Balance does have a lot to do with how the rifle "feels".

I had an SP1 once-upon-a-time. A very light, handy full size rifle.

Then I bought an A2 HBAR. There isn't really a great deal of weight difference but, like your 10/22, it's all forward in the barrel and it really upsets the balance. The HBAR carrys and feels like a boat anchor. It's really my least favorite rifle. Someday I'll either get the barrel turned down to .gov profile or buy a .gov profile barrel for it.

FWIW, the HBAR weights about the same as my Garand. And the Garand is not a heavy feeling rifle. Because it's balanced, and the HBAR isn't.