I have a Ruger M77 in .308 and a Ruger #1 in 7mm. The trigger on the M77 is heavy. The #1 is perfect. They both shoot very well, although I am a hunter, not a marksman. The choice of gun is very personal to your size, needs, and perceptions. I haven't read every post, and this may have already been said, but, even though you may need an aftermarket trigger, etc, Ruger's come with integral scope mounts in the price of the gun, which may offset some of the cost of the trigger job. On the scope side of things, I like Leupold, and for a specific reason beyond being a quality scope. They have variable eye relief. I hunt from a tree stand. When I mount my gun, I have about an inch or so of "play" in the distance from my eye to the rear reticle, without losing my field of view, or seeing the "black ring". That's my 2 cents.

Ruger does have the best scope mounting system on a bolt action rifle(I have always wondered why others dont do it). And the mauser action is a solid performer.
I owna M77 7magand although I still prefer a savage(for reasons in your post)the Ruger 77 is a mighty fine huntung rifle.

Okay. I'm getting down to the nitty gritty.

I've about decided on the Remington 700 SPS. I can't decide whether to get the black on black for $428.00 at Academy or the black on SS for $504.13 at Walmart. I could pick up the black on black at Academy tonight if I wanted, but I will have to order the SS one at Walmart.

I've about decided on the Nikon Monarch 3-9x 40mm scope with the BDC recipticle in Matte finish for $288.88 with free shipping at www.4scopes.com

I thought about getting the scope in silver if I got a SS barrel but the BDC recipticle doesn't look like it comes in silver yet.

Anyone have a specific recomendation for scope rings for that combination? That site has a special to add Leupold STD base and rings for $40 more.

I still haven't 100% decided on the caliber. I know the 7mm Mag will reach out and touch whatever I would need it to and really in the big picture $10 more for a box of shells isn't going to make that much of a difference. I've shot both calibers in different rifles and can't recall one kicking any more than the other but it's been some time ago and I only remember squeezing off a couple rounds with the 7mm Mag vs. shooting a few boxes in .30-06.

I may stop by the local shooting range and check out the Ruger M77 in 7mm Mag that is black on SS because I didn't ever try one of those out to see how it felt. It is barely used but they have had it for several years without selling it. They are asking $475.00 for it so that might be one of the reasons it hasn't sold.

Thanks for all the replies. It might have confused me as much as helped me but it for sure made me feel like I was exploring all the options.

http://theopticzone.com/detail.aspx?ID=2343

Here it is for 245plus shipping. Link courtesy of MichealT.

That one for $245 has the Nikoplex recepticle. I was thinking the BDC recepticle would really help if I ever needed to take a long shot.

Here's the BDC recepticle -

It has the little circles under the centerline to help with distance shots.

Here's the Nikoplex Recepticle -

Here's another pictureof the BDC Recepticle -

Here's a link to a review of the BDC recepticle - http://www.opticstalk.com/forum_posts.asp?fid=1&tid=4029

I found the BDC at theopticzone for $269.00 + $12.95 shipping so that gets to $281.95 so it is a tiny bit cheaper there.

Cool man I didnt realize you were still looking for that reticle. Just trying to help you save a couple $. And by the way its not a recepticle although it would be funnier if thats what they were called. (just kiddin)

Oops. I don't know where I got recepticle. I guess I was thinking a recepticle for your eye or something.

I went and tried out some more rifles this afternoon and am even more confused. The Remington 700 SPS rifles just look too cheap and they didn't have the same feel as the BDL did either. I found some Remington 700 BDL rifles with a synthetic stock and they much felt better than the SPS to me. The blue barreled BDL's weren't that bad at just $440 with a 22" barrel but the SS BDL was $625 with a 24" barrel. What difference would the longer barrel make?

The rifle that felt the best this time around was the Browning A-Bolt in black with a wood stock. The 45 degree bolt was pretty neat also. The action on the Browning felt the best out of all of them even though it just had the 45 degree bolt. The action on the SPS was very stiff.

I looked at prices on ammo as well and the 7mm Mag ammo is really only about $6 - $7 a box more. Off the shelf the choices were 140, 150, 160 and 165 grain on the 7mm and 150, 165 and 180 on the .30-06. My heart says 7mm Mag, my brain says .30-06.

I really liked the Browing A-Bolt with the wood stock. It was $599 at Academy. The Remington BDL's were at my local rifle range.

5 pages of posts and I'm almost back to where I started. [&:]

A longer barrelhas abetter marginfor error, and also handles some hotter handloads betterespecially when useing aslower burning powder better.

Go with the Browning in 7mag
I can tell that you will regret it if you dont.
Although not mypersonal choice, theyareexcellent rifles.

A longer barrel, of 24" or more, is required on magnum cartridges, and it goes like this, 24" for standard length magnums, 26" for the Weatherby Magnums and Remington Ultra Magnums, and 28" barrel for the catridges, based on the .378 WBY Mag case and that includes the .378 WBY. Stick with that criteria, and they will obtain optimum performance. A shorter barrel, like 22", in a magnum chambering, is just a waste of money, the cartridge will never be able to obtain magnum performance.