Speaking as someone that owns a CDL SF in 7-08 I would not buy another one (sorry)

[ol][*]It is annoyingly heavy to carry even with the fluted barrel etc (you might not have to carry it as far?)[*]The stock is incredibly slippery right where I carry it, as soon as it gets a little dusty or wet its like a bar of soap! - None of my other rifles have ever been dropped, I have dropped the CDL about a million times!!! (2 scopes damaged or destroyed, major scratches on barrel)[*]The stock scratches very easily and started looking rough quite quickly (probably not helped by the dropping[:@])[*]The 'cross bolts' are cosmetic inserts only as far as I can tell...[*]Stock compressed which meant the action screws started to interfere with bolt (needed pillar bedding)[*]Accuracy out of the box was poor - needed trigger lightening & the above bedding improvements to approach MOA
[/ol]This was not an el cheapo rifle to start with - people seem happy to accept this level of quality with a standard 700, but this is supposed to be top of the line? Many other very nice rifles at that price point (A-Bolt? Kimber?). Limited edition - so what!! limited to "as many as we can sell" ads nothing to value or resale

As for 7-08, its a fine cartridge which will destroy deer sized animals with ease. Reasonably flat shooting & very managable recoil. I dont like hard kicking rifles at all, but I would not hesitate to use a very light 7-08 espec with a recoil pad like the R3 one. Ammo cost is a major barrier to the .260 at least here in NZ .260 is around twice the price of 7-08 here.

Anyway - good luck with your choice!