Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Model 7 vs Mountain Rifle

Gents,

Anybody used both a Rem Model 7 and a Rem Mountain Rifle? Care to describe your opinion of each?

From the looks of Rem's offerings per their website, the Mountain Rifle is mostly for a long action (though 7-08 and 308 are offerings), and the Model 7 is only a short action. What's the difference between a Model 7 and a short action 700?

Do you think the Model 7's 20-inch barrel suits it better than the 22-inch barrel on the Mountain Rifle?

Is the length of pull the same for both rifles?

v/r
Joel

I've had them both and the MR was in a long action .280 and the M7 was in a 7-08. You understand that the M7 action is shorter than the short action M700 don't you? I liked them both. I think it'd depend on what calibre you are wanting and what you intend to hunt.
I'd suggest you go to a big box store and have the clerk lay one of each on the counter for you to handle and mount. One of them may speak to you.

I have both.

I think they've upgraded the stock on the MR. That's a good thing as the laminate stocks are butt-heavy for both the M7 and MR.

At one point I had a M7 in 7-08 and a MR in 7-08. The primary difference us that the M7 action is 1/2" shorter in the bridge (the area behind the loading port). That makes it lighter and more compact-feeling. Where a 20" M7 really shines is in the thicker stuff, where the compact nature is really great. Mine is a .358 now but is still my main "thick stuff" rifle.

The M700 MR with a 22" barrel certainly won't suck in thick stuff, but, where the MR really shines IMHO is set up in a light 'glass stock as a more open-country rifle.

The M700 action has a TON of aftermarket options-- stocks, rings, etc- while the M7 is much more limited.

'Twer me I'd go MR in 7-08 (short action) or 30-06 (long) in the new glass stock. Or upgrade the stock myself. The exception being if you want a close-cover rifle; then I'd go M7 in .308.

Have a 260 in a Model 7 and it is one handy little rifle. Really like the shorter action of the 7.

I have had a 7 and a 70 FWT which is very close to the MR, if I wanted another lightweight I would choose the MR knowing I could always lop off 2" later.

I have multiples of both and prefer the 700 MR because the stock fits me better, I like raised cheekpieces and the ergs of the stock just fit me better than any factory specs 7 stock that I've owned. That said, the factory laminated stocks are a little on the heavy side, so I've bedded most of my 700 MRs in McM stocks, which has resulted in both a lighter and better balanced package. I'm not a fan of the factory specs 7 stocks, more for the negative esthetics of the big, ugly, schnable than for functionality of the stock. Actually, the only factory specs 7 stock that I do like is the laminated mannlicher.

Due to the short/light contour barrels, factory specs 7s are almost always butt-heavy. I have countered this problem by installing longer barrels on several of my 7s, bedding them into McM stocks, or both.

While the 7 action is a little shorter than the 700 SA, it has a larger loading/ejection port, but uses the same magazine box, so the COAL limits are the same.

The LOP for both is 13.5".

You really need to try both and see which works better for you.

Jeff

Agreed. I just like the feel of the M700 better (and have had a few Model Sevens to compare with).



If you're going to go through this, just get the M700 to start with, you'll be money ahead from the beginning.



Of course, that is always your best option. Go to your local gunshop, handle a few, and see what you think.

FWIW, my vote goes to the M700 Mountain Rifle.

I would never again pick a M7 action over a 700, never.

Scott, why? Aftermarket parts support or is it a fundamental issue in the M7 action that you don't like?

M7's tend to be more problematic to get to feed at times and I've yet to see one out shoot a 700. The logistics is just lagniappe

I have lots of free time, lots of actions, barrels, and stocks, a mill and a lathe, so reworking rifles gives me something to do to fill my idle time. I wouldn't pay a professional 'smith to have most of this work done, but since I enjoy doing it, have the tools, and at least some of the skill/knowledge, I just tinker with it until it is right for me.

Jeff

Joel,

Having owned both, I will only buy a 700 from now on. To me, it just cycles and feels better than the 7. Not sure how else to explain it.

Jeff-

When I said "you" in my post, it was a generalization, not you specifically .

I know you do your own; that's different than somebody who has to pay a 'smith to do something that doesn't really need done.

If I had to pay somebody every time I switched stocks, or swapped triggers, or bedded a stock, I'd either be broke or shooting bone stock factory guns.

700's work for everything.........
Never could warm to the 7. Never felt balanced no matter what I did to it... A long action mountain rifle properly stocked feels like a rifle should... JMO

W

Short action 700s are small in the port opening for those with larger fingers and/or hunt in the cold. As hunting tools, the M7 has it over the 700 in that department. I like the lam stock on the stainless MR 7-08 I have. I don't shoot offhand if I can use a rest anyway, or spend much time lingering over balance when shooting offhand, so 'butt-heavy' matters little to me. (The smaller port opening bothers me more when considering large, numb, and now arthritic thumbs.)



(700 MR, front; Model Seven, rear; both 7mm-08...at that time anyway. )

I'll yield to your more extensive knowledge, but damned if I'm not running into the opposite experience presently.

I have had both and liked them both, but they are two different rifles to me.

The MR was a 270 that was very accurate, had a stock that fit me very well and needed no work right out of the box. My son has it now and he's going to keep it.

The Model 7 was a stainless 308 with a plastic stock. While I like 308's I already had a Montana in 308 and had plans for the Model 7 to be a thick woods rifle. It has now been converted to 338 Fed with a stainless Hart barrel that is a little heavier than the original Remington barrel. The plastic stock felt small and the fore end seemed to be warped to the right. I put an HS Precision stock on it and the Model 7 became a keeper.

The Mountain Rifle I gave to my son was a product of Remington's custom shop and needed no further work. The Model 7 was just a rifle off the production line that needed a replacement stock just to get groups down to 2" at 100yds. I bought the Model 7 for the purpose of making a short, light, handy, powerhouse for close in hunting and I couldn't be happier with it, but it is not anything like it was when I bought it.

Model 7

I have 5 model sevens and 11 model 700s, it is just like a car.....everyone has their make and model that fit them better.although I love my 700s, I would give up all 11 700s before I parted with any ofmy model sevens. I am 5 9 and 205 with a stocky build and short arms, the model seven fits me much better and all of my sevens have a half inch shorter length of pull than my 700s, just enough to make them fit me better. Jmo, lenny

One of the guys here has a Model Seven in 358 Win.

Me either........