Lately the Remingtons I am hearing about have been a little hit or miss, but don't write them off just yet after one bad review.

I good alternative might be in the Savage line. They have a great reputation and the American Classic is one of their prettier ones.


Tikkas have an incrediable reputation and look good as well.


Go to a Cabela's or similar store and handle a few guns find one that fits you that is the key. I like the reputation and look of the Tikka but it doesn't fit me right so though good for someone else its not good for me. Find your rifle them come back and ask our opinion on it.

I would rather have the CDL over any Mountain soda straw barrel rifle...How they call a rifle that is as unhandy and bulky and heavy as a 700 mountain rifle is a "mountain rifle "is beyond me.

I have had a 700 CDL ( matte finish barrel/action, with satin finish stock) in 7-08 for 4 yrs. now. It is one of the best out-of-the-box shooting rifles I've ever owned. It really came on when I started handloading for it. As far as the stock getting slippery when wet, I don't understand that at all. The stock is very well checkered and I've never had one bit of trouble with it. My action screws have never moved, nor has the wood compressed. If I had trouble like that with any gun, it would be sent back to the factory. I don't know how you compress wood using the required 40 in. lbs. torque on the action screws.
I feel that the 7-08 has better reloadability potential than the 260, but that is certainly a personal choice. Either round is quite capable of killing deer at the ranges you discussed.
Whatever your choice, good luck with your decision. I think you will find reloading a very rewarding adventure should you get involved. Lots of good info and help here..............

There are quite a few fine rifles out there at if you're in the 1000 dollar range, maybe consider 1200, I know quite a few other rifles probably enter at that point.

I hear ya on the smaller cartridge now and bigger later, also right now there are quitea few new rounds proving themselves, waiting a few years should only help clarify which succeed. If you are planning to own more than 1 rifle, then yea I would avoid a .30-06, and specialize more, ie a 7mm-08 and a .300 wsm or so.

I think the 7mm-08 is a great choice, you could certainly pick worse, but not much better for what you're talking of doing.

Definitely look at all the gun sites......and see whats on the market, winchester, browning, remington, kimber, sako, etc..etc... cooperarms, ruger?

I was seriously looking at a Savage until the guys at Cabelas steered me towards the Ruger M77 Hawkeye and the Remington 700 CDL. I will say that I've read countless posts singing the praises ofSavage rifles. The consensus seems to bethat they are one of the most accurate rifles out of the box and that AccuTrigger is perhaps the besttrigger system on the market today.Consider the fact that they are less expensive than most of their peers and it seems almost too good be true. The only negative thing I've read about Savage rifles is that some people think they're ugly. I'll be honest with you - when I checked them outat the store they didn't appear to be any uglier or prettier than most of rifles I looked at from other manufacturers. That's probably just my inexperience talking, but seriously - are there any noteworthyissues with Savage rifles that would make an experienced hunter want to pay a couple hundred more for a Winchester, Browning, Ruger,Remington, etc?

Pros: highly accurate, very affordable, AccuTrigger
Cons: ???

I would go with the 700 CDL.....I have a Remington 700 BDL 7mm-08 and I absolutely love it. It has a 22 in. barrel as opposed to the 24 on the CDL, but hunting out in the midwest I would probably go with the 24 in. anyways.

They are no cheaper then Ruger less then Winchester,Browning and Remington. I think their bolt is too complicated and I don't like their floorplate system or the quality of materials it is made of whether it is a floorplate,magazine or blind . I don't like they feed and no big fan of the accutrigger. Their wood stocks look plain and their synthetic stocks are the cheapest put on any factory rifle.

CS- I'm agonizing over the same Remington models CDL SF and the mountain LSS
Did you make a purshase yet? what did you decide?
Any thoughts?
thanks
Frank

I was in the same situation you are a few months ago.
I was dead set on a 7-08 for good reason.
I also refuse to buy another Remington.
I was left with savage tika weatherby or browning. Browning had nothing I liked in that caliber, savage has the wrong rate of twist for the 7-08 (1-11.5) I decided on the weatherby vanguard that I put a aftermarket stock on . It comes with a 24" barrell which is great.
The gun is probably the most accurate gun I have owned.
If I were you I would look at the weatherby sporter or sub moa in 7-08 or the vangaurd for 399.00 and put a custom stock on it like I did.
Heres the sporter and sub moa.













The winchester featherweight is another, I just didnt like its looks
It has a 22" barrell and the correct twist, 1-9.5








heres my weatherby vanguard 7-08 with a knox axiom stock on it

Personally I would go with the 7mm-08, just more ammo choices out there. I would poke around on Gunbroker and see if you can find a Remington Model 7. It is sort of the in between gun on the CDL and Mountain rifle. I have had 2 model 7s and they are great shooting guns..