Well I am NOT a pro shooter like Pat and Jessie, matter of fact I'm not even a semi-pro or Amature. I, like My amigo Pat, come from the M-14 world and don't mind a bit of weight, but if it is a carbine...read mini caliber coyote shooter/paper puncher it damn well should weigh like a carbine!
Now with that said, I disagree with BOTH Jessie and Pat. It matters not where the weight is as long as most of it is BETWEEN the pistol grip and where you put your hand on the foreend. This is the area we are "driving" when we swing the gun around. If the weight is too much forward of this it will swing slow and stop slow. If the weight is to the rear it will swing fast and stop fast, but it will be jittery under recoil AND when you stop it fast. I don't want a gun that ballances at the pistol grip...just in front of the mag well is good!
As for stocks, it is darn hard to beat a good old A1 or A2 stock, but they aren't "uber cool"
Matt Rigsby...this is for you, Jessie is sooo far above me in three gun skills and....well...EVERYTHING to do with any kind of shooting. Matter of fact I can't even see him he is so high on the pedistal he has made for himself