Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Why did Reminton make the 700SA and the Model 7?

The model seven at one time represented a good portion of Remington Custom Shop business.

Bob,

No disrespect, but have you ever seen a Model 7 or Ruger Ultralight barrel? They are a lot slimmer in profile than a standard #1 profile barrel from a barrel supplier for example. My 6.5x57 has a a #1 barrel and both my Ruger Ultralights and Model 7 barrels are still significantly slimmer.

My original point was that Remington put shorter, slimmer barrels on the Model 7 to reduce weight. Why else would they use such a slim barrel profile if not to reduce weight?

For what other reason would they do so????

I'm on the look-out for early Model 7's with walnut stocks. I've had a couple, still have a 223 which is going to my youngest son in a week or so. I had a 243 and a friend "desperately" had to have it for his daughter. I have had more than a few 600's and 660's, but I like the looks of the 7 better and I had no love for that plastic floor plate the 600 & 660's had and the rib on the 600 was Pelosi ugly. Luckily I found a replacement metal floor plate for my 350 RM 600. Finally, I think the 7 has a better trigger than the factory 600.

As far as why the 7 when they had the 700? How about the 673's? IDK, but I like the light rifles sometimes - if they shoot well. Remington made carbines in the 700 before the 600 as I recall. I have a 30-06 carbine and a 308 carbine (that has been converted to 358 Win). I think those carbines were not light or short enough for marketing.

Remington always had the Northeast woods hunter in mind when designing rifles. Back in the 1980s, when the Model Seven was introduced, Ed Matunas talked up the new rifle. He called it the "Thinking man's Winchester 94" or something like that. He also said that most of the Model Sevens he shot shot very well. So, I bought a new 7mm-08 Model Seven in 1991. It shot great, and still does. I have half inch groups in my load book. I have owned two other Model Sevens, and they shot well, too.

As far as them being only a woods gun, I think one of gun writer John Haviland's sons uses one out west in Montana, or wherever he lives.

I had one in 260 rem, it was not a great shooter. So when I blew my neck out in 2000 and was recovering from a fusion, I had the action rebarreled with a Mod 700 Classic 220 Swift barrel I had, (the rear bolt replaced as above), pillar bedded into a Mod 7 synthetic stock and added a Kepplinger set trigger. Sightron Compact 2-10 on it. At the time, I had a wad of the factory Federal Premium 55gr Bear Claws loads. I killed a mule deer/varmints in Utah, 2 Blackbuck, 2 Axis, 1 coyote/varmints down in Texas with that thing! I also had a brake added. Reason? My wife was in the DR meeting where he said I could not shoot "anything" with recoil for awhile. ha The old Rancher in Texas wanted it so bad, he traded me $2000 credit on my next exotic hunt! I've had other Mod 7s made up similar...22-250, 22-250 Imp, 6mm/284, 6.5 Creedmoor. I never could "cotton" to the walnut stocks, seemed too bulky, but the synthetic was slim/trim...fine Stalking Rifle!

Good read on the M7 .
I have a 1994 SS M7 308win. , I bought a 673 laminated stock on here - for around $40 . That stock was not the best looking stock I've ever seen , I cut a big square chunk out of the rear and lopped off about 3'' up front . Going to take a belt sander to it soonish and make it McMillan Edge lite -laf .
Killed a couple of hogs with it 208amax @ around 2300fps [guessing] .

When found second hand/for sale they seem to always come with the one piece base turn-in rings -windage adjustment crap .
I used Talley lightweights and a dab of epoxy to help support the lack of a second screw hole - it's never lost zero although I handle a rifle pretty easy .
Handy lil bugger w/18.5'' barrel -loud and blasty though .

I've had several Model 7's. They all ended up being re barreled and put into an HS Precision stock. I've got one in the safe now I'm thinking about converting to a 35 Remington.
One feature that I like about the Model 7 over the short action 700 is the loading port on the Model 7 is longer. I have found that it is much easier for me to load than the short action 700.

I have a 725SA with a .260 700TI barrel. Pretty darned muzzle light - needs a good steady rest to reach it's downrange potential, within my "potential".

I'm seriously considering a few oz lead weight up front.

When first out the model 7 had an 18 inch, fairly light contour barrel. It had the bit smaller XP100 action, without the dog leg bolt, and a trim walnut stock. This made a nice compact, bolt action carbine that was classier than the 600 series. When first out I bought one in .222 Rem. Super little carbine and very accurate. Bought another .222 in same configuration that is now a .221 Fireball. Still have both.

Dennis.

I have a 7 in 7mm-08. It’s a handy little rifle, it has a wood stock.

I have never bought a new Rem, but I have lots of beat up old Rem rifles, shotguns, and 22s.

I have never seen a Rem 7 on a gunshow table.

I bought my son a stainless 308 about 15 years ago and he loves it. I put it in an HS Precision stock and it’s a tack driver with both the Speer 150 spitzer or the Nosler 150 Partition and WW 748. He hunts a lot from a climber and ladder stands so it’s perfect for his purposes.