Got one two years ago in 7mm. The only thing I dislike is the 26" barrel. It makes it a little hard to carry it while stomping the woods. Other than that, the thumbhole stock is very easy to useand makes it easier to shoot than my '06. If you stand a lot while hunting, it really cuts down on felt weight. Felt recoil is really reducedwith the decentpad and the thumbhole. With the BOSS and handloads, I have been able to get 5 shot groups at 100 yards of 0.281".

The M1000 has the varmint fore-end and does feel thick. The hunter has a thinner fore-end and it's checkered. It does not have the stainless heavy barrel that the M1000 has and it is blued.

My cousin has an FFL and I got it at cost. I shot a stainless stalker in 7mm with the 24" and was going with that until he told me the price difference was about $150.