ORIGINAL: schoolcraft
... But I've never had the chance to shoot the CDL.
In that case, I'd highlyrecommend shooting a CDL first. The R3 recoil pad really
is as good as advertised. My buddy & I shot my CDL vs. his BDL, both in .30-'06, and there was a huge difference in felt recoil.
I really don't want to get down to flipping a coin.
Hey, that's not the end of the world if you do! Making a decision this way can be great, if it helps you get over the endless comparisons, and just move on with your life.
If it helps any, I'll primarily be hunting whitetails and hogs. The hogs here get bigger than average. A 400-500 pounder is not uncommon.
Anyway, I've finally grown up enough to want a rifle I'll hang onto for good, and I would really appreciate ANY pros or cons you could give me on the rifles or calibers I listed.
Schoolcraft
Again, any of the cartridges you've chosen will get the job done handily, and you'll never have problems finding ammo. I'd be with JamesB, however, in shying away from the 7mm Rem Mag., on account of the muzzle blast & recoil. If that doesn't bother
you, however, go forth boldly & enjoy your rifle: I'll never say the 7mm Mag won't git 'er done!
Also, either of those rifles can be passed-on to your
great grandchildren, if you'll do even a little cleaning & maintenance. The best part of a rifle, IMHO, are the stories you can tell your kids about them: the hunts, the stalks, the shots... As for choosing, I'll stick with my stand-by answer and tell you to shoulder each with your eyes closed, & see which one settles into your shoulder the best.
Good Luck,
FC