Looking at getting a new rifle. Elk/Deer in 7mm Win Mag

[BrandonWatts]

Here is the group with hand loads.
H1000 and 162 amax bullet

[Karl Blanchard]

The 7mag is just one of those calibers that is easy to load for and very accurate.  Rem 700, Savage 111 or 116, Tikka, etc., will all do what you want them to do.  In my personal opinion, glass is as important as the gun.  If you can't see your target, you can't hit it.  Also, if your shooting past 400 you should have a scope that you can dial.  Whether its in yardage or just MOA, when your talking about 4ft+ of drop, you need an accurate aim point and just holding over the animal is not accurate.  Whatever you get, toss a trigger in it.  Good luck and keep us posted on what you end up with.

[Killmore]

Just buy a American made gun!!!!!

[Karl Blanchard]

Just buy a American made gun!!!!!

.     way to many great rifles made here in America to not make this a top priority.

[Wetwoodshunter]

Today I shot a rem 700 think it was the  bdl in .300 win mag. The gun had a 3x9 vx-2 50mm on it. I took two shots and handed the gun back. The gun shot great 2 shots touching at 100 but the action was terrible and I did not like how there was not a clip and I was forced to top load.

Typically do the rem 700's have a super stiff action? I felt like I had to force the bolt in place.

Currently after this go around I will be marking the 700 off possible choices. I guess I hold say I already shoot an encore pro hunter in 7mm rem mag. I'm looking for a bolt gun so if I need follow up shots I can do it without coming off my rest.

So, currently looking at.
Tikka t3 - synthetic
Sako a7 - roughteck
Anything else I need to shoot? I'm leaning towards the A7.

[Wetwoodshunter]

The brown in x-bolt is still a contender. I have a buddy that has one in .300 wsm I'll try to shoot it in the upcoming week.

[Karl Blanchard]

Were they hand loads or factories you shot out of the 700?  All my Remington bolt guns are very smooth.  If they were hand loads it could have been the brass, not the action?

[hunt6226]

I have an X-bolt in the 325WSM with a 4x12 vx-2 and love it. Sweet shooter

[Damnimissed]

I've got a Sako A7 and Browning X-Bolt. Both are great shooters but the Sako has a much, much smoother action, not even comparable.

[Wetwoodshunter]

I shot the 700 with rem core lockt 180 grain. Factory loaded ammo.

[PiNkPaNtHeR]

Today I shot a rem 700 think it was the  bdl in .300 win mag. The gun had a 3x9 vx-2 50mm on it. I took two shots and handed the gun back. The gun shot great 2 shots touching at 100 but the action was terrible and I did not like how there was not a clip and I was forced to top load.

Typically do the rem 700's have a super stiff action? I felt like I had to force the bolt in place.

Currently after this go around I will be marking the 700 off possible choices. I guess I hold say I already shoot an encore pro hunter in 7mm rem mag. I'm looking for a bolt gun so if I need follow up shots I can do it without coming off my rest.

So, currently looking at.
Tikka t3 - synthetic
Sako a7 - roughteck
Anything else I need to shoot? I'm leaning towards the A7.

My Rem 700 'Mountain Rifle' in .243 is smooth as butter. So is my Weatherby 7mm. I must say I'm surprised no one has suggested looking at the Weatherby. Mine is an older VGX in 7mm Rem Mag and I love it. I used to have a Ruger M77 in 7mm Rem Mag. It about beat me to death. 20-30 shots with the Weatherby is less abusive than the Ruger was with just about 6-7 shots. Don't get me wrong - the Ruger was a nice gun, but would have needed some customizing to get to where the Weatherby already is stock, right out of the box. If I had the money, I'd own another few (Weatherbys) in various calibers and at least one Mark V - probably in the .270 range +/-. So I guess I'm suggesting that you at least handle a Weatherby & see how it feels, how smooth the action is, and ask about the moa guarantee that comes with every Weatherby, and as far as I know, always has. They were probably one of the first to ship a factory test target with every gun. All of mine have come with one.
I think the 7mm Rem Mag is about the same as a .30-06. I don't currently own a .30-06, but would like to have both that and a .308 eventually. IF you're dead set on the 7mm, then you might want to take a long hard look at the available factory ammo and/or look at reloading to suit your particular prey. You'll find the bullet weights just a little less than the .30 calibers.
Like any other gun/caliber out there, the point of impact will change quite a bit with different loads, so a nice turret type scope will help if you're going to maximize the use of the rifle. Personally I like most of the premium 175-grain loads. The gun can shoot better than me, but I've put plenty of 3-5 round groups into an inch or less at 100 years. It grows to about 1 1/2"-2" at 200 yards - and about 6-8 inches at 500 yards. I'm confident that, with practice, I could get better. Hopefully you're more steady than this old man. I've been telling myself I'm going to get some bipods. That's something to consider, too. If you're going to reach out and touch something at 500+ yards, a bipod would really help.
Anyway, I'm rambling. Was just thinking I'd share some of the things I think about when I go through the process.

[chester]

Today I shot a rem 700 think it was the  bdl in .300 win mag. The gun had a 3x9 vx-2 50mm on it. I took two shots and handed the gun back. The gun shot great 2 shots touching at 100 but the action was terrible and I did not like how there was not a clip and I was forced to top load.

Typically do the rem 700's have a super stiff action? I felt like I had to force the bolt in place.

Currently after this go around I will be marking the 700 off possible choices. I guess I hold say I already shoot an encore pro hunter in 7mm rem mag. I'm looking for a bolt gun so if I need follow up shots I can do it without coming off my rest.

So, currently looking at.
Tikka t3 - synthetic
Sako a7 - roughteck
Anything else I need to shoot? I'm leaning towards the A7.

Why not stick with Thompson center and look at the venture? It's a pretty good shooter with a great warranty and a decent price.


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[CAMPMEAT]

7MM, 7STW, 7RUM. I'd go 7RUM myself, if you're dead set on a any 7. I'd buy a Remington, Savage or a TIKKA and leave everything stock, unless it has a real crappy trigger. My triggers are pretty much stock or lightened up a bit. No new triggers, don't need them for shooting a couple times a year.

But, that's just me...

[Wetwoodshunter]

So I did something unexpected and picked up the .300 of my buddies that I shot. it is a llike new rem 700 adl in .300 win with a vx-2 3x9 50 mm mounted on it. After I put some oil on the bolt it worked a lot better and the rifle grew on me after talking to some other buddies.

We struck a deal at $475 after I shot it again yesterday. The gun shoots well.

Now that I own a rem 700 adl scoped For less than 1/3 of what I was looking at are there some upgrades to this rifle I should do before testing it out on mule deer?

I was thinking maybe getting a new stock or sending the scope in and having leupold add a CDS dial.

[PiNkPaNtHeR]

Did your buddy tell you what kind of ammo shoots the best in it? I'd think that the next logical step is to shoot the load you intend to use and get it zeroed in using that specific ammo.
Dial it in at the distance you think is best & learn what the bullet drop is for that particular load. If you don't already own a rangefinder, I'd think that would be more important than a pretty stock. Just my humble opinion.
Are you going to be hunting open country or dense brush country?