I have a stainless/laminate 700. I like the stainless but regret the laminate. I fell for the grey laminate because of its looks with the stainless and didn't mind carrying a heavier rifle and since I bought it in 300 Ultra Mag thought the heft would be better, it is beautiful but too heavy. Knowing now i would go with the composite.
Here is another critical piece of info:
I hunted in solid rain for 4 days in a spike camp 4 miles from the road, in a regular tent, not a wall with a stove. The only heat we had was a small propane heater that used the single bottles. Basically what I am saying is that nothing dried out.
One morning I found a good buck and tried to pop the safety off, it wouldn't come off. The safety was froze. I had to hit the safety with the butt end of my knife to get it off safety. I then tried to work the safety on/off to no avail. I had to hunt the rest of the hunt without one in the chamber but when I got into deer I just worked the bolt but left the bolt in the "up" postion and used the bolt as my safety. I didn't dare tear the gun apart up there as I didn't want to have to re-sight the rifle in as I couldn't be sure that I put the same amount of torque on the bolts. Anyway, when I got home I took the stock off and found that the only thing that is blued on the Rem rifles is a small clip that is a part of the safety mechanism. The blued clip rusted completely on the brand new rifle in the aforementioned rain. I had never had the stock off prior to this hunt as It was new that year and the packing oil that Rem puts on in the factory was still on other parts of the gun. I got it working again but I wonder why they didn't put a stainless clip on instead of a blued one?
I know that stainless will oxidise also but not as quick as blued. Watch out for that clip if you are in nasty weather, I found what I think is the weakest link on that rifle, other than the weight.
