I went hunting for the first time earlier this year and was instantly hooked. I've lined up some whitetail hunts for this fall in Missouri and Tennessee and I want to buy my first rifle so I can practice this summer. I've been researching calibers and looking at rifles for the last few weeks and I think I've narrowed it down to two. Every day I switch back and forth between the two, so I'm hoping to get some opinions to help make a final decision. The two rifles I'm considering are the Remington 700 CDL SF Limited Edition chambered for 260 Remington and the Remington 700 Mountain LSS chambered for 7mm-08. Based on what I've read online it sounds like both of these rifles shoot very good and both of the calibers work well for whitetail deer. I also really like the way both of these rifles look. The MTN LSS is a little shorter and lighter, which would be nice. It has a laminate stock and I like what I've read about how they hold up very well in the rain. However, I love the walnut stock on the CDL SF LTD ED and I think it would be neat to have a limited edition rifle, although it's probably not really that big of a deal to most people. I enjoy tying my own flies and I think it would also be cool to handload my own ammunition, so I'm not worried about the availability of 260 Remington ammo. I'll just buy it online until I learn how to handload. I know I have to make up my own mind, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask for some words of wisdom from men with experience. I'm planning to spend some serious coin on this rifle, so I want to make sure I'm at peace with the purchase. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

If you want to make sure you have peace with your first rifle purchase, I think you should go with the 7mm-08 its a little faster and harder hitting plus it may be a while till you start reloading and the 7mm-08 will be easier to find ammo for. The 260 won't disappoint you with its work on deer though.

If you think you that you would have a hard time hunting hard and scratching your rifle I wouldn't get a pretty rifle. Rifles are tool meant to be used and abused.

Thanks for the advice. I thought about it some more and I think I'm going to compromise and buy a CDL SF in 7mm-08. I read a review of the MTN LSS and I'm concerned it might be too jumpy for me because it's smaller and lighter than the CDL.

I decided early on that I'm not going to worry about scratching the stock. If it gets beat up from good use, then so be it.

That is a couple of nice rifles you are considering. If a little extra weight does not bother you to carry around then I would get the heavier rifle. IMO you will shoot better with the heavier rifle. You picked a couple of good cartridges. Personally I would reconsider and look at a 308 or a 30-06. Simply because ammo will be cheaper, and you will have a bit heavier caliber if you decide to hunt anything else. The 30-06 is considerably more cheaper to shoot than the two cartridges you listed(also the 308). A lot of people think the lighter cartridges are just as effective on deer as the 30-06. Personally I do not believe they are. However a lot of people consider the premium bullets necessary in the lighter caliber's. Premium bullets are not necessary in a 30 caliber, which will make ammo even that much more cheaper. Tom.

Both are nice, surprisingly, half the time anyone mentions a remington on here I think its usually for one of their "ugliest models offered" prizes.....

Between the .260 and 7mm-08 I'd pick the 7mm-08 hands down I think, and quite sure its more popular than the .260 as well, something to consider, esp if you're new and don't handload....though I bet both will be around for years to come, but you never know.

Of those 2 rifles, I've never liked how laminates looked, though they are more hardy compared to wood stocks, ie with swelling and shringing.....but not as good as a synthetic. So that may be somethign to consider....

Also it looks like the laminate model has a shorter barrel.....in that case I'd def choose the 7mm-08.

Is the 7mm-08 faster than the .260? I'd assumed the .260 would be faster ie same powder pushing a smaller bullet. The 7mm-08 would be a better all around IMO.

You may consider a .270 win, .270 wsm, .30-06, .300 wsm, someone mentioned the .308......a good round, though I really like that 7mm-08 configuration amonst the .308 brotheron. Get the 7mm-08

I'd get the 7mm-08 or .270 wsm in the CDL SF hands down!
or hey why not in .257 wby?

PS- you plan to spend some serious coin on this/a rifle? how so? I think you'll be getting a great set up in the CDL SF in 7mm-08, though you may really consider the .270 WSM.

If you are planning to spend some coin....certainly spend the money on a quality scope.....

I just picked a a 700 CDL in .270 Winchester a few weeks ago.The trigger was my only complaint as it had a heavy trigger pull. For $20 my gunsmith worked the trigger to 3lbs and no noticeable creep or overtravel(to me anyway). I topped it off with a Nikon Monarch, mounted in Talley Lightweight one piece rings and bases. If you are notstuck on the CDL SF, you may take a look at the "plain" CDL(matte blue finish and satin walnut stock.). You could probably save yourself some cash and put it towards better optics.

Funny that you suggest the .257 Wby. I haven't seen it mentioned much in the forums I've read, but I do really like the looks of this LSS .257 Wby Mag Anniversary Edition:

http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/premier_dealer_exclusives/model_700_LSS.asp

However, it seems like it might be overkill for what I'm planning to use it for? My understanding is that the caliber is best suited for long range use and I'll most likely be shooting at deer well inside 200 yds.

I thought a lot about going with a 30-06 because that's what all my buddies told me to get, but I decided to pass on the 30 calibers for now so I'll have an excuse to buy a bigger rifle later on.

I did buy a scope already, but I'm not sure how good it is. It's a Cabelas Alaskan Guide 3.5-10x50. It's normally $310, but it was on sale for $145. I think the model is being discontinued and replaced with a new version, which explains why they're on sale. I asked the guy at Cabelas what he thought and he said it was honestly a good value at that price. I figured it would do the job as a first scope. It's seems to be pretty clear and easy to adjust, but what do I know. If it doesn't work out then I'll upgrade to a better scope next year.

So, unless I have a revelation this weekend I'm planning to order the CDL SF 7mm-08 next week. At least that's what I'm telling myself today....

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!

Ugh...that was a total buzz-kill, but thanks for the honest feedback.

Ok, maybe I should start over in my quest for advice. Here's the question:

You are a 6'2", 210lb, novice hunter. You have about $1000 and you have to spend it on a new 7mm-08 rifle. You will be hunting whitetail deer in the midwest with it. It cannot have a synthetic stock. You already have a scope that you must use on this rifle. Any cash leftover must be used to buy ammo so that you can practice. What rifle do you buy?

I would get a Remington CDL or a Winchester Model 70. If they don't have what you want, find an A-bolt that is new.

Every rifle is different. Every guy is different. I have never owned, or personally seen a Remington that wouldn't shoot. However, I do reload. I think relying on manufactured ammunition can often hold a rifle back in the accuracy department.

I have also seen guys shoot a known load out of my rifle and not get nearly as good a group.

If you like the Remington, then get it. I wouldn't consider doing things like trigger work, glass bedding, and floating the barrel as signs that you got a lemon. Everyone used to do it. Now they just expect it to not be necessary.