Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Opinions Wanted: Remington Model 7

IMO, the Predator was the best version of the Model 7.

New here, Welcome to all.

Have 3, a 1983 .243 18.5”, which I bought new, love it, shot many deer with it. Now wears a Remy camo synthetic stock, beautiful.

A 2017 .308 Laminate 18.5”, now wearing the black synthetic stock, perfectly balanced, have taken deer and a red fox colored PA Cinnamon black bear. My favorite rifle of all. Lightning fast to the shoulder, as it needed to be when I took the bear at 7 yds. It had come up behind me in a snowstorm. Speed was essential.

Just picked up a 1996 SS 7-08 20” black synthetic stock. Having it cut to 18.5”, feels slightly muzzle heavy compared to the .308.
I like them short and light. Will hunt exclusively with it this year.

Its funny how balance can be so subjective as I find all 3 to be almost custom for me.

Why is the balance of a rifle subjective? All people have slightly different physical dimensions and rifles are built to standard/factory specs, so they are a compromise that fits the majority, but seldom fits them great, just like OEM tires and shocks on factory specs motor vehicles are a compromise between price and performance.

Also, a lot of people have a very limited spectrum of experience with a variety of firearms, so they haven't tried enough to stumble across a factory specs rifles that fits them better than any other. Most people accommodate themselves to the dimensions of the rifle or shotgun, rather than modify the rifle or shotgun to fit them. You've modified two of your Model 7s to better fit you, restocking the 2017 in 308 and trimming the barrel on the 1996 7mm08.

As far as the balance of factory specs Remington Model 7s with 18.5" barrels goes, I think that you're in the minority if you don't find them to be unbalanced to the rear, IOW "butt heavy", but if they balance properly for you, that's all that matters isn't it?

Exactly, reading this thread tells me some love and some dislike…Subjective. The Synthetic stocks definitely change the balance for the better for me. Still have the wood/Laminate stocks, the Laminate being my least favorite.
The balance of each 7 is slightly different due to bore diameter. Yes, you can tell the difference, at least I can.
Great hunting rifles all

I hunted a lot with a model 7 and killed truckloads of deer with one especially in the 7-08 chambering
I prefer the 20-in barrel versions...

I'm currently sitting on 8 Remington 7s in 223, 22-250, 250-3000, 260 (4), and a 300 Savage. Only 1 is in its original, as cataloged, configuration, a NIB 260 with an 18.5" barrel and camo pattern synthetic stock that I bought back in 07/04 for a donor action and never used. Of the remaining 7, 5 have had barrel swaps and all 7 have had stock swaps. 4 of the 5 barrels were swapped out for recycled 700 barrels, a 22" LSS-MR, a 24" BDL-SS-DM, and 2 24" Classics. The stocks are 2x laminated Mannlichers, 2x walnut, 2x laminated, and 1 Bansnar.

Like the old Yamaha motorcycle ads said, "Different strokes for different folks.".

This.


Okie John

I own the grandfather of the model 7. It's a model 660 in .308 that had had the barrel channel fiber-glassed, trigger lightened, and the plastic floorplate replaced with aluminum. I love it for all my hunting needs! - Sherwood

[quoteThe Seven action is really not much smaller/lighter than a 700\[/quote]
while this is true, the Model seven has a bigger opening for loading your round. I currently have three of them, one in .243, 18" barrel, youth model stock.
One is a 7mm08, that started out with an 18 inch barrel, which I bought a barrel here at the fire, I think from Idaho shooter, been a long time ago. Any when I put it on I had it bored to 7mm08 improved, which was the darling of the campfire at the time. I have killed a lot of stuff with this rifle. Several Campfire members have shot and watched what it will d0. I am not dissapointed with this in any way. Last is a stainless steel in.243 bought from another campfire member, that I have shot very little. The first one that I mentione has been the death of many deer, onle three by me. It is the loaner rifle that mostly is used by women and Kids, real men want something bigger. Lots of disapointment when they come in and the wife has a deer, and they don't. miles

I currently have 4.

A matching pair of 20” 7-08 stainless synthetics for my boys when they get big enough to hunt. One I haven’t shot but the other shoots 139BTSP hornadys into small groups and 120TTSX even better. It’s perhaps my favorite tree stand rifle.

I have a pretty early version of the 20” 243 with wood stock that shoots quite well and is about as handy as they come for hunting out of a box.

Last one was an 18.5” youth model 223 that I got for my mom who loves shooting coyotes and other vermin out her back door. Never could get it to shoot worth a hoot. I had a spare 700 223 barrel laying in the pile and had it cut to 21” mounted and threaded. It shoots wonderfully and ballenced very nicely. I used it for my calling rifle with my thermal and suppressor before I got it to my mom this spring. That was a hard one to let got. It’s about as sweet a handling/shooting rifle as I’ve ever had. I put it in my 243 wood stock when I used it…. 6’3 and long arms don’t do well with short stocks!