hey i am gonna get a rifle in a couple weeksand start hunting out of state with a rifle next year. i was tryin to decide on what gun to get and was thinking about getting a rem 700 adl in either 7mm or 30-06. what caliber would be better and whats the difference between a bdl? also is there a better gun that i can get for around the same price. $400. thanks for the help

The bdl has a floorplate thate opens so you don't have to load and unload the gun through the action.I prefer the 7mmremmag as it shoots flatter than the 30-06 with manageable recoil.

What are you going to hunt with it? Either will handle anything in North America with the proper bullet. One thing to consider is weight if you're going to be climbing mountains. For that reason, I'd prefer the '06. The difference is about a pound with similar rifles but a pound can be major weight after an all day jaunt searching for elk. The '06 has a two inch shorter barrel (usually) and the action isn't as beefed up as it would be for a belted magnum like the 7mm. The 7mm shoots a tad flatter, but it's subjective in my opinion. The '06 with 150 or 165 grain bullets shoots plenty flat.

Now, for the rifle, look at the Howa 1500. It's cheaper than the Remington ADL and is really one fine rifle. You can get a blued/synthetic for around $345.00 and a stainless/synthetic for around 399.00.

Actually most makers use the same receiver for both the 30-06 and 7mm rem mag with a different bolt face dimension.As a result the weight difference is usually 1/4lb to 1/2 lb due mostly to the longer barrel on the magnum.

Do you have any experience with shotguns? The reason I ask is that having a knowledge of how to handle recoil could influence your decisions on caliber. As long as you aren't hunting anythin bigger than deer I would recommend nothing bigger than a .270 or 7mm-08(.243 up to .270). They will do everything a 30-06 or 7mag will do (on deer sized game) but with a LOT LESS recoil. That could make a BIG difference in your effectiveness and confidence. New shooters tend to be somewhat sensitive to recoil.