5 lb 11 oz on a postal scale.
Maybe off the subject, but you guys got me thinking...
What does a R700 action weigh? Both long and short if anyone knows.
Custom guys have their data on their site. Thinking of Ti and wondering how much weight I actually save.