Getting back to the original question, which has probably been answered a couple hundred times already... I think the terrain would dictate which rifle to use. I took a 13 pound tactical rifle into the "juniper jungle" in the Kiabab area of Arizona last year and I was wishing the whole time I had a iron sight Model 94...or even a spear... This year I am going to hunt western South Dakota in the open prarie, much more suitable for the scoped rifle.
wardaddy, Brooke Burke ??? Yeowww !!! I had to go to church twice this morning after that post...
BTW: Pheasant opener was yesterday in South Dakota. My dad and his party limited out then and were half way there to filling it again today when I talked with him. Hot weather though, his dog got dehydrated and was vomiting, they did loose one...He hunted like a champ up to his last breath then gave up the chase...what a way to go.